Low-Cost Impact Guns

[Ross365]

I have quite a limited need for an impact gun; I just do the odd bit of maintenance on my two old cars. I went out some years ago and bought a mains-powered Machine Mart impact gun and that works well.

However, as I head rapidly in to my dotage, having a cordless gun just to make wheel changing easier would be nice and I’m wondering how much I’d have to pay to get something just good enough for such occasional use? As an example, ebay offers this gun at £55
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22644745...owUsBXBdAwwsfZ0Pe+2sRNUDk=|tkp:Bk9SR564gvjvZA

Any advice appreciated.

​

 

[Kram]

Generally, you want a brushless motor one.

However, the Lidl Parkside ones were recently sold for £20 as the bare tool. It does wheel nuts no problem, enough power/gear reduction to work well and it is not likely to burn out any time soon.
I payed £70 a while back which came with battery and charger.

I'd also recommend a cordless ratchet, far more useful for general work, saves a hell of a lot of time when in an arkward position for spannering.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Do you have any other cordless tools? Are you likely to acquire any?

Batteries are a significant cost, so it makes sense to invest in tools that can use what you already have.

I'd echo the above, brushless is the way to go. I don't know about a cordless ratchet though. I have an air one I've almost never used, and can't see I'd ever use a cordless one either, a small impact and decent selection of extensions and wobbles usually takes care of everything.

 

[Agroshield]

As an example, ebay offers this gun at £55

Or this one, at £56.66 with discount until tomorrow. Used by many scaffolders:

Makita DTW190Z 18v Cordless LXT 1/2" Impact Wrench Scaffolding Tool - Bare Unit | eBay

Makita DTW190 is an entry level 18V cordless impact wrench with an optimal tightening torque of 190 N.m. Features include: Electric brake. Variable speed control trigger. Forward/reverse rotation. LED job light. Equipped with Battery protection circuit: designed to protect the battery from...

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Nomad]

I have several genuine Makita 18v LXT batteries & tools, when I needed something recently for a one-off job I got a "Makita compatible" made by Katsu. similar are made by One-Van.
Links & info https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum...r-18v-katsu-fakita-makita-compatiible.138450/

If you have no batteries and have no plans to build up a cordless set of tools, the suggestions from Aldi / Lidl etc make sense...

 

[winchman]

I have a Ryobi it was about £80 a few years ago but I find myself reaching for the Milwakkee as it's like day and night. After buying a used bare grinder, impact driver and drill I now only buy Milwaukee as its so much better.
I have kept the Ryobi stuff going as I prefer there Jigsaw and I have the angle drill but as I only use them occasionally its not worth changing.
Winchboy bought me the 12v 1/2" drive impact its excellent and so compact I use it for almost every thing, if I cant undo it its breaker bar or Winchboys bigger impact

 

[optima21]

when you say "low cost" is that to soften the impact on your wallet

 

[Ross365]

Pity I missed the Makita offer - it's back at £70.
Whatever I might buy is not going to get used very much, and probably for just wheels. Remember that if I have something serious that needs taking off, I'll dig out my 240V Machine Mart gun, which has never let me down!

I've reached an age where it's all too tempting just to go to my mate's garage . I'll check Parkside out. Ryobi is a very definite 'NO!' with me due to previous bad experience with their gear.

 

[Ross365]

The Feytori in post#1 is down to £39.55 now,https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/38761549...a3faf0bb2:g:Z58AAOSw~9xmxGXt&var=654859287648 so "have taken one for the team"

 

[premmington]

Generally, you want a brushless motor one.

However, the Lidl Parkside ones were recently sold for £20 as the bare tool. It does wheel nuts no problem, enough power/gear reduction to work well and it is not likely to burn out any time soon.
I payed £70 a while back which came with battery and charger.

I'd also recommend a cordless ratchet, far more useful for general work, saves a hell of a lot of time when in an arkward position for spannering.

I got a couple of cordless ratchets. Milwaukee - one compact - one really long - both 3/8"

Use them all the while.

---------

The odd think is - I had a drawer full of air 3/8ths ratchets before I bought these and never used them at all. Now I use the cordless battery ones every day!

 

[reb78]

I got a couple of cordless ratchets. Milwaukee - one compact - one really long - both 3/8"

Use them all the while.

---------

The odd think is - I had a drawer full of air 3/8ths ratchets before I bought these and never used them at all. Now I use the cordless battery ones every day!

I don't really like my air impact or ratchet. The impact is a IR one, supposedly refurbed before it was sold to me and has always been less than mediocre - air supply should be sufficient. The ratchet is ok but just a cheap lidl one so needs things cracking off first.

My Parkside impact wrench is better than the air one but still sometimes needs wheel nuts cracking off. I need to invest in something better really.

 

[GRW]

The Feytori in post#1 is down to £39.55 now,https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387615493042?itmmeta=01JE5KR116WS26ZH7R9NG7ERCY&hash=item5a3faf0bb2:g:Z58AAOSw~9xmxGXt&var=654859287648 so "have taken one for the team"

I've jumped in & joined you. I don't have the work to warrant a "Real" impact gun - but from what I've read some of these cheapies are getting pretty good & well up to hobby/DIY.... & at forty quid it's not a big gamble.

 

[hunter27]

I bought a Makita DTW 285 impact that's supposedly 280Nm and I use 5ah batteries and I am totally underwhelmed with it. More often than not i have to revert to my standard ratchet wrench for undoing the Mondeo and Hyundai I30's correctly torqued wheel nuts, it wouldn't budge the exhaust nuts on the Hyundai last week and it's useless on suspension components.

 

[Wildefalcon]

The Lidl battery impact has worked for me for the last few years, it doesn't always win, but that's scaff pole territory....

 

[pedrobedro]

I bought a 1/2" drive Aldi air rattle gun years ago which says to run it at 90psi and it struggled with a lot of stuff but if I turn it up to 120psi it works on most things. I was struggling with some flywheel bolts on a Zetec engine and it whizzed them out no trouble.

 

[Smallfry]

Remember though ........ buy cheap, buy twice.

With a lot of cheap stuff, the batteries disappear off the market, or are ridiculously expensive.

I have got a 1/2 Kielder one, seems to be OK. I use it more than ever thought I would. It does most things I want it to.

 

[Kayos]

I've been looking at Makita compatible ones, however given I have an extensive Makita setup I think I will just buy a genuine one

 

[dobbslc]

@premmington I'm looking for a 3/8" cordless ratchet but Bosch don't make one
All my gear is Bosch so it'll be a wrench to change to Milwaukee but I'm getting tempted.

 

[Smallfry]

I've been looking at Makita compatible ones, however given I have an extensive Makita setup I think I will just buy a genuine one

I you already have batteries and charger, I guess its a bit of a no brainer. I dare say you can buy a bare one.

 

[addjunkie]

My initial thoughts on the thread title…..low cost and guns doesn't normally go in the same sentence. Mine is red and very good.