Cordless impact wrench recommendations

[skipdup]

Sick of my cheapo cordless impact.
Anyone have one that they've been especially satisfied with?

Thanks,
Skip

[rrichar]

Skip,

I have the Snap On cordless wrench and it has worked great so far. I haven't had to use it too much but has worked everytime and seems to be a good quaility. Bought it new off Ebay with a slightly discounted price.

[winders]

Look at the latest Bosch product: the HTH181-01 with 500 ft-lbs of torque.

Scott

[htron435]

I have a cheapo from Northern Tool that's been pretty good. I use it for track days, so it isnt an everyday shop tool. However, it is a 24v that came with two batteries and a quick charger. Bought it last year for $99. Works great for my needs -- I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. I believe their website is northerntool.com .

[kocook]

I have the Dewalt. Works well for my needs.

[skipdup]

Thanks all.
I'm replacing the 24v Northern Tool. Mine JUST barely handles the lugs on my 911 - with a recharge during the weekend. The charger burned out. So, I'd like to get something this time that handles with a bit more authority.

Thanks again,
Skip

[winders]

Really, the Bosch I mentioned is the real deal.

Scott

[skipdup]

Originally Posted by winders

Really, the Bosch I mentioned is the real deal.

Scott

Thanks Scott.
$450 is probably more than I want to spend.
Now that I think about it, my Milwaukee drill has lasted a very long time. I'll look at those asa well... lest someone can steer me away.

Thanks again,
Skip

[winders]

Originally Posted by skipdup

Thanks Scott.
$450 is probably more than I want to spend.
Now that I think about it, my Milwaukee drill has lasted a very long time. I'll look at those asa well... lest someone can steer me away.

Thanks again,
Skip

Skip,

You get what you pay for in this tool segment. The Milwaukee M18, which is similar in specs but not as powerful, is about the same price. The Bosch has a better warranty and better customer service.

Tool Barn sells the Bosch for just over $400. I was lucky with a pricing error and got mine from Tool Barn for $209 including free shipping.

Scott

[Pete R]

Originally Posted by htron435

I have a cheapo from Northern Tool that's been pretty good. I use it for track days, so it isnt an everyday shop tool. However, it is a 24v that came with two batteries and a quick charger. Bought it last year for $99. Works great for my needs -- I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. I believe their website is northerntool.com .

I have that one too. It works great. I bought mine just for lug nuts and messing around. I was really surprised. It even took off my 928 front nut on the crankshaft that holds on the pulleys. It needs to have a full charge though for the tougher bolts. I'm sure the Snapon and Bosch are much better but on the cheap end you can't beat the northern one.

[porsche4life]

We use the hell out of impacts and drills, and have had DeWalt, Rigid, Ryobi, and Makita...


We have trashed everything but the Makita 18v Li-Ion. Seriously, get an 18v Impact and two batteries and you will be set. I use one for autocross, and it has no troubles.

[winders]

The Makita BTW450 is about $40 less than the Bosch HTH181 and has 175 ft-lbs less torque. Again, in this segment, the Bosch is really hard to beat. Snap On is as good but at a big price difference.

I don't work for Bosch. I just did a ton of research on this. What swayed me was all the positive comments I found regarding the quality of Bosch customer service.

Whatever you get, get a 1/2" drive tool with over 300 ft-lbs of torque.

Scott

[RichardNew]

I did a whole column on cordless for Vintage Motorsport magazine. Here is is.

Richard Newton
Free Issue

[winders]

Originally Posted by RichardNew

I did a whole column on cordless for Vintage Motorsport magazine. Here is is.

Richard Newton
Free Issue

Richard,

From your article:

"Amp hours are a measure of a tool’s endurance. The more amp hours a battery has the longer it can keep going. Longer life per charge though means you’ll get fewer charge cycles before the battery goes bad."

That statement is true only for Ni-MH batteries. Lithium Ion batteries do not have this issue and are generally superior.

Also, for Ni-MH battery packs, if you calculate the "number hours per charge X numbers of charges", you will most likely find that the higher amp hour battery gives you more total hours of use even though you can charge it less times.

Another quote from your article:

Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks.

That is true only for NiCads. Ni-MH batteries do best if kept topped off and Lithium Ion batteries don't seem to care either way.

Scott

[RichardNew]

Thanks.

Richard

[ODDJOB UNO]

i just bought a longacre . 2 batteries and the charger and the impact=$255 from racer parts wholesale.

we have used the hell out of it already and does everything its supposed to do.


longacre.com

[cstreit]

I've been using the Longacre for about a year now. Love it. Plenty of torque and with two batteries no need for charging all weekend. Full disclosure, I sell them for $255 also with flat rate shipping...

The new version also has LED lights in the base in case you are working at night (illuminates the end of the gun) and a battery charge level indicator.

http://www.proracestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5402_5605_33008&products_id=19092

[winders]

NiCad batteries? They really should update to NiMH or Lith-Ion......

Scott

[Steve W]

That Longacre looks like the one from JEGS, except with a Lithium battery for $149,
JEGS Performance Products 80795 1/2'' Drive Lithium Powered Cordless Impact Wrench


or NiMH for $99
JEGS Performance Products 80790 1/2'' Drive NiMH Powered Cordless Impact Wrench

Looks like the hot ticket.

[ABQautoxer]

I use the Dewalt 18v. I also have their 18v drill so it allows me to swap batteries between. If you already happen to have dewalt 18v tools, you can just buy the impact tool by itself (no charger or batteries) for about $120 at Amazon.