Cordless Impact Drivers?

[amh]

Anyone have experience with battery powered impact drivers?
I am being lazy and want to use an impact driver instead of tire iron to rotate tires (all of a sudden I have several cars in household). Would also like to use driver for other purposes.

What I would like to hear from you is:

What impact driver do you use, brand/model, tourque, rpm, drive size (1/2", 3/8" square or 1/4" hex with adapter).

Your experience, likes & dislikes.

Do you know if a 1/2" or 3/8" square to 1/4" hex quick release adapter exists? Who makes it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[porcupine73]

Hi amh. Might want to check out the DeWALT; most of their tools are excellent.

Harbor Freight has a impact adapter kit with all kinds of sizes and it's cheap. Some people have had issues with HF impact sockets and stuff though.

I use an IR 2131QT air impact.

and

 

[Oil stain]

But be aware that some are rated in foot pounds and others are inch pounds. So look at the specs carefully. Not sure what I would use ethier, but I would go with the one that had the highest rating of torque. Some lug nuts can be pretty hard to get off.

 

[porcupine73]

Good point Scott. Some of the cordless impacts I've seen have ratings of maybe 138 ft*lb(f). That might be challenging for snug lug nuts and almost certainly for lug nuts put on by any kind of shop.

 

[Oil stain]

Ok, I couldn't resist. Here's a Milwakee vid on their cordless impact wrench.
http://performanceworks1.com/images/milwaukee.wmv

 

[porcupine73]

Good one Scott! Looks like he snugged it up a little too much !

 

[amh]

Scott – that was very funny. I think this can happen with my Toyota, but if I try it with my 2500 RAM diesel I will be the one spinning.

Taking earlier suggestions, I am looking at a DeWalt dw055k:
Voltage 14.4 V
Drive 1/2" square with detent pin retention
No Load Speed 0-2,400 rpm
Impacts/Min 0-3,000 bpm
Max. Torque 1,550 in-lbs
Max. Torque 129 ft-lbs

Is that too small?

The next torque rating jumps to 300 ft-lbs and double in weight (and price).

 

[porcupine73]

There's an 18V version of that DeWALT too; I think it's 138 ft*lbs(f) torque.

If you torque the lug nuts yourself properly each time that should be enough to break them loose, but it doesn't leave much wiggle room.

If you're at all considering getting other DeWALT cordless power tools in the future I'd consider the 18V. The 18V is very common and then you can share the batteries between all the tools.

Also, having at least two batteries is very helpful since one will always be dead when you want to use it, or will go dead while using it. The 18V batteries are the old tech nicad, so to avoid memory effect you really shouldn't charge it until it's completely dead.

DeWALT also has a 36V line out with lithium ion batteries. It's nice but expensive and I don't know if they have an impact driver in that line.

 

[porcupine73]

Actually I just checked; Consumer Reports did a test of cordless impact drivers earlier this year. Some models were Panasonic EY7202GQW, Makita 6980FDWDE, Ryobi P230C, Milwaukee 9082-22, DeWalt DW054K-2.

They all tested similarly; the Makita and Panasonic have nickel metal hydride batteries rather than NiCd.

 

[Rand]

I have used 2 ever.. a POS harbor freight one.. it worked ok
and a really nice snap on.

I personally have the pos one because it was 1/5 the cost
and I use a torque wrench to correctly torque them after they
are snug.

 

[Fatboymoe]

I bought a Dewalt DW052K-2 about a year ago and really like it. It's the 12 volt version and uses the quick release shank. I use it on transmission pans and works really good on my Harley's gear case and primary covers. The part I really like is that I can use 1/4 or 3/8 or 1/2 drivers.

A couple of weeks ago, I used it to remove the differential cover on my son's 4x4 so I could replace the axle seals and it worked flawless. Like Rand said, use the proper Torque Wrench for reassembly.

 

[amh]

Fatboymoe,
The dw052k has a 1/4" hex shank with quick release. Is that strong enough drive a 1/2" square lug nut socket? Tell us you were the guy in the video from Scott.

My fear of twisting the 1/4" hex to 1/2" square adapter into a pretzel pushes me toward the native 3/8" or 1/2" square drive. But I can not find a down adapter so I can use the many available 1/4" hex gadgets.

 

[porcupine73]

This impact adapter set from Harbor Freight includes 1/4" sizes. On sale it can be as cheap as $4. This set should handle a cordless impact driver. A powerful air impact might snap them.

For adapters you could also try many of the online tool wholesalers.

 

[Fatboymoe]

amh,
No, I am not the person in the video. The use of the 1/2 adapter with this set up would be rare, given that the unit is only a 12v model, but could be done. I use my 3/8 or 1/2 inch Snap On air guns when required.

I bought this for small fasteners and for this it is very handy. I'll use the air tools for the bigger jobs like lug nuts and such.

 

[compaddict]

I have two Milwaukee 18v half inch drive units that I beat the #@$%! out of. I can't say enough good about them. Good battery life and they work on my pickup, RX8 and my race car.
I have full air in my shop and I use the Milwaukee for tires 100 percent of the time.
Battery wise, I've gone through six units in three years of hard use. Milwaukee has a Li battery out now for like a hundred bucks.

Vince

 

[Jim Spahr]

Harbor Ft does sell the 3 adapters in 1/2, 3/8, & 1/4 with a hex on the other end. You may also want to try a speed handle for the wheel change. It looks like a giant 'P' and comes in all three sizes. Requires no air comp. or battery pack.

 

[tom slick]

a cordless impact "driver" is for driving screws, hence the 1/4" hex QD. a cordless impact "wrench" is for lug nuts etc, hence the 3/8" and 1/2" square drive. you can use a "driver" for lug nuts but it is not really designed for it and it's lower max torque rating and higher max RPM reflect that.
choose accordingly or you will not be satisfied.

 

[another Todd]

I also have used the 18 volt Milwaukee. It is great. If you are useing it for tires, I would not get the smaller ones.

 

[PF52]

Quote:

---

I have two Milwaukee 18v half inch drive units that I beat the #@$%! out of. I can't say enough good about them. Good battery life and they work on my pickup, RX8 and my race car.
I have full air in my shop and I use the Milwaukee for tires 100 percent of the time.

---

I agree; the 1/2" drive 18 volt Milwaukee is great. Its, what, 290 ft/lbs I believe? I wouldn't bother trying anything smaller.

They have since come out with a 28-volt line but I've never had a chance to use any yet.

 

[Donald]

But I doubt any of these will compete with a decent air impact wrench. The better air ones (1/2") are above 400 ft lbs.

When I think of an impact wrench I think of hard to get off bolts and nuts. So I want the max torque. I guess some are using it for multiple bolts and nuts.