Electric Impact wrench
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Arlington, TX
Electric Impact wrench
Anyone here ever use an electric impact wrench? I was at the local sears enjoying "shopping" with the wife and an electric impact wrench caught my eyes. It's a Craftsman Professional series tool with a max ft-lb of torque rated at 240lbs. This would be perfect for remove/replace the wheels on my F150 with the 150lbs torque recommendation. Anyone know if these are comparable to the common air ratchets? I would just buy an air compressor settup for the $179.00 cost but I live on base and the only power outlet in the front is from the 300" of extension cord that I run over the roof to the front. I know this is kinda redneck but who cares, I don't . Thanks for any advise/experience you all can share.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Homer, Alaska
Maybe I'm dating myself, but I "hate" electric" tools when air is available. Most of the time (IMO) they don't perform as claimed or are a dissapointment at best. However, it is usually a lot easier to get an extension cord to a tool than an air hose. Why don't you ask them to demonstrate on your truck before you buy it? Or maybe ask the mechanics at Sears what they use?
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: eastern Ma
rare
When I worked as a tech, many years ago, I used air. We had one older guy who used the electric. He admitted that the air wrench was better, but he often did work at his home. He didn't want to invest in a compressor, so it worked out for him. I've seen him brake lug nuts loose with it. I wish I had one. I've had a pro model I.R. air wrench sitting around for 30 years now. 200' is a long extension cord, best to use at least 12 guage to keep voltage loss to a minimum.
New User
Joined: Feb 2004
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The Milwaukee is plenty strong for most applications. (Not sure about Craftsman) Great for running large lag bolts in wood. BUT, if you're going to need other air tools in the future, take the plunge and get a big enough compressor to start with, then air tools one by one.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: NW
I had an electric. It was OK, but not as good or powerful as air. Buy an air wrench if you have air available. HOWEVER, I have seen some 12 volt electrics, that are extremely handy if you have a flat out on the road. Or buy an inverter, and the 110 volt electric, and you have the same thing.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
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From: Pflugerville, tx
these are awesome. Find a Harbor Freight, cause you can buy the same gun for $49 most months. I bought the Sears one before I knew about HF, when I was working on my sons 66 Chevy pickup drop project, also LONG before I got my compressor.. I still use the electric every now and then, and my kids use it all the time..
Sam
Sam
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For the average back yard guy, they work really good. I have used them several times and they have never let me down. The good ones really put out alot of torque.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Arlington, TX
Thanks for the input. My daily use would be very light, just removing lug nuts and possibly bolts later on when I install my lift. I would definately go with air, but like I wrote earlier, no storage space for the compressor and no power outlet in the front.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Pflugerville, tx
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Akron Ohio
I use an older chicago electric model(harbor freight) and it has never let me down. Torque is fair, have never come across something that it wouldn't take off although lots of PB blaster was used. Go for it, -4speed 
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Joined: Jul 2003
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Dewalt has a cordless impact driver available now, but I have never tried it. They claim 300 ft/lbs, but that sounds really high for a cordless. Has anyone ever used one of these?
http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/to...productID=6347
http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/to...productID=6347
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Vermont
I work in a tire store and have tried both craftsman and snap on love them both when I go on a road call I have no air and the big 18volt snap on broke free some badly rusted lugs on a 79 f150 no problem definetly worth the money won't go without the latest project was a lift in a blazer that had been sitting for 3 years rust was no stop for the cordless impact we never turned the compressor on once
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Wichita KS
I used to use one when I was hanging garage doors. We used Craftsman with good luck. I also didn't have a compressor then and used it on my truck all the time. You can usually get more power out of an air unit but with electric you don't have to listen to a noisy compressor or wait for air to build up before you use it.
Duane
Southeast Kansas Coordinator
Duane
Southeast Kansas Coordinator