impact drivers..

Are the battery drill type impact drivers any good for tight bolt removal,
and what other uses do they have ..

asking for a friend who may be buying me one for xmas...

 

I've always been tempted to buy one for disassembling stuff. They're kinder to bolts than swinging on a spanner, as they give them a series of short belts rather than a lot of torque all at once. Not sure if they'll deal with really rusted-in stuff. Worth having, I'd say.

 

If you spend enough money they are excellent, mid range are reasonably good too but battery life is an issue

 

I’ve a Clarke 240 volt one and it’s good
I doubt a battery one at the same price would be as good.

 

Not really the same thing, para. The battery ones are really just for disassembling stuff that’s a bit reluctant.

I’ve got the Clark mains one as well, and there’s nothing it won’t shift

 

Even unpleasant stains ?
Asking for a friend.

 

Digressing somewhat...saw a vid on YouTube of the Snap On bolt heater: thing with a coil on that you slip over a bolt and it induction-heats it to free it off.

Looks great, but being Snap On, it probably costs a million pounds...

 

I’ve got a mechanic mate that use to swear by snap on, until his new Milwaukee one says it’s a different breed!

 

Ask @Suss he's an expert

 

At first I thought he meant the place in Surrey

 

Even the non snap on induction heaters don’t come cheap
Would be a godsend to have though.

I normally use a butane blow torch or build up a blob of weld to get heat into stuff.

 

Yup their cool ..
Induction heater...

saw someone on TVs using them to heat rivets individually..

 

If you want to spend under £100 the Clarke 1 kilowatt electric rattle gun is just about almost powerful enough to do up rear wheel nuts. Not to undo.
Battery powered rattle guns cost a lot more before they are anything like as powerful.

 

I really wouldn't do stuff up with the Clark gun. You've got no control over the torque, which can hit 350 ft lbs as I recall. Bolt-shearing time

 

I've used a draper one at work, works very well but seem to remember even that was about £700 dread to think of the Snap On price

 

frined has one of these very expensive but worth it , he snapped a few bolts with it

 

I recently used a percussive maintenance impact driver and it was a bugger to work out if I had it set to open or close . Instructions on it left a lot to be desired but after a week of wd40 and exhausting myself with the hammer I did finally open six door hinge bolts but it was more luck than management

 

Ye cant beat a good case hardened chisel one good belt and it's off .

 

Mines undone a few peoples rear hub nuts.

 

Yep, hub nuts and gland nuts