One advantage of the compressor is you have a inflator for tires, or blower to clean out vents in the car, under the glass windshields, between the seats. Also can blow other items clean of dust and debris.
+Alex Delarge hes good if u just want laughs. not much content and hes just plain full of shit sometimes. you dont always notice because he heavily censors the comments.
I recommend both air, and electric in a shop setting. I find that there are some jobs were my Snap on Electric impact does better than our Matco air impact. It just makes sense to use a little of both for convenience
If you already have the batteries and charger (just as if you already had the compressor and accessories), you can buy the battery powered bare tools for less than the comparable air tools. For example, the DCF899 was almost 20% cheaper than the IR2235. Just something to consider.
You have great videos. The one main advantage of the Cordless is I can bring it everywhere. I have helped customers with flat tires out in the field without a problem. I tried fitting a compressor in my work van, power inverter and additional battery. It added alot of weight and complexity when a cordless is so much better when you are mobile. I have all cordless tools and have for 11 years now.
only seen 4-5 of your videos but i love the fact that your channels name is exactly what your providing here. Not expecting perfection but they've all been thorough and linear enough that you can tell that no matter what knowledge you may have had ahead of time you went through the entire process so there isnt multiple steps you skip over so i have to go try 7 other videos to find the rest.
ive been around a long time and i have never seen anything/anyone worth subscribing to. although i have seen several of your videos i have yet to subscribe until i came across this video. you are impressively thorough and have been able to shed some light on very real and well done data that i have never seen anyone else do. i genuinely appreciate the time you take to educate us on real world usage and reviews! you're the man!
The advantage of the pneumatic tools is that after you trip over the air hose the 6th time in an afternoon and break your knee cap, you can take the rest of the week off.
At my shop I use air inside the shop and save the cordless for any small to medium job outside the shop (in the parking lot, etc). I did try to use the cordless DeWalt 1/2" exclusively for tires and it only lasted about 8 months then started to fail. Love having both but you just cant get the torque and consistency out of cordless like you can air but they both have their place in a busy shop.
Love KC tool, use to be a chads tool box guy. good review, got a compressor in corner of a new garage and was thinking about reclaiming the space. After considering the replacement factory, you are right. I have had my air tools 20+ years. The cordless tools don't last 5.
+chris salas Thanks Chris! I have some other test equipment showing up over the next week & then the impact testing videos will be starting....stay tuned!
I just bought a Milwaukee cordless 18V impact driver and drill set along with a Hackzall ( kind of a mini saws all ). They replaced an old gigantic 18V drill. Pretty impressive tools I must say.
+Russ Webster (rfwjr88) Thanks Russ! I carry a 1/2" full size impact with me all the time.....no thanks changing a tire with the junk tools included with the vehicle!
I do a lot of fast paced body work/interior work and I love my battery impacts, I did it with air guns and got so sick of tripping over hoses after a few days. Battery impacts are also pretty nice for tire rotations unless you're doing high volume.
I honestly don't have a dog in this fight either way, but I own a cordless impact and recently while doing a timing chain replacement on my 2012 Terrain I had a need for some serious torque in a very small space. It was looking like I might have to remove the head over this damn tensioner. But luckily there are such things as compact impact wrenches. I bought the Astro Pneumatic Nano 1822 and got-r-dunn. Incidentally the timing chain replacement was a lot of fun and a really cool learning experience. I ticked off a lot of firsts with this job as a shade-tree mechanic. The fact that I work from home and can have anything I need delivered (often times the next day) from Amazon made me feel a lot more confident in taking this on.
battery tools are great for doing work inside a vehicle where you don't want to be dragging a dirty hose over the interior or getting it snagged up. Outside the car, I almost always use air.
as always good job! keep up the great reviews! you are helping out the consumer by which one to get, and not the fan boys,and fan boys please remember competition is good for everyone.
+south park Thanks! And yep.....whoever is the top today, most likely will not be the best tomorrow.....keeping everyone informed with REAL numbers is why I have added the Skidmore into the mix :)
One thing you missed (or I missed when you said it) with air tools you have the air line getting snagged on stuff... having to route it around post lifts and also the added weight of the line adding to fatigue. Great reviews 😊
@@jacobwebb8818 typically most of the line is on the floor and most of the battery is in your hand. And the cordless tool usually weighs twice as much to begin with.
