So I've gotten a 'yen' to go ahead and tool up, including getting a 12V or cordless impact wrench. The ones I've seen generally fall into two categories: the 'toy' impact wrench, price is somewhere from $40-$60, it uses a ciggie lighter connection or other high-gauge wire; the other one is the "no nonsense" Makita or DeWalt cordless, costing no less than about 4 times that.

Is there a middle ground? I'm tempted to just go with the expensive one but expensive doesn't always mean better -- unless you're talking a manufacturer like DeWalt or Makita.

How do they work in general? We had a dude with one on the last Paragon run I made, and a noob who didn't air down his tires was very grateful as he tore a sidewall on a stump. This guy Just lugged that thing over and whirr whirr, tire was loose.

Opinions?

 

My Toy mechanic friend has both a 3/8 and a 1/2 Snap-on Cordless battery powered impact gun and they are awsome!! I had one of the cig lighter ones and threw that thing in the trash. It was not worth the time or aggrevation. Spend the money, it is worth it!

 

What is a good air wrench to change lugnuts?
Thanks

 

Snap-On, huh? Hadn't thought of that.

Yeah, spending the money once is always preferable if you're buying quality stuff. Thanks.

 

I will only use Snap-on or Mac for air wrenches. I haven't tried a battery-powered impact wrench though..

 

The one I use on the trail is a 110v model. Smaller than the industrial 12v version, with all the torque. A lot cheaper too

I plug it into my inverter when I need to use it on the trail and some of the folks around here can attest to it's effectiveness

 

How big an inverter do you need to run it? (Yeah, I know, I could do the math myself, but it's easier to ask you what YOU do.)

 

I run a 1500/3000 inverter wired to an external outlet in my tool box. Flip it on, plug a cord into the outlet and I have power

 

What about Grizzley (http://www.grizzley.com)? They have a couple of pneumatic impact wrenches for fair prices.

 

I have a corded Milwaukee with 300 ft lbs that wreaks havoc on rusty Wisconsin bolts.

I wouldn't mess with a cordless one, for the same price you can get a corded one with some real power and weight to it.

 

For trail work, it might be a little difficult -- although not impossible -- to bring a 3HP compressor delivering 12CFM. I'm primarily looking for trail capability.

For that matter, the inverter's sounding kind of neat. I think I have an inverter somewhere; have to see if it has the cojones to run a 120VAC impact wrench.