Tools & Fabrication - whats a good 3/8 electric impact wrench ?

just that whats a good 3/8 electric impact wrench to buy ?

Corded or battery?


I've always liked my makita brand drills

I have used both a Dewalt and a Craftsman at the shop. They both work good I would say the Dewalt last a little longer but the Craftsman is older as well. These are both battery powered.

Snap on cordless is the best hands down, craftsman 1/2 impact works ok but my 3/8 snap on is way stronger then the 1/2 craftsman cordless impact. You can always get a 1/2 impact and use and adapter to make it 3/8. That way you get both impact sizes for one price. In that case i would still buy a 1/2 Snap on cordless with a lithium battery if you can afford it. Im a heavy equipment mechanic and i use both all the time. Hope this helps.

Ingersoll Rand

If it's just around your house id say go with rigid...lifetime warranty on everything even the batteries. Never used snap ons but id stay away from craftsman and dewalt...I've gone through a lot of them before I found my makita which is going strong and I beat the snot out of it everyday

Snappy 3/8 all the way i got 2 of them i abuse at work everyday 5-6 days aweek a 1/2 snappy is also the balls but a lil heavier and bulky but u can just step it down to 3/8 i keep my 1/2 at home and even step it down to 1/4 for stuff around the house ive heard good thing about the ir but love the snap on

snap on hands down

Another vote for Snap On.... but I used to have a dewalt and it was very good also... I would stay away from IR electric tools....Also if you put a 18 volt battery on a 14 volt impact its like Nitrous.... strong as balls but it cant be good for it due to the sparks flying out the sides

Snap on Use it every day, on everything... batteries last a long time.

i have the dewalt 3/8 12v lithium and have been using it daily for almost two years. I am a mechanic so it gets used any time i can make it fit into a spot lol. Battery lasts normally all day, and the light feature is awesome for doing dash work or anytime you are in a dark spot. I also have the 1/2 18v dewalt for home use, it works pretty well for lug nuts and such. Its only down fall is its pretty heavy.

Snap On. I use a 1/2 drive snap on impact everytime i work on a car. Works great and has lasted forever

Snap on for sure. Its the best but $$$. I like mine.

can you order the snap on online ? whats the cost ?

We got a set of millwaukee impact about a month ago...i broke a grade 8 bolt with the 1/2 battery impact...

its way stronger than the snap on one we have at the shop IMO

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=yes&tool=power&item_ID=648810&group_ID=682421&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=yes&tool=power&item_ID=648601&group_ID=682949&store=&dir=catalog

the millwaukee stuff looks super nice too hmmm might give that a try

i actually used the 3/8th gun allot... it will take off almost any bolt or nut i need it to... and its striped a few as well... not used to its tourqe vs the makita 3/8ths

Snap on cordless is the best hands down, craftsman 1/2 impact works ok but my 3/8 snap on is way stronger then the 1/2 craftsman cordless impact. You can always get a 1/2 impact and use and adapter to make it 3/8. That way you get both impact sizes for one price. In that case i would still buy a 1/2 Snap on cordless with a lithium battery if you can afford it. Im a heavy equipment mechanic and i use both all the time. Hope this helps.

Half the purpose of the smaller 3/8" impact is size. You cannot fit the big ass 1/2" impact into tighter areas where the 3/8" possible could. Bigger is not always better when it comes to power tools.

Speaking of lithium ion, the snapon rep talked a whole bunch of shit about that battery back when they weren't using it; and like a year later they started using them on their cordless tools, and all of a sudden they advertise the shit out of them on the website, gotta love that shit.

The matco lithium cordless 3/8" impact is decent too, only problem is it only comes with 1 (one) battery. Fucking pointless if you ask me. Of course that battery costs just as much as the impact itself does too. I really wonder how that company is still in business.

Wow i started this thread and then starting looking around didnt know there was such a big market for 3/8 elec impacts. I hate to spend money but thinking im going to buy a 3/8 and a 1/2 want to keep the same brand. now just have to pick the brand.

the millwaukee stuff looks super nice too hmmm might give that a try

Another vote for the millwaukee, i love mine

If it's just around your house id say go with rigid...lifetime warranty on everything even the batteries. Never used snap ons but id stay away from craftsman and dewalt...I've gone through a lot of them before I found my makita which is going strong and I beat the snot out of it everyday

snap on makes some BAD ASS impacts, if you can afford it. otherwise, i would buy an ingersoll or other reputable brand.

Another vote for the millwaukee, i love mine

never seen a milwaukee impact. how much do they run?

never seen a milwaukee impact. how much do they run?

I got mine on black friday so it was 25% off and it was a floor model so it was another $20 off. but normally run around $200 for the 18v kit. That comes with 2 batteries, a charger, and a case

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/lupRfMNLjvKGlUkLSlXkc5tXqyyK3P1QZ9eHJrFJ7M-MGjwt3PnXY5Q54q9gJ25cLlxzGvcFVu4CawL-AaXBWRpVVNrYlgSn7pu-BVQsKmXlcVm2AaJHzdQwx8sRL2iR0hn3ynNEbHKt_gtCq0OwfD u3bXRuQPrsmtdpOXofn2Y

xDirtyx

How do you like it Thats almost what im looking at but with a 3/8 drive on the end

iv been looking for a week couldnt decide between Makita or Milwaukee. neither had an impact with the 3/8 or 1/2 drive on them locally so i just bit the bullet and bought craftsman 1/2 and a craftsman drill just cause theres ALWAYS replacements at sears. never have to wait for restock.

cordless impact good for band clamps on an exhaust? I only ask because I bottomed out and busted a clamp and need to replace it and dont want to take it to the shop just to replace a clamp.

Milwaukee "fuel" series with 18v batteries. Their new brushless line. I just ordered (2) 3/8" and (3) 1/2" compact impacts on top of (3) drills. I dont know if the special is still going, but you can a 3rd battery free as of recently. Thats why I ordered all when I did. Nothing else I have seen or demoed comes close. Snap on certainly doesnt.

Snap on 3/8 is the best no questions asked imo