New Impact Wrench

[Indian Territory]

I got a new impact wrench for Christmas. It's a Dewalt high torque max xr with a 1/2 inch drive. Real world numbers put it at right around 895 foot pounds.

I've needed one for a long time, but have always found something more urgent to spend my money on. Up until now I've been a stand-on-the-wrench kind of operator, now and again fitting a come-along into my Rube Goldberg setup on really stubborn bolts. I'm glad to have graduated!

But my question is, just how much capacity do I need in the real world, and will this model do the job? While I've now and again tinkered with an actual tractor (tire spacing, etc.), almost all the work I do myself is on implements—both building and adjusting them. We don't use Nebraska-sizes planters or anything, but I do have several cat. II implements in the 2,000–3,000 pound range that we put to work on the strawberry acreage. I've got a 10' Maschio Tigre flail mower, a 7' Maschio C tiller, a Rain Flo 2670 raised bed maker and plastic mulch layer, etc.

So my question is, am I set up or do I need something even bigger? Oh, and is Dewalt the one to have? How does it compare to a Milwaukee?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[slckeys]

If you're using it for vehicle lugnuts, and general tractor and implement work...I can't imagine it not being enough. I got the Milwaukee M18 high torque a few years ago, and there hasn't been anything I've used it for that it couldn't handle. The only downside was it's size. It was too bulky for some tasks. The M18 mid torque was on sale last year, so I jumped on it. Haven't had a real chance to use it except 1 Jeep tire. That had plenty of power.

I'm not sure DeWalt impact sizes, but if it is a full/high torque like you say...I can't imagine it not being enough. I watch torque test channel on YouTube. I believe that's a highly rated model if memory serves correctly... Congrats on the new toy to make jobs easier!

 

[bdhsfz6]

I bought the same DeWalt wrench as a birthday present for myself last year. It handles tractor & truck lug nuts with no problem. It appears to apply the same amount of torque that I can with a standard breaker bar.

So far, the only thing it wouldn't do was remove the spindle bolts from my 3pt mower. They were factory installed and I needed to use a breaker bar with a length of pipe to get them loose. Not sure why they were installed that way. I now use the DeWalt wrench to install & remove them and have not had any come loose.

I have both Milwaukee and DeWalt tools but only the DeWalt torque wrench. The other tools I have seem comparable. I suppose both brands have their good and bad points.

 

[Hay Dude]

I got a new impact wrench for Christmas. It's a Dewalt high torque max xr with a 1/2 inch drive. Real world numbers put it at right around 895 foot pounds.

I've needed one for a long time, but have always found something more urgent to spend my money on. Up until now I've been a stand-on-the-wrench kind of operator, now and again fitting a come-along into my Rube Goldberg setup on really stubborn bolts. I'm glad to have graduated!

But my question is, just how much capacity do I need in the real world, and will this model do the job? While I've now and again tinkered with an actual tractor (tire spacing, etc.), almost all the work I do myself is on implements—both building and adjusting them. We don't use Nebraska-sizes planters or anything, but I do have several cat. II implements in the 2,000–3,000 pound range that we put to work on the strawberry acreage. I've got a 10' Maschio Tigre flail mower, a 7' Maschio C tiller, a Rain Flo 2670 raised bed maker and plastic mulch layer, etc.

So my question is, am I set up or do I need something even bigger? Oh, and is Dewalt the one to have? How does it compare to a Milwaukee?

Thanks for the advice.

I have the 60V 1/2” big impact and it’ll bust 22.5” rim lug nuts or bush hog blade bolts. I have been very happy with it. I do think DeWalt needs a lineup of cordless 3/4” and even 1” impacts.

 

[5030]

NEVER tighten anything bolt wise with an impact wrench, loosening is fine however. Always use a torque wrench to tighten any critical fastener as you have no idea how much tightening torque an impact wrench is producing. Real simple

 

[needmoredirt]

NEVER tighten anything bolt wise with an impact wrench, loosening is fine however. Always use a torque wrench to tighten any critical fastener as you have no idea how much tightening torque an impact wrench is producing. Real simple

Yup.

Start by hand, snug w/impact, finish w/torque wrench.

 

[newbury]

Dewalt high torque max xr with a 1/2 inch drive.

Which one?
There are several which claim about that amount of torque or more and different web sites report numbers around that.
I had needed a high impact and I'm invested in DeWalt 20V/flexvolt. So last summer I bought the DCF900 (w/5AH batt, charger and case) IMMEDIATELY when it went on sale for $200. No Analysis, just slam the credit card down.
Now after I got it I'm also wanting a mid-range, the 900 is heavy after a bit of use and I usually don't need THAT much torque, most of my use I got by with my 887. But that didn't even cut it with bolts on the truck tires.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Your impact will be fine, it will be great on farm equipment, tractors and trucks. If I was starting over buying power tools I would go with Milwaukee Tools over DeWalt but I have alot of DeWalt 18V and 20V tools so I'll just stick with them. That exact impact you have is the one on my radar, but my old 18V just won't die (and it also doesn't have near the torque capacity that your new one has).

