Anyone using a cordless impact wrench/gun?
This would be used (until I get a trailer) to change street to track tires at the track.
Any experience with the cordless impact wrenches? What are you folks using?

Thanks,
kmickey

 

I used to have one that plugged into the cigarette lighter. Worked nice enough and was cheap cheap cheap. Think I got it at Harbor Freight.

 

I too have the harbor freight one that plugs into the lighter... It works well for getting off lugs... It winds up and then snaps... not real heavy duty, but it does the job... It was like $20 at Harbor freight..

 

Mine's cordless But it has a hose attached to it

 

huh, I think I might have to look into getting one myself!

can you set the torque on these (like on drills with a slip clutch)?

 

Dewalt makes a very nice one.

 

does that have adjustable torque? I dont' want to be torquing up my lugs to 150ft/lbs
or watever the impact gun's capability is...

here's a whole list of them...

http://www.shopping.com/xGS-12v_Impa...kin_id-3062406

 

Mickey, I'll be going to HF next week as they are about 15 minutes from where I work. I have an impact wrench on my list, cordless and hoseless . If I get something, I'll let you know. I too would want something where I can set the torque...

 

I have the cheap HF model that plugs into the cig lighter ($17.99 on sale) It's OK for an enthusiast, but I wouldn't want to make my living with it. NO, you can't set the torque on it, you can't set the torque on most impacts—unless you want to spend gobs of dough!

The torque setting ability is really not a big deal—let the impact hammer twice & finish the last 1/4 turn with a torque wrench.

 

I have the Snap On - I have the 12V gun and just upgraded the battery to the 14.4V. Even the 12V battery will break lugs which I torque between 80-90 ft lbs. No need for a breaker bar!!!

I have used it for years with my BMW Club Race car and I continue to be trilled. As a matter of fact, friends don't even pull out their air impacts as mine is easier to use.

Vince

 

If money were no object, I'd be ensconced in Snap-On!

 

Craftsman has a 19V model if I recall.
The price is upwards of $200. I borrowed my 'truck racer-neighbor-buddy's' a couple of times and wanted to buy one. But why bother, I'll just use his!

 

My wife got me a Dewalt 1/2" cordless 14.4V impact wrench a couple of years ago for my birthday (I love this woman!). I use it mainly for swapping tires on my cars at home and at the track, and it works great. It doesn't have adjustable torque settings (I don't think any of the good ones do), but it won't overtorque my lugs, unless I sit there and let the impact crank on the lugs after they are already tight, and why would I do that? I always use a torque wrench for final tightening after the car is back on the ground, and the lugs are within about 5 lbs with the impact of where I set them with torque wrench (usually 90-95 ft-lbs).

I like my Dewalt because it is small, lightweight, won't overtorque my lugs, has good battery life, and has variable speed. Most of the more powerful cordless impacts like the big ones from Dewalt, Milwaukee, and Harbor Freight all do over 200 ft-lbs and could over-torque lugs, and most of the big ones are single speed only, and are quite heavy. I think my Dewalt impact can be had new for around $200 or a little less at many places.

I find myself sometimes wishing for a little more power, but the 18V Dewalt impacts weren't released yet when I got my 14.4V, and aren't much more powerful, but they do have a little better battery life. Heavier though.

From what I've seen, if an impact has enough power to easily break loose lugs, it has enough power to potentially over-torque lugs. My 14.4V Dewalt will break lugs loose if it has a fresh battery and I let it crank on the lugs for 30-40 seconds, but to save battery life and wear and tear on the impact, I always use a breaker bar to loosen the lugs before jacking up the car. It only takes an extra 2 minutes or so. IIRC my Dewalt is rated at somewhere around 110-120 ft-lbs, but in real life only torques the lugs to 85-90 ft-lbs. Before I had my cordless impact I used my Panasonic 15.6V cordless drill to swap lugs, but with only 35-40 ft-lbs of torque I had to do a lot more of the tightening and loosening by hand.

In addition to my Dewalt I also have had experience with a Hitachi cordless impact (used it on the job for a year or two), it was a good quality impact but not quite as powerful as my Dewalt. I've also used a friend's Harbor Freight 19.2V cordless impact, and for a cheap impact ($120-140) it does a good job with a little more power than my Dewalt.

-Keith

 

I've used the 18v Dewalt 1/2" Impact Wrench. It works very well. Used it all day before the battery went dead. It is a touch on the heavy side, but not having to charge it twice a day was worth it. Plus its good for an arm work out, right?

 

i see! thanks for the info guys! for me, the cheepo $19 one shall do.
I have a deep cycle in my garage at all times under my seat creeper so
i'll just plug it to that.

 

Thanks folks for all the info.

Looks like my wife will be getting a cordless impact wrench for her birthday.

All I want this for is to break over & remove the lug nuts from the very long studs.
I always use a torque wrench to tighten

The HF 19.2V cordless looks pretty good.

When I do get a trailer I'll hook up a nitrogen bottle and use my pneumatic impact gun.

Tony,
Let me know which one you get from HF.
I plan on purchasing one before Thursday
(Tracking at Laguna and Thunderhill next weekend)

 

how convenient! i should buy one for my son's 1st b-day later on
this month. haha

 

I picked up a reconditioned (5 year factory warranty) Milwaukee 18v 1/2" for just under $225.00 .

 

Very nice.
Man, where did you get that at?

Northern Tool sells them for $398 discount!

 

Price has gone up, but here's the link:

http://www.powertoolservices.com/Tools/9079-22.htm

 

Is this the one you have? because there were 3 people that said it
did not work too well (ie: didn't loosen the lugs) over at the Subaru forum...
one person said I can even have his for free.... that bad?!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92349


if not, would you please let me know which part number you have?
Thanks. :smile:

 

That's the one I have. Yeah it's cheap, but it easily loosens lugs that are torqued to 90 ft/lbs

 

I bought mine at Cummins Tools .. similar type place to Harbor Freight .. maybe alittle cleaner inside .....

1\2" rechargable - comes in a little plastic kit .... and works very nice .. to save the gears, I break the lugnuts first - and tighten with the thing - but still use the torque wrench. One charge lasts two changes .. so a two day event works without taking the dharger along. I paid $99 + tx.

 

thanks for the info... hummmm.... guys say it doesn't work too well. maybe
i should just pick it up and try for myself?

 

going to pick-up a cheapo tomorrow at HF...

Mickey, your PM inboxes are full. Trying to reply