Recommendations for Impact Wrench

ievoi on 27/04/2020 - 15:32
Last edited 11/05/2020 - 13:34 by 1 other user

Hello,

I have been looking for an impact wrench for my car with the social distance, it means I can to spend more time on my project car.

I am looking at the SCA Toolpro range, there is 18v Impact wrench and [20v Impact wrench] (https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/toolpro-toolpro-impact-w…).

The 18v means I will have to get a battery and charger separately, while the 20v comes with everything. However, 18v seems to be more versatile with other Toolpro tools. The 20v seems unit to be a bit bulkier, less mobile and I don't think it's compatible with other 18v tools.

I am just wondering if anyone used them before and can help with recommendations? My price range is around $150-200 mark, so any other recommendations would also be appreciated.

Automotive Impact Wrench Power Tool

Comments

  • Ronthecrypto on 27/04/2020 - 15:52

    promo product at bunnings

    https://ozito.com.au/products/12-7mm-impact-wrench/

    450NM Torque. can't get better

    • brendanm on 27/04/2020 - 16:14
      +3

      Can actually get a lot better.

    • ievoi on 27/04/2020 - 16:19

      Does the cable get in the way of things? Esp when working underneath the car?

      • brendanm on 27/04/2020 - 16:21

        The fact that it looks to be nearly a metre long probably makes it a massive pain in the ass.

  • ilike-freestuff on 27/04/2020 - 16:03

    I have one of these and it works great, but only worth it if you are invested in the ryobi ecosystem

    https://www.ryobi.com.au/products/details/18v-one-3-speed-im…

  • brendanm on 27/04/2020 - 16:15

    The "20v" has twice the advertised torque. The "18v" will be more compact. What is more important to you? By the way, they are both the same voltage, the 18 is nominal, the 20 is max.

    • ievoi on 27/04/2020 - 16:19

      As in the batteries are compatible?

      • brendanm on 27/04/2020 - 16:20
        +4

        I have no idea about the battery comparability, just that despite the marketing, the voltages these operate at are the same. You'd have to have a look in store and see if the batteries are compatible, or can be "massaged" to be compatible.

  • jackinyourbox on 27/04/2020 - 17:04
    +1

    200nm isn’t really useful for loosening hard nuts. A breaker bar is a lot better if you have good leverage.

    It depends what you really want to use an impact wrench for? I find it most useful in tight to reach areas where you just want to twist on and off but not tighten. Maybe even a power wrench is better in that situation as it’s much easier to handle and get in.
    End of the day think to yourself how many nuts would you do per session?

    • ievoi on 27/04/2020 - 17:51

      Any recommendations on power wrench? I will look into it more.

      • jackinyourbox on 27/04/2020 - 18:17
        +1

        Just do a search for power ratchet. They are small but it depends on your usage. I just use airtools

        • brendanm on 27/04/2020 - 19:54
          +1

          Air/electric ratchets are fantastic.

          • ievoi on 28/04/2020 - 20:20

            @brendanm: Cheers, been doing some research on them. Looks like something I need more so than the impact wrench.

            @jackinyourboxI will take your advice and get that instead.

            • apsilon on 29/04/2020 - 07:17
              +2

              @ievoi: An electric ratchet IMO is one of those last tools to buy. It can be nice to have but it's not necessary at all. You'll use a driver or wrench far more than a ratchet. The ratchets are way lower torque than even the drivers you linked to. Most 3/8 are around 45nm, 1/2 I think around 80nm. That's just not enough.

              I have a 3/8 and I always need to crack the nut bolt with a hand tool then swap to the electric ratchet so 90% of the time I just stay with the hand tool because you don't end up saving much time by the time you swap tools. Doing stuff up, unless it's a free spinning nut they're still not useful. They won't over come a nyloc or slightly dirty thread etc. They only work on pristine new threads.

              If you have to buy one at least buy the 1/2 drive so you get a bit more torque but i think you'll get more use from an impact driver or full wrench.

              • jackinyourbox on 30/04/2020 - 18:56

                @apsilon: It depends what he actually wants to do. Powered rachet helps a lot with fatigue/time when you do heaps of nuts in tight spaces.

  • dasher86 on 27/04/2020 - 17:21
    +1

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/dewalt-18v-xr-impact-wrench-kit-…
    This seems like very good value for Dewalt - you also get 2 x 3ah batteries and a charger.
    Great value as 3ah batteries appear to be $89 retail on their own.

    oops seems to be out of op price range.

    • ievoi on 27/04/2020 - 17:53

      Yeah, I saw that one, kind of tempted. Is Dewalt significantly better?

  • apsilon on 27/04/2020 - 17:59

    200nm is not sufficient for vehicle work. I have a impact driver (which is really what OP has linked to) that's 250nm and it's only good for small bolts and screws. I have an impact wrench that's 700nmn and is far more useful for the size of bolts found on cars but the wrench cost $600 and the driver about $200.

  • Euphemistic on 27/04/2020 - 18:57
    +1

    Have you got any other 18v tools? Like a drill? Consider getting a brand that you can expand on with other tools. I have Ryobi and the impact driver works well enough, takes wheel nuts off easily and worked on a stubborn mower blade bolt too. I started with a drill and some other skins hence it was cheaper to get the impact driver skin having already got batteries.

    Don’t forget you’ll probably need to get some impact sockets too.

    While the 20v driver linked his more torque it’s unlikely to be the ‘extra volts’. It’s likely a new battery standard for the toolpro range, but will be the same number of cells in the pack. The motor might just be able to draw more current.

    20v is often used as ‘marketing boost’ due to the max vs nominal voltage of the cells giving different results.

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