Electric impact wrenches

[AlpineWhite]

Morning all,

I need some advice on electric impact wrenches. I need one for home DIY use. It won't be used very often, but it needs to be fairly capable - think crankshaft end bolts etc.

Should I go for corded or battery? I'll always be near a socket in any case. Budget £100 absolute tops but as always, the lower the better.

Am I asking for the impossible? if not, recommendations please!

ta

edited for spellign. that'll teach me for posting on a mobile.

[RicksAlfas]

I've got one of these...
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
...and it's brilliant if you're doing heavy duty stuff, removing old rusted bolts, swapping wheels etc.

I wouldn't want a corded one.

[Shaun_E]

I've got the Clarke one linked above as well. I mostly use it for changing wheels which it does very well. I think it would probably do a crankshaft bolt but I've never tried it. It comes with 2 batteries as well which is very useful!

[TAHodgson]

Can't really recommend a specific tool for the job, but your choice for a cordless electric one is right. I find them much more reliable and torquey than air powered ones.

[AlpineWhite]

Thanks chaps. good job it's payday! I'm off to splurge some cash.

[R26Andy]

I bought a one off ebay for about £30 quid, looks like a piece of shhh, but its got one hell of a kick. it was something like this...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-2-12V-Impact-Wrench-Kit-35...

[Rockatansky]

I had the Clarke cordless one but got rid as it was getting pretty weak.

I've not replaced it as yet, but I'd be tempted to go corded as it may not be as susceptible to diminishing performance.

[voicey]

I have the Clarke corded wrench - I'm yet to find something it wont undo.

[Nash_wrx]

I have the Snap on cordless, it managed the crank shaft bolt on a pajero 2.5TDI
with no problems, it gets used and abused regularly, mostly for wheel nuts but occasionally
every other bolt/nut that it giving grief.

[RicksAlfas]

voicey said:

I have the Clarke corded wrench - I'm yet to find something it wont undo.

I had a couple of nasty old exhaust bolts which it wouldn't undo, so it just snapped them in half.

[redstu]

RicksAlfas said:

I had a couple of nasty old exhaust bolts which it wouldn't undo, so it just snapped them in half.

Wow these tools are powerful.
What would have happened if they had not snapped, would it turn you round instead?


Edited to add ;

Ive just found out how they work from wikipedia!

Edited by redstu on Friday 18th February 12:16

[RicksAlfas]

redstu said:

Wow these tools are powerful.
What would have happened if they had not snapped, would it turn you round instead?

Yes.

You have to hang on to them pretty tight. The only downside compared to an air tool is that they are heavy so can be quite hardwork if you are working underneath a car for example.

[Ade07]

Clarke corded one is excellent for the money!

[jammy_basturd]

I've got the corded version of the Clarke one linked above (though it is much more powerful)
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...

Had to buy it after starting the rebuild on my TVR engine. Tried everything to loosen the crank bolt, I had a breaker bar with a 3' extension pole that would shift it after 3 days of trying. Tried heat, cold, banging, everything. That impact wrench shifted it first time after a few seconds. One of the best power tools I've ever bought.

The beauty of an impact wrench is that you often don't need to secure whatever it is you're trying to undo as it won't turn the object when it kicks in.

Never had a problem with it being corded either.

[nonuts]

jammy_basturd said:

I've got the corded version of the Clarke one linked above (though it is much more powerful)
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...

Very tempting, the cordless (think it's 18v) one I bought is crap at anything serious but that looks like it would do the job!

[jammy_basturd]

I can't imagine you'll ever find anything that this won't undo (or eventually just break off if seized). I can't imagine the amount of effort (mathematically) I was putting into trying to turn that crank bolt but it must have been pretty massive. I was amazed at how effortlessly that wrench did it!

[rsv gone!]

I've seen the snapon one in action. It made easy work of the centre hub bolt on my Evo.

I have a Hitachi 18v one, bought as a bare unit as I re-use the Li-ion battery packs from my drill (which is excellent). The jury is out at the moment. It certainly can't cope with my 46mm rear hub bolt on my bike (supposed to be 150lb/ft).

[voicey]

RicksAlfas said:

voicey said:

I have the Clarke corded wrench - I'm yet to find something it wont undo.

I had a couple of nasty old exhaust bolts which it wouldn't undo, so it just snapped them in half.

Been there too!

It seems the corded wrench has gone up in price - I only paid £40 for it 18 months ago.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

R26Andy said:

I bought a one off ebay for about £30 quid, looks like a piece of shhh, but its got one hell of a kick. it was something like this...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-2-12V-Impact-Wrench-Kit-35...

I've got one of these and it's superb. I got mine from Woolworths when they were on offer for £14.99 several years ago.

Don't buy a cordless one...when you need it (which isn't very often) you just know the battery will be flat or knackered through lack of use.
These cheap 12v ones run perfectly through the ciggy lighter or clamped to a battery.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

R26Andy said:

I bought a one off ebay for about £30 quid, looks like a piece of shhh, but its got one hell of a kick. it was something like this...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-2-12V-Impact-Wrench-Kit-35...

I've got one of these and it's superb. I got mine from Woolworths when they were on offer for £14.99 several years ago.

Don't buy a cordless one...when you need it (which isn't very often) you just know the battery will be flat or knackered through lack of use.
These cheap 12v ones run perfectly through the ciggy lighter or clamped to a battery.

ditto.