Impact driver shopping, what sort of torque should i be looking?

[corsacj]

Thinking of treating myself to an impact driver, either cordless or corded mains powered

I find myself looking at the torque ratings on them most, what is an adequate torque for mechanicing work, things like stubborn shock bolts and the likes? and what other stats should i be looking at?

In no rush to purchase one, as im heading off to uni next week, but starting to accumulate a better set of tools so that i can work alot more efficiently at weekends etc

 

[Mark_C]

I've a battery wrench that is SUPPOSED to have something like 700lb/ft of breakaway torque, needless to say I ALWAYS end up using the CP air impact gun.

They're decent if youre stuck for changing a wheel etc, but pish when the going gets tough.

 

[dross432]

i got an air one supposed to be doing over 300, but its only as good as the compressor its being used with 4 bolts and the compressors done lol. most of the time i just use a breaker bar to get things started if it doesnt move with one of them then it usually snaps off lol

 

[Nicky]

Snap On 18v is the only 1 worth buying, and unless you're using it pretty much daily, it's not worth spending £600 on.

I've used Draper, DeWalt, Sealey 24v and a few others and they all require a breaker bar for wheel nuts, bottom pulley bolts and drive shaft nuts, but the Snap On gun is yet to be beaten, even with fusty subframe bolts and diff internals which are thread locked...

 

[Rob]

I have a Makita ordered, supposed to go to 440lbs, will believe it when I see it, but it fits the batteries and charger I already have and should do the job nicely for all its costing.

Snap On seem to be the unreputed winner in this department, but as a hobbyist I can't justify the £400 price tag.

 

[Nicky]

£400?

The new 625lb/ft gun is over £600 ffs... On the plus side, it'll undo anything and outlast everything...

 

[Rob]

Foooook! That's getting into money I'd rather spend on a 2 post!

 

[corsacj]

£400?

The new 625lb/ft gun is over £600 ffs... On the plus side, it'll undo anything and outlast everything...

626lbft? Use that on a saxo and it would probably write the fecker off! lol

Id definitely not be into that budget, just isnt justifiable when i wouldnt be using it enough

 

[Nicky]

Foooook! That's getting into money I'd rather spend on a 2 post!

Yeah, and when ya buy a 2 post, only then will you realise how much you need/want a gun as everything becomes so much more accessible... Then when you have that, you want transmission jacks, oil strainers, a huge compressor for undersealing etc... Tis a vicious cycle... Lol

 

[MattW86]

I got a Sealey 24v cordless off of TforTools in Lurgan for £124, cant fault the thing. (only used it for wheel bolts and the odd stubborn bolt)

Matt

 

[Stuart]

found with battery impact guns they run out of breaking power after about a year (snap on ones included)

cant beat a well oiled air gun!!

 

[mk2driver]

found with battery impact guns they run out of breaking power after about a year (snap on ones included)

cant beat a well oiled air gun!!

Snap on one hear, about 5 years old, maybe more and it has never missed a beat. Still hasnt lost breaking power and I am yet to find anything to beat it when its fully charged. If you do find it losing breaking power it is probably because the battery has lost some of its conditioning and therefore not delivering the same power.

 

[steenson]

ive looked at these too but think money would be better spent on a compressor and an airgun unless you can afford the snapon one, momentum motorsport seem to have a few of them which is what started me looking.........I looking at tools i dont have ive a habbit of buying things i dont need lol

 

[Coog]

I've a Sealey rated at 200lbft, got it 2-3 years ago and was using it today to take control arms, etc off the Jeep without any major difficulties. It's not epic, wheel nuts might need a hand (though didn't need a hand today right enough) and really bad bolts still need the breaker bar, but it was something like £100 and I've found it invaluable regardless of what everyone else is saying above. One of the best tools I have.

 

[steenson]

whats the model number coog and how log does it last before it needs a charge?

 

[Coog]

I'll find out the model number later. Battery lasted long enough to do this... I then gave it a top-up over lunch (30mins) to get everything back together again.

 

[Daviddunlop83]

I've a snap on one. Best thing I've ever bought TBH tho might change it to new model.

It did struggle with bottom shock bolts on a focus that havent been out in 135k tho even with a breaker bar they wouldn't budge so can't blame it

 

[mikey]

AFAIK Ingersoll Rand have a 20v gun out at the moment which walks all over Snap Ons 18v in terms of bolt breaking power. MAC tool man told me during the week MAC in conjunction with Milwaukee tools are relasing a gun next year which is meant to be even more powerful still.

cant beat a well oiled air gun!!

Agree. In the workshop I prefer the 1/2 air gun as it is shorter in length and more manageable than the Snap On cordless (regardless of the air hose), with more power and a fraction of the price.

 

[Daviddunlop83]

Agree a good Ingersoll Rand air gun is hard to beat

Tho air isn't really option for me hence I went for the battery powered gun

 

[rupertfinch]

I have a mains powered Clarke one from machine Mart. 60 quid ish. Not great build quality, but having hung from bolts with a breaker, this thing chewed them up. BUT its length means it can't access some more awkward fittings.
Edit. 450nm of torque. I believe it too.

 

[Antoin]

Ive a Chicago Pneumatic air gun and its the shizz!
Had a £35 Sip one before that and the bloody trigger snapped (made of plastic - buy cheap buy twice)

 

[-Pete-]

i was in the same boat and bought a dewalt 110v one from a trade store on ebay. got it for peanuts too! just use it from my 3.3kv transformer, the same one i use for my rotary and its the ticket.
its meant to have about 300 lb but i dont really do too much heavy work with it, more for wheel nuts etc that its handy for spinning them on and off and then just tighten up with the breaker bar

you can pick up the mains ones a bit cheaper than battery last time i looked, but maybe its worht investing in a compressor since you can run a multitude of things from it. if i was buying now, id be going the compressor route.

even 400 quid would get you a decent compressor and a couple of half decent tools/hoses etc.

 

[Coog]

I'll find out the model number later. Battery lasted long enough to do this... I then gave it a top-up over lunch (30mins) to get everything back together again.

Sealey CP1920, £89 online

 

[dub]

Thread res, looking at this Erbauer one as a birthday treat, anyone had any experience with the brand?

http://m.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-eri6041pd-18v-2-0ah-li-ion-cordless-impact-driver/7485f

Just seeing it's out of stock even for delivery....must be popular.

 

[rupertfinch]

You not more in the line of looking for an impact wrench gun, rather than a driver? The link isn't the type of beastie that works on tight nuts, more for battering in a load of screws. On the other hand if it's a load of screws you're needing battering, work away.