Working on the rusty farm implement felt like a perfect job for the Max XR. We had to get a feel for when to back off the trigger and let the tool’s momentum spin the nut off-do it too late and the nut could run off the stud at high rpm and fly out of the socket. We tried it in all three speed settings, with the highest removing them the fastest. Removing the lug nuts on the F-250 Super Duty was seemingly effortless, the Max XR breaking them free in a fraction of a second. The weight does give the impression it’s well built and can take some abuse though. This is no exception, weighing 7.2 pounds with one of the two big 5-Ah batteries clipped to the bottom-the heaviest impact wrench in the test. High-torque impact wrenches tend to weigh more because they have beefier components required to handle the forces involved in transferring all that torque. We could tell the DeWalt 20V Max XR was a beast when we picked it up. The M18 impact wrench is an effective tool for seriously big jobs like heavy equipment repair, industrial maintenance and repair applications, or any other task with big, tough nuts and bolts. When it came to the rusty old bolts on the farm equipment, the M18 broke them free without much effort, and using the Bolt Removal mode also helped prevent damage, spinning the nuts off over-rusted threads. And that Bolt Removal mode is a pleasure to use it backs off the speed and torque once a nut or bolt breaks loose so that it doesn’t run off the end and go flying. Four modes, three different speeds, and Bolt Removal mode means it’s easy to set the speed/torque for the job. Judging by the amount of battery charge consumed in our test, a full day of changing tires should be possible with the two batteries. Removing lugs nuts on our F-250 Super Duty was no challenge for this impact wrench. All that torque requires a lot of power, so the M18 comes with two, big 5-Ah batteries. They’re bigger, heavier, and torque-ier (1,400 foot-pounds for the M18 Fuel here). Models like this Milwaukee are the heavy hitters when it comes to impact wrenches. We evaluated them on performance, price, comfort, value, and versatility to determine the best impact drivers that will meet the needs of a wide range of people. The second task was to remove, or break free, rusted nuts and bolts on an old piece of farm equipment. The first was removing and replacing lug nuts torqued to the recommended spec at 165 foot-pounds on a Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup truck. We chose practical tasks that most people might need to accomplish with these impact wrenches. We research the market, survey user reviews, speak with product managers and engineers, and use our own experience operating these tools to determine the best options. How We Tested These Impact WrenchesĮvery impact driver on this list has been thoroughly vetted and evaluated by our test editors. And high rpm help drive nuts or bolts faster, while ipm kick in harder as the resistance increases. Impacts per minute (ipm) increase as revolutions per minute (rpm) increase. Think of amp hours like the volume of a gas tank-a bigger number equals more gas. Generally, 18-volt tools with advanced features and capabilities make them more versatile and easier to use.Īmp hours (Ah) equals the number of amps that the battery will discharge, continuously, for an hour. Tools with 18 and 20 volts have less difference between them. This makes them good for smaller jobs, working overhead, or getting into tight spaces. With smaller batteries, 12-volt impact wrenches are more compact. Batteries: Volts and Amp Hours (Ah)Īll things being equal, higher voltage will give you more power-but there are cases for lower voltage. As a result, the twisting motion-known as reactionary torque-that you feel when using an electric drill is virtually eliminated. Fortunately, impact wrenches are extremely comfortable to use because the concussive blows smoothly transfer most of that high-energy torque directly to the fastener, not to your hand, wrist, or arm. However, all that brute strength isn’t very useful if you can’t control the tool. By comparison, cordless impact wrenches can easily produce torque outputs of over 250 foot-pounds, which is more than enough muscle to power-drive the fattest lags and bust loose rusty, corroded nuts. For example, most cordless drill/drivers produce about 50 foot-pounds of torque, and the average impact driver delivers about 125 foot-pounds. It employs both rotational force (torque) and short-burst concussive blows (impacts) to deliver an unparalleled amount of power. Unlike cordless drill/drivers and impact drivers, which excel at drilling holes and driving screws, the impact wrench is specially designed for tightening and loosening various hex-head bolts, nuts, and lag screws. What You Need to Know About Impact Wrenches How They Work
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