Looking for a nice impact wrench (air or cordless) that is relatively small that will fit in tighter spots under the car. I don't need crazy torque but something that will tackle most stuff. Probably a 3/8 drive
1. size
2. power,
3 price

Harbor Freight 3/8 impact is $70 and has 300lbft of torque ~ 5 7/8" wide Crafstman 19986 compact 1/2" $179 and has 500 ft lbs... 5 7/8 wide


Also can use a good suggestion on a 1/2 beast for the real tough stuff.

So far:
dewalt 1/2" with 650lb/ft torque for $139
craftsman 19865 has 711 ft lbs torque ~ $175
HF 1/2" has 700ft lbs and is $80

Or any other ideas?

 

Well, if you're willing to spend the money, and think you will use them all of the time. You can't beat Snap-ons Blue Point line, or Matco's impact wrenches. I am a technician at a dealership and I have Matco's 1/2 & its a total beast. I haven't came across anything it hasn't been able to get off.

 

Buy it once and be done with it. HF is good for stuff like pry bars, even sockets, and simple tools.

For an impact wrench, Ingersoll-Rand 2135TiMAX 1/2-Inch Air Impact Wrench

I have a Aircat 3/8 impact ratchet as well.

 

these will be just for home, a few times a year at most.
Snap on and Matco are out of the pricer range, although I know they are great and dependable.

 

I am an ASE certified tech and i bought an AirCat 1300th 3/8" impact about 3 years ago and use it every single day for everything including lug nuts, engine mounts, balancer bolts, etc. i rarely have to break out the 1/2" for stuff. It has worked great for me and i keep it lubed regularly. you can pick one up on amazon for around $140,


I wish i could compare to others but this is really the only one i have used.

 

aside from durability and construction, at the end of the day....
is 700ft lbs....700 ft lbs?

I haven't used many impacts to compare?

 

That one looks nice, 500ft lbs, $140, quiet and relatively compact (6 3/4)

 

It has served me very well!

 

Get one of these. No compressor required. 780 ft-lbs.



If you sign up for zoro.com emails, they'll send out a 30% off notice about once a quarter. Just under $300 shipped with the 30% off deal...

 

Also a great option, or the Milwaukee Fuel 1/2 impact if you can pick one up for a decent price. Only downside is they're heavy and bulky but very convenient if you have plenty of clearance to use it!

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee...3-22/204410433

 

Thats pretty!
Afraid to get it all greasy!

 

Have this one. Fuark wish I knew about the 30% off when I got it. But yea OP, go with electric, no compressor, air hoses or annoying fittings needed. This Ingersoll Rand will do anything.

 

If we're talking battery operated, then I have used this the past 4 years.

DEWALT 18-Volt Cordless 1/2 in. Impact Wrench (Tool Only)-DW059B - The Home Depot

Enough for lugs and mostly everything else (except for crankshaft and axle nut).

 

This air cat looks even better.
smaller 6" and more torque $165
AIRCAT® Pneumatic Tools > Products

 

I have the HF earthquake and I can't tell a difference between it and the 3/8 IR my friend has as far as performance. I'd say you can't go wrong with it or the 1/2. My car has 237K and came from Boston so pretty much everything under the car is rust and it's done a great job. I may go ahead and get the 1/2 this year just to have.

 

Any of those able to break crank pulley bolt by chance?

 

I'd say it depends on your car. Neither mine, nor my buddy's 3/8 or half inch IR can break mine free. He even has an Inductor bolt heater and we still couldn't get it loose.

We even broke 2 half inch extensions using a breaker bar and the crank pulley tool.

We are going to try a 3/4 socket and gun from the boat shop next door. I don't want to spend the cash on a 3/4 gun for a one time thing - even the cheapos are a couple hundred bucks.

 

My electric Ingersoll Rand w7150 couldn't do it until I heated the bolt for about 30 seconds or so. After that it pulled it right off

 

X2 on the 30%. Just got it on X-mas eve. Plan on using it for the first time tomorrow for a lower ball joint replacement.

 

I purchased one of those 4 tool air tool sets by Devilbiss at Sam's Club, and I've been using it on several vehicles since 2002 (13 years). It came with a 1/2" impact wrench. I'm guessing it is rated at 230 ft-lbs, but it is crazy powerful to me (though I've never had to loosen a crank pulley). The toughest job I've used it for is loosening the bolts that hold the A-arm U-bolts on a 3/4 ton truck or maybe the power steering gear. Anyway, my point is that I think it's ok to try something less expensive. As far as longevity is concerned, the tools still work great.

One issue you might run into with a battery-powered impact wrench is its size. I've noticed that my 1/2" impact wrench is tiny compared to my corded electric 1/2" impact wrench, and the battery-powered ones I've seen are relatively large as well.

I also bought a Dewalt DCF886 impact driver for making wooden shelves, but I decided to see if it was powerful enough to remove my lug nuts (so that I wouldn't have to buy another tool), and to my surprise, it was able to remove them! Here is a video of it in action. The 12mm nuts were tightened to 80 ft-lbs with a torque wrench. I was even able to remove 14mm lug nuts, but it struggled a little more. The tool is only 5.55" deep, so it can fit into tight spaces. You could also check out their other compact impact wrenches.


Here's the tool.

DCF886B 20V MAX* XR Lithium Ion Brushless 1/4" Impact Driver (Tool Only) | DEWALT Tools

 

Haven't tried it yet on my crank bolt, but there are plenty of youtube videos of the IRW7150 making short work of a Honda crank bolt....

 

I agree

 

I bought the Bosch unit after reading a review in Car and Driver...it had the best power-to-weight ratio of the ones tested. Not strong enough for a j-series crank bolt removal, but had done pretty much everything else I've asked of it with a low weight and great battery life. Came with 2 batteries as well.

Heeltoe-APPROVED

 

I have the HF earthquake 700lb gun. Owned it for 2 years now. Left it out in snow\rain for weeks and still work flawlessly. If it ever breaks I will buy it again.

 

well all this cordless talk got me thinking!

I plan to get the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Line:
Power, compact and price friendly ( in general)
*3/8 impact wrench 200ft lbs, 5 7/8 long.... for most everything on car ($300 w/ batts & charger)
*1/2" impact wrench.... 1100 ft lbs max torque, 700 forward ft lbs only 9" long... for real tough stuff ($217 w/o batts)
*1/4" m18 or m12 fuel hex impact drill driver just because!!