Removing and fastening lug nuts tightened to 165 feet pounds was a quick, smooth operation. We used both bolt removal and auto-stop modes on the lug nuts, with removal mode cutting power once the lug broke free, to prevent spinning it at high speed right off the stud. A second pull of the trigger backed the nut off gently, while auto stop prevented over tightening nuts and fasteners—allowing us to go back with a torque wrench and tighten to spec.

Tony Carrick is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in technology, home improvement, DIY, home security, and outdoor recreation. He’s tested and written about everything from home security systems to power tools to gas grills. His product guides, how-to articles, and feature stories can be found in such publications as Bob Vila, Angi, U.S. News and World Report, Field & Stream, Futurism, and Switchful. When Tony isn’t writing, he can be found working on his latest home improvement effort at his home in North Carolina.

The Flex also has three other mode settings that limit RPMs to 400, 1600, or 1200—so you can tailor speed to the task. Smaller and lighter than high torque models, this Mid-Torque impact is easy to handle and fits into more places you need to work.

We found the three speeds were most useful when trying to avoid over-tightening fasteners. The lack of a brushless motor means we wouldn’t expect it to stand up to daily use, but this is a capable tool that helps get a lot of projects done around the house.

Models like this Milwaukee are the heavy hitters when it comes to impact wrenches. They’re bigger, weightier, and torque-ier (1,400 foot-pounds for the M18 Fuel here). Removing lug nuts on our F-250 Super Duty was no challenge for this impact wrench. It barely hesitated breaking them loose.

While compact wrenches were used to remove and then replace new, 9/16-inch, grade eight bolts tightened to 200 foot-pounds. We evaluated them on performance, price, comfort, value, and versatility to determine the best impact drivers that meet the needs of a wide range of people.

A durable hard-plastic storage case keeps the bits organized and protected when in a tool box or on the workbench. Thanks to the visual holes in the holder that show the exact size hole each bit will drill, we found it easy to pick the correct-size bit at a glance. If you regularly drill into any type of masonry, you won’t go wrong with this set.

However, all that brute strength isn’t very useful if you can’t control the tool. Fortunately, cordless impact wrenches are extremely comfortable to use because the concussive blows smoothly transfer most of that high-energy torque directly to the fastener, not to your hand, wrist, or arm. As a result, the twisting motion—known as reactionary torque—that you feel when using an electric drill is virtually eliminated.

Our favorite, thanks to its four-flute design and carbide tips, is the five-piece Bosch Bulldog Carbide Set for use in hammer drills, which are often used as masonry drills.

A durable hard-plastic carrying case keeps the bits organized and easy to transport to the worksite. It was one of the better cases we saw, as it held the bits securely and came with a sliding lock. This is an all-around great little set of drill bits for anyone who regularly needs to drill into concrete or other masonry materials.

Using DeWalt’s Atomic 20V Max in a drive mode optimized for timber screws, we were able to drive lags bolts just a little faster than with the other models—having the highest torque specs also helped driving speed. That’s a lot of juice for a tool that measures less than 5 inches from tip to tail.

Like the Milwaukee, the Atomic 20V Max has a mode for bolt removal and fastening that prevents both runoff and over-tightening—plus two speed settings. When repeatedly tightening similar fasteners, like lug nuts, we were able to get a feel for getting them all within 5 to 10 foot-pounds of spec.

Most masonry drill bits are used in hammer drills or standard drills, but not all. The SHDIATool core bit is designed for use with an angle grinder, and we were impressed at how well it drilled.

The M18 impact wrench is an effective tool for major jobs like heavy equipment repair, industrial maintenance and repair applications, or any other task with big, tough nuts and bolts.

The good news is that battery-powered impact wrenches have gotten better as battery technology improves, which has brought prices down and made them viable alternatives to their pneumatic cousins. In fact, cordless impact wrenches have a tremendous advantage: mobility. Rather than being tied to a compressor with an air hose, these tools can easily go wherever they’re needed.

The bits feature SDS-plus shanks, and users will need a hammer drill to use them. The set comes with seven bits, ranging in size from 3/16 inch to 1/2 inch in diameter, making this a highly versatile set of masonry bits.

When buying any type of drill bit, it’s important to consider its compatibility with the drill. Not all drill bits fit all drills. A 1/2-inch-size drill will fit drill bits with a shank up to 1/2 inch in diameter, while a 3/8-inch-size drill will only fit drill bits with shanks up to 3/8 inch in diameter.

