1/2 cordless impact opinions

-
I've had a M18 Milwaukee 1/4 inch impact and 3/8 inch hammer drill for about 6 years now, bought them after seeing the Dewalt tools that co workers were using that were problematic. Only problem I've had was brushes on the impact needed replacing after 3 years of heavy daily use, cost me about $70.00. The thing has taken a ton of abuse and never failed, planning to get a 1/2 inch one in the near future.
 
Since this was brought back from the dead.......we have two Milwaulkee drills at work. Both the 18v lion battrees. I am not impressed with either. At all. The battrees don't last worth stink. Every time without fail, even right off the charger, neither of them will last through one project. Just not impressed.
 
Mine are still the original batteries, charge doesn't last as long as they did when new, but have a pretty good reserve.
 
When I worked at O'Reilly, I bought a cordless 3/8 ratchet, 3/8 impact and drill. Only 12V, BUT they last a very long time. Not as strong as the name brands of course, but they WORK when I grab them and the charge lasts a very long time.
 
missing linc said:
I've had a M18 Milwaukee 1/4 inch impact and 3/8 inch hammer drill for about 6 years now, bought them after seeing the Dewalt tools that co workers were using that were problematic. Only problem I've had was brushes on the impact needed replacing after 3 years of heavy daily use, cost me about $70.00. The thing has taken a ton of abuse and never failed, planning to get a 1/2 inch one in the near future.
Click to expand...
I got a set with 1/2inch hammer drill and a small impact driver over 10 years ago when I built my deck. Love them! After a lot of use and abuse over the years I had replaced the brushes and switch in the drill. While both still work good, I mentioned to my wife I didn't know how much longer the dill would last. Got a new set plus 2 saws for Christmas. They are even more powerful and smaller than my old ones!. Would love to get a 1/2 impact...
RustyRatRod said:
Since this was brought back from the dead.......we have two Milwaulkee drills at work. Both the 18v lion battrees. I am not impressed with either. At all. The battrees don't last worth stink. Every time without fail, even right off the charger, neither of them will last through one project. Just not impressed.
Click to expand...
Probably just worn out batteries. My original 10yr old batteries are nowhere near original, but will still run a whole mess of screws on a charge.
 
zkx14 said:
I got a set with 1/2inch hammer drill and a small impact driver over 10 years ago when I built my deck. Love them! After a lot of use and abuse over the years I had replaced the brushes and switch in the drill. While both still work good, I mentioned to my wife I didn't know how much longer the dill would last. Got a new set plus 2 saws for Christmas. They are even more powerful and smaller than my old ones!. Would love to get a 1/2 impact...

Probably just worn out batteries. My original 10yr old batteries are nowhere near original, but will still run a whole mess of screws on a charge.
Click to expand...

Both these items are less than a year old. Now, I will say they have been used "a lot". Still though, for what they cost, I find it ridiculous they are not of higher quality.
 
We have all Dewalt at work. The 1/2 impact is great. I borrowed it to take wheels off a car in a yard. Zip,zip,zip…..No problem. Got to last one and a lug nut was seized. Stayed on it till it busted the stud. :thumbsup: But I would take a Milwalkee drill over Dewalt any day. Mostly the chucks suck. The newest(less than a year) 20V is worse than the older 18's
 
RustyRatRod said:
Since this was brought back from the dead.......we have two Milwaulkee drills at work. Both the 18v lion battrees. I am not impressed with either. At all. The battrees don't last worth stink. Every time without fail, even right off the charger, neither of them will last through one project. Just not impressed.
Click to expand...


weird. my m18 batteries seem to last forever..
 
RustyRatRod said:
My recommendation is don't buy cordless. Get a 12V corded one. That way, the battery will not be dead when you need it most.
Click to expand...

???????????????????^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Had to think a min., and come back and edit , you meant the tool batteries , I thot u meant the car battery !--LOL
 
Rigid hands down lifetime warrantee and also the batteries! I used to be a dewalt guy till I tried this one.
 
The Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2" impact is over 1200 ft/lbs in reverse. It will twist your arm of you're not ready. It would likely be great at rolling boiler tubes. They are expensive, but the batteries last a long time. Worth it if you're using it regularly.
 
I have several Dewalt cordless drills, saw and sawzalls and about 7 or eight batteries and there is now one out of the bunch that will take or hold a charge. My son uses a Kobalt 20 volt to change teeth on his big mulcher that my Ingersoll half inch wouldn't break loose. I was so impressed with it he bought me one for Christmas last year. It will break lugs loose on my service truck and battery last a really long time. On;y drawback is that it is really heavy. For light duty Ryobi drills are cheap and batteries last a long time. When I put my 55x100x19 qounset barn up that had 12,700 bolts I bought two Ryobis and swapped them out about once a day. Thats been 12 years ago and it still works fine on screws,
 
I've invested in the Makita 18V stuff over the years--drill/driver, hammer drill, oscillating tool, reciprocating saw, weed whacker, etc. It's just easier than buying into another system. One set of batteries and a couple of matching chargers. I also have the smaller and far lighter Makita 10V drill and impact set that I have used on a ton of projects over the years and have always been handy, reliable tools. So, when I saw a 1/2-inch impact Makita 18V tool on sale a couple of years ago, I jumped at it. In a word, it sucked. It was far, far weaker than I expected. A huge disappointment. I returned it within a week.

