My first time using impact driver. Wow!

[Kurtatron]

A few years back @Trav advised me on a cordless impact that was not too big for general automotive use; this thing is a game changer. Shortly after I rolled my compressor into the back shed... Highly recommended. Dang thing nearly does the dishes...
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I’ve read about impact wrenches, and learned that battery operated devices can extract more power because you can get higher voltages from the batteries. Since they’re not limited to 120V at the socket, you can get much higher power ratings.

I was shocked that batteries are a definitive advantage for peak torque ratings. I just hope that 450ft/lbs will be all I’ll ever need! Mine is corded!

 

[wavinwayne]

...I just hope that 450ft/lbs will be all I’ll ever need! Mine is corded!

If not, you can get a high impact Hercules impact + battery from Harbor Freight for a reasonable price, and it comes with a 5 year warranty.

 

[E150GT]

I just bought myself my first impact wrench. It's the sub compact Makita 18v. Same size as an impact driver. It's pretty weak compared to most but I kinda like it. It takes lugs off my truck and car easily. It also has a low power where it is weak enough I don't feel like I will do too much damage. It wouldn't even loosen my lug nuts at low power. But it should be much better than using a ratchet like a peasant.

 

[tbm5690]

I'm weighing whether or not to buy a corded Bauer/Craftsman (very similar) or the Milwaukee mid-torque. I would basically use it for lug nuts...maybe the occasional other odd job very infrequently. For those who use the M18 unit...do the smaller 2.0 batteries work well enough?

 

[Snagglefoot]

A few years back @Trav advised me on a cordless impact that was not too big for general automotive use; this thing is a game changer. Shortly after I rolled my compressor into the back shed... Highly recommended. Dang thing nearly does the dishes...
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I like this stubby design because it’s well suited to backing off the nut off a harmonic balancer if the rad is squeezing the space between the harmonic balancer and the rad.

 

[BrendanC]

my two milwaukee 2667’s High torque’s have been work horses for years. i can’t work without them. only tool i dont use much anymore are the electric ratchets. i’ve broken too many of them. went back to my air ratchets and haven’t looked back

 

[tmorris1]

I have the Dewalt High Torque that I haven't found anything it will not take off. I think they are 1200-1400 pound breakaway. The smaller Atomic 3/8 impact which is great for anything else. Gets in tight places and is great for dirt bike and atv work. As small as it is, it will remove wheel lugs. It has 3 different settings one will spin until it gets resistance and stop so you don't break or strip stuff. The battery tools have good trigger feel so once you get used to them you can tighten things pretty close without damage. All the brands are good but I had other Dewalt stuff so already had all the batteries

 

[RyanY]

The impacts certainly changed nearly all jobs for cars or around the house! I now spend more time jacking the car up than removing a wheel. And a power ratchet is the bee's knees.

But just wait till you use a 1/4 impact driver to put up steel siding/roofing or build a deck...nails no longer exist in my world!

 

[researcher]

I have the Ryobi cordless impact 1/2" wrench.. It is awesome, I agree @Kurtatron !! the first time I used it I was in awe! Now I knew how the pros in the shop got bolts loose so quickly! makes them look like magicians! no.. just good tools!

What's cool about my Ryobi is it has an auto feature that knows when the nut/bolt spins free and it slows the spin of the wrench down to almost nothing! That way it loosened it but didn't have the nut/bolt go flying! Love that thing! I think mine is the p262, has 600 ft/lbs of breaking/removal torque.

 

[Number_35]

Three giant leaps forward for me -

In 1989 I bought a small used Makita table saw. I was renovating an old house, and been cutting wood with a handsaw to that point. I still have the saw, and used it last night.

In 1999 I bought a corded impact driver - a cheapy Motomaster from Canadian Tire. IIRC, regular price was $169, and it was on sale for $100 off. I used it for lug nuts and engine mount bolts on Thursday.

Finally, two or three years ago, my son bought me my first battery-powered tools - a Milwaukee set with a drill, an impact driver, two batteries, and a charger. Absolutely revolutionary.

@Kurtatron, enjoy!

 

[Touring5]

Great memories of hanging around my uncle's service station and hearing all the air tools....

 

[JeffKeryk]

Great memories of hanging around my uncle's service station and hearing all the air tools....

I'll never forget my job as a gas jock at the Mobil Station. The 1st time they told me to remove a wheel and using the air gun... Wow! I was never the same.
I'm sure I overtightened a bazillion lug nuts while working there. Put the gun on rock-n-roll and let 'er rip! Poor vehicle owners...

 

[JTK]

Battery powered impacts are pretty incredible. My daughter bought me a Milwaukee M18 1/2" 18v this past Christmas (unprompted). I always tell the kids not to spend money on me! I haven't really used it. It's a heavy brute and probably nice to have when you need it. I have a plethora of pneumatic stuff and a much smaller, light, cheap knock off battery powered 1/2".

 

[wavinwayne]

Battery powered impacts are pretty incredible. My daughter bought me a Milwaukee M18 1/2" 18v this past Christmas (unprompted). I always tell the kids not to spend money on me! I haven't really used it...

That's me with my Makita 1/2" impact. So far I've used it to take off some lawn mower blades and that's it. I'm pretty sure it could take the lugs off a 747 (not really).

 

[RyanY]

Put the gun on rock-n-roll and let 'er rip! Poor vehicle owners...

That's the way the shops around me do it! Except Discount Tire which uses torque wrenches. I don't know if they actually adjust them between jobs, but at least they use them...

 

[Kurtatron]

Another fantastic use of the Impact Beast. Tried for a while to get this seized nut off the tie rod. Gave up and bought a deep socket. Off it came.

 

[D1dad]

M12 1/2” is my latest. Replaced my bloated 1/2” Kobalt that was twice its size with just as much grunt

 

[zzyzzx]

I have a cheap Harbor Freight corded electric one that I highly recommend. It's not as good as the one you just got, but it's never let me down so far and in terms of bang for the buck it can't be beat.

 

[ripcord]

Cordless impacts are awesome, but you also need a cordless ratchet.

https://www.amazon.com/CRAFTSMAN-CM...ource=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&psc=1&gQT=1

 

[frankbee3]

I prefer to be corrected and right rather than ignorant!

I found correction valuable too.