The DEWALT 12-Volt XTREME Brushless Sub-Compact 3/8″ Impact Wrench (DCF902) and the DEWALT 12-Volt XTREME Brushless Sub-Compact 1/4″ Impact Driver (DCF801) are the same other than the anvil. Most of the time impact driver internals will be lighter than impact wrenches and you will see more impacts per minute with a driver than a wrench. Impact drivers also have significantly less torque than impact wrenches due to design, but in this case, the DEWALT 12-Volt XTREME Brushless Sub-Compact 3/8″ Impact Wrench was designed for small jobs where the needs of the tool would not differ much. This is a small installation tool and not something you would rotate tires on a car with.
While this tool is rated for 125 ft. lbs. of torque, we find it much more enjoyable to use at under 90 ft. lbs. We are not fans of a tool having to hammer for long periods of time to remove for fasten a bolt. If that is happening, we move up the ladder to a more suitable tool.
This is a 3-speed impact wrench with high and low speeds that are very easy for one to use. There is a 3rd speed called Precision Wrenchtrade that we do not use. In this mode, you drive forward until the first few impacts. The motor hesitates for 1/2 a second and continues driving in high. The hesitation is designed to give you a moment to avoid overtightening. In reverse, it impacts just like in high until it senses the nut come loose. At that point, it stops to prevent running the nut off completely and sending it flying away never to be found again. IMHO, this is a small impact and it is very easy to use so having the “computer” control the tool for you is a bit much. Maybe that is old-school.
What is most impressive with the DEWALT 12-Volt XTREME Brushless Sub-Compact 3/8″ Impact Wrench is the 3-LED ring surrounds the square drive. This reminds me of Ingersoll Rand’s new impact wrenches that light up everything so well. This light stays on after the trigger has been let go for 20-seconds. It is a perfect flashlight and a wonderful light for this tool.
You can find more powerful impact wrenches on the market without a doubt. They will be larger and heavier. This tool embodies comfort and ease of use that many other brands have tried to create and failed.
