Cordless impact wrench...need suggestions - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

Teds89IROC · 06-08-2009, 09:48 PM

I'm looking for a 3/8 drive impact wrench. I have air tools to use here at home but the iroc is garaged elsewhere and a lot of times a cordless impact would help a lot. Especially seeing how easy it was putting my brother's trans and the rest of the drive train back together with air tools. It won't get used everyday and I'm not looking for the best one, just something decent. I'm also trying not to spend too much and it seems Harbor Freight has the best prices but I'm not familiar with their brands (Drill Master) Any suggestions?

Thanks

01SS · 06-08-2009, 11:06 PM

I have seen Snap-On's cordless impact in action. Pretty tough just a bit pricey I expect.

NastyEllEssWon · 06-08-2009, 11:11 PM

snap on 18v cordless impact. lasts for a long time with a charge and is pretty damn strong. depending upon your tool guy you can get em for a good price.

get yourself one of those too. i cant live without mine

NJ Torque · 06-08-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

snap on 18v cordless impact. lasts for a long time with a charge and is pretty damn strong. depending upon your tool guy you can get em for a good price.

get yourself one of those too. i cant live without mine

ah yes. the widowmaker.. and widowmaker jr.

01SS · 06-08-2009, 11:17 PM

I love the little one too. So f'in useful. I use it all day workin on the dubs.

LTb1ow · 06-08-2009, 11:17 PM

+1 for the snap on ones.

HeadlessNorseman · 06-08-2009, 11:18 PM

i have a 14.4v ryobi and in first gear itll take a lot of stuff off

But for real its invaluable if your trying to do something fast. I used it to change spark plugs in my altima before work in like 2 mins. pointless but anyways...

I dunno how much i would rely on a battery powered impact wrench. Esp made of plastic. Do they last long? im guessing snap on knows how to build tools better than me though so il leave it alone

LTb1ow · 06-08-2009, 11:20 PM

The snap on we had at work took a lot of abuse, and still gave it back. And I believe the newer tools all use the same battery packs so you can buy lots of tools and not feel bad!

NastyEllEssWon · 06-08-2009, 11:26 PM

yeah i have the whole set...the 18v, the mini driver with 60 pc attachment and the rechargable cordless led drop light. they come with extra batteries too. they really last a long time too. this thread reminded me to charge my extra mini one....i havent charged it in like a month

if your serious about getting some good quality stuff the snap on stuff is the way to go. i like matco for ratchets though

im glad to see so many people on here owning the snap on drivers too...trust me...go to a dealership and i bet 9 out of 10 guys own em

LTb1ow · 06-08-2009, 11:28 PM

Yup, and if you know the snap on tech, its a much better relationship than trying to get a sears guy to replace a craftsman tool, IMO.

HeadlessNorseman · 06-08-2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shownomercy

Yup, and if you know the snap on tech, its a much better relationship than trying to get a sears guy to replace a craftsman tool, IMO.

I finally broke my craftsman ratchet. Gotta take it back

I used it to get a wheel nut off a honda with a jack handle on the end of it and that didnt even break it. Tough tools for sure! i think id rather have snap on tools. The guy comes around to a few places i know people at

NastyEllEssWon · 06-08-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.Reed

I finally broke my craftsman ratchet. Gotta take it back

I used it to get a wheel nut off a honda with a jack handle on the end of it and that didnt even break it. Tough tools for sure! i think id rather have snap on tools. The guy comes around to a few places i know people at

snap on is good for power tools...i like matco for manual tools. i like the feeling of their handles over snap on's straight cylinder style...dont like craftsman's flat style...matco's handles are ergo grip. good stuff

Blackbirdws6 · 06-09-2009, 06:45 AM

picked up a real nice craftsman professional series cordless impact. Holds a charge nicely and hasn't had a problem breaking a bolt loose yet.

