Cordless Impact Wrench - Anyone got one?

You didn't just buy that one on ebay last night, did you? I was watching it but went for a new Sealey 24v instead.

 

It's arrived... it's charged... it spins round... just need to try it on the car now!

 

i wouldnt buy a sealey 1 as techmaster do the exact same gun and they are genarly around 50 cheaper with the same gaurantee
and when i mean identical they are the same in spec shape size weight ect

 

Cool... too late for me, but might help someone else. Have you got one then? Any links to prices/deals?

 

ive got a 3/8 one it cost me 130 with 2 batteries undoes bolts dune up2 140lbft quite easily and the batterys last a gd day when being used constantly in a garage
only prob i had is that i dropped it and it snapped in half but id did drop a gd 6ft but it still worked once i supper glued it back together

 

So if it's 3/8" is that a 12v one?

The 24v one I just bought (125 with 1 battery) is 1/2" drive.

 

the 18v snap-on one is worth every penny and more its superb

 

i got the dewalt one 2 years ago and i havent looked back since, 1/2 inch drive 18volt with 2 batteries alright it cost me 250 but that was 2 years ago, i have probably saved more hours in labour by using it than if id just used brute force and ignorance. Plus it makes changing wheels a piece of P***

 

So... what are the Dos and Don'ts of using an impact wrench?

Obviously I wouldn't tighten anything up in ally threads with one, but can you get away with doing wheel nuts right up, for example?

Have you been able to find impact bits for things like driveshaft inner ends? Or have you got away with using non-impact bits? Any stories?

Any good maintenance tips for keeping it in good condition?

 

Use it more to undo stuff than do it back up, I'd use it to put wheel bolts back in but not buzz them up with it, use a torque wrench for that when it's back on the ground. No real maintenance just wipe it down every so often if it's mucky.

 

Been using the new wrench a bit now... I bought a sealey 24v one in the end - 125 from ToolMania on ebay. Seems to work pretty well - came in very handy in a gearbox swap today - wheel bolts, driveshaft nut, some of the gearbox and starter bolts. I also used it for the inner end driveshaft bolts, after I loosened them a bit with normal ratchet.

Buzzed the clutch pressure plate bolts off in 1 minute flat.

Probably saved me an hour, I reckon.

 

If anyone's bothered, I've got all of them.

2x Sealey 18v
3x dewalt 18v
2x snap on (new style 18v)

The new Snap-On ones (18v, variable speed) are a mile better than any of the others, Then the sealey, then the dewalt.

I wouldn't buy anything other than the snap on ones now and would gladly swap two sealeys or all three dewalts for another snap on one!

Snap on.
Pros:
1. Twice the break off torque of the other ones (~500ftlb iirc) Good for undoing stuff that the last garage monkey gunned on regardless. Rarely find anything it will not un-do.
2. Variable speed/torque trigger for undoing/doing up small stuff. Very good for using on small fasteners that you'd break using an impact gun otherwise.
3. Feels much more solid and well put together than the others. I.E. It doesn't rattle about violently in use like the dewalt
4. Comes with a removeable protective plastic cover to stop it getting all scratched up on the garage floor.
5. Comes with two batteries

Cons.
1. Expensive (350+vat)
2. Heavier than others (not really an issue tho)

Sealey
Pros.
1. Undoes most wheel nuts unless really tight
2. Quite good internals (sounds quite well made in use)
3. Cheap (150 ish)

Cons.
1. Not variable speed
2. Stops as soon as you release the trigger so you can't give it a little whizz and let the fastener do up under it's own momentum.
2. Battery doesn't last very long
3. Battery clips fragile and sometimes battery falls off

De-Walt
Pros:
1. Forward/Reverse on same trigger
2. Comes with 2 batteries

Cons:
1. Undoes hardly any wheel nuts first time!
2. Cheap mechanism (Shakes quito a lot and makes a nasty noise in use)
3. Has an really annoying locking pin that locks sockets on the drive anvil
4. Relatively expensive for it's lack of strength

Oli.
Collector of impact wrenches.

 

That's just greedy!

Do you use them at work then? You've obviously used them a lot, by the detail of your answers.

I'm sure there are a few people on here who would be happy to take your less favourite ones off your hands for a few quid!

I only use mine for working on my own car - so couldn't really justify 350 for a snap-on one. I'm sure the variable speed is really good, but for the amount I need it, I can always use the cordless drill/driver for the small stuff.

 

i got one of those "cheap" 24v ones & was really surprised with it,
it came in its own case, with 2, 24v batterys & 1hour fast charger,
ive had it for about a year & a half now & have used it at work too,
think i only paid about 45-50 for it, and have been really happy with it,
with no probs at all

 

where the best place to get a snap on one from?

 

eBay or a mobile Snap-on dealer - expect to pay 2/3 the price of the website

 

will the mobile snap-on guy sell to joe public?

 

yes.

 

does anyone know if there are any good deals on about at the moment

 

I wouldn't recommend the Draper Expert 14.4v jobbie. Supposed to have a max of 125lb/ft, but that is apparently when doing something up and it has some momentum. Undoing stuff is not its forte, wouldnt undo a wheelnut torqued to 80 lb's. Maybe the bigger one is better??