Which battery powered impact wrench should I buy

[def38]

I'm going to buy an battery impact wrench, likely a 1/2" drive model for use on the tractor (most everything else is wrenchable with 3/8" drive tools). However, I am not certain what to buy so, I need your help. Here are my guidelines;

1- I wrench only ocassionally so, I don't need a commercial grade tool.
2- I'm an old guy so, I would like a lightweight model.
3- I would like to be able to get into tight places.
4- I have a bunch of B&D 12VDC battery paks used on their yard tools.
5- Max torque in the mid range (200 lb. ft. is adequate).

So, what do you advise? Thank you in advance.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Dewalt brand seems to be choice for light duty for homeowners and a few professionals that use them to drive lag bolts etc. I dont own any battery powered impacts other than 1/4 nut driver stuff. I use 110v and pneumatic plus the little 20V Craftsman impact nut driver which does all the small stuff that I have.

 

[kevinj]

I have Milwaukee M18 fuel tools but you said light.

Battery tools are heavier than air tools.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I have Makita cordless tools including the 1/2" impact wrench. With a 3 amp-hour battery it is light. I regularly use it for lug nuts on vehicles, trailers.

 

[4570Man]

I have the all the Dewalt impacts, the 1/4 bit driver, the 3/8 drive impact, the medium size 1/2 impact and the 1/2 full size one. The 3/8 is my most used one but it fall short of 200 FP of toque. The medium one is rated for like 350 FP but that might be pretty generous. It falls short of breaking loose bolts pretty often. The full size 1/2 breaks loose most bolts and when it can’t I can’t do any better with a 24” breaker bar. The Dewalt 1/2 is as good as most electric impacts. The big Milwaukee ones are the only ones that beat it. I keep a 3/4 socket set with a breaker bar and 4’ pipe in my vehicle for the tough bolts.

 

[woody]

I have Milwaukee M18 fuel tools but you said light.

Battery tools are heavier than air tools.

I also have the Milwaukee and it is adjustable so as not to put things back together to tight. Was using a craftsman 1/2 in drive 19.2 volt and found some lug nuts to be just to much for it so I switched to the Milwaukee and keep it in my truck. stopped just the other day and help someone change a tire. I believe the craftsman is 300 lb ft.

 

[Cat_Driver]

I've used them all and the Milwaukee M18 is the best

 

[RickB]

I've used them all and the Milwaukee M18 is the best

And yet Dewalt, Snap On and many other brands still sell.

 

[Darryle]

Milwaukee and Ryobi are under the same corporate umbrella.

I have a complete set of Porter Cable cordless tools, impacts and hammer drills too, they work

 

[MickeyDBC]

I have a machine shop and we use a lot of battery impact guns for fixturing parts and have found that Makita batteries last MUCH longer than any other ones that I have tried. Finally trashed the ones that came with a couple of impact guns that I bought in 2008 (impact guns look like **** but still work) and the new batteries seem to be even higher quality. Bought a couple of Dewalt guns and extra batteries on a Christmas special and they did not last much over a year. Dewalt corded tools are great but their batteries suck.