I need advice from a tool guy (or gal)!

Hi! I'm just doing my Christmas shopping, and my husband said a while ago that he wants an impact wrench. So when I've done searches for impact wrenches, I come up with impact drivers. Are they the same thing, just with a screwdriver head rather than a wrench head?

I'm looking at a cordless Makita, which got some rave reviews. It looks more versatile than the ones that need the compressor (which is a little big to drag down to the house). Any comments on that?

Also, what would be a good impact hammer (that, I know, goes on the compressor)? The prices I saw for those looked so cheap, I couldn't imagine that they would work!

Just trying to give some people a break from thinking politics! :)

Thanks so much for any help.

Impact wrenches
http://www.toolking.com/milwaukee/catitems.asp?parent=178
Their home page
http://www.milwaukeetool.com/site.nsf



An impact driver is typically something you whack with a hammer to loosen tight or stuck bolts. nuts and screws.

An impact Wrench is the tool they use at the place that changes your tires to remove the lug nuts and is usually an air tool
Hope that helps.

They are much stronger, and usually skip the chroming, since that will inevitably fall off due to the violence of the impact hammer/driver/etc.

if you're in the metro Milwaukee area I can recommend Elliot's Ace, HWY 100 & Oklahoma, Pilgrim Rd. & Watertown Plank, and somewhere in Muskego. They have everything, it's what a hardware store should be... they'll be able to offer good advice, too.

That being said, you probably need to find out if he wants the power tool (whether electric or pneumatic) or the thing you whack with a hammer.

but I'm going to forward your recommendation for Elliot's over to my sister, who lives in Milwaukee with her inept, Republican husband! He tries to do stuff around the house, but doesn't know which end of the hammer is up (which, apparently, I don't know, either)

And as far as the hammer vs. power, I think that I have figured out that when he wants both!

An impact driver looks like a big screwdriver handle. You beat on it with a hammer to turn the screw. These are very handy to have to get screws out that won't come any other way, and so cheap you can buy them as stocking stuffers. I think I paid five bucks for mine at a flea market. It's indestructible. You can get 'em at an auto parts store for less than $10.

When you think impact wrench, think "the thing the guy who changes tires at the tire store uses." You can get pneumatic ones, that run on air, and electric ones. Milwaukee and Makita make good ones. (And this from a Porter-Cable fan! Although I do have a genuine Milwaukee Sawzall and love it.) Haven't tried the cordless one, though. If you get a cordless one, look for 18v or larger models. Not sure if a cordless one will get a tire off.

Now let me ask you something: Does your husband already have any "pro-quality" cordless tools--by this I mean DeWalt, Porter-Cable, Bosch, Milwaukee or Makita? If so, make sure the cordless impact wrench you get him is that same brand and, hopefully, voltage. There is nothing worse than owning five tools that all have different batteries. At work we have a toolbox. In it are 20 cordless drills, and every stinkin' one of 'em has a different battery on it. It is no fun to try to root through this huge box of drills trying to find a battery that is charged and will fit on the drill that's big enough to do what you're trying to do, which may explain why there is always a charged drill in the trunk of my car.

Also make sure to get the "impact socket" set--which you need because an impact wrench will destroy a regular socket. They're cheap.

For pneumatics, Ingersoll-Rand makes excellent stuff but it's very expensive. The Campbell-Hausfeld ones that pop up under private labels a lot are okay for homeowners. One thing you need to know if you go with air tools: extend the hose, not the cord. Do not, ever, plug a compressor into an extension cord because you will burn the motor out. But running 300 feet of air hose won't hurt you; I've done it.

And I thought I knew tools pretty well.



http://makita.com/News_Item_View.asp?id=50
Fine Homebuilding Prefers Makita Cordless Impact Drivers

Impact Drivers: Two New Models
From Fine Homebuilding Magazine - September, 2003
If you need to drive lots of screws – anything from lag bolts to drywall screws – get to know an impact driver; it may become your best friend. Although they’re smaller and lighter than their cordless-drill cousins, 12V impact drivers deliver nearly double the torque (rotating force) of most 18V cordless drills. Both Makita and DeWalt have come out with new models, and since my previous look at impact driver, there have been some significant changes.

Controlling the drive speed of impact drivers is essential for trouble-free performance. Unlike cordless drills, impact drivers don’t have clutches. The best way to ease the screw to the desired depth is by feathering the trigger.

The new Makita 6916DWDE which sells for about $250, has fine speed control. It is lighter and more compact than its predecessor, the 6914DWDE, yet delivers slightly more speed (2300 rpm vs. 2200) and torque (887 in.-lb. vs. 870 in.-lb.).

The new DeWalt DW052K, which delivers 1000in.-lb. Of torque at up to 2400 rpm, has plenty of power, but I had trouble getting the driver to rotate very slowly. I finally settled on a squeeze-release, squeeze-release trigger technique to slow the rotation of the driver. Also, I had some difficulty starting and countersinking screws. The DeWalt DW052K sells for about $200. Of the two, the Makita 6916DWDE offers plenty of power and the finer speed control essential for easily driving a lot of screws.



This is one review of the Makita Impact Driver. I know that my husband wanted something with at least 425 pounds of torque, and this is 887. and I thought that the cordlessness would be handier than using the compressor.

HOWEVER, does this just do carpentry/building sorts of stuff, or can it be used for lug nuts on a car, as well? He works on our cars quite a bit, but does a lot of carpentry, as well, so I'd like to find something as versatile as possible.

He does have a nice set of cordless DeWalt drill/saw, but the review of the DeWalt wasn't as glowing as the Makita, so I was tending towards that (it comes with two batteries). Otherwise, your point about sharing batteries/chargers is a good one.

Thanks again for all the replies. I really appreciate the help!

You asked:

"HOWEVER, does this just do carpentry/building sorts of stuff, or can it be used for lug nuts on a car, as well? He works on our cars quite a bit, but does a lot of carpentry, as well, so I'd like to find something as versatile as possible."

Every impact wrench i have ever seen had a square "DRIVE" (the part that turns) o either 1/4", 3/16" or 1/2" It seems to me, most heavy duty units are 1/4" drive. (If "Oldsoldier" has any other advice, please correct me) There are adapters available that will allow you to put virtually ANY tool that needs to be turned on the end of it. So, YES! it can be used for carpentry/building and lug nuts.
Here's a tip. Go to that Hardware store recommended by "phaseolus" above or to your local Home Despot and go into the tool bin/cage/area. Ask the clerk to point you towards the accessories for drills and impact wrenches.

Take a little while to look at all the neato stuff and you will learn a lot in a relatively short time.
PS.....buy me something too!


on edit, i agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY with "Oldsoldier's" recommendation regarding purchasing an "Impact" socket set. MAKE SURE IT SAYS SO ON THE BOX/PACKAGE!!!! Impact sockets are made much stronger than regular sockets and you need the extra strength with an impact wrench.

Sorry MagicRat

Here's a beer :beer:

For delving into the arcane world of power tools to give your husband a happy Christmas! Merry Christmas to you - and I hope you get it all sorted out - I'm sure confused :)

the happier he is, the happier I am! We haven't been married 24 years just by magic, ya know!!! :hug:

AND, I do enjoy learning about just about anything, even if it IS the world of power tools!!! :)