Cordless Impact tools

[Maxgq]

Hi guys,
I was wondering if it would be better to buy an impact wrench or use an impact driver with an attachment for 1/2-1/4 drive sockets, what do you use?
Thanks, Max

[BigRAWesty]

The 1/2 wrench is really only good for 12mm bolts. Any bigger and you can tighten better with a spanner..


The driver is more for screws etc..

[MEGOMONSTER]

I use Ryobi cordless impact wrench with a driver adaptor. I have used it several times now out in the field and it's a time saver.

[Hodge]

The 1/2 wrench is really only good for 12mm bolts. Any bigger and you can tighten better with a spanner..


The driver is more for screws etc..

Mate we use the 1/2 drive milwaukee 18v impact wrenches on bolts much bigger than 12mm. Most of our bolts on the towers are 19-28mm and this thing does it up that you cannot undo with a spanner. I actually used it to do up the recovery points on the trol the other day. Good luck taking them off without a large scale socket ratchet.
We call them wrist breakers at work.

[89gqpatrol4x4]

as a chippie we use a impact driver with the 1/2 inch attachment. Love it. I even use it to swap my wheels over! Still have to crack the nuts and tighten by hand but love it. Drives in coach screws and does up bolts tight enough for my purpose.

[BigRAWesty]

Mate we use the 1/2 drive milwaukee 18v impact wrenches on bolts much bigger than 12mm. Most of our bolts on the towers are 19-28mm and this thing does it up that you cannot undo with a spanner. I actually used it to do up the recovery points on the trol the other day. Good luck taking them off without a large scale socket ratchet.
We call them wrist breakers at work.

Must say I've never used those 18v ones..

But the Hitachi ones are shit..

[oddkid82]

I have got the makita 1/2 inch impact wrench and it works great. Takes off wheel nuts in no time. It tightens them up real good. Also great for working in the car.

[billyj]

theres impact drivers with around 1-200nm of torque then theres impact wrenches that go 650+nm. like 89gq ive got hte milwaukee 18v high torque impact wrench and it it will move anything, although i wouldnt use it on anything under 8-10mm as snapping is a very big chance. great for changing wheels

[nissannewby]

Mate we use the 1/2 drive milwaukee 18v impact wrenches on bolts much bigger than 12mm. Most of our bolts on the towers are 19-28mm and this thing does it up that you cannot undo with a spanner. I actually used it to do up the recovery points on the trol the other day. Good luck taking them off without a large scale socket ratchet.
We call them wrist breakers at work.

I agree. I have Milwaukee gear and have sockets up 1 1/2". I would always go the impact wrench if you are only planning on using sockets as I have broken a couple of 1/4 to 1/2 square drive adaptors. The 1/4" impact driver shafts are just to small for an decent torque to go through them.

Another option is to have a look at the new bosch impact wrench/driver. It has a 1/2" square drive with the 1/4" hex drive inside the square, would be quite a handy tool.

[billyj]

I agree. I have Milwaukee gear and have sockets up 1 1/2". I would always go the impact wrench if you are only planning on using sockets as I have broken a couple of 1/4 to 1/2 square drive adaptors. The 1/4" impact driver shafts are just to small for an decent torque to go through them.

Another option is to have a look at the new bosch impact wrench/driver. It has a 1/2" square drive with the 1/4" hex drive inside the square, would be quite a handy tool.

those bosch units with the 1/2 & 1/4 are nice but still lack the power for bigger jobs, using one for wheel changes etc will burn it out

[nissannewby]

Agreed mate.

I never use my 18v impact wrench to crack wheel nuts, always by hand first, it can do it but why make it work harder than it has to. The OP never specified what he actually wanted to do with it he could be a chippie like 89gqpatrol4x4 during the week so the 1/4 drive would get used a lot then what the use of a wrench on the weekends and while the bosch unit doesn't quite have the grunt he will still only require 1 tool without the risk of break adaptors as that's very possible when turning 1/2" sockets.

[Cuppa]

I have no experience of cordless impact drivers, only air, & the manual 'nut cracker' (torque multiplier) I use for the larger nuts on our bus.

