Battery Impact Wrench

[Rudiee]

Does anyone have any experience with a battery powered impact wrench? I noticed that they have a 400nm one coming up in the "middle of Lidl" in a few weeks. It doesn't seem a lot of money for the power it claims to have. Is it worth a punt? Will it be useful? Here's a link;

https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/parkside-20v-cordless-vehicle-impact-wrench/p10017959

[Adam1958]

It is cheep... but it's not excruciating cheep.
I'm a fan of either so cheep that I'm double-nervous, or just get the thing that does the job.
I've got a few dewalt impact guns and I can't fault them at all... the batteries on mine get used for hours every day and last 3-4 years. You can convert your dyson to use them too. 👌👌

[Alan Drover]

You pays yer money and takes yer choice. Personally I wouldn't bother with it. It says "wheel assembly" in the blurb so will it take heavy usage in other applications. How often will you use it and what usage will it be put to?

[Countryview]

Buy cheap, buy twice...I'm sure we've all tried to save money in the past but when it comes to tools ⚒️ ive found it's never worth it personally.

[gregj47]

Hi
It will cost ya a pretty penny but Milwaukee every time . Their 1/2" drive gun is insane , regularly use mine for HGV wheel nuts , diggers, excavators, shovels etc  never fails .Eats crank pulley bolts for breakfast. Wish I'd had it in my younger days then perhaps my elbows wrists hands etc wouldn't be worn out now . Obviously got to weigh up price against usage but they are the best guns in my opinion.

[Rangieman]

I've been using Lidl's 1/2inch gun for a few years now with no issues. As do two of my friends.
It's plenty strong enough even being a cheaper machine.

[haveyoubooked]

I've had the Dewalt DCF899HN the past 4 years and used it heavily at work and on my own projects, and its not met a fixing it couldn't release, isn't showing signs of wear (cosmetically aside) and has three settings for a little more finesse if required.

Sure some of the other brands will be very good too no doubt. My experience of cheap tools is that they generally leave you frustrated and wondering how much easier/quicker it would have been with a decent one.

[John]

I've had the Dewalt DCF899HN the past 4 years and used it heavily at work and on my own projects, and its not met a fixing it couldn't release, isn't showing signs of wear (cosmetically aside) and has three settings for a little more finesse if required.

Sure some of the other brands will be very good too no doubt. My experience of cheap tools is that they generally leave you frustrated and wondering how much easier/quicker it would have been with a decent one.

I have a Dewalt DCF889 that I pick up bare at a boot sale but had a battery and charger from tool I already had, whilst not new it works like new and is great for removing wheels when jacked up on stands but I prefore to fit by hand tool to avoid over torqueing

One of my best buys at £30

Cheaper makes may well do the job in a home setting and a great tool to have

[chipbury]

Personally I think that battery impact wrenches should only be used on a Land Rover to undo stuff.
I've seen too many stripped threads at work when people have horsed up a nut on a stud/bolt then come asking us to fix it!

[Bronze Green]

Hi
It will cost ya a pretty penny but Milwaukee every time . Their 1/2" drive gun is insane , regularly use mine for HGV wheel nuts , diggers, excavators, shovels etc  never fails .Eats crank pulley bolts for breakfast. Wish I'd had it in my younger days then perhaps my elbows wrists hands etc wouldn't be worn out now . Obviously got to weigh up price against usage but they are the best guns in my opinion.

Recently I was trying to remove some rusted drop plate nuts on a S1, we tried a few of the less powerful rattle guns to no avail, tried the hot stick to no avail then out came the Milwaukee and although it took about 30 seconds off came the offending nut. Top piece of kit.

[Oilyrag921]

I have the lidl type, it's been OK but only had it six months.  To be honest I like to undo initially by hand so the impact wrench is just a nut spinner.  I makes life easier but I suppose it's no milwaukee, good for what you pay though.

[Craig T]

I started with a Sealey air powered impact. It is good but restricted to places with an air supply.
 
I then needed to get some really tight bits of my series one apart and decided to buy a machine-mart mains powered one. That thing does pack a punch but off course limited to places that have 220v available.

I had to change the front suspension struts on my dads L322 Range Rover in the summer. He had tried to undo the lower bolts with a breaker bar and socket and couldn't do it. I used the mains powered impact and whizzed them off in seconds.

They are useful things, no doubt there. I do not do things up with it however as you do loose all feel for the tightness of fastenings.

Craig.

[JPH]

Big red 1/2"  for breaking stuff loose,  bought a bare tool as I was already on M18 battery's for drill etc.     Its a beast, nuts come off or snap off.............