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What are we talking about when we say size? The most common size impact wrenches are ½-inch drive models—those with a square anvil measuring ½ x ½-inch, that accepts ½-inch sockets. There are also smaller ⅜- and larger ¾-inch drive models, with the latter being for heavy vehicle maintenance, agricultural equipment, or other industrial uses.

Unlike cordless drill/drivers and impact drivers, which excel at drilling holes and driving screws, the cordless impact wrench is specially designed for tightening and loosening various hex-head bolts, nuts, and lag screws. It employs both rotational force and short-burst concussive blows for an unparalleled amount of power.

The SHDIATool core bit excelled in our tests. To extend its useful life, users can spray the surface of the material they’re drilling with water, which will help keep the bit cool and reduce friction. This is the bit to have for drilling larger holes in concrete.

Masonry drill bits come in a variety of sizes to suit a broad range of needs. The smallest masonry bits are around 3/16 inch in diameter, with larger bits topping out at the 1/2-inch size. Hole saw bits have sizes that go up to 4 inches or more.

This kit includes eight bits, ranging from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch in diameter. The bits have SDS-plus shanks, so the user will need a rotary hammer drill to use them.

You can drill as soon as the concrete is completely hardened, but pros often wait a couple of days to ensure the concrete is ready. Unlike needing to wait before painting or applying a sealer, you don’t have to wait 28 days to drill.

The weight does give the impression it’s well built and can take some abuse though. Removing the lug nuts on the F-250 Super Duty was seemingly effortless, the Max XR breaking them free in a fraction of a second. We tried it in all three speed settings, with the highest removing them the fastest. We had to get a feel for when to back off the trigger and let the tool’s momentum spin the nut off—do it too late and the nut could run off the stud at high RPM and fly out of the socket.

Compact and subcompact impact wrenches have shorter, less bulky, tool heads that fit into tight spaces better. Because they are smaller, they don’t have the high torque specs of the larger models, but they have more than enough for most assembly/disassembly tasks the average person might encounter. Their size and capability for common tasks makes compact impact wrenches incredibly versatile.

We chose practical tasks that most people might need to accomplish with these impact wrenches. The first was removing and replacing lug nuts. Lug nuts removed were torqued to the recommended spec at 165 foot-pounds on a Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup truck—with compact wrenches, we removed them from a car torqued to a slightly lower spec of 150 foot-pounds. Standard sized wrenches were also used to remove, or break free, rusted nuts and bolts on an old piece of farm equipment.

Among half-inch impact wrenches, there are also tool body sizes—generally, full, compact, and sub-compact. If the tool isn’t labeled specifically compact or subcompact, you can assume it is a full-sized model. Full-size impacts have larger, longer tool heads, with beefier internals, and thus higher torque specs. They’re great for removing stubborn, rusted nuts and bolts. However, these bigger tools may not fit in the spaces where they are needed.

Masonry drill bits are specifically designed to tackle stone and can bore through these hard surfaces with ease. Often featuring tungsten carbide tips that can endure drilling through hard stone surfaces, masonry drill bits have wide flutes that allow them to pull away large amounts of material as they drill to prevent debris from jamming the bit. Some bits even use diamond-encrusted blades to cut through this material. They come in a wide range of sizes to suit different needs.

In addition to drilling through masonry, we tried out this set of bits on dimensional lumber and 8-gauge sheet metal. They were slightly slower on masonry than some of the dedicated bits we tried, but they still did the job. They excelled as drill bits for metal as long as we drilled nice and slow. It’s not every day you can pick up a set of good metal drill bits and use them to drill a hole in brick or concrete, but it’s possible with the EZArc bits.

Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.

Working on the rusty farm equipment felt like a perfect job for the Max XR. The rusted nuts and bolts were no match for it—the only issue was being able to reach a couple of them because of the size of the wrench. DeWalt’s high-torque impact wrench would be a natural fit for auto, truck, or tractor repair out in the field or on the roadside.

With extra-wide U-shaped flutes, these drill bits from WorkPro effectively ejected masonry dust as we drilled in concrete, brick, and stone. The bits have Luxembourg carbide tips that are made to be tough, hard, and durable, and they drilled quickly in our tests.

Start by drilling a small guide hole at a low-speed setting for very hard concrete. Once you’ve established a 1/8-inch hole, remove the bit, blow the dust out of the hole, and use a larger bit at medium speed while applying steady pressure. It’s also a good idea to wear hearing protection—concrete drilling can be loud.

Masonry drill bits come in several variations, including rotary percussion, double flute, and saw drill bits. All bit types use large carbide tips that can penetrate stone. Some bits have spear-shaped tips that allow for precision drilling, while others feature a crown-shaped tip that can efficiently grind through masonry.

