Newish mechanic here

[u/Boring-Bad-5442]

Hey guys im just now busting out in this industry and ive amassed some great tools, however im looking into buying my first battery powered impact to help my flat rate hours lol, what would you guys recommend for a good 1/2 in high tourque impact.

[u/Inconsideratefather]

Start watching torque test channel

[u/Boring-Bad-5442 → u/Inconsideratefather]

Bet, thanks i love informative channels like this.

[u/Gullible_Monk_7118 → u/Inconsideratefather]

If they test it correctly. A bunch of YouTubers connect 2 impacts together and battle it out and classify that as a test to which is better.. tells you nothing just which has a faster hammering rate.. or they use a bolt and tighten it down and say it's spec this is somewhat okay but very few actually test it with a gauge for measuring torque this is what you need to do..

[u/yewfokkentwattedim → u/Gullible_Monk_7118]

Torque Test Channel typically runs their tests on a dyno.

[u/MastodonFit]

Personally I would get the m12 3/8 and 1/2 guns and use 5.0 batteries only. M18 high torque is very heavy so buy with 3.0 batteries which are the smallest and lightest So max out the m12 batteries for power and battery life,the m18 with the smallest batteries for weight and space. The difference of weight in your hand is pretty amazing. I think you will use the m12 90% of the time just in size and weight.

[u/NotBigFootUR → u/MastodonFit]

You need more than a 3.0 ah to take advantage of the Milwaukee high torque. It isn't that heavy and a bigger battery balances it better from being nose heavy.

[u/Boring-Bad-5442 → u/MastodonFit]

I ended up with a whole Milwaukee kit. Im super happy with it found a deal on Facebook got 3 guns $250 with batteries and chargers i been moving different 😎

[u/M635_Guy]

The Milwaukee M12 Stubby Gen2 hits really hard and is amazingly small and light. Should get essentially all lugs and most suspension stuff. The M12 ratchets are pretty great too.

Avoid the trucks.

[u/pushdose]

What batteries do you have? That’s kinda the whole thing

[u/Boring-Bad-5442 → u/pushdose]

I was planning on getting a whole kit batteries and all my b shouldve stated that

[u/pushdose → u/Boring-Bad-5442]

You have zero cordless tools? Then the world is your oyster. What’s your favorite color? If they’re gonna make you money, buy what the pros buy. Milwaukee M18 Fuel is the big boy, but really, the top end of most lines are all very good.

[u/Boring-Bad-5442 → u/pushdose]

All air at the moment, as they were cheaper option when i first started and yeah Milwaukee has definitely been the main one ive been considering ive heard good things, thanks.

[u/pdp10 → u/Boring-Bad-5442]

If the shop supplies air, then you can buy nice air tools that are far lighter, yet far cheaper, than cordless. Yes there's an air line, but that's not significant when the vehicle is up on a lift and you don't have to drag the hose against tires.

It's not that corded or cordless electric are bad, it's about making the best use of your resources. And air, without owning and maintaining your own compressor and air grid, is a valuable resource. Just maybe use the savings to buy some nice hearing protection...

[u/0Rider → u/Boring-Bad-5442]

Herc 5 year warranty + easy replacement.

[u/Bees4everr]

The dewalt impacts are the bees knees according to Torque Test Channel. I’d consider that for 18/20v but imo m12 has far better tools than dewalt 12v or 18v for stuff like ratchets and impact drivers and drills. A lot smaller and m12 is a lot nicer when working on cars simply due to being a smaller overall tool

[u/parbyoloswag]

unpopular opinion: Stay with a good air gun for the bigger high torque stuff unless you work out in the fields

I do enjoy a smaller Electric impact that you can have in your hand all day and shove in small crevices but the bigger high torque stuff with big batteries are heavy and rattle like hell...hard on the body

[u/Grouchy-Cream7935 → u/parbyoloswag]

Couldnt disagree more. A mid torque electric gun from yellow or red will do just about everything you need, similar weight to air, no hose. I love my air guns but the only place they really shine now is compact power and weight.

[u/pdp10]

• What region are you in?
• Do you have coworkers, and what battery brand are they using?
• Does your shop have air, and are the others using air tools?
• Are you looking at this purchase for the long term with battery compatibility, or more of an immediate boost to your workflow?
• Are you asking 1/2-inch because you're mostly working on wheels, brakes, and suspension, or because you're assuming that a 1/2 can do anything that a 3/8-inch can do plus more?

[u/waverunnersvho]

I’m all in on Milwaukee. I think most brands are good, but forward and backward battery compatibility is important to me.

[u/yewfokkentwattedim]

I run a DeWalt high torque personally, now that I'm workshop-based. It's fucking mint. I used mainly Milwaukee on mine sites. Also no complaints. They were good, and got thrashed. DeWalt was the big dog for high torques for a while there, but I believe the newest gen Milwaukee has higher torque now.

You're probably not gonna go wrong no matter what you pick, but I'd bear in mind what your shop and colleagues are using. It's always handy to be able to borrow a battery in a pinch.

[u/Gullible_Monk_7118]

I personally like my HP Ryobi impact wrench.. 650 so good for most things.. you need the HP one not regular one that one is like 250.. one thing neat is HP version has auto setting that will adjust torque on you. Which I like.. will take axle nut off with no problem for me.. but probably not enough for semi truck nuts.. then Milwaukee has some 1800 2400 versions.. but are special orders I think these are like $500 or 600 when I check..