Impact Gun Recommendations

So I’ve owned a 1/2” Ingersol Rand pneumatic impact gun for years that’s served me well which is on its “last leg” and I’m looking to maybe upgrade to a battery powered unit.

Now I understand there’s different torque specs and manufacturers with prices from one end of the spectrum to the other but I’d like to get something mid-range if there is such a thing.

In regards to usage mainly on removing tires and front-end work.

FYI, I’m not a full time mechanic, just a Tundra owner.

Recommendations are appreciated???

TIA,
Griff04

 

I like the Ridgid version. Had it for four years and works great. Lifetime warranty.

I'd recommend looking at a tool lines full offerings, so if you buy other tools you can stick with the same brand. For example, if you want a hedger, chainsaw, etc., maybe lean dewalt. There are better options that Ridgid or Dewalt, but they seem to have the best quality to cost ratio. HD and Lowes often have good sales.

 

Can't go wrong with Milwaukee IMO, 3 yrs going strong same battery too

 

As a fellow DIYer mechanic I have:

Milwaukee M18 mid torque Model # 2962-20, Milwaukee M12 Stubby impact Model #

$169 2554-20 M12 Fuel Stubby 3/8" Impact Wrench (Bare Tool)

2554-20, Metabo HPT 36V mid torque SKU # WR36DEQ4M

Metabo HPT is my Homeowner DIY tool line so that's why I have that mid torque. It has great ergonomics.

Milwaukee has never let me down. The mid torque has taken off every front part that needs removed and the stubby impact is great for under the hood. Although you could go with a rachet over the stubby.

Price wise the Big 3: Milwaukee, Makita and DeWalt are the most costly, but they will not fail you. There are good 2nd tier brands to choose from also: Rigid, Metabo HPT, Kobalt, Flex.

 

I bought the full size DeWalt and while it works great, I regret not buying a subcompact Rigid. Rigid has the best warranty in the business. The full size impact guns won't fit in tight spaces making it useless for a lot of the jobs I've done. They also make a mid size option which may work better.

I'll be buying the subcompact Rigid soon. It costs around $150 for the bare tool.

 

I have the Milwaukee mid torque w/ retaining ring and that has taken off every fastener I’ve needed it to. Also have m18/m12 stubby hex’s for smaller fasteners.

that being said, I have an pretty much brand new aircat I’d sell to you for a song if you want to stay with air

 

Probably smart to treat Milwaukee / Ridgid / Ryobi as the same company. https://www.protoolreviews.com/power-tool-manufacturers-who-owns-them/

They're under the same parent brand and ultimately you're liable to find its the same guts in the same shell. Someone actually took up that challenge last year ... and around the 8:13 mark of this video is a grid if you want an easy comparison between impacts on the market with rankings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRPyL5w5HmQ​

 

PS - I'm the wierdo on team blue (Bosch). Versus team red (Milwaukee), team orange (Ridgid), team green (Hitachi), and I'm former team yellow (Dewalt).

I finally decided to ditch Dewalt, and while the Bosch I went with is technically only 18v, it's doing everything I need it to mechanically, and I dig pretty deep into my vehicles when I want to. Had no problems with tearing down the entire front end, incuding removing CV axle nuts in like 1-2 seconds flat. I was just so impressed with Bosch's standard driver after using a close friend of mine's that I bought one, and I was tired of eating thru Dewalt batteries and having 3 chargers setup ... so I bought a Bosch impact which shares batts with my driver, and called it a day. Sometimes the choice is that simple!

But at the end of the day, if I was starting anew, you absolutely cannot beat a lifetime warranty and I've always been happy with every Ridgid tool I've bought, and I still own every single one of them. I've found the plastics may eventually break, but the internals don't.

 

The older IR's are pretty easy to rebuild if you want to keep it and save a few bucks. You can even extend or shorten the anvil on it, whatever the case may be, to make it more applicable to your specific use.

 

Thanks Ditto for the offer but trying to get away from dragging an air hose around…it always manages to get hung up on something.

 

Can’t blame ya. Went the same route myself!

 

Professional field mechanic here. Dollar for dollar I would recommend the Dewalt XR 20v units.

I own several Milwaukee impacts of various size, as well as the range of Dewalt drivers. I find myself using the Dewalt drivers the most and only bring out the Milwaukees when I want the 90* M12 die grinder or the 3/8 M12 battery ratchet.

While Milwaukee makes a fantastic tool, they can be cost prohibitive for the average hobbyist. And their quality has declined since they were purchased by a Japanese consortium TTI Group. They also build other battery tools that use similar technologies with cost reducing strategies to fit market price such as Ryobi.

I have been satisfied with my Dewalts in the field and home use. For the price they can do 90% of the work of the Milwaukees and their quality and performance is starting to exceed even the Milwaukee tools.

For the Milwaukee fans, of which I am also one, don't take my word for it. See AvE's BOLTR reviews of tool testing and tear downs for example.

https://youtu.be/VNNZdatyxG4?feature=shared

For hobbyist level automotive use pick up the Dewalt 20v XR 1/2 impact, and the 20v XR 3/8 impact. You can usually pick them up in a pair as a kit with batteries. The 1/2 impact is rated for 700/1,200 ft-lbs and the 3/8 is rated for 150 ft-lbs. Between the two tools one can accomplish quite a bit.

 

You don't have issues with your batteries on the Dewalt? It was the main reason I abandoned them. But I got out before the XR batteries were a thing.

