Harbor Freight 1/2 In. Electric Impact Wrench 

It’s weird how you can instantly tell when someone is an idiot before they do anything

I have an electric impact wrench, and I love it. 10 seconds is not a long time. Don't pulse it like that. Just pull the trigger until the bolt comes out. If you want more power, get air tools. I have those too, but sometimes it's just easier to get out the electric wrench. Oh, and people, make sure you thread the bolt in by hand before you put a power tool on it! You don't want to cross-thread your bolts! You might also want to get a long breaker bar. That's how I loosen my lug nuts.

My heart skipped a beat when he powered those lugs back in....

gotta know how an impact works, before you use an impact

I bought this impact wrench and it has gotten every nut + bolt off my 20+ yr old car including axle nuts, crankshaft bolts (torqued to 180 lbs), subframe bolts etc. For some reason it doesn't want to take the lug nuts off my car either that are only torqued to 100 lbs. Since my 18" breaker bar easily loosens lugs I'm not worried about it and this impact wrench is actually excellent since it makes short work of everything else. At 40 bux it's one of the best tools I've bought in awhile!!

I bought one of these back in 1990 when I was stationed in the Philippines. Got to remove and install the primary chain front sprocket nut on my Harley. Worked great! I still have it and use it today for my Harley, and lug nuts!

I dont think a better tool would help you =) you're doing everything wrong in the first place.

It's very strange that this is clearly your first time ever using an impact wrench yet you did this "review" of it. When you heard the actual hammer working the anvil for the first time at 4:50 you pulled it off the lug and looked at it like something was broken. Much respect for buying tools and trying to do things for yourself, but dude at least watch a few reviews on a tool you've never used before doing a review yourself. Keep at it though man, who knows in 10 years you might be schooling guys.

When installing the nuts back always start by hand to make sure you dont strip the nuts or female. Never start with the power tool.

Dude, that's the way I learned a lot of stuff that I know right now, these people come here to make a lot of comments and put you down just to share a great review. I know this is not a professional mechanic, this is the average person, and for a lot of us is great to see other people make a mistake so we don't do it ourselves. Thanks for sharing.

I have this HF impact wrench and have not had anything it could not loosen.

I cringed when he tightened it with the gun right away.

I bought this Electric drill to save my DeWalt cordless batteries. For the money it's a great deal. I'm not a mechanic and I'm not spending a fortune on expensive tools to rotate my wheels on my car. This is great for me and for what I use it, maybe 3 or 4 times a year. Most power tools are now made in China. Some tools are cheaper than others so you have to do your homework. Anyway, good video I learned some and I'm sure you did to. There are a lot of knuckle heads out there with stupid comments. Thanks for the video

I have that same impact gun. It does great. I'll use it for when I assemble one of their trailers I plan on buying sometime soon. It will speed up the process a lot. Nice video though. For 27 bucks it's a great deal.

Always thread your bolts by hand before tightening with power tools, thank you also for the useful info.

It's probably a bad idea to use that to put your lug bolts back on. The dealer welded them on with their impact gun in the first place and that's how they got that tight. That gun's supposed to go to 300ft/lb your car is probably 90-100 ft/lb spec for those lugs.

It's not a fucking NASCAR impact! You have a lot to learn, you let the impact do the work!

I hate people buying stuff they dont know how to use and then say they dont work or something

my stomach turned when i watched him use the impact wrench to place the bolt back! perfect to cross thread and make more work for yourself. do a little research before you start to recommend tools as if you know what you are talking about. take a little pressure off the bolts by jacking the car up just a little and let the tool do its job. the tool doesnt need to go back...it looks fine this case it is operator needs to go back and learn something on how to use it. lefty loosey...lmao. in all seriousness learn how to use a tool before you use it and especially when you try and put it down.

