Tool Review: OEMTOOLS 20V MAX Li-ion Brushless Impact Wrench, No. 24486

The OEMTOOLS 20V MAX Li-ion Brushless Impact Wrench, No. 24486, is designed for high-torque applications, like loosening and tightening lug nuts. Encased within the rugged exterior, the brushless motor provides 300 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque, 260 ft-lbs of tightening torque and a variable speed of 0 to 2,600 rpm. An electric brake stops rotation when the trigger is released. The rechargeable 4.0 Ah Li-ion slide battery charges in two hours with the tool’s charging station. The impact wrench weighs 9.28 lbs.

The Review

Eric Moore of DeMary Truck in Columbus, Ohio, used the OEM 20V MAX Li-Ion Brushless Impact Wrench for wheel nut removal on light duty vehicles, including Ford C Series trucks and on some passenger cars.

“The [OEMTOOLS impact wrench] seemed well-suited for that task,” Moore says. “When installing the wheel nuts, [it] allowed for a quicker transition, since the highest setting isn’t likely to break any wheel studs, or over tighten the nuts to the point of causing damage. Any over torque can be easily remedied with a torque wrench.”

Moore says that the tool, which comes in a blow molded carrying case, including a battery, charger and easy-to-read manual, is easy to use and lightweight. Because of this, it is versatile enough to be an “excellent entry-level cordless option” for professional use or the do-it-yourself crowd.

“[The impact] has more than enough power and torque for occasional maintenance, or driving lag screws on fences and decks,” Moore says.

While in the shop, he found that once dedicating the tool to one task, in his case removal and installation of lug nuts on light duty vehicles, the tool was “very capable and consistent.”

While the impact was easy to use overall, Moore says the setting selector can take some getting used to. 

“[The setting selector] tends to default to the setting where it will break the fastener loose and then stop, requiring a double tap of the trigger to spin the fastener the rest of the way out/off,” Moore explains. “I tried pressing the selector before use, after tapping the trigger [and] changing directions, but couldn’t find any one way that got the results we wanted consistently.”

While Moore says he would prefer a more user-friendly setting selector, it didn’t hinder the tool’s usage.

“It didn’t keep us from using the tool at all, just required a double tap on the trigger to follow through,” he says.

Overall, Moore appreciated the light weight of the tool, which he says is on the lighter end of most other brushless impact wrenches he’s used, and its versatility for at-home use.