/diy/ - Do It Yourself

Just dropping by to post this.

If you’re an absolute cheapass looking to join the impact wrench master race, your best option is either the Enertwist for $70 on Amazon or the Bauer for $100 from Harbor Freight. These are exactly the same tool and with the coupon are almost the same price. It’s a bit of a crapshoot, as with all chinesium tools, as to whether you’ll get a unit that’s DOA. Might be better to go with the Harbor Freight version since Prime isn’t available at the moment on the Enertwist so it would be much easier to return if needed. If a corded electric impact were my one and only option, I would go with one of these two as the big name versions are completely gutless and pretty much worthless as well as horrendously over priced.

If you’re looking to enter the battery game the undeniable top dogs are the Milwaukee High Torque and the Dewalt XR. Both are fine tools, you’ll just have to choose which battery platform to invest in. The Earthquake XT is actually a great tool as well, but battery options are limited and there aren’t many tools on that platform. Below those I would choose either the mid-torque Milwaukee or the Rigid. Anything below that is not really worth the investment. You’ll find most impacts rated at “300 ft-lbs breakaway” cannot, in fact, remove lugs torqued to ~120+ after a little corrosion has set in.

If you’re only doing work on your car like once a year, either pass on an impact or get the cheapo corded one above. If you’re the type who does your own maintenance or wrenches on a project car, an impact will greatly improve your quality of life.