Stevoone · 06-09-2009, 08:14 AM

I've been using a Makita 9.6V for about 6 years and it hasn't died yet. The Snap-on ones seem too heavy and bulky, and there a lot more expensive. I would buy another Makita before I looked at the Snap-On ones.

Fast92RS · 06-09-2009, 08:21 AM

Try the IR cordless impact tools. They work pretty good. They come in 14.4 and 19.2 volt.

Mike · 06-09-2009, 12:50 PM

i have a snap on one like pictured above.....and absolutely love it.

we have a big compressor here at the house, and my dad has some of his older impact guns here. a couple weeks ago when we were taking my rear apart he tried a bluepoint and then an older ir gun and couldnt get the pinion nut off, my snap on BATTERY powered gun got it.

i know both of the air guns he used are old and close to being worn out, and had we had any of his guns from work they would have worked, but its still impressive for the little battery gun

Ian · 06-09-2009, 06:16 PM

I've got a 3/8" snap-on cordless impact gun (12V). I've had it about 4 years. It gets used every day at work and hasn't given me any problems yet. It can handle most bolts, but bigger stuff like lug nuts and cross member bolts would need its big brother

I also have that little screw gun that Nasty posted a pic of...love that thing.

If you're looking to do cheaper than snap-on, I'd look at the IR ones like Fast92RS mentioned. A guy I work with has one of their 3/8" cordless impacts and its pretty stout. I don't have any experience with the Craftsman pro series, Brian seems happy with his though.

91chevywt · 06-09-2009, 06:22 PM

Only one i've ever used was made by Makita, and it worked awesome. I'll bet craftsman's is decent. If your looking for something to keep for any length of time I wouldn't bet on the Harbor Freight one. I like cheap tools, but few things piss me off more than a power tool that can't do its job.

bobb1589 · 06-09-2009, 06:36 PM

my dad has one made by ryobi its an 18v and the charge lasts long and we have like 6 batteries because we have so many other electric tools that can swap batteries... my dad swears by the thing and I have used it countless number of times with no problems at all

Clutch Master · 06-09-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

snap on 18v cordless impact. lasts for a long time with a charge and is pretty damn strong. depending upon your tool guy you can get em for a good price.

get yourself one of those too. i cant live without mine

those are the ****, i have the 3/8ths and 1/2inch at work and they are the best tools from snap on that i have....

Mike · 06-09-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

I've got a 3/8" snap-on cordless impact gun (12V). I've had it about 4 years. It gets used every day at work and hasn't given me any problems yet. It can handle most bolts, but bigger stuff like lug nuts and cross member bolts would need its big brother

I also have that little screw gun that Nasty posted a pic of...love that thing.

If you're looking to do cheaper than snap-on, I'd look at the IR ones like Fast92RS mentioned. A guy I work with has one of their 3/8" cordless impacts and its pretty stout. I don't have any experience with the Craftsman pro series, Brian seems happy with his though.

yeah my snap on is 1/2 inch, i mainly bought it for lugnuts and whatnot at the track, and since then it has been used for almost everything

Squirrel · 06-10-2009, 12:45 AM

ever think about a buying a portable compressor?... instead of buying all new tools, one purchase and you can use all the tools you already have

WildBillyT · 06-10-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

get yourself one of those too. i cant live without mine

I use the DeWalt versions of both of these tools and they work well.

Teds89IROC · 06-10-2009, 12:36 PM

Thanks for the input guys, I needed something quick and cheap so I picked up a cheapie 1/2" drive 150 ft. lbs. tq. impact for $40 from Harbor Freight. I'll be using it a lot this week so if it's that terrible I'll return it and save up for a good one.

SuperSweet · 06-10-2009, 04:52 PM

I have Makita's 18v Li-Ion set with 1/4-3/8-1/2 drivers, sawzall, drill, and light and I absolutely love it...Lithium Ion is the way to go for lasting torque. It doesnt fade out the way NiCad or NiMh does. And they are much lighter. My snap on dealer likes them more than his own drivers.