Best value impact wrench

[Moose McAlpine]

Is hog ring easier to take sockets on and off than the detent pin?

Yes, much easier.

 

[James1979]

Another vote for Milwaukee. I used to have the dewalt and changed platform. The Milwaukee is miles more powerful.

the only thing I would change is I got a hog ring one as that’s what was in stock. Dewalt was pin. Pin is much better for at height work

don’t fall for the hype on the 1” though. It’s amazing for the first few then loses its edge quickly

 

[premmington]

Another vote for Milwaukee. I used to have the dewalt and changed platform. The Milwaukee is miles more powerful.

the only thing I would change is I got a hog ring one as that’s what was in stock. Dewalt was pin. Pin is much better for at height work

don’t fall for the hype on the 1” though. It’s amazing for the first few then loses its edge quickly

I got a couple of these 18v Milwaukee impact wrenches - one low torque one high torque.

They are handy - but I still prefer air impact wrenches.

For all the hype about the Milwaukee M18FHIWF12-0 with 1897nm of "nut busting torque" (I got one of these).


I still have to resort to an IR 3/4 air impact wrench fed down a 1/2 pipe to get some stuff off. Stubborn crank pulleys and hub nuts.

 

[armalites]

Is hog ring easier to take sockets on and off than the detent pin?

I would say the only time the pin is a better idea is situations where dropping a socket will be a pain or you'll never see it again. Scaffolding/aerial work or marine environment for example. If you get the pin in the hole on an impact socket then you need something to poke it to get the socket off.

My best bought a Dewalt with a detent pin, I told him he was making a mistake but the tool shop it was all they ever sold, he ended up ordering a hog ring anvil to convert it.

 

[123hotchef]

I got a couple of these 18v Milwaukee impact wrenches - one low torque one high torque.

They are handy - but I still prefer air impact wrenches.

For all the hype about the Milwaukee M18FHIWF12-0 with 1897nm of "nut busting torque" (I got one of these).


I still have to resort to an IR 3/4 air impact wrench fed down a 1/2 pipe to get some stuff off. Stubborn crank pulleys and hub nuts.

really i have a 1/2 18v milwakee and it does struggle too. the 240V clarve comes out tomplay then. i did thing about the bigger milawakee

 

[armalites]

Another vote for Milwaukee. I used to have the dewalt and changed platform. The Milwaukee is miles more powerful.

The problem is the Dewalt unit hasn't been updated in years but the Milwaukees have, I suspect the big crunch will come if Dewalt bring out a Flex-volt unit. The pricing structures are weird, Dewalt impact is £100 less than the Milwaukee yet the Dewalt grease gun is almost double what the Milwaukee is, the Milwaukee grease gun is brilliant given it costs £160 and the 12v one is only just over a £100

I don't understand why Dewalt don't do a battery ratchet when Mac Tools do and their stuff is based around the Dewalt platform.

Milwaukee torches aren't as good as the Dewalt and blade change on the Milwaukee Multi tool is total pants compared to the Dewalt.

Horses for courses and it's been interesting using my lads stuff because you can what is bettter for each brand. I always said I didn't want multiple battery platforms but I've ended up with 10.8-18V Dewalt and 14.4 Snap On but would happily add Milwaukee too for the grease gun and impact.

 

[Moose McAlpine]

Dewalt impact is £100 less than the Milwaukee yet the Dewalt grease gun is almost double what the Milwaukee is, the Milwaukee grease gun is brilliant given it costs £160 and the 12v one is only just over a £100

My mate recently bought a Milwaukee ½" impact and angle grinder set, on offer, and got a free grease gun for registering the impact online.

 

[daedalusminos]

I think you'll find at the top of the Milwaukee range the they tend to be friction ring for the higher torque....I guess potentially because the detent weakens the drive.

 

[armalites]

My mate recently bought a Milwaukee ½" impact and angle grinder set, on offer, and got a free grease gun for registering the impact online.

I've seen that deal, the farm where my lad does a couple days is buying that kit after seeing his stuff. Sadly it's an M12 grease gun but I'd imagine it's still pretty good. A decent battery grease gun is a revelation, no more issues with those hard to reach ones that need 3 hands.

 

[123hotchef]

My mate recently bought a Milwaukee ½" impact and angle grinder set, on offer, and got a free grease gun for registering the impact online.