This set comes with five bits, ranging in size from 3/16 inch to 1/2 inch. An included plastic bit case provides convenient storage.

We could tell the DeWalt 20V Max XR was a beast when we picked it up. High-torque impact wrenches tend to weigh more because they have beefier components required to handle the forces involved in transferring all that torque. This is no exception, weighing 7.2 pounds with one of the two big 5-Ah batteries clipped to the bottom—the heaviest impact wrench in the test.

We tried out a 1-inch hole bit, although these bits are available in several sizes to suit your specific needs from just under 3/4 inch to 4 inches in diameter. This is a diamond-coated drill bit; tiny diamond shards are laser welded to the tip, making it easy to drill through concrete and other types of masonry.

Masonry drill bits need to be hard enough to endure the rigors of drilling through concrete. With that in mind, most masonry drill bits have steel shafts with a cutting tip made of tungsten carbide, which is much harder than steel and can grind through stone without dulling quickly. Some drill bits use diamond particles, which are welded to the cutting edge to chew through hard surfaces such as marble and granite.

This is the second set of Bosch drill bits to make our lineup, and we found these bits highly efficient. Their four-flute design excelled at ejecting dust and debris as we drilled, which made the drilling process smooth and quick. Their pointed tips kept the bits centered as we started the holes. We were able to drill clean holes in concrete, brick, and even dense stone without problems.

Impacts per minute (IPM) increase as revolutions per minute (RPM) increase. High RPM help drive nuts or bolts faster, while IPM kick in harder producing a faster rate of impacts as the resistance increases, thus transferring more torque to the drive head.

Their ½-in. High- Torque 20v Impact Wrench is a good example of this, with an all metal drivetrain, steel reinforced handle, and a whopping 1500 feet-pounds of nut busting torque. In fact, there wasn’t much in testing that could challenge the High-Torque’s capabilities—we didn’t have big enough, or rusty enough, hardware on our farm equipment. It differed from nearly all other multi-mode cordless impact wrenches in that it uses a dial mode selector on the back of the tool head. This means that the selector is always facing you—making it easy to see what mode it’s in and select a different mode.

Like higher-end bits, this set of Owl Tools bits comes with pointed tips to help keep the bit positioned when starting the hole. We tested the bits by drilling into brick, concrete, and stone, and they fared well. We felt they were just slightly slower than some of the other bits we tested, but drilling into masonry isn’t something to hurry along. We mainly wanted to see if they could withstand repeated drilling without breaking, and they did.

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The compact body and three LEDs on the face of the tool make it a good option in tight, dark spaces. This is a professional-grade tool, designed to stand up to daily use, but also an option for homeowners with frequent projects. We’ve turned to this tool several times since testing, as its size and torque are useful for a wide range of jobs.

This impact wrench has four mode settings. The first three step up both RPM and IPM, with the third hitting max on both. The fourth mode (“drive control”) is the one we really like, though. When driving, it limits torque to 35 feet-pounds, so there is no risk of over-tightening fasteners. When removing a fastener, it starts off at full torque, then backs off the RPM when the fastener has broken loose, preventing spinning off at full speed.

The following drill bits are well suited for drilling into concrete and other masonry materials. They withstood rigorous hands-on testing, and each set of bits performed well enough to make our list. You’ll find different sizes and types that fit different drills. There’s sure to be one for your concrete-drilling project.

With four modes, three different speeds, and a bolt removal mode, it’s easy to set the speed/torque for the job. And that bolt removal mode is a pleasure to use; it backs off the speed and torque once a nut or bolt breaks loose so that it doesn’t run off the end and go flying. When it came to the rusty old bolts on the farm equipment, the M18 broke them free without much effort, and using the bolt removal mode also helped prevent damage, spinning the nuts off over-rusted threads.

This set from Owl Tools includes 10 drill bits at an affordable price point. With its broad range of sizes, this set can handle most concrete drilling needs; bit sizes range from 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch in diameter, and we found them all to be durable and of good quality.

While there is no single chuck or drill head for concrete bits, many concrete bits have a slotted drive system (SDS), which means they have slots on the ends of the shanks for use in rotary hammer drills. SDS bits came out decades ago, and today, an improved version (SDS-plus) is standard on bits for hammer drills. You can still find smooth-shank bits for standard drills and hex-shank bits that will fit standard drills and impact drivers.

Generally speaking, the higher end (and pricier) cordless impact wrenches produce the greatest amount of torque. Torque output ranges from 225 foot pounds for sub-compact models up to 1,500 foot pounds of torque for the most powerful impact wrenches.

