Battery Powered Impacts

[stpete]

Years ago I got a small air compressor and right away bought a cheap impact wrench. I used that thing for years until I upgraded to a massive air compressor and bought a serious impact wrench. That's when I realized that impact wrenches weren't for assembly. First thing I tried to zip the nut back onto sheared right off. I tried an air socket wrench, but they are slow and frigging loud. OK for some stuff, but ... meh.
Several years ago I bought a cheap 12V Dewalt battery impact driver to help change tires at the track. That thing rocks. I can zip almost anything that's not heavy duty or super rusty off AND ON with ease. Sweet. As battery powered things do, the batteries are dying off. So at Xmas time I stepped up and bought one of the multi tool Dewalt kits, this time in 20V. Well ... the 20V impact is a little to powerful for assembly. Zipped a bolt head off installing a fender on my Miata.

Bottom line, I think I'm going to buy something that will give me the capability I had in the 12V. So, the ultimate torque capability should be in the range where I can put together things (valve cover bolts on the Miata would be a good example) without shearing the bolt. And, if I forget to check the torque it should usually be fine. Again, think most things with 10-12mm bolts on the Miata. Getting new batteries for the 12V is a consideration. But, there are some smaller offerings out there now. Smaller would often be much more useful. Bosch has a mini-12V thing that looks pretty cool. It has similar specs to the 12V DW but I'm concerned that DW probably overrates their tools and the Bosch may be more powerful. Both the Bosch and DW are rated at just under 1000 in-lb of torque where the 20V DW is 1400. Has anyone used any of those and found them to be decent? Any other suggestions?

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Some of the bodymen at work use the bosch. They really seem to like them.

That's one of those tools I need for home.

 

[jrichker]

I have a 3/8" air ratchet and a very old 3/8" air impact that both do an excellent job of assembling and reassembling things. As of lately, the air ratchet gets the most usage.

 

[stpete]

I've had two air ratchets, one very cheap and one medium quality. Both work fine but are loud, slow and tethered. The better of the two got stolen and I haven't bothered to replace it, still have the cheap one. They both work about the same, the good one was just smaller and more comfortable to use.

Another option that I've been considering is the Milwaukee battery ratchet. It might be what I'm looking for, but about double the price of the small impact drivers.

 

[FoxMustangLvr]

In my opinion you're using the impact incorrectly. I have a 1/2" drive Ryobi impact 18v and works fine for assembly. Lightly pull trigger for partial power and fully pull trigger for full power. You should always get a few threads started by hand before using power tools. Often I will use my 18v screw driver with a socket to thread a nut on and then an impact to torque it.

 

[Boosted92LX]

I'm sorry guys, but anybody that uses a 1/2 drive impact to put fender bolts or valve cover bolts on needs to STEP AWAY FROM THE TOOLBOX...

That is absolutely NOT what that tool is designed for.

This is what air ratchets are for.. and the are some "impact" screw gun type tools out there that are hex drive I suppose you could adapt to drive smaller sockets with, and I believe there is even a battery powered ratchet on the market now.. but dude. 1/2" impact on valve cover bolts? That's like nailing trim boards with a 14 lb sledge hammer.

 

[90sickfox]

My SnapOn gun is awesome. Works great on all types if stuff. Cost more but its a life saver.

 

[stpete]

In my opinion you're using the impact incorrectly. I have a 1/2" drive Ryobi impact 18v and works fine for assembly. Lightly pull trigger for partial power and fully pull trigger for full power. You should always get a few threads started by hand before using power tools. Often I will use my 18v screw driver with a socket to thread a nut on and then an impact to torque it.

Yeah, admittedly I'm a bit ham fisted. That's why I prefer the 12V version, not enough power to get me in trouble. Just enough to do the job. I stuck the 20V on a small lower fender bolt and hit it quickly just to make sure it was tight and zing, it popped. The thing hits too hard and too fast to be used for lighter duty stuff.

 

[stpete]

I'm sorry guys, but anybody that uses a 1/2 drive impact to put fender bolts or valve cover bolts on needs to STEP AWAY FROM THE TOOLBOX...

That is absolutely NOT what that tool is designed for.

This is what air ratchets are for.. and the are some "impact" screw gun type tools out there that are hex drive I suppose you could adapt to drive smaller sockets with, and I believe there is even a battery powered ratchet on the market now.. but dude. 1/2" impact on valve cover bolts? That's like nailing trim boards with a 14 lb sledge hammer.

