1/2 Inch Drive Corded or Battery Impact Wrench

Actually the cordless will likely take less space than the corded. A Dewalt 1/2" cordless impact will be more than equal to a corded impact. They do cost more, but you can usually pick up a used one off Facebook Marketplace for a very good price. The corded impact really has only one possible plus: a new one is cheaper than a new cordless. But if you go used, that's a wash.

IMO a cordless assets totally outweigh the corded assets. No contest.

Cord-free is my choice. Hopefully you never have to change a flat on the road.

X2 on cordless 1/2 inch impact wrench, Santa brought me a Rigid last Christmas and already tackled a few projects on our class A with astounding ease. Sure gave my right arm quite a work out as it is pretty heavy, but removing bolts that would have required serious muscle, literally in seconds, don't know why I did not get one sooner. Tried the electric AC driven 1/2 inch and it just did not have the torque, probably why I didn't pull the trigger on the 20 volt version sooner thinking they have similar power. These newer batteries hold power for long periods of time, more than likely you will still have plenty of power remaining in the battery when called into service.

Sandia Man wrote:
newer batteries hold power for long periods of time, more than likely you will still have plenty of power remaining in the battery when called into service.

True. Li's ( I believe they're all Lis) hold a charge for a long, long time.

If I literally was only going to use it for the occasional flat tire and have a generator always within reach, a cordless is a big waste of money.
But a quality 1/2” cordless impact will hit as hard or harder than the best 120v or air gun of the same class.
If a person doesn’t use power tools much the cost of going cordless is kinda steep since the convenience of the tools is infrequent. If one uses typical mechanic/construction/carpenter power tools very frequently the convenience of cordless is awesome.

I just bit the bullet a year or so ago and upgraded from my old cordless drill, driver and baby skilsaw to a new pretty complete set of tools. I don’t touch my corded or air tools very often anymore….
Only air tools besides paint guns I’ve used since getting the kit is the DA and polisher. Because I don’t own the cordless versions yet! And occasionally 1/2” air impact. It’s “more gentle” than the cordless on nice lugnuts.

I’m trying to resist the urge to spend a bunch more money on other cordless tools that I don’t “need” as often.

If you need the power, a quality Dewalt 1/2 in 20V battery powered will have way more power than a similar corded model.

Yes, a quality 20V will hold a charge for a long time, while just storing. It will give near max power, right up to the end, when it gives it up.

Many HD trucks have a lot of torque on the lug nuts. It should be stated in the owners manual, that the pitiful factory supplied lug wrench may not be sufficient. A breaker bar with HD socket and necessary cheater will work for the amount of times that most of us have a flat on our TVs.

Jerry

I have a 25" breaker bar for the really stubborn stuff. :)

A battery impact will likely have more power than a corded model. They have more power than a lot of air impacts. I have a friend who is a professional mechanic. He works on everything from motorcycles to 18 wheelers. He said after he got his Milwaukee 18v cordless impact he hadn't used any of his air impact wrenches in years.
The new Lithium batteries hold a charge for a very long time with no charging in between. I sometimes use 3 or 4 different Milwaukee M18 cordless tools on and off thru a workday. Many days I never charge a battery.

I got me a "Hobo Freight" Bauer 20v cordless 1/2 impact and it busts off the 150 lb/ft lugs on my F150 easily..

I have an old air impact (Campbell Hausfeld) that could not bust off those lugs..

The Bauer is under $100, but does not include the battery/charger..

I had already gotten some other Bauer 20v tools. Leaf blower, hedge trimmer, so I already had the charger and 5ah battery (an extra $100 for those things alone) but I can use the same battery for all three tools, plus the heat gun I got at the same time I got the impact, which is "cool" too, so 4 tools now, and only a single charger/battery! :) )

Anyway, it ain't a Milwaukee, Dewalt or Craftsman brand name, but even with the extra price of the battery/charger, it still costs less and works fine for a DIY guy that only uses it occasionally.. and any other Bauer tool you buy, you only have to get the tool, so it's cheaper once you already have the charger/battery..

Yes, it's a cheap tool, but I don't need to make a living with it, so it's fine for a DIY guy IMO..

Just my experience with them, as I am moving from air/corded tools to cordless tools and it's expensive no matter what, but makes all those chores you need them for, a lot easier.

Mitch

fj12ryder wrote:
I have a 25" breaker bar for the really stubborn stuff. :)

I use my 40 yo Craftsman torque wrench on the road. Still need a torque wrench either way IMO. Have changed at least half dozen tires on the road over the years. No issues.

Have a corded gun at home. Works great. (also Craftsman)