with the advancement in electric motors and battery technology, it is a matter of time that all power tools head towards the cordless path. though it is obvious that having everything running on battery pack may pose another set of environmental problem, but that besides the point – the point is, being untethered offers the freedom of movement and lets us work within the constraint of space where cords and in the case of pneumatic-powered tools – hose, may not be able to and even allows us to work far away from power source, or again, in the case of pneumatic equipment, negate the need for cumbersome and noise generator. that said, the Metabo Brushless Impact Wrench (SSW 18 LTX 400 BL) is latest in such innovations that brings the traditionally power-hungry impact wrench into the cordless realm – thanks to the built-in brushless motor that provides the brute torque (up to a whopping 3,540 in-lbs or 295 ft. lbs) and a very capable Ultra-M 5.2 Ah 18V lithium-ion battery.
other features include overload protection to prevent the motor from overheating, twelve speed/torque levels, integrated working light, die cast aluminum gear housing, a well-balanced and lightweight design (it weighs a mere 4.2 lbs), and rubber coated grips. rounding up the package is a handy belt hook that allows it to be fixed either on the right or left side of your work belt. at the time of this writing, information on the exact availability and pricing are still a mystery.
