Bob La Londe wrote:
"Steve W." wrote in message
...
Ed Huntress wrote:
Fab Shop magazine just published an article on the state of the art in
cordless tools:

http://magazine.fsmdirect.com/2016/july/d/#page7

RCM members should find it interesting. (How about a 2,500-Watt,
battery-powered, 9-inch angle-head grinder?)

At the end of it, there's a mention of "John Doe's" DeWalt-powered
bicycle, and a photo of it.

I use cordless tools in the shop all the time. 1/4", 3/8" drivers, 1/2"
impact. They are real nice when you're out in a salvage yard, makes
pulling the 20 parts off to get to the one you need so much faster...

The impacts are getting pretty good but air still has them beat for raw
power and lifespan as well as total cost of ownership. I still have my
first IR air impact gun and it's well over 30 yars old. Still works like
the day I got it and has had one rebuild (vanes and one bearing replaced)

--
Steve W.

I have had a number of cheap air impacts, and finally bought an IR 1/2" a
few years ago. Other than being an airhog it is head and shoulders above
anything I've ever used except for the 35+ year old Chicago Pneumatic stuff
my dad has. I remember breaking down engines with his CP air ratchet that
some cheap impacts wouldn't touch. Ok, maybe that was a rosy glasses
moment. LOL.



Yeah there is a big difference from the 19.99 impacts to the name brand
units. For folks on a budget the Earthquake units at HF actually are not
bad. BUT test them and run them a lot in the first week or two.
Defects tend to show up quick in air tools.

--
Steve W.