http://www.caranddriver.com/features...tested-gearbox

I have the Makita one, which they rate as the strongest. It does work good indeed. I also have a smaller Makita 1/2 drive impact which I use a lot more because it is much smaller and lighter, uses the same battery, but is of course not as powerful. Great tools.

 

IR just released one as well with more power than all of those, but it has a price tag about double.

 

good article

 

Buddy of mine just bought the Bosch 3/8s and 1/2in versions. He can't stop talking about how great they are. He pulls crank bolts with them at work all the time. He is very pleased.

 

snap on is by far the best cordless impact you can buy. it is a beast

 

Its powerful but so damn expensive, and you only get old Ni-cd technology. No thanks, not the best. Try Milwaukee or Makita. Milwaukee Lithium batts I've seen go for 6 weeks of everyday use in a heavy equip shop. That alone get my money....

 

It's li-ion now too

 

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

WOW, huge money for very little extra benefit.
$100+ more than the Bosch and only $25 extra ft lbs at an extra 1lb weight penalty.

http://www.boschtools.com/Products/T...TH181-01#specs

Not worth the extra money to pay some guy to show up every week in his shiney truck.

 

i just got that dewalt for x-mas

 

thanks for posting this, as I've been in the market for new cordless tools

 

I've had a IR 19.2v li-ion 1/2" very pleased and it will do crank bolts but it's one top heavy mother. i'd recommend getting the 14.4v variant or indeed a bosch/milwaukee/makita set up. matco/snap on will put a little extra into their units but not justifiable by the price.

http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.c...0-KL2.asp?rt=2

reference of the one i own and use.

 

Do you guys recommend using these to fasten bolts using torque extensions?

 

That's what I do, but I use my smaller 18V Makita 1/2" one to do that. The big monster Makita one I have might overpower the torque stick.

 

thanks for the link. my longnose 19.2V Chicago electric aka the "good" HF electric impact that they only sold for 1 year is finally starting to give up the ghost. thanks for 7 years of loyal service :tear:

 

Weird that they chose only to test the Milwaukee 2652. That's the light-duty wrench. The 2662 (what I just got for Xmas) is twice as powerful.

Got any favorite brands/sources of torque sticks?

 

Have the snap on 1/2 and the 3/8 and the drill . The guy with the shiny truck shows up every week but it is also a good deduction at the end. Plus it's on credit.

 

Do these tools still make loud clacky noises? The last battery powered impact wrench I used required earplugs.

 

Really? that's the Milwaukee they chose? I own the BIG(er) gun and it's an absolute beast. Plus it lasted me a 4 day race weekend using only half a charge on the battery. Both the little and big gun are the best I've ever owned. Several at the track have tried them and bought them as a result.