I am 44 years old and have been turning wrenches for about 27 years. I’ve owned quite a few tools over the years, so when it came time for me to choose the best tool that I have ever owned, you would expect that decision to be difficult. It was not – the choice was easy.

My all-time best tool is the Dewalt 18 volt cordless impact wrench. The model number is DW057.

I use it everyday as an industrial mechanic. After a while, I was so impressed with its performance, that I got another one to use at home and to take to the races (I race motorcycles – flat track).

The DW057 impact wrench is a little pricey, but after you use one for a while, you’ll agree that it is worth the cost.

The combination of size and power is what I like most about it. The cordless impact wrench that I was using prior to the Dewalt is a 12 volt Makita. It is larger and has less power than the Dewalt.

The Dewalt is a compact tool that is very powerful, producing about 130 ft.lbs of torque. It is the same size as their impact driver. It has a 1/2 drive with a pin retainer, which keep sockets held tightly to the tool. I keep a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter on mine and normally use it with 3/8 sockets from size 19 mm and smaller.

The Dewalt impact wrench has the power to loosen nuts or bolts up to size 19 mm. and because of it’s variable speed control, you are able to work on smaller fasteners without worrying about “twisting them off”.

This variable speed control is another feature that I like and now, require. I rebuild a lot of motorcycle engines. These engines have quite a few 5 and 6 mm Allen screws. In the past, I would use a 3/8 drive air driven, butterfly, impact wrench to take them apart, but during assembly, I always installed them by hand. This was mainly because motorcycle cases are aluminum and I couldn’t feel or control the pneumatic impact wrench.

This is no longer a problem. With the Dewalt, I have so much feel and control that I’m not intimidated to use it for assembling engines.

I plan to turn wrenches for many more years and I may come across a better tool, but as of now, my favorite tool is the Dewalt 18 volt cordless impact wrench.