 

Well that was an interesting video…I guess it shows that “if you can’t beat’em then just buy’em”.

 

None so far. Have the same set with heavy daily use for the past 5 years or so. I don't use the 2AH as much because of capacity, mostly use the 4, 5, and 6AH XR batteries. I can usually use the bigger batteries for about a week of daily use before charging.

Only battery issue I had was dropping one tool off the roof of a generator some 15 feet up. It cracked the battery case. There are case replacement kits on scamazon for cheap so I just swapped the internals into a new shell.

My favorite thing about the Dewalts is the belt hook. They are a lot more secure and robust than the Milwaukee version.

The Dewalt hook is at the very bottom of the tool and the way it hangs off my pocket is far more secure than the small Milwaukee hook at the back of the tool. The Dewalt is a much more natural feel as the weight is pulling away in the direction of the hook. The Milwaukee is more of a pivot point.

I'm more scared of dropping the Milwaukee when it hangs. The Dewalt I can shake and move and climb without worrying between tool uses.

I also like to use the Dewalt belt hooks to hang my tools on a peg board in the garage.

 

This thread should be a poll on the different options. Team Milwaukee here.

 

1/2” mid torque Milwaukee here, haven’t touched my aircat 1150 in a long time.

 

For what it's worth, I have friends that work for TTI/Ryobi and Milwaukee is almost treated as its own island. All of those brands' design teams basically operate independently.

I'm a fan of MKE but they're all honestly good. The advice of buying into an ecosystem applies here. DeWalt has more specialty in carpentry/woodwork, MKE in the trades, Ridgid as cost benefit, and Ryobi as less frequent/DIY type.

 

I am (was?) a fan of the Milwaukee high torque 1/2" guns. We use them at work in industrial construction and are constantly amazed at their power. That said, a year ago I got a notice that they changed the anvil design and the new ones aren't as good. I haven't checked back to see if it's been fixed or if it's time to swap to another brand.

This is coming from a guy with a ton of DeWalt stuff, historically they didn't have the high torque equivalent, maybe now?

 

The video above backs this up, and makes it appear as though Ryobi/Ridgid are basically twins. That said, if you look closely at the internals design for the anvil, for example, this and a couple other small internals appear identical to Milwaukee.

 

I got a Ryobi on sale that has rebuilt a front end, installed 3 lifts and rotated tires on 3 trucks, 2 golf carts and boat trailers 20+ times; I’ve been shocked at how well it has performed. If you can find a deal, don’t hesitate to grab the Ryobi. Plus I use the crap out of the little inflator!

 

I don't know the extent, or if, they share supplied components for purchasing power, but you'd guess there has to be some of that going on.

 

Another vote for Team Milwaukee. I have a few iterations of high torque and mid torque drivers, as well as an m12 stubby. They have all been great.

I don’t have the newer high torque with the different anvil design, but talking with the local Milwaukee rep (he’s a friend; well, more like an drug pusher/enabler..) they put a stop sale on those for a few weeks while they changed/rectified the design. I seem to recall they went back to the better design.

I’ve also been told that while Milwaukee, Ryobi, etc are under the same umbrella company, they treat Milwaukee as the golden child (and rightfully so!) and basically a separate entity.

As other have mentioned, the m18 batteries are, IMO and IME, superior to other brands. They are all 20v batteries so ignore the marketing hype of other brands being a 20v platform and Milwaukee only being 18v. But the interface they build between tools is significantly better for supplying power without overheating or damaging cells or tools. They also use premium cells; most other brands don’t, including Ryobi. I don’t recall where I happened upon a chart of brands vs cell mfg and type, but I wouldn’t trust half of them in my home. Period. I bought my first m18 kit 11 years ago and I still have the original batteries that came with the kit. They were completely discharged and charged twice a day for almost three years before I started collecting more batteries than I had tools. They still hold charge and run low draw tools. The origins impact and drill have both been rebuilt (under warranty - go milwaukee!) and still work despite having upgraded several times since the.

So, yes, you pay a premium for Milwaukee but you get a premium tool. Right now, look on Home Depot Milwaukee special buys, or Acme Tools, ToolNut, CPO Milwaukee, Ohio Power Tools, and a few other places I can’t think of off the top of my head right now. They often have free battery deals, or killer bundle values.

 

Thanks River for the input

 

Well I honestly didn’t expect this kind of response from my post. Thanks for everyone’s input. Will have to do some more research and then make a decision…

Thanks,
Griff04

 

This has already been said, but whichever brand you choose, mid-torque will take anything you need off. The compact bodies with swivels are convenient.

 

Milwaukee Fuel. It is a "Hoss".

 

^^^ We run the 3/4” version at work. Nothing beats the Milwaukee fuel line. Ryobi is junk, doesn’t matter that Milwaukee owns them. Cheap homeowner junk.

 

I had a pneumatic IR as well for many years. I received a Milwaukee M18 for Christmas one year and never looked back. It is a beast and will tackle pretty much any DIY effort you throw at it.

 

I have Milwaukee and DeWalt and prefer Dewalts XR series of tools the most.

I strongly recommend looking at the entire line of one makes tools. I find Dewalt is consistently at the upper end of performance with good pricing.

I’ve personally not run into the battery issues mentioned in previous post. However, apart from a hedge trimmer and my hammer drill, rarely ever are these tools experiencing sustained full load. Even then, the batteries have performed very well.

I love the mid-torque impact though. It’s gotten me out of a few bonds with stubborn fasteners.