Electric impact wrenches

[C8PPO]

Is this the right area for some workshop talk?

I'm thinking I should put an electric impact wrench on my Xmas list. Not something I need all the time but would come in handy now & then; in other words I don't need one which will survive being used 24x7, but also don't want one which will break at the first sight of a rusty 1/4" screw.

Are the electric ones OK for general-purpose stuff? Or should I go for air anyway? And if electric, then mains or battery? Must admit from a pure convenience pov, battery would be my preference.

[RicksAlfas]

I've got a Clarke 24 volt one from Machine Mart and it's great.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
The only thing is it's heavy if you are using it in an awkward place (under the car for example).

[C8PPO]

Ah, good stuff, thanks!

[P_J_R]

Bought this a few months back http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIte... and it's absolutely brilliant.

[Bosshogg76]

We use these on the rig, it's lasted 4 months so far including being nabbed by the drillers for the day. Granted it is a bit pricey but seems relatively bullet proof.

http://www.toolstop.co.uk/bosch-gds14.4v-li-cp-14....

[King Herald]

Bosshogg76 said:

We use these on the rig, it's lasted 4 months so far including being nabbed by the drillers for the day. Granted it is a bit pricey but seems relatively bullet proof.

http://www.toolstop.co.uk/bosch-gds14.4v-li-cp-14....

How does it perform against, say, a 1/2" air powered rattle gun?

I use an Ingersoll Rand 'Titanium' at work, and it is light as a feather but pretty powerful. I've seen some electric ones but had my doubts. They'd save faffing about dragging air hoses though.

[mad4amanda]

mine came from Euro car parts and is excellent, the clarke ones were out of stock everywhere due to a quality issue and this was the same price as the 250 Nm torque but has 600Nm .
Remember to add some impact sockets to the christmas list too as they are safer I bought the clarke set this weekend from machine mart vat free.

Edited by mad4amanda on Monday 21st November 19:20

[Bosshogg76]

King Herald said:

How does it perform against, say, a 1/2" air powered rattle gun?

I use an Ingersoll Rand 'Titanium' at work, and it is light as a feather but pretty powerful. I've seen some electric ones but had my doubts. They'd save faffing about dragging air hoses though.

It doesn't have the brute force of the air tools, perfectly good at removing things which have reasonably regular maintenance, (as long as the fasteners have been Sweenied on install) You wouldn't want to try to try and take apart some of the really rusty crap. Anything with a fastener over 15mm and looks like it was put in during the initial build I'd head for the airhose.

[kamilb1998]

I have had a Wolf one for almost a year now and it's excellent! It's helped me undo quite a few stubborn nuts & bolts on the ol' Jag.

[With these feet]

RicksAlfas said:

I've got a Clarke 24 volt one from Machine Mart and it's great.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
The only thing is it's heavy if you are using it in an awkward place (under the car for example).

Got 6 of these we use(d) in pit stops. Quite capable and certainly good value for money.
Dont expect them to last forever though. Considering the small amount of work they do, we have had 4 go back and not for the same issue. The place we bought them from are really good and send them off to be repaired - so far always FOC!

[mrmr96]

I've got an electric one which I use on trackdays for swapping wheels. I use a torque li
Icing adapted when doing them up and finish with a manual torque wench.

It's one of the best tools I've got tbh.

[Ade07]

I've got the Clarke electric one and it's been great. Occasional weekend use on my Jag, Hilux Surf and Volvo. Don't know how I managed without it.

[jeff m2]

I have a mains one. (because my puny compressor aint up to it.)
Good for wheels, but where they excell is on suspension work.
So much less blood
Don't forget to get a couple of sets of impact sockets.

[C8PPO]

Great stuff, thanks everyone, comments re impact sockets noted - I have an (ancient) engineering past so I understand the importance of this!

[King Herald]

Bosshogg76 said:

It doesn't have the brute force of the air tools, perfectly good at removing things which have reasonably regular maintenance, (as long as the fasteners have been Sweenied on install) You wouldn't want to try to try and take apart some of the really rusty crap. Anything with a fastener over 15mm and looks like it was put in during the initial build I'd head for the airhose.

Sounds like it might be underpowered here at work. Everything I use a rattle gun on is coated in Copperslip or Neversieze, but smallest thread size is 16mm. Biggest is 33mm

I may put one on my next req though, see what the boss says.

[wolf1]

If you are comparing it with the ingersoll stuff then off to the snap-on van you go. I used to build 27tonne plant carriers/beavertails and needed a battery impact for rectification work/servicing offsite. Only impact that would remove Merc chassis bolts as easily as my ingersoll impact was a snap-on 18v 1/2" drive model.

[Skyedriver]

Was wondering about one of thes but was after a cordless one and they get expensive
Do the ones attached to the car battery (Wolf) ones actually work?
The main ones are cheaper but then you have to keep arranging the cable/extension etc. Could go for an air tool but you have the same problem with hose etc

[mad4amanda]

I had one of the 12vplug in ones for years it was ok eventually the mechanism fell apart completely but given I paid £15 for it in halfords as a special deal I thought it was ok.

[dfen5]

I got a Clarke 240v one. Feck, it'll take yer wrist off if you don't hold it tight at start up..

VAT free promotion on Clarke stuff soon IIRC.

[Rollcage]

Another vote for the snap-on18v here, mine has never failed me yet, even on bd tight hub and crank pulley nuts. I bent a meter bar once trying to get a crank nut off-went and got the impact gun and it was as if it wasnt even tight. Amazing bit of kit-will break bolts clean off if you are a bit hamfisted.