Inexpensive impact tool (set?)

[Frank]

I try to do as much on my own as possible, and have run into a problem using a ratchet set to break free some bolts when working on our vehicles (frame bolts, brake bolts, etc. on Ford Fusion and Nissan Frontier, others). I need to break down and buy an impact tool (not a breaker bar), but need to do it as inexpensively as possible. Would a corded impact tool be adequate for what I need? What brand/type should I be looking at, if I will only use it occasionally to break loose bolts on our vehicles? Since I have Kobalt chrome ratchets for home use, I guess I will need impact ratchets as well. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Topic

[Andrew Button]

Milwaukee 18 volt fuel impact and gray pneumatic sockets and you will be set. Amazon has all of it

[James O’Hara]

[quote=”andrewbutton442″ post=147011]Milwaukee 18 volt fuel impact and gray pneumatic sockets and you will be set. Amazon has all of it[/quote]

Welcome to how to spend a lot of money. unfortunately it is what it is. Gery Pneumatic is some of the best bang for the buck for sockets. Milwaukee and IR are both very formidable brands but, with the Milwaukee you can expand to other tools if need be the IR doesn’t have as many options.

Impacts
Milwaukee Electric Tool 2763-22 M18 Impact Wrench, 1/2″
or
Ingersoll Rand W7150-K2 1/2-Inch High-Torque Impactool, Charger, 2 Li-ion Batteries and Case Kit

1/4″ Drive Sockets
Grey Pneumatic (9771) 1/4″ Surface Drive 71-Piece Complete Socket Set

3/8″ Dive Sockets
Grey Pneumatic (1281) 3/8″ Drive 81-Piece Master Socket Set
Grey Pneumatic (GRE1100) 3/8″ Drive 6 Piece Adapter/Extension Set

1/2″ Drive Sockets
Grey Pneumatic (2200) 1/2″ Drive 6-Piece Adapter/Extension Socket Set
Grey Pneumatic (2229UJ) 1/2″ Drive x 1/2″ Male Universal Joint with Friction Ball
Grey Pneumatic Corp 1326MD 1/2-Inch Drive Deep Length Metric Master Set – 26 Piece
Grey Pneumatic 1326M 1/2″ Dr. 26 Pc. Shallow Metric Socket Set
Grey Pneumatic Corp 1319D 1/2” Drive Deep Length Fractional Master Set – 19 Piece
Grey Pneumatic (1319) 1/2″ Drive 19-Piece Standard Length Fractional Master Socket Set

or 1/2 Drive combos (less sockets, but has universals)
Grey Pneumatic (1328RD) 1/2″ Drive 28-Piece Standard/Deep Socket Set
Grey Pneumatic (1430MRD) 1/2″ Drive 30-Piece Standard/Deep Metric Socket Set

[Frank]

I really appreciate the suggestions so far, but $400 is more than I need to spend. This would be used only occasionally to break loose a bolt that I cannot seem to get with a wrench or socket. How many ft/lb torque minimum would I need?

[zero]

If you read the specs on lower priced cordless (or even corded) impacts, a lot of them only offer about 200 ft lbs of break away torque. That’s pretty easy to exceed with a breaker bar. Alternatively you could spend $200 on a compressor and just piece together some air tools as needed since a used Ingersoll 2135Ti will outdo a new $50 gun.

[wafrederick]

If you are not going to use it a lot,Harbor Freight has some good impacts and don’t buy their $20.00 impacts.I have read good reviews on them on a tool forum I go on to

[James O’Hara]

I own the corded HF Electric Impact it sucks. I am better off with a breaker bar and a hammer. Anyway you cut it you are looking at between 300-400 dollars for an impact whether you go air or you go electric. If you do choose between the two I would suggest air but, its going to prob be more then 400 but, it is a lot more versatile.

For Air you have to get a compressor, fittings, airline, thread dope, impact. If you go Electric you have to get battery powered which means you have to pick a brand and hopefully there are other things you can do with that battery setup. Air has the ability to get more stuff but, without a decent size tank you are really looking at like a 1-2 punch instead of hammering away. Impacts require a fair amount of air.

How about you take some pictures of what you are dealing with upload them and tell us what you have in the way of hammers, prybars, pipes, breaker bar, sockets, any type of torch even propane type, and what penetrating oil or other petroleum stuff sitting around. Maybe we can come up with some solutions that will make it so you don’t have to buy an impact quite yet and you can save up for one and buy it as a xmas present or something.

[John B Kobberstad]

Get yourself a good breaker bar and a heavy duty piece of pipe to fit over it and extend it to give you more leverage. That should allow you to get most things loose. Personally I have a Dewalt 20V Max that I carry with me in my 96 Chevy Silverado Dually and it will take the lug nuts off the wheels with no problem. It’s also been able to do anything I’ve tried to do with it so far.

[wafrederick]

Harbor Freight does have some good air impacts,their Central Pnuematic 1/2 impact has great reviews.There are 24 inch flex headed ratchets in 1/2 drive out there now.I have the Matco with the metal posi locking head which is not cheap.Snap On has one too,not cheap either.Kobalt has one also,about $70.00 last time I checked.I use my Matco as a break bar,have not broken it yet using it this way.

[Author]

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