Best Corded Impact Wrenches - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide

Corded Impact Wrenches: The Ultimate Buying Guide

If you are considering purchasing a corded impact wrench, we want to draw your attention to a few additional attributes.

The first thing you need to have in mind is its torque and it is better to spend a bit more money to get more torque.

This will allow you to do more difficult projects or do the same projects in less time.

Under 250 foot-pounds of torque is not considered worth buying as you will not be able to do the basic tasks and this is the primary reason you are buying this tool.

The weight is another thing to consider as you will be using your hands when working.

If the tool is too heavy, it will cause a lot of fatigue and you will not be able to work many hours.

One more feature that users find important is that the tool allows you to make switching between forwards and reverse easily.

Once you have reached the correct tightness, you will want to have a tool which will make you able to turn things around quickly if you have made a mistake.

What are the important facts to know related to impact wrenches?

Several factors should be considered prior to buying an impact wrench.

These are powerful tools and certain characteristics should be up to the task.

Torque – Torque is a huge factor as the reason for buying the tool is just its torque. Torque is often presented in terms of feet-pounds and you should not get anything less than 150 ft-lbs.

Impacts Per Minute and RPM – IPM tells you how many times the hammer strikes the output shaft’s anvil over a minute’s time. Actually, this means that the higher the IPM, the quicker the tool can loosen a tight nut. The Rotation Per Minute shows how quickly the output shaft spins with no load. This means how quickly a tool can pull off or drive in a lug nut that is already loose.

Drive Size – The drive size for most automotive jobs is a 1/2 inch drive. This is the standard designed for most applications, but there are also drive shafts that are 3/8 inches or smaller. Inline impact wrenches and angle impact wrenches have smaller drives than the usual 1/2 inch drive. The 3/4 inch drive impact wrench can be found in pistol grip impact wrenches. If you need more advanced tools, you should know that the majority of inline impact wrenches with drives this big often have a second handle, allowing you to brace the tool using two grips. Impact wrenches with drives of 1 1/4 inches or more usually come in inline form with T handles, as well as impact wrenches with drives measuring 3 1/2 inches or more.

Torque Adjustment Features – When working with impact wrenches you should keep in mind that it can be easy to apply too much torque to a fastener without you noticing it and that is when torque adjustments come into play. Putting too much torque on a nut or bolt can twist or shear off the threads. These controls help you manage the torque output of the impact wrench.

Types of impact wrenches.

Impact wrenches are tools that can loosen or tighten lugs, nuts and bolts.

Impact wrenches are for people who are in the demand for a tool that can remove nuts.

What you get with this tool is the reduced risk of injury versus doing it by hand, but deciding which one is ideal for you among all the types available can be a difficult task.

Impact wrenches come in three common formats – the pistol grip power tool, the inline impact wrench, and the angle impact wrench.

Another way of separating it comes down to the power source of the impact wrench and there are again three types to choose from: pneumatic, corded electric, and battery powered impact wrenches.

Pistol Grip Impact Wrenches – They work in the same point-and-shoot mode of operation. One hand goes on the pistol grip to work the trigger, while the other hand aims the socket. If you get a battery-powered pistol grim impact wrench, you will be able to see that it has its battery pack placed under the hand grip. The similar situation is with many pneumatic and corded electric impact wrenches, with the cord or compressed air hose located under the hand grip. When purchasing a pistol grip impact wrench you should make sure that variable speed triggers allow you to control the torque and rotational speed of the impact wrench, that LED lighting illuminates the area and that soft grip handles have ergonomic design.

Inline Impact Wrenches or Palm Grip Impact Wrenches – They look like over-sized screwdrivers. If you decide to get the larger inline impact wrench, you should know that it often come with a D-shaped grip at the end that also holds the trigger, while in some models a T-shaped grip is used. Smaller inline impact wrenches are often simply held at the body and they are aimed at loosening or tightening many small lugs or nuts. If you have chosen to buy an inline impact wrenches you should make sure that the butterfly throttles give you comfort and control, that the design lets you use the tool even in smaller space, that soft grip D-handles or T-handles offer comfort and stability during use, that forward and reverse switches let you change the direction of the rotation and that the two-stage or variable speed triggers allow you control the torque and rotational speed of the impact wrench.

Angle Impact Wrenches – Angle Impact Wrenches come with an inline handle, while the drive rotates at a 90 degree axis from the rest of the tool. These impact wrenches are designed for smaller areas and are usually smaller size devices. You should know that the tool has to provide the following: using a low profile angled head lets you insert the tool into small spaces, integrated head covers protect the tool drive and combined variable speed and direction control rings allow you to control both torque and reversing.

Compressed Air Impact Wrenches – The compressed air impact wrench is the first wrench that appeared and even today the air powered impact wrench still remains an amazing tool The device requires a source of compressed air, a compressed air tank or a suitable air compressor and does not need a motor. Firstly, these are simpler tools which are lighter than other types and they have fewer parts. Sometimes, you can find air powered impact wrenches weighing as little as four pounds. Additionally, air powered impact wrenches are the quietest type of power wrench, and the only disadvantage is that you need to get the compressed air tank or air compressor unit required to power this tool and an air hose which is an additional expense.

Corded Electric Impact Wrenches – They are designed for people who plan to use it in the places where an AC outlet will always be available. Electric impact wrenches has less power that the air compressed ones, but modern electric motors are making this difference negligible. The corded models are the least expensive types as you do not need to buy a compressor for a pneumatic model and spare batteries for a cordless model.

Battery Powered Cordless Impact Wrenches –  They are designed to work on batteries and the modern battery and electric motor features make them more affordable while offering similar torque and power as corded impact wrench models. A battery powered impact wrench is very portable, but will require a lot of battery, so we suggest you buy at least a 4.0Ah battery for these tools. Furthermore, good idea is to have 2 or 3 charged up too because they usually require extended charging times due to their higher capacities.

Hydraulic Impact Wrenches – These types are difficult to find in your local hardware store as those are units for heavy industrial applications.

Conclusion

What we can conclude is that the DEWALT DW292 is our top pick and the reasons for this are its great power, AC and DC compatibility and soft-grip handle.

Another great tool is the Makita 6952 as it has a variable speed trigger and it is a lightweight model.

The HAMMERHEAD HDIW075 has to offer good power and durability at a very affordable price, while the Topcraft B07D75Q1BY includes four sockets and a case but lacks power.

The TruePower 730 is rightfully at the bottom of our list as it is the least powerful of all the tools mentioned.

If you have gone through our reviews and our buyer’s guide , we believe that you should be able to find a model that will match your needs and budget.

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