Cordless Impact Wrench (new?)

[jsduke]

Just received my recently ordered impact wrench from the big box (online). It was shipped with another tool (corded angle grinder) which was ordered at the same time. The shipping box was pretty trashed (brown was noting it on his electronic widget when I opened the door). Not a good sign. Inside the impact was in a plastic case which was scuffed up in a few places and the cardboard sleeve was fairly dirty. The tool was just laying in the plastic case with the battery attached (only quarter charge remaining). No plastic bag for the tool or the paperwork. The tool runs forward and reverse ok but has a small wobble at the anvil (normal?) and some light oil emerged from the air vents when the tool was run at high speed. The tool is not dirty or scratched. I never had an impact before so it is all new to me.

Still waiting on the impact sockets so was not able to use it with a load.

Has a 90 day return policy. It does not need to be pretty, just new with a new tool lifespan.

Any advice?

 

[Dftodd]

The ones that I have bought didn't have any oil come out of the vents. 2 Milwaukee for the shop, one Hilti for the shop, and 3 Mac guns for me (1/2", 3/8", 1/4") Mine were handled though by Lord knows how many people since they came off the local tool truck.

A quarter charge sounds about right. I would be wondering why the battery was actually attached to the gun though. The cordless tools I've bought always had the battery and chargers in separate packaging.

I'm wondering if they sent you one that was sent to someone else and they returned it for some reason. That's also why I'm leary about mail ordering certain things.

What brand impact did you buy?

 

[downsizingnow48]

Sounds to me like a item that has already been used/returned. I would return it.

 

[jsduke]

Milwaukee 1/2 in mid torque. I was a little suspicious about the great deal: $199 w/ 2ah battery and charger in a blow molded carrying case but I figured I’d give it a shot.

 

[tomplum]

Is the mid torque tough enough for your equipment work? I have 2 half inch Milwaukee impacts myself. On these it makes a difference on having at least a 4 AH battery, preferably a 5. The charge sounds right as stated above. If the case has no other spot for the battery, it would have to be attached I'd think to the tool.

 

[Redlands Okie]

It’s your hard earned money bit if I had any doubt about the newness or wear and tear on a tool I bought labeled as new then the tool would be on its way back already.

Why risk it ?

Best of luck on how it works out.

P.S. (Not really what your asking but another comment made me think of this. Generally speaking the size of battery should have little influence on the power of the tool. Big battery allows tool to run longer but makes it weigh more)

 

[chim]

I'm not that familiar with the red tools as I am the yellow ones. Most of the good-sized impacts ship with 5AH batteries. I've never seen a DeWalt oozing whether new or used. I doubt it's common for Milwaukee as well. Many times when the price is really low there's some small print that lets you know the tool is reconditioned.

Are you sure you bought it from a "big box store"? I've bought quite a bit over the 'net for our company. Mostly tools that aren't common, or readily available locally. My internet purchases range from a few hundred to several thousand per month, depending upon what we need for different projects. I often see that even though the ad is THROUGH a store like HD, the actual seller is someone else.

 

[jsduke]

The case has a place for a separate battery as well as room for a battery attached to the tool. Each one looks large enough for a much larger battery. Likely they use the same case for their mid torque with (2) 5 ah batteries kit as well (1 of which would have to be attached to the tool). Maybe they attach the small 2 ah battery to the tool because it secures it so it will not rattle around too much in the separate cut out?

Regardless, the lack of any plastic wrapping around the tool or the paperwork suggests that it might be a return as does the black scuffing on the plastic case and the dirty cardboard sleeve that the case is slid into.

The drops of light oil seeping from the vents (after running the tool on the highest setting) and the slight but noticeable wobble in the anvil are concerns, but I may be scrutinizing the tool unfairly because of the trashed box, dirty sleeve, scuffed case and unwrapped tool/battery and docs.

I have no impact experience at all or recent (10+ years) cordless tool purchasing experience. I bought the mid torque vs. high torque because it was smaller, lighter, cheaper and had generally good reviews. I own a smaller Power Trac machine, a Simplicity yard tractor, a walk behind brush mower, power washer, and a snowblower. My other equipment has either dealer support or a family friend doing the maintenance. The fact that there is no dealer support with the PT and my retired status is steering me into taking over much of the maintenance and repair now.

I do not know if the mid torque would be enough tool for all my needs. To top it off I have a mid torque protective boot in transit from another vendor

 

[jsduke]

The trashed outer shipping box is a Home Depot box. Ordered throug HD online.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Return it.

I bought a pole saw from amazon. Box delivered open, not taped. Looked inside, pieces missing from the saw. Closed box back up like it came, got on amazon, they said nothing we can do. Huh? Nope, 3rd party seller, take it up with them.

I called UPS, told them i declined to accept the package that arrived unsealed. They picked it up and returned it.
Refuse to accept beat up packages.

 

[pmsmechanic]

(Not really what your asking but another comment made me think of this. Generally speaking the size of battery should have little influence on the power of the tool. Big battery allows tool to run longer but makes it weigh more)

I agree with your statement but I've found that my 1/2" Milwaukee drills have a lot lore power with the 3 or 4 amp battery vs the two amp.

 

[jsduke]

Upon further observation and investigation, the tool is most likely unused (no signs of wear or use on anything in the case). When stored in the plastic case with the case upright, the tool is inverted. The flecks of oil come from it being upside down. I had wiped all traces of the oil off before putting it back in the case. When removed this morning there were a few new oil droplets around the vents. After wiping the tool off again I ran it and saw no new signs of oil. In my haste to try it out yesterday I probably did not notice if there was Oil already there. The tool runs smoothly and without hesitation in all modes. The variable trigger is responsive and predictable. Other than a dark scuff mark on the exposed side edge of the case there is no apparent damage, no chipping, cracking, denting etc. The tool itself appears new, no scratches, scuffs, dents or grease. The anvil looks to be unused. The only way the battery is secure in the case is if it is attached to the tool. I saw a reviewers open case pic on the HD website and his came exactly the way mine did. If it was not for the beat up shipping box, the slightly rough looking cardboard informational sleeve and the one really noticeable scuff on the case, I would not have second guessed the status of the tool (first impressions vs. not judging a book by its cover).

It has a 90 day return and a 5 year mfg. warranty if there might be an issue.

 

[tomplum]

Sounds right to me. In fact, I've bought a bunch of MKE CPO tools that were never even used! Their service is good too should you need it.