impact wrench recommendations

[Baldrick]

hi, im looking to buy an impact wrench in the new year.
im looking at the battery guns, but wanted some recommendations based on peoples' real world use. ive been looking at dewalt, makita etc.
i dont want to buy one then find it wanting, mostly for undoing corroded bolts under cars etc.
looking for new one, prefferably under 300 quid, incl battery..
so what say you? any recommendations? specific models?
cheers

 

[Hitch]

Do you have any other good battery tools?

 

[sg66]

Get the highest torque one you can afford, I use both yellow and red very much of a muchness for the big ones, they won't undo everything and they can snap things......

 

[Baldrick]

ive a couple of old dewalt batteries. had a dewalt drill, its lasted extremely well but its at least 14 yr old

 

[angellonewolf]

prob not the best against the milwalkee but ive got the 2 makitas the 1000nm and ythe 400 and they do a very good job on the times when used

the dewalt ive bought for use at work as they had the batterys and that compaires well to the makitas so a vote for any of them

if your looking to remove the wheel nuts and rusted large nuts you will need the 1000nm ones

 

[angellonewolf]

is used every day job ? or a want as the parkside version was quite good and would remove wheel nuts and cheap for the buck

 

[Baldrick]

thanks ill look out for a 1000nm one.
it will see a fair bit of use.

 

[Guzrik]

I got the smallest Milwaukee last month, considered a small one I would use the most opposed to the strongest ones.
I'm still getting used to the convienience of instant power and no compressor and hoses.
The one time in five years it is too small, I will go back to my 3/4 airgun.

 

[JOEPRO]

Milwaukee impacts are what I use. They take a beating and keep working. Powerful tools and all their range is quality IMO. That's my vote

 

[Migmac]

I vote Milwaukee. But I had the batteries and got given mine when Milwaukee said they were a non viable repair.They don’t like salt water. Easy to repair and you can get oem parts from Ireland a lot cheaper.

 

[reb78]

I have the same question as the OP really. I have Hitachi drills. They are nice tools.. I van get a bare Hitachi impact wrench for around 100£ with 600nm undoing torque. I'd love milwauke but I'd need to spend 250-350 on the tool, batteries and charger.

 

[sg66]

The Milwaukee is 1890 torque for removal, I've still had to revert to breaker bar and scaffold pole but it is a very odd occasion.

I wouldn't be looking at a 1000 for heavy use, I've considered the new 2700 inch drive one for stubborn stuff but it's likely just going to snap more things.......

 

[Baldrick]

what wouild you be looking at- if not the 1000 ?

 

[sako243]

As what @Guzrik said I use my little half inch stubby more than I use the big 1800Nm impact. It's surprising what it does and it's so small, light and convenient.

 

[Trevorleach]

The 1/2 milwaukee is bit of a weapon, gen 2 ones often come up on offer as they are the older model, I tried gen 3 on a nut the gen 2 would not remove the other day, and the gen3 could not remove it either!

The one inch drive is a cumbersome beast, but sure beats faffing about with compressor and hoses.

 

[Craig-SM]

hi, im looking to buy an impact wrench in the new year.
im looking at the battery guns, but wanted some recommendations based on peoples' real world use. ive been looking at dewalt, makita etc.
i dont want to buy one then find it wanting, mostly for undoing corroded bolts under cars etc.
looking for new one, prefferably under 300 quid, incl battery..
so what say you? any recommendations? specific models?
cheers

I’ve got the big Milwaukee M18 High Power and M12 Stubby torque guns. Not much the big one won’t undo but like other brands of torque guns of similar power they can be too big to get at a lot of bolts.
Without doubt the most used one is the M12 Stubby and I’ve just upgraded it to the new Gen 2 with nearly 750nm when paired with the 5ah high power battery which makes using the big one a rarity.
Like yourself I use mine for working on cars, mainly my old Shogun, the older I get the more thankful I am for having torque guns.

BTW both torque guns are 1/2 inch

 

[sg66]

what wouild you be looking at- if not the 1000 ?

One is never going to do it all, you need to decide on practicality and what your intending on doing with it.

 

[reb78]

What model milwaukes are people using? Like 'the 1/2" one' .. aren't there several different 1/2" models?

 

[m_c]

For most stuff, I'd probably go for the new Milwaukee Fuel Gen 3 M12 (@Craig-SM Gen 3 is the latest, not Gen2), which is currently just over £300 with two of the newer high output batteries, but stock is still a bit limited.
Part no of the kit is M12 FCIWF12G3-502X. I've got an eye on it, as I'm hoping it'll drop below £300 next year as more stock becomes available, and it as cheap to buy the complete kit, than just the bare gun and two batteries (it really needs the high output batteries to get full power, as using the Red lithium batteries limits it's power)

I've got the Gen 2 1/2", and for most light servicing work, it does the job and is a nice size to use, so the Gen 3 should do most things.
I've also got the mid-torque M18. Above that, the air gun is coming out.
I've used the M18 high torque gun, but I just find it too big/heavy for regular use.

 

[m_c]

What model milwaukes are people using? Like 'the 1/2" one' .. aren't there several different 1/2" models?

Multiple!
In all of them, you want the Fuel version, as Fuel denotes that it's brushless.
IIRC in M12, there's only the one size in 1/2" (also has a 3/8" option), often referred to as the stubby.
In M18 Fuel, you have one which is pretty much identical to the M12 stubby, just that it uses M18 batteries (I don't think the torque rating is any higher), the Mid-Torque, and the High-Torque.