We love the mid-torque impact wrench class. Its balance of performance and size makes it the type we reach for most often. There are a lot of things to consider when you’re buying a new one, but for many Pros, hard-hitting performance is priority number one. So, which ones rise above the rest?
We’ve run a series of tests to find out!
See how the entire field performed in our Best Cordless Impact Wrench feature.
Three Tests, Three Hard-Hitting Cordless Impact Wrenches
In our full evaluation, we consider size, weight, features, performance, and more to come up with our final rankings.
Today, we’re isolating performance as the sole metric. We ran three tests to get an idea of each tool’s real-world potential.
Impact Tester Measurements
The Test
To measure torque, we use a device from Inertia Torque. The team that designed the L-1000 Impact Torque Tester is from Skidmore-Wilhelm, which has developed some of the best torque-testing tools that manufacturers rely on. The point is, they know what they’re doing.
For our test, we set each impact wrench to its strongest setting and went full gas for three five-second bursts with three seconds of rest between each. That gives each tool a total of fifteen seconds to drive the meter as high as it can.
It’s important to note that the values we record typically don’t match the manufacturer’s specs. The meter and the method are not what manufacturers use to measure for their specifications. However, it gives us an objective idea of what the tools can actually do using a method similar to how we’d use them in the field.
The Winner
So, which model measured the highest torque?
Makita, and it wasn’t even close.
The Makita 40V max XGT GWT07 registered 502.3 ft-lbs of torque. The next closest was Metabo HPT’s 36V WR36DE, and it was way back at 441.2 ft-lbs.
Takeaways
There are a couple of interesting takeaways. For starters, the DeWalt DCF891, Flex FX1451, and Metabo HPT WR36DE all had higher torque specifications than Makita, so by hitting harder than them in our tests, Makita outperformed our expectations.
However, Makita fell away in our other tests, which may seem disappointing. The reason is that it has a lower top-end speed. Even though it’s hitting harder than any of the others, its 2900 IPM means it’s not impacting as quickly, so its progress is slower than some of the competition.
Driving Structural Screws
The Test
While impact wrenches are most closely associated with the automotive industry, they’re useful in construction when you’re driving large structural screws.
To simulate this application, we drove 1/2-inch lag screws into stacked and glued OSB subfloor. Even though that’s not typically what you’re fastening with these large screws, it’s more consistent than typical lumber, so the results are more reliable.
We give each impact wrench 30 seconds to drive the lag as deep as it can with only a 2-inch pilot hole to help it start the lag straight.
The Winner
This is an extremely hard test, even for these powerful impact wrenches. In the end, only one was able to set the lag flush within the time limit: DeWalt’s DCF891.
Interestingly, Ridgid’s R86012 and Ryobi’s HP Brushless P262 were the closest competitors, each coming with 1/2 an inch of flush.
Takeaways
This result wasn’t too big a surprise. On paper, DeWalt was tied for the highest fastening torque, and its 3250 IPM impact rate was in the top half. Higher torque plus a fast impacting rate should result in faster driving speeds, and in this case, it did.
Breaking Bolts
The Test
The classic bolt break test is the other one we run. With mid-torque impact wrenches, we set eight bolts to 500 ft-lbs using a torque wrench and see how long it takes to break them loose. We report the average of all eight in our results.
This shows us which models will make the quickest work bolt-removing applications. While 500 ft-lbs is much higher than standard lug nuts on passenger vehicles, there are other components, larger vehicles, and equipment that can be tightened further, as well as stubborn fasteners that have been neglected.
The Winner
DeWalt again took first place as the only impact wrench to need less than three seconds on average (2.97 sec).
However, Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 2962 wasn’t far behind at 3.26 seconds. Flex’s FX1451 was in a close third at 3.34 seconds.
Takeaways
While all three were impressive, Milwaukee is a very compelling choice. Digging deeper into the design, Milwaukee is a full inch shorter than DeWalt and nearly half an inch shorter than Flex. With access being a key consideration for mechanics, that’s a big enough difference to push Milwaukee into the win column for many Pros.
If You Could Only Pick One…
As I said in the intro, there are a lot of different ways to prioritize which impact is the right fit for the way you work. You might want the top overall performance, the tightest access, the lightest weight, the least expensive, and so on.
But looking solely at performance in our tests, DeWalt is easily the winner. Taking the top marks in two of the tests and finishing fifth in the other was enough to earn the highest overall performance score in our test group with 93 points.
Milwaukee was second. Even though it didn’t win any individual performance test, it consistently performed well enough to earn the second overall position with 87 points.
Makita was third. Realistically, it’s the most powerful in the group. However, its slower impact rate can mean slower application speeds compared to other elite options. Still, its 83-point performance total is impressive.
Are you surprised the Big 3 came out on top? Which one would you pick?
Let us know in the comments below!
