18v Impact Driver (why not many 3/8)?

[BR3W CITY]

Undoing every bolt on my truck by hand gets old real fast. All the ones I see are the little 1/4" drill-chuck style, or the 1/2-3/4" heavy impact drivers....why no 3/8?

I just want it for stuff you'd normally use a ratchet for, and the light 1/4" units seem powerful enough, but that means using quick-change 1/4 keys, or always running a 1/4-hex adapter for sockets. Why aren't there many 3/8 lighter weight small impact drivers?

When I do need the "Full" impact gun ooomph, I have a nice heavy duty air unit that is plenty capable. I'd just like something that doesn't tax your wrists more than the old ratchet already does!

[Advanced Design]

One would be really handy. I looked on Amazon.com and found a Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita. Here is the Milwaukee. Milwaukee 2658-20 M18 -3/8in 18v Impact Wrench -...

[71swb4x4]

You found him an impact wrench. He is looking for an impact driver.

[crossfire84]

Is this what you need? Dewalt 3/8"

[A1971Blazer]

I just use a 1/4" and a 3/8" air ratchet......break loose without air, hit the trigger, and spin it right out.



The electric impact drivers work well.........if you have room to get to the fastener.

[83 Silverado]

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-...rdless/2668-22

I've been look at getting one for home, it's a little low on torque next to the impact but it's a 90* ratchet.

[msgross]

I use the 18V Dewalt impact with one of these... Amazon.com: SE 7503SD 3-Piece Power Extension Bit...

[BR3W CITY]

Do those little 1/4" keys transfer the torque well?

I saw that dewalt unit at Home Despot, it was actually the only 3/8" one that I saw on the shelves.

83 Silverado- how does that 90" deal work, in terms of power? I've got the air ratchet, and I hate lugging the air lines over my project.

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

You found him an impact wrench. He is looking for an impact driver.

Oops, sorry! Doesn't help to find the wrong thing.

[83 Silverado]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Do those little 1/4" keys transfer the torque well?

I saw that dewalt unit at Home Despot, it was actually the only 3/8" one that I saw on the shelves.

83 Silverado- how does that 90" deal work, in terms of power? I've got the air ratchet, and I hate lugging the air lines over my project.

I'm still looking for one for home, but most the millwrigths at work use the milwaukee m18 impacts (3/4 drive) but one guy has the ratchet and seems to have the same power as air ratchet. The spec's are 30ft/lb on low and 60ft/lb high.

[msgross]

I've never had a problem with the impact rated bits for the impact driver.

[BR3W CITY]

Have you been able to just grab normal 1/4 or 3/8 sockets and use them on those 1/4 keys? If so, then thats probably all I need. I just don't want to have to go buy a full set of SAE and Metric hex drivers. I might be worrying about the wrong thing entirely, but socket-use is my main concern.

[72c105speed]

My new favorite tool

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by 72c105speed

Attachment 1501581

My new favorite tool

Any more info than a picture?

[msgross]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Have you been able to just grab normal 1/4 or 3/8 sockets and use them on those 1/4 keys? If so, then thats probably all I need. I just don't want to have to go buy a full set of SAE and Metric hex drivers. I might be worrying about the wrong thing entirely, but socket-use is my main concern.

I just use normal sockets. The Dewalt kit at Lowes did come with 2 impact sockets. A kit like this works. I'm not taking tires off with this setup but other nuts and bolts are easy. http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?...llow&cId=PDIO1

[richard2717]

Originally Posted by msgross

I use the 18V Dewalt impact with one of these... Amazon.com: SE 7503SD 3-Piece Power Extension Bit Set for Drills: Home Improvement

I use those drivers in my 20 volt dewalt drill every day for work and only break one or two a year. When I am on certain gas station promotions I probably run 3-400 1/4" nuts off of ubolts on one battery in a days time. WHen I had my craftsman 19.2 I had to keep 10-12 batteries charged and ready to go for a days work. I tried the impact but it seems they use quite a bit more battery then the drill.

[71swb4x4]

Originally Posted by richard2717

I use those drivers in my 20 volt dewalt drill every day for work and only break one or two a year. When I am on certain gas station promotions I probably run 3-400 1/4" nuts off of ubolts on one battery in a days time. WHen I had my craftsman 19.2 I had to keep 10-12 batteries charged and ready to go for a days work. I tried the impact but it seems they use quite a bit more battery then the drill.

What size battery are you running? The 5 amp battery REALLY goes a while.

[72c105speed]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Any more info than a picture?

Here's a video

Snap-on Tools CTEU761 3/8" 14.4V. Cordless...

[richard2717]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

What size battery are you running? The 5 amp battery REALLY goes a while.

mine are only 4AH but I rarely have to change out one in the drill during the day, the sawzall on the otherhand.......... Maybe I should look into a set of 5AH ones for the sawzall.

[ERASER5]

I have a Makita 3/8" impact driver. I used to use it a lot. Very handy for tear down.

[_Ogre]

rather than buy a different tool
i bought these for my milwaukee fuel impact
harbor fright, if i break them i'll buy better ones

[BigMike]

I use those socket adapters with my Makita 18V driver all day every day. I take lug nuts off with it. The little bugger is pretty tourqee (sp?) and makes life so much easier with 1,420 in-lbs.

I use it with 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 with no problems. Sometimes the 1/2 stuff needs to be cranked with a wrench or ratchet first but not that often. I would pick up something like that for the majority of the stuff and get a 1/2 for the bigger heavy duty stuff. Been pretty damn impressed with it's capabilities thus far. My wife bought me the driver/drill combo w/ 2 batteries & charger for Christmas 6 years ago and it's still kicking butt. It's small enough to use under the dash and under the hood.

[dirtyjim]

I've been using 1/4" impacts since they first came out 20 or so years ago and the 18 and 20 volt ones are plenty strong. as far as 1/4 or 3/8 goes the 1/4 is more versatile around the house but the 3/8 are better if its only going to see automotive use.
the 1/4 adaptors are strong enough if you buy name brand.
I've had just about every brand there is and dewalt and Makita have been the best as far as speed and torque

[truckin 79]

I just recently bought a AC Delco Cordless lithium 3/8 ratchet. It has 57 ft/lbs of torque and so far it is awesome. I am getting older and twisting a ratchet all day gets tedious plus this ratchet will fit in most places and is pretty light. I also have a Znex cordless 3/8 ratchet but the downside was it came with ni-cad batteries so I had to make sure I charged batteries ahead of time before using ratchet. With the Delco the lithium batteries hold there charge.