Not long after, Home Depot, during one of their regular daily special deals, had one of the Dewalt 1/2-inch impact drivers on sale for even less than I paid for the Makita. I believe it was $149, battery and charger included. It handles just about any need I have when working on the cars. Not being a pro mechanic, I don't need to very best, but this thing holds a charge for a long time between jobs and has always had more than enough oomph for any job I've thrown at it. I am very pleased with it.
 
halifaxhops said:
Rigid hands down lifetime warrantee and also the batteries! I used to be a dewalt guy till I tried this one.
Click to expand...

I bought a Rigid 1/2" impact a few weeks ago because of the torque ratings, but mainly the warranty. Lifetime warranty on the impact, battery, and charger! I used it yesterday to swap wheels on some Trans Am parts cars, and I was very impressed! :eek: Thanks for the recommendation.
 
I have a bunch of Milwaukee stuff. All has been great. If a guys goes with Milwaukee ya need to consider the FUEL brushless series. Phenomenol power and battery life. I would go brushless with any of them. Had I known about Rigid's warranty I would have maybe gone that route. No complaints about Milwaukee though. I use their grinder, 1400 ft lb impact and drill everyday.
 
I have a 1/2" 18V DeWalt and I hate it. The forward/reverse is a single button and trying to use it with gloves expands ones vocabulary. I also have a 1/4" 18V DeWalt (hex chuck) that has a separate forward/reverse button and I love it. Have beaten the dog poop out of it and it's still working great.
 
6PakBee said:
I have a 1/2" 18V DeWalt and I hate it. The forward/reverse is a single button and trying to use it with gloves expands ones vocabulary.
Click to expand...
We have 2 at work. Older one has that rocker switch trigger. :mad:
 
Chuck on my dewalt finally gave out. Ordered a new drill. Its smaller and has a higher power rating. Will see.
Will promptly start beating on it.
 
right now home depot has the ridgid 1/2 impact,1 charger and 1 4.0 ah battery on sale for 149. part number r86011sb or tool only for 129.
 
I've got the Ryobi 1/2" cordless impact.
It is very powerful, has broken loose some nuts/bolts that seemed rusted together at the molecular level.
With the variety of 18V ONE+ tools available, as well as the variety of Ah (amp hours) battery sizes, including some huge ones for long lasting power, it has served me well.
The RYOBI 18V ONE+™ 3-Speed ½ in. Impact Wrench is more compact and more powerful than the previous model. With this new design, it produces 300 ft-lbs of torque and up to 3,200 impacts per minute allowing you to use this tool for a variety of heavy-duty applications. This tool features a 3-speed selector switch and tri-beam LED lights. The RYOBI 18V ONE+™ 3-Speed ½ in. Impact Wrench works with any 18V ONE+ battery (sold separately) and is a part of the ONE+™ System of over 70 great tools that all work with the same 18V battery platform.
 
I had been looking to buy a 1/2 impact. Driving down the highway one day and spotted something on the road-stopped and picked it up. An 18.2 volt Craftsman sawzall, it had been run over but was not broke and still worked fine. So off to Sears I went and the 1/2 impacts were on sale, bought one with charger and an extra battery. Sometime later I needed a 1/2 in drill, bought Craftsman again, same batteries. I know most of the big names are better, but I've been happy so far. I always take an extra charged battery with me and have never ran out of battery power yet!
 
I've got a 1/2" cordless Milwaukee that I won as a door prize when they first came out. That's been a while back, but I've kept the batteries charged & it still works like a champ.
 
I recently bought a Kobalt 1/2" drive impact for my shop. I just have the little battery but plan on buying the bigger one before racing season.

Seems to have plenty of balls... I like the lightweight of the small battery. When I pit for my buddies dirt late model team on Saturday nights I can barely lift his DeWalt HD impact with the 14" torque stick attached...God I'm getting old and feeble.
 
I bought a Ryobi on a black friday sale, $99 1/2 impact, 4ah LI battery, charger, and carrying case. It works great, it is way stronger than my dewalt 18V 1/2 impact(older model).

I really like the Ryobi stuff but some of it is lack luster. The Sawzall and drills are pretty weak compared to dewalt. I wish I could get my 18V Ryobi batteries to work on my Dewalt Drill and Sawzall.
 
I bought the Dewalt 1400 ft lbs removal. It was recommended by a friend first time use I tried it on a HD truck to see if would remove the lug nuts. Worked ok. Used it about 3 more times and no torque. Going to send it back and see what happens. I also have a 1/4 makita works great. 18 volt. Will not quite break car lug nuts loose but dam close.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top