I guess for the price it is very good. Thank you for trying the product out for us

I know that it wasn't the best review but ive learned alot from reading some comments and ill make sure to do a better job in the next one. By the way im going to buy the cordless impact wrench test it and do a review soon. And a lucky subscriber will get a chance to win a a cordless impact wrench so subscribe and stay tune for that video!

Kinda wanna look into getting one of these for the garage when I'm rebuilding motors or something looks like it works pretty good just gotta make sure you hold that trigger until the lug nut comes off cuz I've had some lug nuts give a snap on 1/2" impact some trouble so I think this still did pretty good

the reason chicago electric power tools come with extra contact brushes, is not because they were nice enough to just throw in an extra set just in case you may need them, but because theres usually no variable speed control, its either on or off. and the motor spins so damn fast that they wear the brushes right out. so they give them to you, because you will need them. that is of course if the gun even lasts that long? the only things i buy from harbor freight are things like shop towls, tape, and maybe hand tools. i learned to stay away from their power tools. but, i would definitely appreciate winning a power tool, im not too good for cheap tools. i am just too poor to chance throwing my money away.

7:16 AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH never start a lug like that, so many damn times I play clean up a year later cause the last guy cross threaded the damn lugs

Note to self. Don't let Kitchen and Cars tighten lugs on my cars. Better off staying in the kitchen.lmfao

Most of the comments seem a little on the mean side. It looks like the tool is definitely not that powerful. What I have learned to do is use a Tire Iron by hand first with a little elbow grease, and then use the Impact Wrench to do a lot of the work for you after you break the lug loose.My 2 cents.

Its a corded impact wrench, you obviously didn't read the instructions. Where it says it has to build up torque in order to do its job. No you just went full blast on it.

that tool is doing what it's suppose to do. impact guns do the hammering effect so you don't strip the nut taking it off. and BTW you should never remove lug bolts with weight on them. you could strip the threads.

ANY impact gun will hammer for a couple seconds before loosening or tightening bolts. when tightening bolts, once it starts to hammer does NOT mean its tightened. thats the action beginning to do its job. you need to wait until the nut stops turning.. granted its a cheap tool, but it worked fine for what it is. my electric milwaukee would do the same thing.

Always turn by hand before tighten by impact, or else it will cross thread... Thanks for the video :) I bought one also

A couple of suggestions. Hand thread doughnuts, tighten with a torque wrench to manufacturer's specs. Usually 100 fl or less. HF bass a cheap 1/2 inch torque wrench I keep in the van just for this. I have the same electric impact you tested and it is durable. It has gotten anything off I have used on. Doughnuts, strut mount bolts, shocks, no problem. Great for $40. Next option from this would be a milwaukee rated are 300 foot pounds. That's $180.

I just went to HB I bought the 12v Impact wrench that plugs in the cigarette lighter socket and it is faster than what you bought lol I just got it for $21

Take it back for 50 bucks that’s pretty impressive to be able to take off lug nuts without any physical effort

Always tighten by hand at the end..

if u have never used a corded impact before and your looking for a brute look at torque ratings northern tool has a few different ones anyways it dose take a bit longer than an air impact so just be patient andtry it out u be supprized but if a bolt or nut has 400 lbs torque then look for a better one

Dude, big no, no! Do not drive bolts in from the start with a impact wrench! Always start it by hand to make sure its not cross-threaded first. Then drive it home with the impact wrench... if you wish. I cringed each time you did that because I've been there and done it.

Thats actually how an impact gun is supposed to work.. the electric will not have the power of say an ingersoll rand impact gun but seems to work for what it is.

I can tell you from first hand experience this thing is boss, but it all depends on your electric source. If you run it with good current and extension cord it performs very well, on par with a good air set up. However, if you try to use it with a cheap, thin extension cord it's worthless. Harbor Freight has some big-ass thick extension cords for around $20 that makes all the difference. If you have shitty wiring to your electric outlet it also makes a difference. Thanks for the video man, just wanted to share my experience.

