Kobalt 24-volt Max 3/8-in Drive Brushless Cordless Impact Wrench Review
Editor Rating: 4.9/5
Excellent
Kobalt 24-volt Max 3/8-in Drive Brushless Cordless Impact Wrench Review
Reviewed by: Timothy Henderson
Published on: February 28, 2019
Last modified:
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
Review Summary:
Everyone knows that Kobalt is kind of a house brand of Lowe’s. To some folks, that’s not a good sing.
Let’s take this situation for example -you go down to the store because you have a strong craving for some ice cream, but you can’t really afford Ben and Jerry’s, so your only option is getting some off-brand ice cream.
Yes, it’ll satisfy your sweet tooth, but not like the premium brand would. Well, Kobalt has decided to turn things around and improve their image. Recently, Kobalt has been manufacturing comfy, robust and durable cordless powertools, and they’ve been selling them at competitive prices.
That’s where this impressive and pocket-friendly, new and improved 3/8-inch impact wrench comes in. Operating on Kobalt’s 24V Max platform and featuring a brushless motor, it really gives the more reputable, high-end brands a run for their money. On top of that, it also comes with a five-year limited warranty.
Specifications:
- Weight -2.4 lbs
- Dimensions -8.5″ x 6.3″ x 2.7″
- Speed -variable, 0 to 2500 RPM
- Power -3300 IPM
- Battery -Li-Ion
- Voltage -24V
Kobalt 24-volt Max 3/8-in Drive Brushless Cordless Impact Wrench – The Basics
Kobalt offers two different 1/2″ impact wrenches. This is the more compact model. It’s a somewhat low power unit, but with a small footprint.
Without the battery, the tool weighs approximately two and a half pounds. If you pair it with a 4 Ah cell, it adds ten ounces to the overall weight. The unit is just slightly heavier and larger than your average impact driver.
Unsurprisingly, because of its size, it’s capable of delivering 200 foot/lbs of torque at 2500 RPM. It also delivers 3300 IPM.
The impact driver is excellent for driving lag screws and longer timber screws. Of course, that’s aside from its primary purpose -tightening up nuts and bolts. However, if you’re a mechanic, you’d probably want to go with a proper mid-torque model, but it sure won’t come as compact and light as this one.
Unfortunately, this is a bare tool. The model operates at 24V. However, Kobalt’s batteries are quite affordable -the least powerful cell being only ten bucks.
The Features
The Design
Weighing approximately two and a half pounds, it’s not the lightest impact wrench on the market, but its fairly easy to wield thanks to its compact design. The rubberized grip makes it quite comfortable to hold.
It comes with a built-in LED light that makes working in dimly areas much more manageable. The light is located at the base, just under where your hand goes, making it very effective. The only downside is that the light is trigger-activated.
Power
The unit is powered by 24V batteries featuring six cells instead of five. As we have established, it’s more suitable for light-duty tasks as it’s packing a maximum of 200 feet/lbs of torque. The unit is still excellent for a wide variety of applications.
It won’t replace your higher torque impact driver, but it can perform the majority of tasks a hobbyist might put it through. This Kobalt 1/2-inch compact impact wrench can be used on longer screws and lug nuts with ease. Some might be justifiably dubious, as it’s improbable that such a small tool can deliver 200 ft/lbsof torque, but this Kobalt unit sure does deliver on its promises.
The power tool operates at 2400 RPM and is capable of delivering 3300 IPM. It also comes with a variable speed trigger, ensuring its versatile application.
What really makes this tool special is its ingenious brushless motor and the fact that it comes at such a low price, being that it’s a brushless, cordless tool. A brushless motor ensures better performance and much longer work life.
Unlike brushed motors, brushless motors generate no friction and therefore offer better performance. Typically, the only significant disadvantage of a brushless tool would be the high price, but it doesn’t seem to be the case here.
Five-Year Limited Warranty
All of the models from Kobalt’s24V Max series come with a one-year money back guarantee. Aside from that, you also get a five-year limited warranty. In case you don’t have a battery, when you buy one you’ll get a three-year limited warranty on it.
Pros:
5-Year Limited Warranty
Variable Speed Trigger
Brushless Motor
LED Illumination
Cons:
No Battery
Light Trigger Activated
Things we liked about it
There are multiple advantages to this Kobalt 24 Max impact driver. The price point is more than acceptable, especially considering it’s a brushless motor.
The brushless motor is a piece of art itself. It ensures the tool will serve its user for a long time, provided its handled well. Such a motor maximizes performance, and it can certainly be seen on this tool.
Even though it’s a light-duty unit, you can rely on it for some heavy-duty tasks. Hobbyists can expect to get the most out of the tool.
Things we didn’t like
The lack of a battery is disappointing, but one could say it’s nitpicking considering that this is a brushless unit that comes at a fair price. Still, if you don’t have a 24V Max cell in your collection, you’ll have to get one.
On the bright side, Kobalt’s 24V batteries come at a budget-friendly price. The least powerful cell costs only ten dollars.
The built-in LED light is very useful and is quite conveniently positioned, but it’s trigger-activated. It doesn’t render it useless, but it makes it a bit more difficult when starting out in a dimly lit area. Considering that everything else on the tool is manufactured with convenience in mind, this is quite puzzling.
General User Impressions
This is an excellent pocket-friendly tool that features a durable, brushless motor. It packs a decent amount of power for its size. Perhaps not enough for all heavy-duty tasks, but enough for the vast majority of applications
Conclusion
Kobalt has revamped their assortment of power tools and this new-and-improved cordless, brushless impact wrench certainly doesn’t disappoint. It is excellent for light-duty tasks and even some heavy-duty work too. Considering its price, performance, and ease of use, it’s a fine choice for hobbyists and homeowners alike.
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