Electric nut runners.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Anyone here own a mains powered nut runner? Considering getting one for the heavier/rustier jobs. Are they as good as air powered? I don't have a compressor and don't want to buy one atm.

[DodgeRover]

Impact wrench type thing do you mean? I cheat and use a hex to 3/8" or 1/2" adaptor and use my cordless dewalt impact driver to wiz stuff up/ down when I'm compressor less

[SiC]

Impact wrench type thing do you mean? I cheat and use a hex to 3/8" or 1/2" adaptor and use my cordless dewalt impact driver to wiz stuff up/ down when I'm compressor less

I do too. The adapter bits I got from screwfix say don't use for impact tools, but they've not broken yet. Plus they were cheap. However 150nm from my Makita impact driver is a bit weedy tbh.

 

My next plan is to get a proper makita impact driver. However I'm not totally sure how useful it'll be, given the inaccessibility of most bolts on cars. The Clarke mains powered one is supposed to be pretty decent too.

[PiperCub]

Not sure if that's what you are after but I got one of these recently - grand piece of kit with some serious muscle. (Think that's what SiC is referring to).

 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cew1000-electric-impact-wrench/

 

While a cordless is handier to use, mains ones have way more guts. I seldom work away from a mains source (my w/shop or driveway) so it's not an issue for me personally.

 

Wait until they have one of their VAT-Free days on Clarke products, I got it for £59 doing this. 

 

If you just want a nut-runner/electric ratchet then do what I do, use a normal cordless drill with some square drive adaptors in the chuck (usually come in a pack of three - 1/2", 3/8" & 1/4" drive). My normal DeWalt is fine for this. 

[Uncle Jimmy]

Yes an impact wrench. The cordless stuff hasn't got the power for the heavy stuff, the 18v kit is hundreds of pounds, so I thought I'd buy a mains version.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Not sure if that's what you are after but I got one of these recently - grand piece of kit with some serious muscle. (Think that's what SiC is referring to).

 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cew1000-electric-impact-wrench/

 

While a cordless is handier to use, mains ones have way more guts. I seldom work away from a mains source (my w/shop or driveway) so it's not an issue for me personally.

 

Wait until they have one of their VAT-Free days on Clarke products, I got it for £59 doing this. 

 

If you just want a nut-runner/electric ratchet then do what I do, use a normal cordless drill with some square drive adaptors in the chuck (usually come in a pack of three - 1/2", 3/8" & 1/4" drive). My normal DeWalt is fine for this.

 

Yes, 450 Nm torque is more like it, a Clarke would do nicely.

[garbaldy]

Yes, 450 Nm torque is more like it, a Clarke would do nicely.

Your welcome to try mine if you think they are that good, I've never used it once since buying the cordless one and not because of the usefulness of haveing no cable either,

It's fooking shite in comparison.

[Tamworthbay]

I have the machine mart one and it's up to any job I have put it through. The rear subby nuts on the mx5 nearly beat it but it got there after a few goes and they were proper fooked.

[M'coli]

^^^ I too bought the Machine Mart one, and it's very good.

[PiperCub]

Cordless is great of course but to get an equivilent cordless to the Clarke's power is going to be well over £300. Yes, Ideally, I'd love to get one but can't justify that level of spending (& I'm a tool anorak) on something that I don't REALLY need. 

[garbaldy]

The machine mart one might well have been good enough but I don't see the point in having to go around loosening all the wheel nuts prior to using it when the cordless does it first time.

 

In its defense it has never struggled with alloys wheels just steels which uses conical studs,

I've also used it under cars and it's bloody heavy and huuuge

[Tamworthbay]

I think you may have a duffer. Mine has had far far worse off than wheel nuts. The mx5 subframe nuts are biggies and were so rusty you could hardly see the thread. It got them off and they were red hot after so a lot of energy needed! There is nothing it's failed on. I have a cordless one as well (about £100 iirc) but it's only good for light stuff (like wheel nuts).