I've always thought it was funny that Harbor Freight sells you electric tools with extra brushes in the kit. The chances that you'll wear those brushes out before the tool dies seems pretty slim to me just because they're pretty inexpensive, but who knows. I buy a lot of Makita and Milwaukee tools and they never have spare brushes, and those are usually 4 times the price of a HF tool lol.

what you did at the end is what you are supposed to do every single time you tried to take out a nut with a tool

pound-feet. It's force times distance. Check out a statics book and look up a "moment."

Wow, never used an electric, just my pneumatic, but dang 10 sec. is a long time to remove a bolt that should be torqued on at 100 ft-lbs. Good luck breaking rusted bolts. My pneumatic takes them off a split second after I push the button!

Great video and awesome review thank you very much for the video

Just bought exact tool today. Great heads-up. Now ill know to be patient when i use it. Thanks for sharing. @ Mitch Kazaka

Next video get Mom to help.

When you said. "230 Feet per Pound"... that is when I shut this crap off.. It is pronounced "Foot Pounds" ... I couldn't listen to someone give an honest review about something they knew nothing about.

5:30 - OK, break the nuts free with your tire iron, use your body weight to push the tire iron down with your foot (left is loose, right is tight) - so simply "break" the nuts loose with the tire iron, then use the tool to quickly remove the nuts. You can use a torque wrench when tightening up the lug nuts (set to your vehicle's specs).

Lifting the vehicle would take the stress off the lug nuts then take the impact and see how fast it come off then

great video!! I have the same impact gun. I paid $28.00 for it and mine works great and no complaint. you have to let the impact losing the nut. If you want it fast like the dealer or the mechanic, you have to paid big buck for brand name impact gun.

So if this impact is rated at 250 ft lbs, he tightened the bolt back at around 200+ ft lbs instead of 80-90 lbs typical for lug nuts/bolts.

I have a 3/8 impact that is a 1/4 of the weight and 1/4 of that size and about 4 times the power

weighs 7lbs parts are to replace the china junk inside it. brushes for the motor. pretty sure thats whats under the slotted caps on both sides. also just about any shop puts lugs on over spec and aluminum and how long the lugs have been on the car all effect this.

I'd hate to sell anything to you. You don't just takes it back because it does take your lug nuts off in time. The power output was advertised.

Would anyone like to see how he cleans a handgun?

Legend has it after reinstalling lugs he was driving on the interstate and all four wheels fell off causing 6 tractor trailer drivers to smash into and crush his car flat and that’s a good thing so no more idiotic videos are on RU-vid.

car should have been on jack stands before trying to remove most pressure will be on those bolts so itll be even more difficult to take out...

that didn't strip your bolt?

Wouldnt it be easier if the car is jacked up first? Less forced exerted on lugnuts caused by the weight of the car

it will not take off lugs that a pneumatic impact put on and if It does it takes a while that's the only thing that's giving me trouble

Good review mate

Learn to use an impact gun first!! You need to let the hammer work. It isn't a screw gun. Your dealer mechanic probably torqued it down too tight with his impact wrench. Dealers and mechanics always do.

Corded Electric impact gives all or no power on reverse and forward. Why would you screw the the lug nuts back on like that??

Don't buy tools if you don't know how to use them. By the way ALWAYS hand tighten lugs or any nuts or bolts before using a impact or any sockets or wrenches. It ant gonna take them off with two little turns for one you have the car on the ground. Jack the damn thing up and let the impact do its work.

Bought it- didn't unscrew my lugs that were torqued to 110lb

Yes always start a lug with the wrench 😁

When you got the faster gun, what did you do with the extra 5 seconds per lug you saved? I have this same gun and it removed all the bolts during an R&R rear differential in a 2003 Ford Explorer. I realize I probably lost at least 74 seconds of my life in the removal of the said diff because the gun was slow, but returning it would have taken at least 45 minutes.