Torque measures the tool’s ability to drive in lag bolts or loosen stubborn nuts—the most important representation of power for an impact wrench. Most cordless drill/drivers produce about 50 foot-pounds of torque and the average impact driver delivers about 125 foot-pounds. By comparison, cordless impact wrenches can easily produce torque outputs of over 250 foot-pounds, which is more than enough muscle to power-drive the fattest lags and bust loose rusty, corroded nuts.

Before selecting the concrete drill bit sets we wanted to test, we researched more than 20 sets, looking for high-quality bits made from steel with carbide tips. We considered brand to an extent—after all, manufacturers like Bosch and Makita have top reputations for producing high-end power tools and accessories. Still, we didn’t automatically eliminate smaller or niche manufacturers if their masonry drill bit sets were highly rated by customers.

We liked the pointed tips on this set of bits as they kept the bit from skittering across the material when we started drilling, which made the process much easier. If you need to drill different size holes in masonry, these Bosch Bulldog bits are just the ticket.

Glenda Taylor is a BobVila.com staff writer with a background in the residential remodeling, home building, and home improvement industries. She started writing for BobVila.com in 2016 and covers a range of topics, including construction methods, code compliance, tool use, and the latest news in the housing and real estate industries.

Repeated drilling through dense concrete and stone puts drill bits to the test, often wearing them down quickly. While these drill bits from Makita are more expensive than some masonry drill bit sets, in our tests, their thick tungsten carbide tips held up well for drilling several holes.

The four modes include hand tight, wrench tight, half power and full power. Hand tight was great for snugging things like lug nuts up, while wrench tight cranks things down to around 100 feet-pounds, which is plenty tight for a lot of applications. IR’s ½-inch High Torque Impact Wrench would be ideal for daily or heavy use applications.

Some drill bits have coatings to improve their performance. Black oxide coatings are more durable than high-speed steel, as they resist rust and corrosion. Tungsten carbide coatings enhance the drill bit’s strength, enabling it to bore through stone and concrete.

The only subcompact model we tested, the Ridgid 18V, is smaller and lighter than the others. While we found it easy to handle overhead or in tight spaces, it couldn’t break free a 9⁄16-inch, grade-8 bolt tightened to 200 foot-pounds, although it did at 175.

Glenda Taylor is a product tester and writer specializing in the construction, remodeling, and real estate industries. She and her husband own a general contracting company, and Taylor is experienced in both residential and commercial building applications. She tests a wide range of power tools as well as other home improvement, household, and lawn-and-garden products.

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The Owl Tools bits have standard smooth shanks to fit a regular drill. We didn’t notice any of the bits slipping as we applied pressure while drilling, as some smooth-shank bits tend to do.

When purchasing and using a drill bit for masonry, there are several important guidelines to follow to ensure a successful outcome.

Impact wrenches produce massive amounts of speed and power, so being able to control it to avoid over tightening fasteners or spinning off lug nuts and sending them flying through your shop is key. Most impact wrenches have three or four speed settings that allow you to reduce the RPM and torque to lower levels to avoid these mishaps. Fancier impact wrenches have modes that automatically slow the wrench after it’s broken off a bolt to prevent spinning it off. Some have controls that allow you to dial in lower torques that simulate hand tightening or wrench tightening.

Every impact wrench on this list has been thoroughly vetted and evaluated by our test editors. We research the market, survey user reviews, speak with product managers and engineers, and use our own experience operating these tools to determine the best options.

You’re not going to find Ingersoll Rand (IR) tools in most big box, home improvement stores, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth searching them out. IR tools are often found in industrial or commercial applications due to their reputation for robust performance and durable construction.

With carbide tips and a fluted design that bores through masonry, these Bosch Bulldog drill bits are some of the best on the market. Their four-flute design brought concrete dust up and out of the holes as we drilled, making the process smooth and quick.

Sharpening drill bits manually with a file or bench grinder is a complicated process. You need a machine specially designed for drill-bit sharpening to do it yourself. It’s usually easier to buy new drill bits.

To cover all bases, we tested bits that fit standard drills and impact drivers, as well as rotary hammer drills. We also tested a hole bit that fits a grinder. Ahead, learn which factors to consider when shopping for a cement drill bit, and find out how the following products earned a spot in our lineup of the best drill bits for concrete.

Spending money on specialty concrete bits that see infrequent use may not be the most economical way of expanding one’s collection of drill bits. This EZArc multipurpose bit set offers an excellent alternative. The bits’ design and carbide tips make them suitable for drilling through tile, concrete, and stone plus metal, wood, and even plastic.

Drilling through masonry can be tough, requiring special drill bits for concrete that will hold up to the job. We recently tested seven different types of concrete drill bits in various sizes—using them to drill holes in concrete, brick, and stone.