However I am a bit concerned about folk using these impact drivers to tighten wheel nuts (as opposed to undoing them). My understanding is that using them in this way results in a real risk of over torquing wheel nuts. This can result in the studs stretching which van have two possibly disastrous results. 1. 'Stretched' threads will increase the chances of nuts loosening off & 2. 'Stretched' studs will become weakened & more prone to snapping. Both scenarios represent a serious danger whilst driving.

It may be that these cordless impact drivers have precise torque setting capabilities, but I doubt it. By all means spin the nuts on to just tight with a driver, but finish them off by hand.

Cuppa

[Drew]

Can we have some wrench porn pics posted ? :)

[threedogs]

A lot of shops [4x4] now use these tools and when I get my wheels rotated I always ask them to use the torque ends.
that way if out wheeling I can undo the wheel nuts myself. But for general use if you can get to the nut or bolt very handy.
For tyres I still use my 12v Kangaroo creek impact wrench, slow but works for me. rotating 4 tyres is 20mins faster

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/8pc-1-2-Dr-Torque-Ext-Bar-Thin-Wall-Impact-socket-set-/290371837891?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item439b829fc3

[sil3nt_dr3ams]

I cant imagine life in the shed without impact drivers, I have no idea how I got by without them. Makita ones are good I got over 4 years out of my last one and it wasn't a very easy 4 years. lol and that's 1/4 hex type then I just use the adpater to get 1/4 3/8 1/2 inch sockets. It does have the torque of a 1/2 cordless rattel gun but its perfect for doing everything front seatbolt nuts to fender bolts everything that doesn't get torqued hard. I will undo pretty much any after your crack it with a bar. They are small and nimble fit anywhere. Great for using things like wire wheel attachments for cleaning steel, as you can see i love my impact driver. Eve tho they are around 400ish with batteries if the same tool cost 2000$ I would hesitate to buy one . They are also great for using hex drill bits in tight spaces, countersinking bits.

[Forced Offroad]

I just upgrade to a full Milwaukee m18 brushless kit. I have the impact diver that will get odd bolt undone, I mainly use it for screwing. BUT, I got the new 1220Nm impact wrench as well. Great bit of gear, cracks wheel nuts with ease and got stuck into a 20year seized lower control bolt that was giving me some grief.

[sil3nt_dr3ams]

I just upgrade to a full Milwaukee m18 brushless kit. I have the impact diver that will get odd bolt undone, I mainly use it for screwing. BUT, I got the new 1220Nm impact wrench as well. Great bit of gear, cracks wheel nuts with ease and got stuck into a 20year seized lower control bolt that was giving me some grief.

Milwaukee and hilti would have to be ontop of the ladder when it come to tools.

[Wizard52]

A lot of shops [4x4] now use these tools and when I get my wheels rotated I always ask them to use the torque ends.
that way if out wheeling I can undo the wheel nuts myself. But for general use if you can get to the nut or bolt very handy.
For tyres I still use my 12v Kangaroo creek impact wrench, slow but works for me. rotating 4 tyres is 20mins faster

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/8pc-1-2-Dr-Torque-Ext-Bar-Thin-Wall-Impact-socket-set-/290371837891?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item439b829fc3

Agree as long as KCI has full 12volts+. Mine looses efficiency when voltage drops a bit.

[90mav]

I use my 18v LIon Makita impact driver with the socket attachments. It's just not quite powerful enough to loosen wheel nuts but crack them with the wheel brace and it's all on. Great for pulling apart bits of the truck when working on it and still useful around the house.
I wouldn't bother with a dedicated rattle gun unless you plan on doing heaps of mechanical work with it.

[sil3nt_dr3ams]

I use my 18v LIon Makita impact driver with the socket attachments. It's just not quite powerful enough to loosen wheel nuts but crack them with the wheel brace and it's all on. Great for pulling apart bits of the truck when working on it and still useful around the house.
I wouldn't bother with a dedicated rattle gun unless you plan on doing heaps of mechanical work with it.

Makita impact drivers are the go, nimble and will do delicate work. Crack the wheel nuts then use the impact driver.