Best Cordless Mid Torque Impact Wrench Head-2 - Head

Cordless Mid-Torque Impact Wrench Head-2-HeadFor our testing, we chose fastening torque as our limiting factor and set the acceptable range from 300-550 Ft/Lbf. Scoring Criteria1. Power - Measured breaking torque capability under high demand.2. Speed - Timed breaking torque performance application.3. Torture Test - High demand performance fastening torque application.4. Ergonomics5. Features6. Decibel Output7. PriceOur top-performing tool in this category is Makita. While the Makita has a published breaking-force torque of 740 Ft/Lbf, we were able to successfully break loose the bolt at 700 Ft/Lbf. Makita powered through our test! Not only was the Makita our strongest performer, but it also broke the 700 Ft/Lbf bolt loose in well under ten seconds. Performance Breaking TorqueWe chose a timed removal of heavy truck lug nuts as our test for breaking torque performance. Ryobi completely smoked this test with a time of 22.44 seconds. After completing the run, the whole crew did a double-take and then started laughing. Performance Fastening TorqueIn first place was the Ryobi! The Ryobi completely dominated the test, finishing a full 25 seconds ahead of our second-place finisher. Ridgid took second place beating out Milwaukee (3rd Place) by just eight seconds. ErgonomicsMakita took first place in this category. The Makita's contoured grip, high-quality switches, and controls, as well as minimal felt vibration made it a crew favorite. While not the lightest tool we tested, the Makita packs a ton of power and performance into a sleek package.The DEWALT Atomic came in second. This mighty little powerhouse is extremely comfortable and compact in the hand. Unfortunately, the small size and light-weight translate into more felt vibration for the user during demanding tasks.FeaturesThe Makita featured the most special settings of any of the tools. With three forward and three reverse auto stop modes, it is capable of dialing in the torque value for any fastener. Additionally, there are four different selectable IPM and RPM modes as well as a full-speed mode. Second place went to the DEWALT Atomic. This mini powerhouse features an excellent triple LED light system in the face of the tool. Decibel RatingThe quietest tool was the Craftsman (73.4Db) followed by DEWALT in second (74.6) and Porter-Cable in third (75.8).PricingAs of the time of publishing this article, Porter-Cable is our lowest price tool at $120.00 as a bare tool. Craftsman is the next cheapest and Ryobi comes in third. Best Cordless Mid-Torque Impact WrenchAt the end of the day, our goal is to determine which cordless mid-torque impact wrench is best overall. This is a decision not based on conjecture but on real-world quantified data and testing. After completing all of our testing and analyzing the results, we found that we have a tie for first place between Makita and Ryobi.Makita was first in breaking torque as well as ergonomics and features. Overall the crew felt that the Makita is a hi-tech, sleek, and outstandingly well-built tool. It was powerful during all of our testing, although the built-in safety and preservation features hurt it slightly during the lug nuts and lag bolts tests. We all expected a show stopper with the Makita, and it delivered.The Ryobi really threw us for a loop. The power and speed of this tool dropped a lot of jaws on testing day. Landslide victories go to Ryobi in both of our performance tests, while maintaining a top-five finish in all but one category, and being named best value! This tool blew all of our expectations out of the water. The Ryobi earned a first-place rank in performance, but we did experience some durability issues. The impact wrench is incredibly powerful, but the thermal overload protection built into it stopped it dead on two occasions during our use. When considering this, the Ryobi may not be best suited for daily professional-grade use, such as with a service mechanic.