Corded electric impact wrenches?

[Teakettle]

Tired of lugging a big compressor to random places where I need to use an impact wrench, I'm thinking of getting an electric one (not a battery-powered one) for when I need to mess with tight nuts away from the shop, something like a Porter-Cable PCE211. Yeah, I know they're big and heavy but apart from that what are your experiences? Thanks!

 

[Joe W.]

I work on running gears and I use the Harbor Freight 1/2" corded impact wrench. It's around $48. I've used it for a few years and about 6 times a year. It works good. If you are making a living with it you may want a heavier duty model but for me the HF model is just fine.

 

[RogerinIowa]

My HF bit the dust. Switch failed. New switch nearly the price of impact. All electrics must use same switch, on Ebay and Amazon. Everyone having same problem?

 

[Steve@Advance]

I've got an ancient Craftsman (I think) that was given to me years ago.

Just never had a need to use it, but a coupletears ago I thought about it, decided to give it a try.

It ran, sounded like the hammer was hitting, went through all the motions, but had no power at all!

Could be something wrong with it, or just the nature of the beast. Before buying one, I would sure want a demonstration.

 

[Dean]

I have a Craftsman AC electric impact wrench bought in 1985 or so.

It's not as powerful as more modern impact wrench, either pneumatic or DC but otherwise works well.

I still use it from time to time.

Dean

 

[Dean]

I should mention that one should not use one at the end of a long extension cord as power suffers considerably.

Dean

 

[jeffcat]

I wiil agree with Joe. Have the HF unit when they were on special for a couple of weeks. They are pretty heavy. Thay are a bit noisy. They are not super fast. They are NOT as powerful as an air model. Now all of that said, they do work if you don't have any air or air tools. You really should run it with a 12ga. Extension cord and no longer than 100 feet long. Yes they do work and it sounds like a going crazy electric drill. But yes they do work. Buy a heavy duty one at HF, take it home and try it. If you don't like it take it back right away.

 

[JGayman]

I bought a DeWalt electric impact wrench a while back and it was totally worthless. It was bulky and wouldn't even remove the bolt on my mower blades. I sold it and got a battery powered Milwaukee. 1000X better.

 

[JK2]

I'm not sure why you don't want to use a battery powered one. I have had an IR 2135 (air impact) since they came out but I haven't used it hardly at all since I bought a Milwaukee M18 1/2" drive 6 or 7 years ago. I have since got a 3/8 Milwaukee Fuel impact that I use most of the time for things up to and including changing tires. I am still using the batteries that came with my first Milwaukee and they so far show no signs of having any problems.

My son has a 20 volt IR impact that is wonderful for taking things apart but if you aren't careful it will twist off even 5/8 bolts when you tighten them too much.

 

[timcasbolt]

(quoted from post at 03:30:35 10/28/18) I bought a DeWalt electric impact wrench a while back and it was totally worthless. It was bulky and wouldn't even remove the bolt on my mower blades. I sold it and got a battery powered Milwaukee. 1000X better.

When my son was doing his internship at Dewalt (about 10 years ago) they had a bunch of customer returns (and I do mean a bunch) of electric impacts that were failing in the field after very little use. Turned out the Mexican subcontractor that was manufacturing components wasn't heat treating to spec, causing all of the failures. My son and I have one each of the returns after being re-assembled with good parts. Excellent tool with tons of power.

 

[fixt]

I have an old craftsman 1/2" from a going out of business sale. It has plenty of torque, even removing the blades from bush hogs with a little extra framming on the nut. It has been excellent for my purposes which mainly consists of lug nuts and bush hog blades.

 

[Dean]

Bingo, Jeffcat.

Connecting an AC impact to a 100' 14 GA extension cord is even worse than connecting a pneumatic impact wrench to a 100', 1/4" air hose.

The larger and shorter the cord, the better.

Oh, you will also need a good circuit to plug into.

Dean

 

[dzc3]

My HF has never let me down. I got mine on sale awhile back paid $30.00. When, if it fails I will buy another one.

 

[Teakettle]

If I were going to be using this all the time, I'd consider a rechargeable one, but since this is going to be for when I'm not working in the shop (where I have air easily available) I might end up using it only a few times a year. In my experience, battery packs don't last very long under that sort of usage cycle.

 

[Naylorbros]

If you buy a good quality rechargeable impact wrench you will never go back to an air or a corded next nr

 

[aquadave]

I have a harbor freight 1/2in it's great
I allso have a porter cable plug in 1/4hex impact for driving screws 1/2 the weight of those 20V battery ones and more power

 

[SVcummins]

Buy a bigger breaker bar you will not be impressed with the corded impact

 

[David Snipes]

I bought an Ingersol - Rand corded electric impact wrench in the 70's. I still have it and it comes in handy once in a while. Unfortunately it is not as powerful as an air impact.

 

[Traditional Farmer]

Just like about everything you get what you pay for I have cordless,corded and air impacts that ones with good torque ratings are powerful the ones that are low rated
not so much.I have a 3/4 drive electric impact with gear reduction I'll put up against most any air impact.Its heavy as all get out but very powerful.

 

[Pops1532]

I have a two Milwaukee 1/2" electric impacts. One is 1970's vintage. When I needed a second impact a few years ago I got another Milwaukee. They've both been excellent.
I also have an electric 3/4" that someone gave me. Don't remember the brand. It's incredibly powerful, and heavy.

 

[SVcummins]

Used my electric impact today for a couple jobs I wouldn’t mind trying one of the new ones this Is an old old black n Decker