In actual testing, we drilled through concrete, stone, and brick to see how well the drill bits fared. We used a standard DeWalt drill and a Milwaukee rotary hammer drill (depending on the individual drill bit shanks), and we drilled dozens of holes. We noted how well the bits performed and awarded points based on a rubric. After testing, we averaged the points to determine our best overall pick, and then we categorized the rest of the drill bits by their best usage.

Flex’s ½-inch Mid-Torque Impact Wrench was able to handle every task in our test. It is well suited for auto maintenance and mechanical work, with plenty of torque for common operations.

For most standard bits, you don’t need to use water. However, if you’re using a large hole bit, spraying the surface of the concrete with water can reduce friction and help keep the bit cool as you drill.

While the DeWalt was the most powerful, it was also the loudest model we tested. This compact impact wrench is great for working in tight spaces.

Similarly, it struggled for us with a ½ x 8-​inch lag bolt, but a smaller ⁵⁄16 x 4½-inch was not a problem. Despite this, the Ridgid was capable of tasks like removing lug nuts tightened to 150 foot-pounds. We were pleased with its bolt-tightening mode, which prevents over-tightening by shutting down at about 20 foot-pounds.

These are slotted drive shaft (SDS) bits, meaning they will fit SDS-plus hammer drills, so we used a cordless Milwaukee rotary hammer drill for testing. This set has five pieces, including a 3/16-inch, 3/8-inch, and 1/2-inch bit and two 2¼-inch bits of different lengths. The carbide tips are rugged, and we could easily drill through concrete, brick, and stone.

We tested a range of impact wrenches—from a heavy-duty, high-torque model down to a compact, medium-duty model—and subjected them all to the same challenges to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Read on for some buying advice, followed by our findings and reviews of the best impact wrenches we recommend.

Historically, impact wrenches were predominantly pneumatic, or air powered, which left them squarely in the domain of professional mechanics. To run a typical 1⁄2-inch pneumatic impact wrench, an air compressor putting out close to 100 psi is typically required—and that’s a significant investment.

Ryobi’s 18V One+ hits a price point that’s hard to beat, at the same time accomplishing everything we asked of it in testing. When we used it to remove lug nuts, it impacted for a little more than a second before breaking them loose and spinning them off. It only took slightly longer when we removed rusty bolts on a farm implement. We were also able to drive 6-inch lag bolts into pressure-treated lumber.

All things being equal, higher voltage gives you more power—but there are cases for lower voltage. With smaller batteries, 12-volt impact wrenches are more compact. This makes them good for smaller jobs, working overhead, or getting into tight spaces. Tools with 18 and 20 volts have less difference between them. Generally, 18-volt tools with advanced features and capabilities make them more versatile and easier to use.Amp hours (Ah) equals the number of amps that the battery discharges, continuously, for an hour. Think of amp hours like the volume of a gas tank—a bigger number equals more gas.

For drilling jobs that require drilling through concrete or other stone surfaces, it’s important to use a drill bit that’s strong and sharp enough to bore through especially hard, dense material. Read on to learn about materials, bit type, drill compatibility, and other crucial factors to consider when choosing a masonry drill bit.

If you have additional questions about how to drill into concrete or choosing a drill bit for concrete or a drill bit for brick, you’ll find answers here.

Each bit has a wide spiral flute that bores evenly through stone, concrete, and brick. These bits will easily handle tough concrete-drilling jobs, but you’ll want to use a good drill for concrete—and it will need to be a rotary hammer drill with a minimum 7/8-inch chuck. We drilled several holes in quick succession, and the Makita bits performed flawlessly.

In addition to carbide tips, the EZArc bits have multigrind sharp edges and double-flute design, which make them well suited for drilling in various materials. A hex shank adds even more versatility—these bits are compatible with standard drills and impact drivers. The kit includes five bits: 5/32 inch, 3/16 inch, 1/4 inch, 5/16 inch, and 3/8 inch.

We’re committed to testing and reviewing products so you can make an informed decision. Advertising does not influence our product reviews and it never will. We always focus our coverage on standout products and never hesitate to mention their flaws and quirks. By using our affiliate links, you’re supporting our work and helping us continue to provide expert analysis. Find out more about our product evaluation process.

While our testing geared more towards half-inch tools, Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 3⁄8-inch mid-torque wrench never skipped a beat. We used a 1⁄2-to-3/8-inch adapter to remove and replace the lug nuts on our F-250 Super Duty pickup—a job it easily completed. We were also able to break free large, rusty nuts on our old farm equipment.