cheap cordless impact recommendation

[railer]

False, at least mechanically. The nomenclature is different, and one may have a 1/4" hex slot and the other a square head, but they do the same thing. Not that it matters as the OP has abandoned this thread.

Actually I think that an impact driver supplies both rotational and downward force, while an impact wrench supplies only (and typically far greater) rotational force.

But since this sub-forum is titled The Garage and not The Woodshop, and because lugnuts were a specific application that were mentioned, I don't know why the question even came up.

I did find a refurbished 1/2" C3 impact WRENCH D) and battery (NiCD...) at the Sears outlet last night. Total with tax was right around $73 shipped. I couldn't pass that up, and it still has a 1 year warranty. I'll post my thoughts once I get it later on this week.

 

[sontakke]

Keep an eye for sale on Lithium kit. You might be able to pick a different tool with the lithium battery and charger rather buying only battery and charger kit for about the same price.

Also remember to mark the calendar with the warranty expiry date. It is almost given that you will need to get the NiCd battery replaced under warranty during that time.

 

[CZroe]

The Harbor Freight 12v "emergency" impact wrench has worked for me more than a few times. It's powered off your automotive battery (terminals or lighter socket). It even comes in a handy case. I got mine for $25 after coupon. I've always powered it off motorcycle batteries so snowmobiles should work too (same "powersports" battery, right?).

Sure, it's cheap, but that's kinda the point here, right? It's just something to have when you are away from your air tools and electrical sources. I've seen the same tool branded "Kawasaki" even though it still included SAE impact sockets and cost twice what I paid.

Oh, and it is cordless in the sense that you require (needs no access to mains power or an air compressor). Even better because you don't have to keep it charged.

 

[shortylickens]

That is the one I have, and it does work really well.



Very true. A 1/4" hex impact driver won't do squat for lug nuts. Can't believe anyone really things a 1/4" anything would be enough

EAT POO!

I use it all the time.
When we were fixing shit at the gun range I used both my power driver and impact driver to get all kinds of stupid little tasks done.



http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-CLPK27-1...dp/B0046ZRYPE/

 

[railer]

So I got the Craftsman impact in the mail yesterday, charged it up, and then proceeded to run around and loosen and re-tighten every lug nut that I could find. It was like being a kid and getting a new pair of sneaks and seeing how much faster you could run in them.

It popped the snowmobile trailer lug nuts off with no problem. The same with my G8 wheels, which are supposed to be torqued to 125 ft/lbs, but I did not verify that prior to loosening them. It did get hung up on one of my wife's cars lug nuts....but I guess overall I can live with that. I didn't buy this thing to be replace my air impact....I just thought it would be a cool toy to have around when I didn't want to dink around with the air hose.

Overall for the $73 I spent on it I'm impressed.

 

[Brian Stirling]

I use an air impact gun to remove my lugs but I only snug them back on with it. I torque the lugs by hand in 2 steps: first to about 85 ft-pounds then, with a torque wrench, to final torque of 100 ft-pounds. The idea of using an impact gun to torque the lugs is crazy. Yeah, I know, virtually all shops do this, but they don't care if the bolts get f'd up or your rotors gets warped, heck, that's more work for them down the road.


Brian