The Best Corded Electric Impact Wrench For Your Garage
Electric impact wrenches are an excellent addition to any toolbox. If you need an electric impact wrench here and there but won’t use it enough to spend the money for one with a battery pack, this is for you. In this article, I’ll reveal some great options to choose from so you can choose the best corded electric impact wrench for the money.
Any of these options can tackle anything an impact wrench can, without an air compressor, or an expensive battery pack.
Why get a corded electric impact wrench?
Impact wrenches are known for their big power and the ability to cut a lot of time out of a job. Whether you are rotating tires or unbolting a stubborn axle nut, an electric impact wrench can make all of the difference.
The market is saturated with high-power battery-operated impact wrenches, as well as the traditional air-powered beasts. “The person who will benefit from purchasing a corded electric impact wrench is the guy or gal who needs the power and convenience of an impact wrench here and there, not every day.”
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If you need an impact wrench to rotate your tires once a year or do a brake job in the driveway every once in a while, purchasing an expensive battery-powered unit just doesn’t make sense. A corded electric impact wrench is far less expensive and an air-powered model requires a compressor and air hose on top of the cost of the tool.
What should you look out for when buying an electric impact wrench with a cord?
Torque specs: Every impact wrench, corded or not produces torque by spinning a hammer mechanism within to drive the tool with an impacting effect (picture hammering constantly in one direction multiple times) this “hammering” produces the torque needed to break fasteners loose. Look for at least 150 to 400 ft lbs of torque and up, more is better but sometimes the tool with more torque will spin slower.
Drive speed: The speed the tool spins is important as well, impact wrenches are all about speed. Look for the average speed of 2,000 RPM. This is a nice sweet spot.
Anvil size: Impact wrenches come in 1/4 1/2 3/4 1″ anvil sizes. The typical size is 1/2 for lug nuts and common jobs, a 3/4 drive is a beast that mainly pros need for big equipment, and 3/8 is more for auto mechanics that are looking for speed. I suggest starting with the 1/2 models shown here that will drive all of your 1/2 impact sockets and consider an adapter if needed to drop down to 3/8th sizing.
Cord length: Diching the batteries also means gaining a cord, make sure there is enough to get where you need to go with it, preferably without an extension cord.
Let’s get into it…
Best Corded Electric Impact Wrenches of 2023
Here are my top picks of corded impact wrenches… Anyone you choose is a winner!
1. Porter Cable Model (PCE211) Corded Impact Wrench
Porter and Cable are known for their quality and long-lasting tools, this impact wrench is no different. At a cent under $80 bucks, this tool boasts a generous 450 ft-lbs of torque along with a 7.5 amp drive motor.
This corded electric impact wrench is 1/2 drive and uses a hog ring to make swapping sockets a breeze. I like the look of this tool and the fact that this tool weighs only 7.5 pounds. A high output speed of 2,200 RPM and a 3-year warranty make this a serious contender.
You can buy this tool and a good set of sockets for under 200 bucks and never worry about that one time you wish you had an impact wrench.
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2. Makita TW0200 1/2″ Impact Wrench
This Makita 1/2-inch corded impact wrench is no joke, this is an Amazon top-rated choice for good reason. This impact wrench is smaller and lighter than the Porter Cable, at 4.9 pounds this tool comes in almost a full 2 pounds lighter. The Makita has much less torque than the others (150 ft-lbs) however this impact offers much more control and precision. Depending on the work you need to get done the lower torque can be a deal breaker, or just what you are looking for.
Makita makes top-end tools and this impact wrench is no exception. Enjoy full control with an RPM speed ranging from 0 to 2,200 RPM. The variable speed trigger allows you to control the speed and power of the wrench at all times. To me, this is a huge perk and something that sets this corded electric impact apart from the rest.
This tool has all of the bells and whistles, however the price tag is a bit higher than the rest on this list. If you are looking for quality and no-nonsense performance from your tools, this is your pick on this list.
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3. CRAFTSMAN Impact Wrench, 1/2 inch, 7.5 Amp, Corded
Any mechanic with a toolbox most likely has a Craftsman tool or two in the drawers. This Craftsman impact wrench is a great option to get the work you need done. Like the Porter Cable, the Craftsman touts 450 pounds of torque, The variable trigger allows you to have full control over this beast.
This tool is comparable to the Porter Cable, however, it comes in a little heavy at 8.68 pounds, a little over a pound heavier than the Porter Cable. When it comes to power, however, weight is not a bad thing when you are looking for power.
You can grab this top-quality tool for a little over a hundred bucks, to be 100% honest, the Porter Cable is pretty much the same tool with a better warranty for less money.
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Wrapping it up
Any of these electric impact wrenches is a good choice to add to your tool arsenal, perfect for everyday to occasional use. Paired up with a good set of impact-rated sockets, these make short work of stubborn lug nuts and anything else the car gods throw your way.
Do you have any experience with corded impacts? Let me know below!
