Why You Need an Impact Wrench
I want to tell you why I purchase one cordless impact wrench. I once got a flat tire in the middle of the road with no nearby repair shops in sight, so I had to change it myself. I had difficulty in loosening the corroded lug nuts on my Honda using a torque wrench. In other words, I spent a frustratingly long and difficult time in loosening the fixings before I had successfully replaced my tires.
The next time I got my tire changed, I was in a car repair shop. My local mechanic did zips here and zips there, and he was done. I was impressed. He recommended purchasing a cordless impact wrench for my own car repairs. He did not need to convince me any further as my arduous history of replacing my own tires without a cordless impact wrench was a nightmare.
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Soon, I was on the lookout for the best cordless impact wrench. Admittedly, I was not able to buy the right one right away. I made some wrong purchases and wasted lots of money. Some wrenches broke easily while others were too heavy for me to use them with ease. So, before you buy your own one, I suggest that you thoroughly evaluate the product first.
Here’s a list of features that a cordless impact wrench should have:
Portability
A cordless impact wrench is highly portable. Its battery-operated feature makes it a grab-and-go tool that you can just throw in your trunk. Keep it charged for emergencies.
High Amount of Torque
There is a difference between a work done by impact wrenches and hand tools. An impact wrench produces far more precise result with faster work completion. This is due to the high amount of torque that it can generate. Look for a minimum of 150 ft-lb torque. Tougher repairs require a bigger amount of torque.
Body Style
Depending on your need, you can choose between a pistol-grip and an inline body style of impact wrench. Pistol-grip wrench is good for general use while an inline impact wrench, due to its small size, makes tighter spaces accessible. Some also have on-tool bright LED lights for illumination while working in dark places. There are models that pay attention to modified grips on the tools to give the user an enhanced control.
Top Picks Cordless Impact Wrench In the Market
Choosing the best cordless impact wrench that is available in the market can be confusing as there are many options available. Higher price doesn’t guarantee that it’s the best option, but an inexpensive impact wrench might fall below the standards that you need for the job in hand. Before blowing off your money, there are factors that you must consider such as its price, your purpose of purchase, and battery.
As an amateur myself, it was difficult to choose which impact wrench I could purchase. After doing some intensive comparative reading, watching video reviews on products, asking around, and based on my personal experience, I was able to make a list of the top impact wrenches you could get in the market.
Editor’s Pick - Milwaukee 2763-22 M18 1/2" Inch Cordless Impact Wrench
Milwaukee 2763-22 M18 1/2" Inch Impact Wrench is the first one on the list of best cordless impact wrenches in the market. It is the ideal tool for professional mechanics and automotive technicians.
The high amount of torque it produces, which is up to 700 ft-lbs of fastening and 1100 ft-lbs of nut-busting, makes it a very powerful tool that tightens and loosens just about anything from screws, studs, nuts and bolts.
The brushless motor allows it to wear out less and cool faster than tools with a brushed motor. Going brushless can effectively make the motor life last ten times.
It comes with ½ inch Anvil with friction ring for easy socket installment and removal.
The model from Milwaukee comes with 2 4.0 Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery packs that allow the user 2x more runtime. It has M18 and M-12 Multi-Voltage Charger and comes with a carrying casing.
Pros
- Battery lasts long
- Fast charging time
- Has dual-mode torque settings for low-torque (200 ft-lbs) and high-torque ( max torque 700 ft-lbs)
- From a trusted and well-known brand
- Variable speed trigger
Cons
- Hefty weight of 15 pound
- Issues with quality control
- Need frequent and longer charging time after months of use
The Alternative Pick - DEWALT DC820B 1/2-Inch 18-Volt Cordless Impact Wrench
DeWalt makes some of the best power tools. DeWalt Bare-Tool DC820B 1/2-Inch 18-Volt Cordless Impact Wrench is an old-school model but is still a highly recommended product.
The frameless motor with replaceable brushes ensures easy maintenance, durability, and longer tool life.
It has an impressive record of 1740 in-lbs for quick fastening jobs. The DeWalt DC820B model has 0-2400 RPMs and a minimum 0-2700 impact.
Its textured anti-slip grip enhances the operator’s control and comfort when using the tool.
You can use this tool in dark, tight spaces because it has a built-in bright LED light and a size of 5-3/4 inches.
You can easily chuck it in the back of your car or bicycle as it is lightweight with only weighing 2.45 pounds.
Pros
- Compact special feature makes tighter spaces accessible
- Portable due to its lightweight and small size
- Can use in tight spaces with built-in bright LED light
- Can remove lug nuts with ease
Cons
- Produces burning smell upon use
- Ineffective in pulling off and holding the sockets in place
- Torque too low to effectively break bolts
Product For Your Money - Craftsman C3 ½" Heavy Duty Cordless Impact Wrench
Craftsman C3 ½” Heavy Duty Impact Wrench Kit is a reasonably-priced tool that does not compromise its quality and capability to complete a job.
For a low rate, you can buy this tool which can produce 300 ft-lbs of torque. It also has a motor that is capable 0-3000 rotations per minute (RPMs). It is lightweight (2.2 pounds) and has 3 built-in LED lights in the front for maximum visibility.
It is a well-balanced, comfortable tool that gives the user great control with its ergonomic micro-texture overmold grip.
Craftsman C3 batteries can stand temperatures from 5 degrees up to 158 degrees, so you can use it in the summer or winter.
The 4Ah XCP Lithium-Ion battery pack is fade-free. It lasts longer and charges quickly due to its multi-chemistry charger. It is convenient to use because it comes with built-in bright LED lights. Overall, it is a cordless impact wrench with the greatest value for its price.
