Since my crappy old air impact is on its way out, I'm looking into electric as an alternative, since they seem to have come a long way in the last few years. Don't need anything fancy or massive, just a decent 1/2" drive for the usual automotive stuff. Not sure about what sort of torque rating is sufficient either. Cost is definitely a factor. Discuss.
I have an 18v DeWalt and I love it. It's great for lug nuts and 90% of the stuff that I do, but occasionally I need to break out the air guns for really rusty stuff.
In this case, it makes the most sense to either get the HF on sale or spend the big money and step up to a top end milwaukie or IR monsters. The bang for your buck ratio on the stuff in between doesnt make any freaking sense. You either pay $80 for the HF or $200 for something with a name brand thats only marginally better than the HF or pay $400+ for something thats totally kick ass.
I have the Craftsman C3 impact from Sears and I love the thing. When combined with the high-capacity XCP lithium battery, I can change all four tires three times and swap a front axle and still not need a recharge. I can also use the same batteries for my recip saw, drill, hammer drill, hedge trimmers, angle grinder, etc etc.
Ive always wanted one but never found the cash for a good one.
I have one of the Goodyear-branded 1/2" drive cordless units that was on sale at Pep Boys last Black Friday for about $70. I didn't expect it to be very strong but it just removed a Boxster rear axle nut that takes 340 lb-ft, this after a Craftsman 1/2 in breaker bar shattered attempting the same task.
Snap-On lithium ion is always a choice, to the tune of ~650$ 
wae wrote: I have the Craftsman C3 impact from Sears and I love the thing. When combined with the high-capacity XCP lithium battery, I can change all four tires three times and swap a front axle and still not need a recharge. I can also use the same batteries for my recip saw, drill, hammer drill, hedge trimmers, angle grinder, etc etc.
I also have one of the battery powered Sears the 1/2 drive impacts. Bought it at Sears a couple of months ago on sale for $89 with the 19.2v battery. Rated at 200 ft/lbs of torque. Lasts the whole weekend at the track when I was actively wrenching on the car addressing a suspension/alignment issue. very useful tool. Wish I had gotten one sooner given the price.
Milwaukee Fuel. Best warranty and you'll never need air again.
I got a ryobi just because all my other cordless tools are ryobi, works really well and has good battery life, I have used quite a few and if i had to pick my favorite would be the snap-on but it is pricey.
It depends on what you need it for? If only convienence, then a cheap one will do most tasks. If you actually want it to replace a quality air gun, then plan on spending some coin. As powerful as my 18V DeWalt 1/2" gun is, it doesn't compare to the power of my IR 2135ti air gun.
An alternative is a corded electric impact. I have a cordless 18v and a corded 5A. The cordless is great for if I'm at an autocross or lapping day, but the corded is stronger, smaller and lighter and I don't have to worry about dead batteries at home.
A little bird tells me that I'll be getting a Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2" compact impact wrench for my upcoming birthday. Perfect timing for miata suspension work.
bigev007 wrote: An alternative is a corded electric impact. I have a cordless 18v and a corded 5A. The cordless is great for if I'm at an autocross or lapping day, but the corded is stronger, smaller and lighter and I don't have to worry about dead batteries at home.
Who makes your corded? I've used a corded HF before, way weaker than the cordless HF. And now that I rebuilt the battery for my cordless HF with new name brand nicads it really kicks some ass, it'll do 15-20 sets of wheels on a charge.
I have a Tool Shop impact, 230 ft/lbs. works great for rotating tires and other small stuff. If I were going gonzo on something the battery wouldn't last but it was cheap and beats doing it by hand
if you already have a decent cordless drill, then get one that uses the same batteries. i love my Dewalt 20 volt drill that i got last spring, so if i ever decide to get an impact i'll get a bare tool that uses the same battery and save some dollars..
I have the Ryobi. It does not remove lug nuts or anything over 85ft-lbs, but it was a gift and I already had a Ryobi drill so I can't complain.
Thanks for the comments. This is just for occasional driveway wrenching - I'm not trying to zip the suspension off a rusted, decades-old deuce-and-a-half or anything. I'd like to keep this below $200, preferably well below, so no Snap-On or Milwaukee for me.
I did look at the Sears options, simply because they are local to me; I wasn't sure if the 200 ft-lb one would be adequate, or if I should consider the 300 ft-lb unit as the only sensible choice.
novaderrik wrote: if you already have a decent cordless drill, then get one that uses the same batteries. i love my Dewalt 20 volt drill that i got last spring, so if i ever decide to get an impact i'll get a bare tool that uses the same battery and save some dollars..
That's what I did. I have collection of DeWalt 18v tools, most of which I bought "bare" without batteries.
Another way to look at this is to buy one of the multi-tool "kits" that happens to include a impact gun. Yes, you'll probably spend more than your $200 budget, but it may work out cheaper in the long run.
No input on cordless, but I have access to a corded Milwaukee. On removal it can break free some heavy stuff, but on tightening it will stop well short of 100 lb/ft for lug nuts.
I just picked up a Craftsman C3 19.2v to replace an old HF unit that finally gave up. On sale right now for $89.99, minus 1% cash back for Amex Blue Cash and 6% cash back for eBates. As an added bonus it uses the same batteries as a combo set I already had. Used it yesterday and it seems a solid unit.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-c3-19.2-volt-cordless-1-2inch-wrench-kit/p-00931305000P
Good to know. I may just have to run over there and grab one. Just for reference, what sorts of things did you use it on?
Lug nuts. Good torque, fast spin-off. More compact than my old HF.
In reply to Leafy:
It's a mastercraft from Canadian tire. Can't find online, looks like they changed to 3.5 and 7.5A now. 3.5 goes on sale all the time for $100 with a large set of impact sockets.
I just bought a Chicago Electric corded impact from HF today. They are on sale through tomorrow for $39.99.
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