 

[Bearsixty7]

That DeWalt sounds Comparable to the Milwaukee 18V Model 2767 Impact wrench I have and it has been a great addition, possibly the most frequently used tool. I have used to remove lugnuts with ease on many times, It is perfect for swapping out ZT mower blades in seconds (Mine and my Dad's). I used it to remove brush hog blades so I could put on anti-seize.
I was struggling to get the anode out of a water heater and using a big ratchet I was turning the water heater and had no way to stop it then I thought of the Milwaukee, had it out in a second! It's so handy it stays in the Truck so that it's always with me for any trailer I might pull.

 

[Indian Territory]

Which one?
There are several which claim about that amount of torque or more and different web sites report numbers around that.
I had needed a high impact and I'm invested in DeWalt 20V/flexvolt. So last summer I bought the DCF900 (w/5AH batt, charger and case) IMMEDIATELY when it went on sale for $200. No Analysis, just slam the credit card down.
Now after I got it I'm also wanting a mid-range, the 900 is heavy after a bit of use and I usually don't need THAT much torque, most of my use I got by with my 887. But that didn't even cut it with bolts on the truck tires.

Cool. Yeah I also have the 900.

 

[5030]

I tend to use an air impact versus a cordless one. My Thor 1/2" drive delivers 1400 foot pounds nut busting or bolt breaking torque and 1200 tightening though I never tighten anything except A325 dome head plow bolts on snow plow cutting edges with it.

You might want to look at the new HF Hercules cordless impact. According to TTC it beats them all and costs a lot less.

Keep in mind that the same outfit owns Milwaukee and DeWalt and they are both produced in the same Chinese factory, probably on the same line, just different colored over moulded handles. I much prefer air operated over battery powered for most jobs I do. I've had exceptional luck with the HF Bauer cordless tools but far as max torque, they don't cut the cheese. My Thor will wind off most ANY nut it encounters and if it don't it will shear off the bolt.

I also own an IR 1" drive impact that will wind off ANY nut. Of course it's heavy and an air hog too and it was expensive but 10 hole bud wheels, no issue.

 

[5030]

IMO, DeWalt's batteries blow. I have just one and no more.

 

[sea2summit]

I have needed a 3/4 drive only because I hate using an adapter on the really large sockets. But with an adapter my 1/2 Milwaukee has gotten everything off to include large truck tires.

 

[Indian Territory]

NEVER tighten anything bolt wise with an impact wrench, loosening is fine however. Always use a torque wrench to tighten any critical fastener as you have no idea how much tightening torque an impact wrench is producing. Real simple

Yeah that's an interesting point. I've heard of torque gauges that can be placed between the impact and the nut. Besides being stupid expensive, are they any good?

 

[5030]

You mean a 'Torque Stick'? Never used them, don't want to but HF sells them btw.

 

[Indian Territory]

You mean a 'Torque Stick'? Never used them, don't want to but HF sells them btw.

The one I've seen was a digital getup. Like $400. It wasn't just a bench tester. It was meant to be used on the project. I'll have to see if I can find it again. I don't doubt there are several at any number of price points. I probably don't need one.

 

[BlueKnife]

So my question is, am I set up or do I need something even bigger?

More than likely, what you have will do fine. Use it for a while and then you'll know.

Oh, and is Dewalt the one to have? How does it compare to a Milwaukee?

They're both fine. Most folks find that it makes the most sense to stick with one brand so that you can use the same batteries in all your tools. I have Dewalt 20V tools and Milwaukee 12V tools and have used plenty of Milwaukee 18V. They all work great for their respective intended purposes. If you do decide to mix it up, there are adapters available so that you can use different brands of batteries on different tools. They're a bit clunky, but are cheap and handy to have around.

 

[chim]

I have a DeWalt 899 and it does everything I need it to. We did a head to head with the Milwaukee hi torque at work not too long after I got it on Gradall lugs and they were a dead heat. The newer 900 has even more torque.

I have a fair amount of experience with DeWalt on my own and at work. With the exception of hardware chain stores, our company was one of their major customers. There were weeks when we had hundreds of tools at a time shipped in. After they went with the 20V Li-Ion batteries we had near zero battery problems. Run time on the "brushless" tools made the old 18V tools look bad. The old 18V NiCad batteries didn't hold their charge like the 20V Li-Ion.

EDIT TO ADD: Found a picture taken a few years before I retired during one of the 18V for 20V trade-in campaigns.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Get it. You'll never regret it.

Years of using air impacts, I'd only use them when really needed; now, it's just so convenient. I've got a DeWalt myself, but I can't recall which model.

 

[newbury]

The one I've seen was a digital getup. Like $400. It wasn't just a bench tester. It was meant to be used on the project. I'll have to see if I can find it again. I don't doubt there are several at any number of price points. I probably don't need one.

No, you need to know the torque when you are tightening the nuts to the bolts.
I used to rely on a 1' handle and put 220 lbs on the handle. But with the advent of gauges like the HF Torque Adapter it's easy to check and relatively inexpensive. Wait until they come on sale.
But like all gauges they probably need occasional checking to see if they are running true.
/edit - and I only use the HF Torque Adapter without the impact. Either with a socket wrench or breaker bar.