Pros
- Has long battery life
- Good quality control
- Has a grip that provides comfort for users
Cons
- Extremely noisy
- Has issues with durability of the tool and its charger
- Motor brushes come off
Upgrade Pick- Ingersoll Rand W7150-K2 1/2-Inch Cordless Impact Wrench
Ingersoll Rand W7150-K2 1/2-Inch High-Torque Impactool Kit may be an expensive cordless impact wrench. However, it’s an investment worth making.
It is intended for heavy-duty jobs such as suspension work and heavy-duty repairs for professional car technicians due to its 1100 ft-lb nut-busting torque. What’s more is that it has a soft touch over-molded grip for an enhanced comfortability.
This tool comes with 20 volts Lithium-Ion battery and IQV Series Universal charger. It also has a USB cord on the side with high-charge capacity and long runtime.
It comes with a decent, sturdy case kit with a detachable hinge pin to add the other half of the case in your toolbox.
Pros
- Soft touch over-molded grip
- Great power for heavy-duty work
- Comes with a hog ring accessory
- Removes corroded and over tightened nuts with ease
Cons
- Bulky and with a heavy-duty weight of 15 pounds
- Issues with the trigger and switch module
Most Popular Product- DEWALT DCF899HB 20v MAX Cordless impact wrench
For those looking for an established product with a lot of good reviews, DEWALT DCF899HB is the cordless impact wrench for you.
The high amount of torque it generates, which is a maximum torque of 700 ft-lbs and breakaway torque of 1200 ft-lbs, makes it suitable for almost any kind of jobs.
It has three different speed options, from low-power to high-power settings. The power modes switch allows you to control it depending on the specific task at hand. You don’t need to strip threads.
The on-tool LED light with a 20-second delay illuminates important areas when you click on the trigger.
The brushless motor has an electric brake that works well with the hog ring anvil to keep the sockets in their place. It is easy to remove the socket heads with this tool.
Generally, the DEWALT DCF899HB 20V MAX XR Brushless High Torque 1/2" Impact Wrench with Hog Ring Anvil is good for automotive and home repairs.
Pros
- Sturdy and a well-balanced
- Has proven to tighten lug nuts with speed and efficiency
- Able to handle a 6 ft. drop
- Three speed options
- Can generate up to max torque 700 ft./lbs
Cons
- Low spin speed
- Strong vibrations
- Drains and uses battery fast
Beginner’s Choice- Hitachi WR18DBDL2 18V Cordless Impact Wrench
Hitachi WR18DBDL2 18V is a tool for ultimate beginners.
With a weight of only 3.3 pounds, it is more lightweight than other impact wrenches in the market.
This power tool also lasts longer. You can use it for a long time with risking straining your shoulders and/or wrists. Thus, it is perfect for people who are still getting familiar with repair jobs.
This tool also comes with a 3.0 Ah Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery pack and a rapid charger. The 225 ft-lbs of Torque makes it an effective tool for easy loosening of screws, but it is not the ideal cordless impact wrench for tougher jobs like loosening car lug nuts. It has a 4-Mode Selector from 0-1000 up to 2700 rotations per minute (RPMs).
With its bright On-Tool LED light, it can effectively illuminate dark spaces. Lastly, it is versatile due to its 4-Mode Selector that gives the operator control on the RPMs.
Pros
- Good for general construction use
- Versatile
- Comes with a storage case
Cons
- Issues with keeping the sockets in place
- Lack of on-tool mechanism
Will a Cordless Impact Wrench Remove Lug Nuts?
Yes, you can use a cordless impact wrench to remove lug nuts but most lug nuts require at least 100 ft-lbs of torque to remove. So if your power tool can generate a larger torque than 100 ft-lbs (equivalent to 1200 in-lbs in case you want to convert to inches instead), you certainly remove it easily.
However, if the lug nut is frequently exposed to the elements – especially water – the rust on it will make it is hard to remove it than usual. In that case, you will need a power tool can generate more than the least 100 ft-lbs of torque to remove the lug nut. Some impact wrench models can produce over 200 ft-lbs of torque, which should be plenty to remove the stubborn nut.
In the next section of the article, I will help you make your decision to choose the best cordless impact wrench for your DIY project.
Final Thoughts On The Best Cordless Impact Wrench For Your DIY Projects
Hopefully, the guide above has narrowed down your options for you. They are genuinely the top 6 best cordless impact wrenches you could buy in the market. And while you can simply choose any of them and not regret your decision, I’d say that the Ingersoll Rand W7150-K2 and Milwaukee 2763-22 is the best one. If not for its price, I’d recommend it to everyone.
The Ingersoll Rand W7150-K2 and Milwaukee 2763-22 is a bit of an overkill. You can use it in your home workshop. However, it is more appropriate for heavy-duty maintenance and repair. Its bulky design and of hefty weight do not make it portable.
On the other hand, the DEWALT Bare-Tool DC820B and Hitachi WR18DBDL2 18V are more lightweight. However, all of them are not as priced as competitively as the Craftsman C3 ½” Heavy Duty Impact Wrench Kit Powered By 4ah XCP Cordless Tools High Torque.
The Craftsman C3 ½” Heavy Duty Impact Wrench Kit is lightweight, inexpensive, and long lasting. It has managed to satisfy customers despite its shortcomings. It comes close to Milwaukee 2763-22 M18 1/2" Inch Impact Wrench in terms of performance. However, I’m giving it a better rate because of its price. It is the perfect tool to add to your home workshop. There have been no issues so far with its quality control. When caught with a flat tire in the side of the road, Crafstman C3 can easily and effectively remove lug nuts in a snap. Thus, there is no need to fear of getting hit while replacing your tires in the side of the road with this tool at hand.
I hope that you will find the best cordless impact wrench that is appropriate for your needs.