The Craftsman Cordless High Torque Impact Wrench Churns Out Serious Nut-Busting Power With Ease
One of the big challenges in the world of cordless impact wrenches has always been power. The “High-Torque” designation for battery-powered impact wrenches hasn’t always meant the same as it does for pneumatic tools. The Craftsman High-Torque Impact Wrench aims to hit harder and bridge the gap of what cordless tools can do.
Author’s Note: Be sure to check out our top picks of the Best Cordless Impact Wrenches broken down by category!
Craftsman Cordless High-Torque Impact Wrench Performance
- No-Load Speed: 0-450/1200/2000 RPM
- Max Fastening Torque: 700 ft-lbs.
- Max Breakaway Torque: 1000 ft-lbs.
- Impact Rate: 2600 IPM
- Motor Type: Brushless
Craftsman joined the 1000 ft-lbs club with its V20 RP Brushless CMCF940M1. This high-torque model boasts 700 ft-lbs of fastening torque and up to 1000 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque—plenty of power for seized nuts and large-diameter fasteners.
Along with those capable torque specs, it has a 3-speed gearbox and a max impact rate of 2,600 IPM. The low, medium, and high speeds produce 450, 1,200, and 2,000 RPMs, respectively, for when you need more finesse and control.
Considering Craftsman’s previous generation of impacts, the amount of power they’re getting in a relatively compact package is a big step forward in both performance and design. Compared to pneumatic options, the torque is there to legitimately call this a high-torque impact wrench. Where you’ll still notice a big difference is that the speed is much lower than your air impact.
Craftsman Cordless High-Torque Impact Wrench Design Notes
- Model: Craftsman CMCF940M1
- Power Source: Craftsman 20V battery
- Weight: 5.9 lbs. (bare), 7.3 lbs. (with 4.0Ah battery)
- Tool Length: 8-3/4 in.
- Anvil Size: 1/2 in.
- Anvil Type: Friction ring
Compared to some other high-torque impact wrenches on the market, the Craftsman CMCF940M1 is on the lighter side at 7.3 pounds with the kitted 4.0Ah battery.
Its textured rubber grip is slightly on the larger side, but I found that it assists in maintaining a secure hold on the tool while it’s under load.
Craftsman utilizes a foot-mounted LED worklight to project light upward toward the anvil while working. Additionally, they opted for a 3-position slide switch to control the speed rather than blister buttons as we’ve seen on other models. Personally, I prefer a manual switch because they are less likely to wear out or break over time.
Additional Features
- Variable speed trigger
Craftsman Cordless High-Torque Impact Wrench Price
The Craftsman High-Torque Impact Wrench kit retails for $229 and comes with a 4.0Ah battery and charger. By our estimation, this is currently the best value you can find for a high-torque model. Craftsman also backs this kit with a 3-year limited warranty.
The Bottom Line
Overall, Craftsman made a lot of very sensible choices in the design of their cordless high-torque impact wrench. It has genuine power and speed with a design that is approachable and useful for all skill levels. Plus, the price tag is pretty hard to ignore. For those reasons, we believe this is a good fit for both serious DIYers and value-minded Pros that need an occasional-use impact.