I think you're violently agreeing with me

 

[RaggedGT]

I have a Snap on 1/4 inch impact and it has been one of my favorite tools for years lol

 

[General karthief]

I'm sorry guys, but anybody that uses a 1/2 drive impact to put fender bolts or valve cover bolts on needs to STEP AWAY FROM THE TOOLBOX...

That is absolutely NOT what that tool is designed for.

This is what air ratchets are for.. and the are some "impact" screw gun type tools out there that are hex drive I suppose you could adapt to drive smaller sockets with, and I believe there is even a battery powered ratchet on the market now.. but dude. 1/2" impact on valve cover bolts? That's like nailing trim boards with a 14 lb sledge hammer.

Well, that explains why my girlfriend won't let me do any wood work around the house. Didn't take long to learn that I can't weld wood together either, local fire dept was kinda upset too!

 

[Boosted92LX]

I think you're violently agreeing with me ... in an over lecturing sort of way

You can take it how ever you want..

If you took a job as a mechanic and the man that owned the shop saw that happen you'd most likely be fired.. not over lectured. I've been pulling wrenches since about 1986 and I've known since at least that long that's a nono..

Just sayin.

 

[stpete]

You can take it how ever you want..

If you took a job as a mechanic and the man that owned the shop saw that happen you'd most likely be fired.. not over lectured. I've been pulling wrenches since about 1986 and I've known since at least that long that's a nono..

Just sayin.

You didn't fully read my post ... you're lecture is off base, thus violent agreement. I should've put a smilie of some form in my reply.

 

[stpete]

I have a Snap on 1/4 inch impact and it has been one of my favorite tools for years lol

I like the switch has forward and reverse. Looks really nice, a little more than I want to spend though ... maybe a lot more

After watching some youtube reviews I'm starting to like the Milwaukee battery ratchets. A couple of them mention that they are way faster than most air ratchets and the form factor looks pretty good.

 

[Boosted92LX]

You didn't fully read my post ... you're lecture is off base

Ok, I re-read it, and I'll admit the first time I read it I didn't get the second half completely because I was too busy asking myself who in their right mind uses that monstrous tool to break off bolts continually. Sorry. It was kind of a wtf thing..

Man I have a very fast and strong 3/8 air ratchet I use that a buddy of mine tricked out for me. He rebuilt air tools and did some custom stuff to it to make it faster and a little more powerful and I've been using it since the mid 90's. Sure, it's loud and tethered but works oustandingly and I can get it into spots a pistol style tool won't fit so I haven't really looked for a replacement... I know what you are askng about is available but other than ripping your head off about breaking bolts I don't really have any helpful input..

Sorry.

 

[RaggedGT]

I like the switch has forward and reverse. Looks really nice, a little more than I want to spend though ... maybe a lot more

After watching some youtube reviews I'm starting to like the Milwaukee battery ratchets. A couple of them mention that they are way faster than most air ratchets and the form factor looks pretty good.

Makita makes a real nice one for a wayyyy better price

 

[stpete]

Ok, I re-read it, and I'll admit the first time I read it I didn't get the second half completely because I was too busy asking myself who in their right mind uses that monstrous tool to break off bolts continually. Sorry. It was kind of a wtf thing..

It's all good. I use the phrase violent agreement as a joke phrase, but it may not come out that way in the written word of the interwebs. Was trying to be a smarta**, but probably came across as just being an a** ... it's a fine line I walk between those two.

 

[stpete]

Makita makes a real nice one for a wayyyy better price

Hmmm, theirs is a little cheaper than the Bosch. I'll have to look into that.

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

I'm sorry guys, but anybody that uses a 1/2 drive impact to put fender bolts or valve cover bolts on needs to STEP AWAY FROM THE TOOLBOX...

That is absolutely NOT what that tool is designed for.

This is what air ratchets are for.. and the are some "impact" screw gun type tools out there that are hex drive I suppose you could adapt to drive smaller sockets with, and I believe there is even a battery powered ratchet on the market now.. but dude. 1/2" impact on valve cover bolts? That's like nailing trim boards with a 14 lb sledge hammer.

I was wondering when it would start making sense...how freakin lazy have people gotten?
But I guess if you just have to be able to spin on a bunch of nuts that a ratchet may seemingly take forever to do,..Most cordless hammer drills have a clutched chuck head that allow you to minimize how hard it'll hammer that screw in. Used in a lower numerical setting, and at the fast speed gear reduction,.. an 18v cordless hammer drill can be set to only apply inch pound torque to a fastener.

 

[stpete]

Unfortunately those hammer drills are huge and won't fit in a lot of places, especially in the Miata. It would be awesome if they added dial-a-torque to the little impacts.