Good cheaper impact wrench?

Fallon · Mar 15, 2020

My current impact wrenches have left me lacking on some recent projects. I have a Ryobi One+ 1/2" drive cordless, but it's not that serious of a gun. Neither is the Kobalt? Air powered one that came in a cheap tool kit. Both usually do ok for lugnuts, but I have to bust out the 18" breaker bar a bit.

At the moment I have a 20-30 year old generator trailer. Weighs 200-300lbs with 20-30 year old rims & tires. Neither impact gun cuts it & the trailer is to light to stay put with the breaker bar. No way to jam the rim against the frame either. I end up with similar problems a few times a year.

It would really only get used in the barn where I have good compressed air. So not terribly concerned about portability.

Any recomendations for a good cheap 1/2" impact gun to be used a couple dozen times a year?

ericm979 · Mar 15, 2020

The HF "earthquake" gun works pretty well and does not cost too much. 1/2 in. Aluminum Air Impact Wrench It's noticeably more powerful than the old Chicago Pneumatic (cheapo HF) gun I use for most smaller things. Also make sure you have good flowing 3/8 hose to the gun. I swapped my cheap HF quick connects for Milton V high flow ones. I made some other changes at the same time so I don't know if it was them but the difference was huge. They also connect more readily. A Quick Guide to Air Line Couplers and Plugs

Jchonline · Mar 16, 2020

I have the Milwaukee M18 high torque tool. It is fantastic. Not cheap, but well made and super portable.

EddieWalker · Mar 16, 2020

First time I had to change the blades on my 6 foot rotary cutter, I realized that I needed a better impact wrench that what I had. They are torqued to something like 300 pounds, so I had to find something that could deal with that. I bought an Ingersoll Rand Titanium. It wasn't the cheapest, but it had good reviews, and it got the job done. I've had it since 2003 and it works every time I need it.

Texasmark · Mar 16, 2020

Over the years I have purchased HF impacts because they are cheap. Ever so often I buy another thinking the ones I have are or will soon be worn out. I'm up to 4 ½ inchers and they all still work very well. For a commercial operation/operator I might consider high dollar, but for my farm HF suits me.

downsizingnow48 · Mar 16, 2020

I also have the Ingersoll Rand titanium. I don't often need it but never fails. I also have a Makita cordless 1/2" impact that does about 95% of what I need.

Sonny580 · Mar 16, 2020

I have a Earthquake 1/2" model,---from HF. Something like 12 or 13 hundred power, so far everything I put it on either comes loose OR breaks off!---it'll snap a 5/8 bolt in a flash. I had to set power down and that's a first as my old Campbell never would take lug nuts off real good. Think the HF was on sale when I got mine, then I got some discounts tossed in so final price was around $109 and some change. They are higher now but this model does work. Also a lot different feel when using it, not hard on hands like others!

chim · Mar 16, 2020

On another thread I did a head-to-head with red and yellow. See post# 74:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/408301-snapon-brand-question-vs-others-8.html

Fallon · Mar 17, 2020

ericm979 said:
The HF "earthquake" gun works pretty well and does not cost too much. 1/2 in. Aluminum Air Impact Wrench It's noticeably more powerful than the old Chicago Pneumatic (cheapo HF) gun I use for most smaller things. Also make sure you have good flowing 3/8 hose to the gun. I swapped my cheap HF quick connects for Milton V high flow ones. I made some other changes at the same time so I don't know if it was them but the difference was huge. They also connect more readily. A Quick Guide to Air Line Couplers and Plugs

Ya, I have plenty of plumbing capacity. 3/4" RapidAir hardline, 1/2" hydraulic hoses connecting the compressor. The retractable reel is only 3/8" hose though. Milton Vs on any places I use QDs.

Not sure how the super cheapo gun I have would compare to some of the HF guns. I'm fine with HF quality for the occasional usage I'd give it. Just not sure how it compares for oomph.

Tractor Seabee · Mar 18, 2020

Good and cheap don't run in the same sentence very well. The newer lines brought out by HF have very good reviews but the price is also higher and the discounts are few and far between.

Ron

two_bit_score · Mar 18, 2020

Jchonline said:
I have the Milwaukee M18 high torque tool. It is fantastic. Not cheap, but well made and super portable.

Texasmark said:
Over the years I have purchased HF impacts because they are cheap. Ever so often I buy another thinking the ones I have are or will soon be worn out. I'm up to 4 ½ inchers and they all still work very well. For a commercial operation/operator I might consider high dollar, but for my farm HF suits me.

Milwaukee 2767-22 Impact driver, 2 batts, charger. You will probably never need another heavy duty impact driver again. 1000 on and 1400 reverse.

.

4570Man · Mar 18, 2020

Egon said:
[video]https://www.google.ca/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwjgkbn8g5_oAhUdhVoFHY4sBuEYABAHGgJ2dQ&sig=AOD64_2v1U8CQ4esXqWAE5IpM2DuwpOvAA&adurl&ctype=5&ved=2ahUKEwiZzrD8g5_oAhVLPd8KHWWGCk8Qvhd6BAgBEFI[/video]

One of these??

Chances are a good impact wrench is more expensive and also requires proper air pressure & volume.

Yikes. Over $100 for a wrench to hammer on. I’ll just keep hammering on regular wrenches. And being 12 point sucks. A socket on a breaker bar would be a lot better.

coxhaus · Mar 18, 2020

I now use a couple of Dewalt 20volt impact wrenches for everything I do now. I use the Dewalt small impact with a 2 amp/hour small battery for light every day work instead of a ratchet. I then use my big Dewalt impact 1/2 inch with a 5 amp/hour battery for my tough stuff. Battery seems so much easier than using air hose. My 1/2 inch air impact is probably over 40 years old but still works fine, maybe not up to todays standards. I have an old 3/8 inch air impact that was too much trouble to use with an air hose that I never really used it.

The Dewalt impacts were part of the 18 volt trade up program I got from the Dewalt service center. I never really used the 18 volts versions.

rangerfredbob · Mar 18, 2020

I have one of the Earthquake 1/2" impacts that have the 3 settings on the back of the housing that was mentioned above a few times, I got it on a sidewalk sale for $50. I'm very impressed with it, on low setting it puts out more torque than my other impacts maxxed out and I think it uses less air doing it.

denchen · Mar 18, 2020

Its not every day I need one, but when I do I have one of those that you whack with a lump hammer. No batteries and I`ve not had a nut its not undone yet, mind it has broken a couple off over the years that were stuck fast.

Egon · Mar 18, 2020

4570Man said:
Yikes. Over $100 for a wrench to hammer on. I値l just keep hammering on regular wrenches. And being 12 point sucks. A socket on a breaker bar would be a lot better.

When the going gets tough hammer wrenches rule. Especially with larger bolts/nuts. Pipe will also fit over the end for additional leverage.

For example the higher series of pipe flanges.

handtools · Mar 18, 2020

Another vote for the HF Earthquake, a lot of tool for the money especially for occasional use.

California · Mar 18, 2020

I have the red Earthquake mentioned above that HF has sold for many years. That $99 is high. Often there is a coupon for it. Sometimes down to $77 (what I paid) or even rarely $72.

Power is fine for automotive use. Its rare to need a breaker bar on anything.

If I were replacing it today I would spent the extra $20 (?) for the later one rated 50% stronger and slightly lighter.

I also wished I had bought the long-nose variant because any extension twists slightly and absorbs much of the torque. (photo)

Here's HF's whole variety of impact wrenches.