If you’re crazy about high torque impact wrenches, and the thought of reading a series of reviews on impact wrenches really gets you jazzed, prepare to lose your mind. We recently had the opportunity to put 9 of the industry’s biggest high torque impact wrenches to the test in our Best Cordless Impact Wrench Shootout. And, in the coming weeks, we’ll be taking a closer look at each one of the impact wrenches we tested. Ultimately, this means that if you feel like impact wrenches haven’t been getting enough attention around here, we’re about to reverse that trend by inundating you with weeks worth of those sweet, sweet impact wrench reviews. First out of the gate? The Ingersoll Rand W7150-K22 Cordless High Torque Impact Wrench.

At the risk of killing any sort of suspense in this article, I’m going to go ahead and spill the beans up front. The IR W7150 finished in a really strong second place, which points to the really obvious conclusion that Ingersoll Rand got a lot of things right with this model. Its finish is made even more impressive by the fact that this impact wrench is more than 5 years old; the W7150-K22 is currently standing the test of time. Of course, a second place finish also means that there could be some areas to improve as well. So let’s take a look at what the Ingersoll Rand W1750-K22 does right, as well as where this wrench falls a little short.

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The Pros

Power

PROTO 6232 Torque Multiplier

While most manufacturers and testers use the Skidmore Wilhelm method for validating torque ratings, we wanted to find a better way to demonstrate raw power. So, we came up with a rig that leveled the playing field for these impact wrenches, and then we validated our results using our Proto 6232 torque multiplier with a digital torque wrench.

All that is to say that the IR W7150, our second place finisher in this category, did 94% of the work that our winner, the Milwaukee 2767, accomplished. It was followed closely by the DeWalt model, which did 92% of the work of our winner.

Ergonomics

Using these heavy tools over longer periods can make working a tedious and challenging affair, which is why we really appreciate when manufacturers put an emphasis on making lighter tools. The Ingersoll Rand W1750-K22 weighed in at 6.88 lbs with the 5.0 Ah battery attached. While the margins in this category weren’t crazy, this was the lightest gun that we tested.

We also really liked the way this impact wrench fit in the hand. This category definitely lacks some quantifiability, so your own mileage may vary. But, our team of pros collectively agreed that this gun was beaten out only by the Bosch HTH181 in the comfort category. The handle had some nice contouring, and the rubber overmold felt comfortable. Likewise, the seam in the handle didn’t irritate our delicate fingers (admittedly, this shouldn’t be an issue with gloves on).

We also appreciated the raked head. Not all of the guns we tested had this overlooked feature, which leads us to believe that a lot of folks don’t care one way or the other about this design. But, for us, when the IR W7150 is in use, the battery is kicked back from the work area, providing more clearance.

The Cons

It stands to reason that a cordless tool that has been on the market for over 5 years will suffer some when compared to newer models. The situation with the IR W7150 really isn’t so bad, all things considered. However, from an objective perspective, with where technology is at the moment, this gun could stand for an update. For one thing, the W7150 has no real feature set to speak of. This includes the absence of an integrated work light, which almost seems to come standard with most cordless tools these days.

One of the biggest improvements that could be made to the Ingersoll Rand W7150-K22 comes down to its motor. Where most tools made in the last couple years include a brushless motor, this slightly outdated gun has a brushed motor. This is probably not the biggest deal in the world, but you might have to reconcile yourself with the idea of replacing brushes occasionally.

Price is another issue. The price of this impact wrench falls on the more expensive end of the spectrum. A 5-year-old tool that has a brushed motor and still manages to cost anywhere between $50 and $150 more than newer models? Obviously, Ingersoll Rand has made an exceptional tool that stands up well to those newer models, but this exceptional tool is still a little pricey.

Bottom Line

Despite the relatively high price tag and the lack of the creature comforts that come with newer tools, the 5-year-old Ingersoll Rand W7150-K22 manages to outperform many of the newer high torque impact wrenches on the market. Between its exceptional ergonomics and balance, and its beefy, but brushed, motor, the IR W7150 will probably provide more wrench than many of us will ever realistically need.

The fact that this impact wrench is over 5 years old is almost irrelevant. Almost. Obviously, an updated model would go a long way with us. Ingersoll Rand knocked it out of the park with their 3/8″ W5132, and we’d really like to see this gun include some of the features of their smaller, but updated model.

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Ingersoll Rand W7150-K22 Impact Wrench Features

• Power – 1100 ft-lb nut-busting torque from a tool weighing just 6.8 lb – best power to weight ratio in its class
• Durability- High-efficiency rare earth magnet motor, high-capacity variable speed trigger, all-metal drivetrain, and metal-reinforced housing enable this tool to stand up to the toughest jobs
• Comfort – Optimized balance combined with an ergonomic handle and soft touch over-molded grip provides increased comfort in extended use
• Long life 20V lithium-ion battery delivers high-charge capacity and low internal impedance for maximum power delivery and runtime
• Intelligent battery management system (BMS)— provides power-level and current control from the battery to the switch to the motor for optimum efficiency

Ingersoll Rand W7150-K22 Impact Wrench Specs

• Anvil: 1/2”
• IPM (Impacts Per Minute): 2,300
• Max Tightening Torque: 780 ft-lbs.
• Max Loosening Torque: 1,100 ft-lbs.
• Battery Volts: 20
• Battery Amp Hours: 5.0 Ah
• Mfr. Weight: 6.8 lbs. (6.88 lbs. as tested)
• Speeds: 1
• RPM: 0-1,900
• Warranty: 3 Year
• MSRP: $508

Click to purchase the Ingersoll Rand W7150-K22 impact wrench.