I have both the 2235timax and the 2115qtimax and both are great. I am a do it yourself-er who hates wasting time. The 2115 paid for itself after I used it fora number of auto repairs including right axel change, brakes and changing the differential oil. It really was a bonus last week when I used it to remove the crank-bolt on my Jeep after noticing a slight leak of the crankshaft seal. I never thought it would remove that bolt but it did it in a 2-3 seconds. i use that little 3/8" for everything I can and switch to the 2235 only when something requires more. The 2235 allowed me to quickly renovate a sailboat trailer and it removed the axel bolt when I replaced two ball joints. The 2115 could not handle that. So it cost me around 450.00 for both impacts. I hardly use them they sit almost pristinely in tool chest draw with a few other air tools. However, when i want to need them they are there and every time i use them i smile. Without them I probably would would pay to have more things done on the cars and boats. Another great impact that I want is the Hazet extra short 9012M. This is a 1/2" impact that achieves 500 to 800 ftlbs of torque in a rather compact design. I may pick one up on my next trip to Europe.
+Matt Perry Yes it is.....extremely powerful. I would suggest getting the quiet version.....I went from a 2135qtimax to the 2235timax-2 & the noise levels were no where close to each other ---- the 2235 (normal version) is LOUD!!
I'm new to impact battery powered drivers, i have a 1/4 " Porter Cable 18 volt impact driver, and ever since I added this driver to my Porter Cable line up, I havent looked back at the hammer drill the set originally came with. I use my impact to drive all kinds of screws now...it helped me put up an entire 12'x10' back yard shed. I will one of these days get a 1/2" impact driver ...just deciding whether to go with Makita or Ridgid. Brushless of course.
My makita DTW1002z 1/2 brushless 1200ftlb breakaway tq blows every air impact out of the water(tried against snapon/mac/matco and ir). I have never had a bolt it wouldnt remove yet. Great vid as always
Totally agree dude, 2 week ago I try to remove a crank bolt 22mm,on a 2016 Santa fe v6 , first I try with my mid torque milwaukee it couldn't, so a borrow my coworker half inch battery snap on, it couldn't then switch to Snap on half inch composite air , it couldn't removed then at last ,milwaukee half inch gen.1 did it , battery the way of the future 💪🔩🔧🛠
awesome test procedure, i enjoy that you use and explain the math your using to rate tools, only thing is would like see different is so use of safety glasses with those impacts ;)
I've had my harbor freight 4hp peak 10 gallon air compressor for about 7 years! I love it! I have a impact gun a air ratchet and i just bought a air rachect
I have an Eagle 20-gallon air-compressor. It can be rolled around and it uses a regular electric outlet. I am going with a pneumatic impact wrench. I already have a Makita pneumatic nail gun. My air-compressor is too heavy to carry in a vehicle without someone to help you. I weighs about 200 lbs. I will eventually purchase a battery-powered impact wrench for loosening and tightening nuts and bolts on different projects. That was an informative video. Thanks!
Great comparison video that doesn't cut any corners! I don't think I've seen such a great real world assessment of the good an bad of both. Great work! Btw is that a stand for holding t bar pullers I saw to your right during the video?
+adabezzi Thanks! I am glad to know that you appreciate the work I put into these! Also, yes....that is a set of 2 jaw pullers from BETA (1500/SP5) with the optional stand (1500/SPV).
I've been using pneumatics for 25 years, but after getting a 3/8' NiCd for home work I was so surprised with the noise, power, and convince that I've switched. I went with Milwaukee 18v lipo and haven't looked back. The 1/2" fuel impact is amazing, the power is great, It's on par with my old 3/4" IR composite and I don't have to worry about getting out the 1/2" air line. I use the same battery packs for my 1/2 impact, 3/8 impact, Sawzall, Hammer Drill, and 1/4" impact driver. 4 battery packs, two chargers and I only charge every other day. I of course still run a compressor to fill tires, run die grinders, air ratchets, D/A's, longboards, & air chisel; but it only turns on a couple times a day now instead of all day long. I would recommend going with a quality brushless lipo brand for the professional and the shade tree, technology is excellent. (FYI, you can get battery packs for any model cordless you can think of, take a look on eBay, or solder your own quality packs into the brands cases, lipos are easy to work with if you research safe handling) I appreciate your video and I think you gave both a fair shake, but I dissagree on the cost analysis, it's significantly cheaper to go with middle of the road electric and I'd be willing to bet the lifetime cost is lower too (how much is your compressor to run each month......add that up. What it really boils down to is preference, Brushless lipo are on the same playing field now when it comes to power and cost, and it's going to get even cheaper over the coming years.
