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HF Impact Wrench Review

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Old Jun 18, 2003 | 10:11 PM
  #1  
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From: RIP Craig Jones
Default HF Impact Wrench Review

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...46701



I picked it up for $119 last week in the store in Richmond, along with the $11 replace it even if i run over it w/ a dualie 1-year warranty. I also picked up a set of metric deep impact sockets for $20, even has a 32mm in there (but no 12mm... odd).

The battery charges really quickly (less than an hour). Lugnuts are a joke with this thing. Tonite i was helping a buddy w/ a timing belt/water pump job and it pulled off the crank bolt without even working hard. I tested it on my axle nut last week as well.... same story, pulled it right off. Brrrt zing! Beats needing to stand on a breaker bar.

This impact gets from me.
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Old Jun 18, 2003 | 10:15 PM
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Default Re: HF Impact Wrench Review (.RJ)

Damn I didn't know there were electrical ones.
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Old Jun 18, 2003 | 10:17 PM
  #3  
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Default Re: HF Impact Wrench Review (Mjfan12)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mjfan12 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Damn I didn't know there were electrical ones.</TD></TR></TABLE>

better than needing air... and its perfect for taking it to the track.
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 12:03 AM
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Default Re: HF Impact Wrench Review (.RJ)

I'm waiting for mine to arrive (online mail order). Do you think its safe to use it on lug nuts? I'm just worry that it might strip the treads or somthing.
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 12:58 AM
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Default Re: HF Impact Wrench Review (KekeK-18)

The impact wrench should only be used to take things off the car.. unless the particular wrench has an adjustable break away torque setting. You'd be much better off just using a torque wrench to put things on the car.

I realize your post could have implied removing lug nuts.. but.. meh
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 04:09 AM
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Default Re: HF Impact Wrench Review (KekeK-18)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KekeK-18 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm waiting for mine to arrive (online mail order). Do you think its safe to use it on lug nuts? I'm just worry that it might strip the treads or somthing.</TD></TR></TABLE>
One of my lugs was stripped when we were using the impact on monday. It was the first time the lugs have been off since I bought the car, so it could have been stripped already.
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 04:17 AM
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Default Re: HF Impact Wrench Review (elgorey)

I doubt it was the gun's fault - i pull lugs off my cars with my dad's 600 ft-lb IR gun at his shop whenever i'm in there and never stripped one. It didnt look that bad, just chewed up enough where i wouldnt use it again.

RJ
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 05:13 AM
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Default Re: HF Impact Wrench Review (.RJ)

Use the gun to remove, then use it to spin on, but tighten with a torque wrench.

We bought one of the $20 cheapie cigarette-lighter impact guns for use at autocrosses a few years back. It spins up for a second, then "bang", then spins, and usually the second bang is enough to take of a lug nut. These things supposedly have a limited life time, but ours is still working fine to this day. I think its a good value, but if you have the money one of the ones above is probably better long-term.

Either one is way better than using your fingers and an x-bar.
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 05:42 AM
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Default Re: HF Impact Wrench Review (.RJ)

Thinking of getting one of those myself and the impact torque sockets ($99) too....geez and I lazy.

Mike
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 05:44 AM
  #10  
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Default

that thing kicked serious *** last night.
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 05:50 AM
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Default Re: (JMU1337)

Thanks for the recommendation -- I'm going to buy this before I go out and get an air compressor & IR impact wrench. If it doesn't handle the worst jobs I throw at it, it'll still be a good trackside companion.

harborfreight.com sells it for $149. I searched the Web and couldn't find it any cheaper. If anyone finds it cheaper on the Web or a store in Atlanta, please post the info. thx
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 06:02 AM
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Default Re: (SpiceyRice)

I would call them and see what you can haggle - if there's a HF store near you, i'll email you the HTML file i saved as my list of chit to buy when i went to the store that shows the price @ $119, and they'll match it in-store.

RJ
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 06:08 AM
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Default Re: (SpiceyRice)

I've seen a couple ebay sales on it with impact sockets for around $140. The HF catalog I got in the mail lists it for $129.

Mike
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 06:32 AM
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Default Re: (.RJ)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would call them and see what you can haggle - if there's a HF store near you, i'll email you the HTML file i saved as my list of chit to buy when i went to the store that shows the price @ $119, and they'll match it in-store.

RJ</TD></TR></TABLE>

no HF store around here... shows $149 on the website... anything I can do to get it for $119? looks exactly what I was hoping to find. (along with HF's aluminum jack which I'll buy first)

edit: speaking of which - is the one everyone talks about:
http://www.harborfreight.com/c...40105
or is it the $299 / 2-ton version? Seems like this one would do everything I need and sits a half-inch lower or something
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 06:35 AM
  #15  
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Default Re: (uncleben)

you could always try haggling with them since it was on sale last week (w/o any mention of when the sale ended), or just tell them the catalog price was $129...
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 07:43 AM
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Default Re: (uncleben)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by uncleben &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

(along with HF's aluminum jack which I'll buy first)

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I just picked up the HF jack. My store had the blue ones for 189, regularly 199. But the website had them for 159 bucks...... I printed it out, and they matched it.

As soon as I got home, I lubed it everywhere with Mobil 1 synthetic grease. So far it's perfect. Very smooth. They would have matched the price of the silver one for 149 as well, but I thought that having the "blue sheep" in the family might let me keep it longer. Engrave that sucker too!

I've used the Snap-on cordless impact, which obviously works nice, but I'm thinkin that the HF would be a lot less apt to get swiped. Might just have to pick one up.
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 08:01 AM
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Default Re: (Shortbus)

Just a couple of notes...

The HF model doesn't have a variable-speed trigger. To some this will be a negative...

Also, spare batteries are not available so if you burn one out, you'll need to buy another gun. But at a buck-twenty, I guess it wouldn't matter if you can get a couple years out of it...

Just FYI
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 08:25 AM
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Default Re: (JMU1337)

too bad yall didn't line stuff up right the first time......


how'd that thing do on the crank pulley bolt?
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 08:45 AM
  #19  
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Default Re: (chad)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">too bad yall didn't line stuff up right the first time......</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah. We're dummies.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how'd that thing do on the crank pulley bolt?</TD></TR></TABLE>

As soon as i took off the pulley and lower cover i smacked myself with the 2lb deadblow. Crank was off one tooth. Just made sure to do it right the second time The gun pulled the crank bolt off w/o hesitation.
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 09:03 AM
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Default Re: HF Impact Wrench Review (.RJ)

How many Volts are they ?? If they are 18 Volt, let me know...I "may" have a battery or 2.

Jeff
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 09:22 AM
  #21  
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Default Re: HF Impact Wrench Review (jasyatz)

19.2V
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 09:52 AM
  #22  
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Default Re: (Shortbus)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Shortbus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just picked up the HF jack. My store had the blue ones for 189, regularly 199. But the website had them for 159 bucks...... I printed it out, and they matched it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

just got mine

i'll get the impact gun on the next pay check, lol
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 09:56 AM
  #23  
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Default Re: (uncleben)

How does this one compare to the snap on's
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 09:57 AM
  #24  
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Default Re: (uncleben)

I want to buy one of those jacks too..... but i have been eyeing this tool set also... http://www.sears.com/sr/produc...w=Yes
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 10:01 AM
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Default Re: (.RJ)

lol

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Vehicle Description

Too Fast, Too Furious VTEC Engine.. Original Owner.1995 Si Hatchback last year they made it this is the exact car in the 1995 Cleveland Car Show. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Edit: looks like you changed your link before anyone else noticed... haha
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