Euros

 

[Moose McAlpine]

I've seen that deal, the farm where my lad does a couple days is buying that kit after seeing his stuff. Sadly it's an M12 grease gun but I'd imagine it's still pretty good. A decent battery grease gun is a revelation, no more issues with those hard to reach ones that need 3 hands.

I didn't know they did more than one grease gun. I saw he got it, but he's selling it to a plant mechanic to recuperate some money. Seemed a good deal either way.

Euros

Yes.

 

[angellonewolf]

will you lot stop on the impact gun ive gone on with my air one for the last 2 years
got a dewalt 3/8 thats great on most of what i use mowers and cycles etc

but keep putting off going for the 1/2 inch that ive got meny batterys and 2 charges for

 

[armalites]

I didn't know they did more than one grease gun. I saw he got it, but he's selling it to a plant mechanic to recuperate some money. Seemed a good deal either way.

I'd be tempted by the M12 grease gun as it's cheap and my lad has chargers, the annoying thing is the M18 grease gun they get in the USA is even better than the one we get here.

The UK has dial setting for the amount of grease but the USA get one that has that plus two speed settings.

 

[Moose McAlpine]

will you lot stop on the impact gun ive gone on with my air one for the last 2 years
got a dewalt 3/8 thats great on most of what i use mowers and cycles etc

but keep putting off going for the 1/2 inch that ive got meny batterys and 2 charges for

I've always used and preferred air impacts. A few years ago i bought a repo Snap-on cordless impact, only because it was practically new and half price. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice tool, very powerful.

However, it's big, bulky, heavy. It's not as powerful as my IR impact with a good air supply, much bigger and heavier. While it has its uses, obviously where there's no air supply, i still much prefer my air impacts.

I have a 12v cordless Dewalt ⅜" impact which is really nice for small stuff, but no match for the ⅜" IR.

Of course if you're not in a workshop environment or don't have access to air then cordless is the way to go. But once i have my own workshop again, the cordless will be back to collecting dust.

 

[angellonewolf]

I've always used and preferred air impacts. A few years ago i bought a repo Snap-on cordless impact, only because it was practically new and half price. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice tool, very powerful.

However, it's big, bulky, heavy. It's not as powerful as my IR impact with a good air supply, much bigger and heavier. While it has its uses, obviously where there's no air supply, i still much prefer my air impacts.

I have a 12v cordless Dewalt ⅜" impact which is really nice for small stuff, but no match for the ⅜" IR.

Of course if you're not in a workshop environment or don't have access to air then cordless is the way to go. But once i have my own workshop again, the cordless will be back to collecting dust.

ive a blue point 1/2 air and clark 1/2 electric thats why ive not bought and saving monies rather than spend

 

[Moose McAlpine]

ive a blue point 1/2 air and clark 1/2 electric thats why ive not bought and saving monies rather than spend

I'd stick with those then.

My mate has a 240v corded impact and it's fierce!

 

[skotl]

Is the dewalt dcf899b the best value impact wrench at about £150 for big bolts at the minute.
I've dewalt and milwaukee spare batteries. But the milwaukee range is confusing and I think more expensive.
Even open to suggestions of new air impact wrench. But cordless seems so much handier even just to do a job outside the garage.

I also have one and it's been great when I need it.

Hilariously, screwfix have it for £149 (think I paid ~£20 more for it at SF), but dewalt are advertising it on Amazon at £338

 

[angellonewolf]

I'd stick with those then.

My mate has a 240v corded impact and it's fierce!

only bought my 240 a year ago but its done well for the times ive used it

 

[angellonewolf]

I also have one and it's been great when I need it.

Hilariously, screwfix have it for £149 (think I paid ~£20 more for it at SF), but dewalt are advertising it on Amazon at £338

noo nooo nooo nooo beer and fourm dont mix

 

[James1979]

I have the m12 grease gun. It’s brilliant. If you do a lot of greasing it’s brilliant. I was sold watching my mate push the tracks out on a D9 with his. I put in another thread I upgraded mine with a guzrik locking tip and a 3’ flexi hose

If I bought again it would be M18. The specs are the same. What is different and they don’t really tell you is the M18 has a control so you can set the number of ‘pumps’ when you hold the trigger. The M12 is just continuous. That’s about it I think. They are good.