No load noise performance is irrelevant - who will be spinning up their impact tools all day long? What's really important is the noise they produce when under load. What does the decibel meter say in that case?
Not always. There is a lot of times with these impacts they will only whack once or twice to remove a bolt. The rest of the spinning will be quiet with battery but it will still be screaming on the air.
I carry both. But he's right on longevity with air. I use my milwaukee when I need to but same with air. Battery has came a long ways in the last few years and I love my milwaukee stuff. It just depends on the application and what line of work you do. It's expensive but if you can, get both.
Great video. Glad you ran the test multiple times. I found it interesting that the numbers went up each run. Any idea why that might be? I'm guessing that your air wrench beat the spec so badly due to the massive airflow you supplied it. Good job man!
+Michael Gleason Thanks! The numbers went up due to the bolt/nut/washer heating up & causing the impact to overcome less friction. The Skidmore is about as accurate as you can get for torque specs (verifiable & repeatable).....the main thing is to look for consistent results. Oh, and yeah --- 15 seconds of solid hammering with a normal compressor would drain it down quickly....that is where the 80 gallon capacity & 90 psi working pressure really helps!
I’m a hobbyist with a very small shop, I tend to only have my compressor on when I need it like I think many others do. If I have my compressor on for air, die grinder or painting I use my pneumatic impact wrench, if not I use my battery one.
Like you said, if I had a shop or a garage I'd get a pneumatic wrench. Though, I don't like cables and hoses either, All of my power tools are DeWalt ones which share the same battery type so all of them work of the same charger and packs, Which is nice. All in all, a pneumatic will always be there for heavy duty work.
You have some good videos. I think one thing you didn't specifically mention is that batteries eventually fail and will need to be replaced because they can only be charged so many times. You did make a good point about the platform changing. Also, it's been my experience that cordless tools just don't last as long as pneumatic. Not by a long shot. If maintained properly and used correctly, pneumatic should last a very long time. I used to use cordless a lot more but not anymore. I only use the Milwaukee 3/8 cordless ratchet now. I've already had it replaced once under warranty. The small size of it is what beats out pneumatic for me. The main advantage of cordless is being...well, cordless. Different tools for different jobs.
+DeniedByFate Thanks! I agree that pneumatic tools are smaller, more powerful, less money, and longer lasting. Cordless ones are convenient and dont require power or a compressor. If someone is in a shop setting, I feel pneumatic is the way to go.
I like to use my 18v 1/2" Ryobi for lug nuts for the convenience because I have vehicles all over the property and because it has just the right amount of torque to have no chance of overdoing it. I have the 600 ft lb Harbor Freight pneumatic for breaking the difficult stuff.
+The Mechanical Philosopher Smart plan.....nothing worse than "just tightening it up" with one of these monster impacts & stripping a wheel stud or breaking a bolt off. You are doing it right.
My 80 gallon compressor runs perfectly on 110(120) and the IR gun, hose and filter are about half the cost of what a comparable electric would be and never need to charge any batteries.
