Impact Torque Ratings

[freedom_in_4low]

My Milwaukee mid torque will shear a wheel lug in only about 4 ugga duggas if I forget what setting I have it on. I usually have it on the setting where tightening just snugs it up and stops, loosening busts it and slows down so it doesn't send the nut spinning across the garage.

 

[lBasket]

My Milwaukee mid torque will shear a wheel lug in only about 4 ugga duggas if I forget what setting I have it on. I usually have it on the setting where tightening just snugs it up and stops, loosening busts it and slows down so it doesn't send the nut spinning across the garage.

I am normally using setting 1, there is like 2 settings for wood screws(?) and then a 1 and a 2. Afaik the only real difference was how quick it'll hammer down on a bolt that has already stopped? I'm always on 1 because the instructions didn't imply it's weaker just safer?

Side note. Any of y'all having the bolts getting "stuck" inside the sockets? Was never an issue with my wrench but it happens almost every single time I use the impact. They are impact sockets but they're some Amazon brand (I bought them thinking a cheap impact socket set is probably as strong as a decent non-impact set lol). Is that just a cheap socket problem?

 

[sab]

Any of y'all having the bolts getting "stuck" inside the sockets?

Yes, I do - especially with lug nuts.

Is that just a cheap socket problem?

No. I don’t have any cheap sockets. What I do to avoid it is wiggle the gun once the nut is loose, to use the leverage of the gun’s length, and this will usually break the nut loose so that by the time it’s off, it’s no longer stuck in the socket. The other trick I’ve learned to remove them, if they do get stuck, is to simply drop the socket/stuck nut on a concrete floor. That impact when it hits usually separates them.

 

[lBasket]

Yes, I do - especially with lug nuts.

Ok cool not just me.

No. I don’t have any cheap sockets. What I do to avoid it is wiggle the gun once the nut is loose, to use the leverage of the gun’s length, and this will usually break the nut loose so that by the time it’s off, it’s no longer stuck in the socket. The other trick I’ve learned to remove them, if they do get stuck, is to simply drop the socket/stuck nut on a concrete floor. That impact when it hits usually separates them.

I need to hit the socket back and forth with a hammer to get it off... No concrete driveways haha and wobbling the gun with the socket still attached rarely is enough. Maybe that's one thing that you get faster at with experience tho

 

[sab]

…wobbling the gun with the socket still attached rarely is enough. Maybe that's one thing that you get faster at with experience tho

Or it could be your gun. The Milwaukee I have slows way down after the nut breaks free. It’s almost too slow, though!

 

[lBasket]

Or it could be your gun. The Milwaukee I have slows way down after the nut breaks free. It’s almost too slow, though!

Yeah it sounds like I could use a re-reading of the manual to see what the 4 settings do, it sounds like I may be using the wrong one!

Good to know at least it [probably] isn't the quality of my sockets.

 

[Mike_H]

Wood screws? Are you should that’s an impact wrench, or an impact driver? What does the end look like that you put the socket on?

 

[lBasket]

Wood screws? Are you should that’s an impact wrench, or an impact driver? What does the end look like that you put the socket on?

Yes I'm sure, I was actually previously using an impact driver+socket adapter and this one replaced that

I am typically on "speed 1". doesn't seem like it has less power in that setting from this, only seems to differ from screwing things on not off?

 

[Mike_H]

Yes I'm sure, I was actually previously using an impact driver+socket adapter and this one replaced that

View attachment 551253

I am typically on "speed 1". doesn't seem like it has less power in that setting from this, only seems to differ from screwing things on not off?

Just wanted to make sure

I’d try it on high speed and see what you think

 

[lBasket]

Just wanted to make sure

Somewhere in my build thread is me acquiring the impact drill and then bring told it is NOT the same as an impact wrench

I’d try it on high speed and see what you think

Yeah I really ought to. Guess I was nervous about breaking things, but now that I'm feeling like it's kinda weak I don't have much to worry about!

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I am normally using setting 1, there is like 2 settings for wood screws(?) and then a 1 and a 2. Afaik the only real difference was how quick it'll hammer down on a bolt that has already stopped? I'm always on 1 because the instructions didn't imply it's weaker just safer?

Wood screws? Yeah I don't have any experience with yours specifically but if it has settings for wood screws I'd guess it doesn't have the beans I'd expect for mechanic work. My Milwaukee is rated for 650. It's a 1/2". I've never owned a 3/8" because I figure if the 1/2" is too big for the fastener, I probably don't need an impact, and if it's in a space where the 1/2" won't fit, it's probably something I don't want to shear off and would rather do by hand anyway.

Side note. Any of y'all having the bolts getting "stuck" inside the sockets? Was never an issue with my wrench but it happens almost every single time I use the impact. They are impact sockets but they're some Amazon brand (I bought them thinking a cheap impact socket set is probably as strong as a decent non-impact set lol). Is that just a cheap socket problem?

