Chordless impact wrenches

[MagnaRider]

If you do go back to needing a cordless impact (Which I cannot recommend enough, so handy). I would place my vote on the Milwaukee lineup. Its a little spendier to get into them but once you have some batteries you can just buy the tools you need. I have cordless angle grinders, drills, impacts, tire inflator, weed whacker etc from Milwaukee and have been nothing less than impressed.
I have an M12(12 volt line) impact and an M18 (18 volt) impact. Both in 3/8"s and they are pretty comparable. I prefer my M12 since it is smaller, but that doesn't mean it has no problem taking truck tires or other stubborn bolts out with ease.
I've used all these tools 5+ years wrenching on cars and in metal fabrication and have had zero issues with any of them.
https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-Electri...f5cdb68fc1

[pdedse]

If you do go back to needing a cordless impact (Which I cannot recommend enough, so handy). I would place my vote on the Milwaukee lineup. Its a little spendier to get into them but once you have some batteries you can just buy the tools you need. I have cordless angle grinders, drills, impacts, tire inflator, weed whacker etc from Milwaukee and have been nothing less than impressed.
I have an M12(12 volt line) impact and an M18 (18 volt) impact. Both in 3/8"s and they are pretty comparable. I prefer my M12 since it is smaller, but that doesn't mean it has no problem taking truck tires or other stubborn bolts out with ease.
I've used all these tools 5+ years wrenching on cars and in metal fabrication and have had zero issues with any of them.
https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-Electri...f5cdb68fc1

Thanks for the comments; it's good to hear endorsements for brands that cost a little more.  I might do just this, or what kennyw mentioned about Rigid.  I don't have much $$ invested in power tools, so starting with one brand and building on that would make sense.

[MagnaRider]

I am not familiar with Rigid full lineup of tools, but with Milwaukee I do enjoy how they have lots of tools that are not necessarily a "garage" tool. I hate weed whipping, but my wife actually enjoys it as a way to get outside in the yard. She never would've weed whipped the yard with the old 2-stroke loud weed whip, but with the Milwaukee she knows how to put a new battery in and go. If I can buy a tool doesn't just make the job easier, but makes it completely go away? Sign me up! And wife is happier? win win.

Also trying to not be a total Milwaukee fanboy but their warranty is very good and stress-free. At my old job I managed our Milwaukee tools used by production and I would send in any that would break to be replaced. These tools were absolutely destroyed by hooligans each and every day and when I would send in a completely broken tool they would send a brand new one no questions asked. Super easy website to set up a claim and they pay for everything shipping etc. Not that any of my tools have broke yet, but its nice knowing I can be rough with them and they will honor the 5-year warranty.

[pdedse]

I am not familiar with Rigid full lineup of tools, but with Milwaukee I do enjoy how they have lots of tools that are not necessarily a "garage" tool. I hate weed whipping, but my wife actually enjoys it as a way to get outside in the yard. She never would've weed whipped the yard with the old 2-stroke loud weed whip, but with the Milwaukee she knows how to put a new battery in and go. If I can buy a tool doesn't just make the job easier, but makes it completely go away? Sign me up! And wife is happier? win win.

Also trying to not be a total Milwaukee fanboy but their warranty is very good and stress-free. At my old job I managed our Milwaukee tools used by production and I would send in any that would break to be replaced. These tools were absolutely destroyed by hooligans each and every day and when I would send in a completely broken tool they would send a brand new one no questions asked. Super easy website to set up a claim and they pay for everything shipping etc. Not that any of my tools have broke yet, but its nice knowing I can be rough with them and they will honor the 5-year warranty.

I definetly don't hear such stories with the cheap brands.

[Nachodaddy]

I have a Kobalt impact wrench in 3/8", which I think I bought at Home Depot or Lowe's on sale. I wish I'd had it 30 years ago when I was doing more work on my cars. Also, my favorite tool is a battery-operated socket wrench. Those nuts in places where you don't have room to swing that socket wrench back and forth are much easier to deal with if you can just put that electric socket on it and hit the switch. If only Benjamin Franklin could see us now.

[SportsterDoc]

I am not wrenching as much as I used to, at age almost 79.  Although last night I replaced wheel bearings and seals on a 2002 Carson 5x8 utility trailer.  I had to stand on a 24" breaker bar to loosen some of the lug nuts. 

I have not had an impact since I sold all my air tools circa 1993...but there have been a few times I would have appreciated having one, if sufficient torque.

~10 years ago I started collecting 24 volt Kobalt tools from Lowe's:  Drill motors, blowers, reciprocating saw for me and then for my son..  Excellent torque and long battery life.  I had an issue with a drill motor chuck and blower switch.  Although the warranty states to return to place of purchase, Lowe's starting requiring me to contact Kobalt to get a return number.

Irritated and liking my local Ace, after moving to New Mexico, I started collecting Craftsman V20 tools.  They are OK for my use now, but the drill does not have the torque of Kobalt.  No issues in past 2 1/2 years, so no warranty experience:
Stick vacuum (used weekly)
Shop vacuum (used 2-3 times a week)
1/2" chuck drill (used 2 times a week)
Circular saw (used 1-2 times month)
Grinder (used every 2-3 months)
Jig saw (used every 3 months)
Palm sander (used once a month)

At my age they will probably last as long as me.

However, if I started collecting earlier, I would go with Milwaukee for tools expecting frequent use.  In the seventies to nineties, I had several Milwaukee corded tools:  Hole Hog, Hole shooter, reciprocating saw, etc.  Excellent tools.

[Cormanus]

It's interesting to me to see what battery tools tradespeople use. The favourites seem to be Milwaukee and Makita.

[SportsterDoc]

My first cordless tool was a Makita 7.2 volt right angle drill. Sure handy for some tight situations, but not much torque. That was about 4 1/2 decades ago.

[Cormanus]

I have a Makita plug-in belt sander which has served me well. A builder who did some work for me nearly a decade ago had a great suite of Makita battery tools, including an excellent saw. I suspect they've all got a whole lot better in the intervening period.

[Gone in 60]

Thought this was appropriate since we’re talking about cordless impact guns. I’m at a racing trade show in Indy.

We’re doing a live build of a Chevy Big Block in the booth. The engine builder brought his own Snap On tools which I am very jealous of. But, Summit is the build sponsor and provided a few of their branded impact guns too. They seem nice! Maybe one will make its way into my luggage…