[garbaldy]

/\ maybe but as I've never used it since I bought the cordless I may leave it for someone else to try.

[Fat_Pirate]

I've got the Machine Mart one and I'm not impressed by it - it failed to shift the driveshaft nuts on my Berlingo (180NM), and was ineffective against some suspension nuts on my 75.  

[garbaldy]

/\ thank God it's not just me then.

[vaughant]

Another positive vote for the Clarke mains powered one, undid some really awkward rounded bolts on my cosworth rear diff to prop, couldn't get a good swing with a breaker bar and that munched them with ease.

 

Bear in mind any issues could be due to either dirt or damp in the brushes, it makes a huge difference, mine actually stopped working from it. A quick reseat of them (power off of course) did the trick.

 

I've also just had a cordless for Xmas but not had a chance to try it out yet, looking forward too next week or so.

 

Think that was about £300 with a battery etc, 18v dewalt.

[Uncle Jimmy]

I think you may have a duffer. Mine has had far far worse off than wheel nuts. The mx5 subframe nuts are biggies and were so rusty you could hardly see the thread. It got them off and they were red hot after so a lot of energy needed! There is nothing it's failed on. I have a cordless one as well (about £100 iirc) but it's only good for light stuff (like wheel nuts).

Yup, this is the kind of thing I need it for.

[garbaldy]

Yup, this is the kind of thing I need it for.

Where about are you

[Uncle Jimmy]

^^^Gloucestershire.

[garbaldy]

That's a bit far for me to drop it over,

[M'coli]

Yo, Nibblet, do you want me to pop up from Brizzle with mine one evening next week?

[Uncle Jimmy]

For sure, I'll get me rusty nuts out.

You remember my lair? PM me.

[Guest bangerfan101]

The Clark 450nm battery powered impact wrenches are shite.

 

Unless it's literally just come off charge its not going to shift anything that's seriously tight.

 

Then the batteries are nicad. Not a patch on lithium ion.

 

Not to mention it weighs a tonne and is clumsyer than my Mrs after 3 bottles of rose

[DodgeRover]

Kielder tools cordless impact wrench, either buy direct or from machine mart on the vat free day, they're really good once they've been used a bit and freed up. The demo ones from when they were being developed are still going strong in professional everyday use and they also do a fixed price (£36 I think) repair service if you manage to bust it.

[twosmoke300]

Civic crank pulleys can get silly tight over time . I've had to get a big 3/4 air gun to do them

[DaveDorson]

I bought a mains lidl one for buttons and it's ace.  

[hairymel]

i have a 'clarke type' mains gun and think its brilliant. cant find my version but they all (clarke included) look to be rebadged versions of the same thing.

 

£55 neilson version - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Duty-1010W-Electric-Impact-Wrench-240V-1-2-Dr-In-Case-17-22mm-Sockets-/232181784148?hash=item360f1cde54:g:DfYAAOSwJQdW-9Oa

 

[Tamworthbay]

i have a 'clarke type' mains gun and think its brilliant. cant find my version but they all (clarke included) look to be rebadged versions of the same thing.

 

£55 neilson version - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Duty-1010W-Electric-Impact-Wrench-240V-1-2-Dr-In-Case-17-22mm-Sockets-/232181784148?hash=item360f1cde54:g:DfYAAOSwJQdW-9Oa

Yup, my one looks like that.

[PiperCub]

Mine too, not unusual these days, same product from the same factory (China mainly), different labels/colours/packaging for different customers. 

 

If I'd looked on ebay I could have saves a couple of quid and the journey to my local MM!!!! Never mind. 

[overrun]

Kielder tools cordless impact wrench, either buy direct or from machine mart on the vat free day, they're really good once they've been used a bit and freed up. The demo ones from when they were being developed are still going strong in professional everyday use and they also do a fixed price (£36 I think) repair service if you manage to bust it.

Good shout. I have the impact gun and drill. The gun especially, gets dogs abuse and is a fine thing.