I only really have that issue when I'm using the wrong size, like mixing metric and SAE. 1/2" and 13mm are big offenders on that one. I don't use my impact on stuff that small typically, but I ran into it at work where assembly techs were complaining about their sockets sticking on the bolt heads and it turned out to be mismatched 13mm vs 1/2". It'll go both ways too ..the 1/2" is enough too small for the 13 that it will deform more, and the 13mm is enough too big that it'll stick in the 1/2. The specific application was driving thread cutting screws into unthreaded pilot holes in 4mm steel, so there was a lot of repeated impacting on each fastener, I can see that having to do with it too if your gun isnt strong enough to bust it after a couple of hits and has to keep beating on it.

My impact sockets are a 20+ year old Craftsman and a new Klutch set I picked up at Northern Tool.

 

[lBasket]

Wood screws? Yeah I don't have any experience with yours specifically but if it has settings for wood screws I'd guess it doesn't have the beans I'd expect for mechanic work. My Milwaukee is rated for 650. It's a 1/2". I've never owned a 3/8" because I figure if the 1/2" is too big for the fastener, I probably don't need an impact, and if it's in a space where the 1/2" won't fit, it's probably something I don't want to shear off and would rather do by hand anyway.

I did send a pic of the 4 "settings" above if it clears it up. It isn't explicitly for driving screws, I have an impact drill for that I think, but yeah does seem weird that's an option. Doesn't sound like others have it.

I only really have that issue when I'm using the wrong size, like mixing metric and SAE. 1/2" and 13mm are big offenders on that one. I don't use my impact on stuff that small typically, but I ran into it at work where assembly techs were complaining about their sockets sticking on the bolt heads and it turned out to be mismatched 13mm vs 1/2". It'll go both ways too ..the 1/2" is enough too small for the 13 that it will deform more, and the 13mm is enough too big that it'll stick in the 1/2. The specific application was driving thread cutting screws into unthreaded pilot holes in 4mm steel, so there was a lot of repeated impacting on each fastener, I can see that having to do with it too if your gun isnt strong enough to bust it after a couple of hits and has to keep beating on it.

My impact sockets are a 20+ year old Craftsman and a new Klutch set I picked up at Northern Tool.

Alriiiight you got me, this is probably my problem. I CBF carrying two sets of sockets so I do everything with metric. My 19mm is probably just not close enough to 3/4" for those lugs

 

[MountaineerTom]

The higher number on all my Dewalt stuff has more power.

I’d say a 1/2” drive impact gun would be more suited.

 

[lBasket]

The higher number on all my Dewalt stuff has more power.

I’d say a 1/2” drive impact gun would be more suited.

I didn't get the 1/2" because I went to the junkyard with my friend a while back and he brought a Milwaukee 1/2" and it was just too big to be of any use. We pulled 2 engines and 1 trans in one day and it was useful probably 2-3x, while his 3/8 fit way more places.

Idk what model he had or if dewalts 1/2"s are smaller or blah blah.... Also I thought 450ft lbs would be more than enough but that's clearly a made up number lol

 

[Mike_H]

I didn't get the 1/2" because I went to the junkyard with my friend a while back and he brought a Milwaukee 1/2" and it was just too big to be of any use. We pulled 2 engines and 1 trans in one day and it was useful probably 2-3x, while his 3/8 fit way more places.

Idk what model he had or if dewalts 1/2"s are smaller or blah blah.... Also I thought 450ft lbs would be more than enough but that's clearly a made up number lol

Or, it will do 450 on the highest setting…

 

[lBasket]

Or, it will do 450 on the highest setting…

The instructions do NOT imply that in my defense!

Why I didn't even try pressing the other button though, indefensible...

 

[Apparition]

I didn't get the 1/2" because I went to the junkyard with my friend a while back and he brought a Milwaukee 1/2" and it was just too big to be of any use. We pulled 2 engines and 1 trans in one day and it was useful probably 2-3x, while his 3/8 fit way more places.

Idk what model he had or if dewalts 1/2"s are smaller or blah blah.... Also I thought 450ft lbs would be more than enough but that's clearly a made up number lol

Get that Milwaukee one I linked prior and sell your dewalt stuff to some old lady for use assembling her ikea furniture.

 

[lBasket]

Get that Milwaukee one I linked prior and sell your dewalt stuff to some old lady for use assembling her ikea furniture.

Maybe when I win the lotto, Milwaukee isn't worth the price for a hobbyist that doesn't make money with their tools IMO.

I'll just stick to the guns god gave me

 

[Apparition]

Maybe when I win the lotto, Milwaukee isn't worth the price for a hobbyist that doesn't make money with their tools IMO.

I'll just stick to the guns god gave me

Milwaukee isn’t bad once you are buying bare tools or getting free batteries.

But avoid packout, it makes the electric tools look cheap.

 

[lBasket]

Milwaukee isn’t bad once you are buying bare tools or getting free batteries.

But avoid packout, it makes the electric tools look cheap.

Yeah, honestly that link you posted is one the better deals I've seen with a battery. The batteries are really what I think I don't want to pay for.