At the time I saw this, this video was 3 1/2 years old. Electric has come up some sense then. I am a transit coach (bus) technician. I have both air and electric. I have the Snap-On PT850 1/2" and the Milwaukee 2863-20 1/2" impacts. In my case my Milwaukee is used for the big high torque jobs like tire changes and suspension part replacement. My Snap-On is for high torque small space jobs. In my case the Milwaukee is just more powerful than my Snap-On. **Note: I suspect that this might be due to poor shop air pressure at our facility ~95 psi. With that said, I also have the Harbor Freight 1/2 in. Ultra Compact Xtreme Stubby Air Impact Wrench #63534. For high torque very tight spot suspension jobs it is my go-to tool. It has totally changed the way I do some jobs. Yeah, I know right. Harbor Freight. Anyway. Depending on what you are working on and whether you can justify the costs, I think it is best to have both. If you can swing it. If you can only afford just one go-to tool then watch some more recent videos on the electrics available today. You might find that some of the power ratings are impressive. Final thoughts.... My pneumatic impacts will definitely outlast my electric impacts by years. If you get the Milwaukee 2863-20 for large (coach/bus, truck, RV) vehicle tire removal BUY 3/4" IMPACT SOCKETS and a good quality 1/2" to 3/4" adapter. My Milwaukee had a habit of snapping my 1/2" drive Snap-On impact sockets when placed on overtorqued wheel nuts. I bought the 3/4" 33mm and 38mm impact sockets to prevent this and I found that my impact actually removes every wheel nut I put in on now. ((we have monkeys...err I mean "mechanics" who insist on putting on wheel nuts with the 1" air impact and over torquing everything)) ...anyway this was a great video. I hope everyone finds the right tool that works for them.
what do you think about the snap-on MG725 1/2" impact gun? do you feel great power improvements using 3/8" coupling fittings and 1" line? i see most people use 1/4" fittings and 3/8" lines on 1000+foot pound impacts?
One thing not mentioned about air tool advantage is they come in various size and shapes which come in very handy in tight areas in engine compartment, vs electric they all are to big for tight areas in engine compartment.
+T Singh I believe that I did state that the Pneumatic tools are smaller & can fit in tighter spots....specifically that cordless is too big in some situations.
I love the video so dont take this wrong, and good job. This proved my point except the main point that comes to my mind. while you were measuring the decibels of the impacts running, they were only free running with no load or hammering. This being said; i personaly think that the electric impacts have alot louder hammer or it is much higher pitch. While measuring the decibels, i think that it would be a more valid argument if both impacts have the same amount of time with a load. Similar to the torque test. Would like to say again, great video! Another thought? If you have multiple brands; a similar comparison will get alot of views
I think it comes down to needs. I am a home hobbyist mechanic, and cordless for me is the way to go because of convenience and freedom of not having to drag out lines. The air guns are more powerful, but for automotive use, cordless gets the job done nicely. I have used the Milwaukee gun, and while powerful, that gun and some of the other stronger cordless tools are very heavy and bulky. I like my rigid cordless impact the most because while other guns are unquestionably stronger, the Ridgid is strong enough for any bolt I have encountered (especially since your video shed some light on torque loss!) I use the Milwaukee sparingly now, as I prefer the light weight more compact guns. As far as air goes, I don't see myself investing in a compressor, as cordless is so much more convenient. The one tool I will say I would like to see better is a cordless ratchet. Currently no company makes a cordless ratchet that rivals an air ratchet in terms of speed.
+Bigchuck678 I also prefer lightweight over extra-powerful.....in fact one of my favorite impacts is the 12v IR 1/4" impact....I use it all the time & the battery lasts forever. I made this video to show people that they do not need "the lastest and greatest" (aka every single new cordless impact) to be productive & get the job done. So many people get caught up in that mindset & the waste a lot of money unnecessarily.
dude uses the right tool for the job and that Skidmore isn't cheep. By all the torque wrenches I assume he does calibrations. You should do a Rad vs a hytorc Jgun for accuracy tests. I used to work for a rad dealer that's an impressive tool. Every expensive but its not called the Ferrari of torque wrenches for nothing.
Good video. I never thought about the manufactures changing the battery platform. There will be a time that they won't sell the batteries anymore and you will have to get a new tool. I still like cordless tools though. They sure are more convenient to move around. Do you know of anyone making a high torque electric impact?
+Love2boat92 Yeah......cordless tools are only as good as long as they still make the batteries. Do you mean corded high-torque? If so, I think 350 ft-lbs with a 1/2" version is about as high as they go......you can get 3/4" & 1" corded models above that, but they weigh a LOT!
Good point that a mix of both is the best option. I have the milwaukee and I have air. I rarely use my air anymore but battery powered might crap out on you if you forget to charge the battery(s) (ask me how I know ) lol. So air powered has no need for recharging which won't leave you with your proverbial pants down
+Smith Paul Thanks! I put a link in the description to it....it is the Ingersoll Rand 2235 (extended anvil).....the regular 2235 has the same amount of power with a normal sized anvil.
