Cordless impact wrenches

[drm7]

I do a lot of home improvement projects and I use my 12v Dewalt cordless drill all the time. It is my favorite tool. I also watch HGTV and DIY for ideas and inspiration.

I noticed several hosts lately using the cordless impact wrenches where I use the drill. I did some looking it seems these impact wrenches (18v Dewalt) put out a ton of torque (1170lbs) compared to cordless drills (300-500). This is even more torque than most air wrenches. Is there any advantage to using these for tasks like drilling, driving deck screws, etc? They are advertised to drive lag screws. I could have used that this some when I built my side porch. Can they run lug nuts on & off of a car?

 

[Laminar Lou]

Quote:

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I do a lot of home improvement projects and I use my 12v Dewalt cordless drill all the time. It is my favorite tool. I also watch HGTV and DIY for ideas and inspiration.

I noticed several hosts lately using the cordless impact wrenches where I use the drill. I did some looking it seems these impact wrenches (18v Dewalt) put out a ton of torque (1170lbs) compared to cordless drills (300-500). This is even more torque than most air wrenches. Is there any advantage to using these for tasks like drilling, driving deck screws, etc? They are advertised to drive lag screws. I could have used that this some when I built my side porch. Can they run lug nuts on & off of a car?

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Are those in/Lbs or ft/lbs? 1170ft/lbs would be quite a feat I would think. But 1170in/lbs I could see. That would be 97ft/lbs. However, that might not be enough to break lug nuts free. I know I put my lug nuts on at 83 ft/lbs. on the truck and I am sure they are over 100 ft/lbs by the time I take them off. I don't put lugs on with an impact wrench, but I do use a pneumatic one to take them off.

 

[drm7]

My bad, 1170 in/lbs.

Still, this is over twice the power of the cordless drills.

 

[drm7]

Dewalt has at least 2 18v models. One 1/4" w/1170 in/lbs (98 ft/lbs) and one 1/2" w/1650 in/lbs (138 ft/lbs).

 

[PF52]

There is a thread about these impacts in the Maintenance Tips section. Myself and several other guys recommend the Milwaukee 18-volt 1/2" drive impact which is something like 290 ft/lbs. I've never had it refuse to budge a lug nut.

 

[eljefino]

I was in a junkyard and the yard dude had one that spun off a 30mm axle nut (spec 170 ft lbs or so) like it was nothing.

 

[Laminar Lou]

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My bad, 1170 in/lbs.

Still, this is over twice the power of the cordless drills.

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Agreed. I've got a cordless drill that puts out a little over 400in/lbs. and even that is enough to twist your wrist off if you aren't prepared for it. 1179 in/lbs is quite a bit of power.

 

[JHZR2]

I dont have a cordless, but I have a milwaukee corded impact gun, which is great.

I cant advise on the good or bad of a cordless one, other than the fact that if the unit isnt used a lot, potentially the battery may not last as well in trms of holding charge... Im not sure about that.

My biggest piece of advice is to get some quality impact sockets... I got some from harbor freight that failed when removing lug bolts from my car...

JMH

 

[Bret Chase]

let's clarify some terms... alot of people use the 1/4" hex impact DRIVER. I have one, a 14.4V dewalt.. it will drive screws impressively, but I did have to replace the motor (they use a canned motor, no replacable brushes) recently after 2 years of use. the 18V dewalt isn't worth the extra $40 over the 14.4V, unless you're got other 18V tools.

I also have a 18V milwaukee 1/2" drive impact WRENCH.. it works well, but is h*e*a*v*y. I use this at work to start to tighten the A325 hardened bolts before I put the 3/4" drive breaker and cheater to it. the ones I have work OK for lug nuts, it doesn't get them every time on my pickup.

 

[Bret Chase]

Quote:

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Quote:

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My bad, 1170 in/lbs.

Still, this is over twice the power of the cordless drills.

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Agreed. I've got a cordless drill that puts out a little over 400in/lbs. and even that is enough to twist your wrist off if you aren't prepared for it. 1179 in/lbs is quite a bit of power.

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they're impacts, so they don't work like that... a regular drill relies on the raw torque of the motor to get the job done. an impact's motor spins a hammer (or hammers) that strike an anvil, which then transmits force to the fastener. you don't actually have to try and hold the 90 or so ft/lbs that are impulsively generated by the hammer mechanism.

 

[drm7]

I was looking at the 18v because I would like to step up to some of the other 18v tools and I want to standardize on one battery so I can share among the tools. I only have a 12v drill right now. I'm tired of lugging out some of the large corded tools (hammer drill, skil saw, etc) and would like some cordless ones. I've kept my current 12v batteries running well for 6 years now. They don't have the same staying power they used to but still work well.

I was curious if they have any advantages over a standard cordless drill when driving screws, drilling holes, etc.

 

[Bret Chase]

driving screws, yes...tightening bolts, yes.... drilling, no.