Great review. Hope I win the cordless impact wrench

What kind of car is that? I like the wheels

You are trying to tighten the wheel nut it's got to spin the other way to loosen the nut .

i know what not to buy so thank's for that review. you should never trust impacts and do lug nuts/bolts up by hand just to be sure and also start the lug nut by hand first before impacting otherwise if not on straight you got cross-threading and that will cost ya $$..btw with alloy rims it's best to use a torque wrench but yeah i know too much effort even for me..lol we live and learn NOT having a go at you..keep going and improve you will for sure.. 2 years ago so i guess its all in hindsite now.

Did you have the correct socket?.

video respect man! but I agree with some other guys, air tools are much more efficient. but I got to hand it to you not a bad tool for the average joe.

occasional uses this impact wrench OK. not to bad.

Cmon guys we were all naive to this stuff at one point in our lives,, idk if I'd be using power tools during a hail storm tho lol js

Always hand tight lugs by hand.

So did you get another impact wrench? How good is it? But for 28 dollars that's not so bad.

the gun is great its your cheap sockets

LOL...when he put the bolts back in, he started them with the drill.

All I hear is lug nuts stripping 🤣

And then you cross threaded your lugs because you didn't start them by hand doh

Good video, buddy. I am considering an impact gun purchase and this will help in my decision. Thanks for you time!

You know the worst thing you can do is use. A tool to. Start a bolt, that is kindergarten lesson one, never tighten any bolt with any tool ever, always start by hand, As well I like how you didn't trust the tool , and yet you trust it enough to tighten the lug. And put cap back on " as if that was torqued to proper torque" and I'm sure if I don't get a response, you might have succumbed to a trier falling off while at speed , and now you respond via a tube Seriously. First foul. Tire on ground.... Second trying to removed plastic lug nut Third blaming the tool" a good carpenter never blames his hammer" Fourth lean into it the skipping spund is the clutch inside and hammer not engaging, put a lil arm in it Third, don't trust harbour freight with the only thing stopping you from hitting other cars,....( tires). Pretty important on the car

You're not using it right. You have to hold it and let it knock the bolt loose. Air does the same thing. Also, you really don't want to just throw them in with the gun. You should thread them by hand first otherwise you can end up cross threading and ruining the lug or the hub. And yeah, you should torque them properly. You didn't trust the tool but you barely drove the lug back in and put the cap on not knowing if it was even tight? Not trying to insult you or anything but that's a good way to break a bolt and/or lose a wheel. Nevermind ruining your bearings and whatnot too.

My dewalt 885 is around 115ft lbs only and take the lug nuts off my tire in LESS than two second

I have had the same impact for two years and it works great. you don't seem to know how to use it.

Einstein was tightening it instead of loosening.

You obviously don’t know how to use an impact wrench. You have to hold it in firmly not like a weakling and squeeze the trigger for upward of 10 seconds. This builds up the momentum for the impact/s.

You forgot the plastic nut guards. You're dangerous.

atleast Mitch owns up to the fact he didn't take the plasteek caps off....couldn't been worse I guess no telling how though.....ooopsss

Wrong size soccet sounds like I've removed accell nuts

You need to screw the bolt back by hand and make sure it going in smooth then use the impact to finish it or you will damage the thread. You need to watch how to use what every tool you plan to review before you make video so people don't get criticized you.

Ingersoll rand if you want something with more power ;)

LETS USE ELECTRIC POWER TOOLS IN THE RAIN!!!!!!!!! FAIL!! That's all. Hahahaha

I don’t tighten my lug-nuts with an impact wrench, they get too tight that way.

good idea is to jack up the car with something before taking lugs out

i love hf tools, i exclusively use there hardware....but i don't really like the idea of an electric impact wrench....the saying goes "use the right tool for the job"...air operated tools are a lot more efficient

the spare parts are brushes

ive used it and nothings wrong witn it.users fault not the tool

They’re $21 in 2024. Going out of business as well

Why do you pull off the tool when you hear the hammer working? Secondly, too much talking. Took up time. Anyways, nice introduction of the tool. Nice electric wrench.