P80 cordless Bosch lug nut tool 125 or 500 ft lb version?

Post by **abscate** » 07 Jan 2018, 06:00

Decision time

We run Bosch cordless tools in our house and my Harbor Freight corded impact is spewing oil...so

Do I get the 125 ft lb compact impact for $119

Or

The 500 ft lb bulky one for $300

I'm ok with having to crack them with a breaker bar 10% of the time?

ThommyKent · Post by **ThommyKent** » 07 Jan 2018, 07:28

The 500, you would be lucky if the 125 even budges the lug nuts. Isn`t there a 300 available?

Post by **jonesg** » 07 Jan 2018, 08:03

abscate wrote: ↑07 Jan 2018, 06:00 Decision time

We run Bosch cordless tools in our house and my Harbor Freight corded impact is spewing oil...so

Do I get the 125 ft lb compact impact for $119

Or

The 500 ft lb bulky one for $300

I'm ok with having to crack them with a breaker bar 10% of the time?

I use the smaller Milwaukee 1/4 hex drive far more than my big ( heavy) 1/2 inch milwaukee.
The smaller one can do alum wheels if theyre torqued properly. The big un was for steel rims on my old 740.
The smaller gun gets used everywhere, snownlower, tractor ,car ,
torx head sheetrock screws...no more stripping Philip heads.

I don't have any of the pricey fuel milwaukee, just regular brushed motors. I bought them all after trying one. Sawzall, grinder. Hakzall, 3/8 ratchet ,1/2 drill etc. Small and lg impacts, I bleed red.!

Post by **abscate** » 07 Jan 2018, 11:03

Im leaning to getting the 125 as I only torque to 60 ft lbs lubricated, and can easily crack a 500ftlb torque with the 24 inch bar.

I need to bring a bar anyhow, as I don't trust impacts to set tightening torque.

The compact tool has many more other users in auto/home

Post by **j-dawg** » 07 Jan 2018, 13:12

I had a 1300 in-lb impact driver that never cracked a single lug nut. My Ryobi impact wrench claims 300 lb-ft. It can take a bit of hammering to loosen a lug, but it gets there within a few seconds. It's cracked a few old crank pulley bolts too, just took a few more seconds of hammering.

After maybe two years of owning one, I now view a 1/2"-drive impact wrench as an essential tool. It might be overkill for cracking lugs, but it comes in handy all over the place, and the more breaking power the better.

Post by **scot850** » 07 Jan 2018, 14:18

I have a corded impact wrench that claims 350 ft/lb but of course limited to length of your power cable. It has saved me and my arms many times, especially with the older (-98) hub nuts. Recently I bought a 1/2" drive Canadian Tire Mastercraft impact driver for taking to PnP to save my back/arms and reduce the number of broken nuts as I find it will shock stuff loose without breaking stuff.

It was about $240 CDN on sale if I recall. It is great and works well but is fairly heavy. Claims 350 ft/lb max on 20V Lithium battery.

I'd think anything that can do about 200 ft/lb is ample for what you want for either steel or alloy wheel lug bolts. You can also get the torque limiting shafts that also are good and consistent for tightening. Somewhere I also have a lug nut tool that runs of the cigarette lighter. I found it again recently but have never used it. It is neat as it comes in its' own plastic box.

Had a buddy who has a Milwaukee 3/8" drive for doing this and loved it as it was lightweight but did the job.

Be careful with some of the cheap stuff. I bought another a couple of years ago and it was useless. 18V and couldn't crack a 100 ft/lb nut loose when it claimed 240 ft/lb torque capability. It was returned.

Neil.

Post by **jtp** » 07 Jan 2018, 21:55

You won’t be breaking anything by hand with a 500. We had a 450 ftpb Milwaukee 1/2” driver in a shop I used to work at and it handled lugs easily.

If you are still shopping around Craftsman stuff is pretty cheap right now if you have a Sears close by. Had to get a new floor jack the other day and it’s apparently Craftsman liquidation now since they sold the brand to Stanley Black+Decker.

I had to get out before I spent too much money on tools I don’t have the technical ability to justify owning

Post by **mecheng** » 08 Jan 2018, 07:28

I have a 1/2" Corded http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/maste ... p.html#srp

which goes on sale for $50, it is good for 240 ftlbs and I beleive it, it has loosened some stubborn suspension bolts.
I don't like battery 1/2" impact drivers because batteries degread over time and sometimes you need the full juice.

I just picked up this 1/4" Ridgid for small jobs: splash shields, odds and ends bolts. Its rated for 80 ft lbs but It won't take off lug nuts. I think its the bargain of the century, it comes with a drill and its very light and compact, only $128, probably much cheaper in the US. The drill puts a 3" screw into wood in no time, I was surprised and expecting it to be weak. And it has a lifetime warantee!! even the battery! Milwaukee has a similar version a bit pricer, but I'm tired of dealing with dead batteries even though Milwaukee is great.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.12v- ... 11551.html

Post by **abscate** » 08 Jan 2018, 08:08

Im married to the Bosch line with all the other 18V batteries and tools I have, so I am down to that line for this decision. Still mulling it over. I have many 4-5 year old Bosch 18V batteries still in good service so I am happy about that.

The time it takes me to run the extension cord is probably equal to crack time with the 24 inch bar and socket, so if I crack with the bar, then run them off with the 125, Ive saved money and equal time on task. Running the loose ones back on and off is just as time consuming, so Im leaning away from the 500.

Post by **jtp** » 08 Jan 2018, 09:25

abscate wrote: ↑08 Jan 2018, 08:08 Im married to the Bosch line with all the other 18V batteries and tools I have, so I am down to that line for this decision. Still mulling it over. I have many 4-5 year old Bosch 18V batteries still in good service so I am happy about that.

The time it takes me to run the extension cord is probably equal to crack time with the 24 inch bar and socket, so if I crack with the bar, then run them off with the 125, Ive saved money and equal time on task. Running the loose ones back on and off is just as time consuming, so Im leaning away from the 500.

I love Bosch power tools too. You know that Bosch with 125 ftlb is going to punch above its weight.

The 500 would be money if you end up building a deck any time soon though