Craftsman V20 1/2-Inch Impact Wrench Kit Review: Good, but Wait for the Sale

Power tools make up a good amount of the hands-on reviews I get to work on. I’m always keeping an eye out for opportunities to check out offerings from the leading names. Milwaukee, DeWalt, Ryobi, Rigid, and even Harbor Freight are all on my radar. These cover most of the bases, but it has come to my attention that I’ve done nothing with Craftsman power tools to date. So, I set out to change that. 

Craftsman is no newcomer to cordless power tools, with the comprehensive V20 series being its latest flagship line. With everything from drills and impact drivers to circular saws and vacuums, it’s poised to go toe-to-toe with any of the big players. Much like we see with its hand tools, the balance of price and performance makes Craftsman power tools serious contenders for the DIYer. 

I finally got a chance to see what the V20 line is all about when I got my hands on the Craftsman CMCF900M1 V20 1/2-inch impact wrench for review. Now, this is a bit of an old-timer, as Craftsman released it back in 2018. You still see these on the shelves of a lot of local tool stores, though, making it worth taking a closer look at. After slinging it around the shop for a few jobs, I can verify that it’s still a good choice for the budget-minded DIYer. However, you really ought to wait for the sale prices to roll around before you spring for it.

The Bottom Line

Craftsman V20 1/2-in Impact Wrench Specs 

As you might expect with its age, the Craftsman CMCF900M1 V20 1/2-inch impact wrench is using a brushed motor. It’s capable of delivering 350-foot pounds of maximum torque and it has operating speeds of 2,500 ipm and 1,700 rpm. The controls are extremely simple. All you have to work with are a directional switch and variable speed trigger. There are no power levels, nor is there an auto-stop function. The only computer working it is the one between your ears. This impact’s not totally without creature comforts, though. It does have an LED to help you see what you’re working on in the dark.

The bare tool retails for $119.00 while the kit version that includes a 4.0 Ah battery lists for $189.00. While operations might be a little more simple, performance is pretty competitive for this price range. Craftsman does also back it with a solid three-year warranty. 

Getting to Work

I used the Craftsman CMCF900M1 V20 1/2-inch impact wrench alongside the Gearwrench 120XP mechanic’s tool set when servicing my wife’s Honda Civic. That was a brake job and tire rotation, and this dealt with the lug nuts that stood in my way. Afterward, I decided to tear into the front end of my 1969 Dodge Charger. What started as a simple cleaning and reapplication of some Fluid Film turned into me servicing the brakes and wheel bearings. So, the Craftsman was once again on lug nut duty. I also crawled under the rear end and used it to make ride height adjustments to the 4-link.

Don’t let the 350 foot-pound max torque fool you into believing that this impact wrench is a total slouch in comparison to more powerful modern alternatives. This Craftsman might not offer the peak torque of even Milwaukee’s M12 Gen II Stubby, but it plugs right along. It works through large fasteners at a pace that rivals anything else in my possession.

Battery life is also pretty much on par with anything in its class. Cold temperatures do hinder charging times but the batteries hold a charge for a good amount of time. I also find that it’s pretty pleasant to use, even when you’re really laying into it. Vibration and noise are pretty minimal, contrary to what I initially expected.

The power-to-weight ratio is probably its most obvious drawback. This thing is bigger than the DeWalt 1/2-inch impact in my collection, which can produce 800 foot-pounds of torque. In fact, it’s closer in scale to the high-torque Milwaukee I’ve got on-hand that’s belting out 1,500 pound feet of torque. But some tradeoffs are to be expected when you opt to save a couple of bucks. Really, though, I don’t think this is a big issue for the majority of its users.

That being said, I think most people who are buying the Craftsman CMCF900M1 V20 1/2-inch impact wrench are just looking for the most affordable thing they can buy from a brand they recognize to deal with odd jobs in the shop. It’s definitely a decent tool, but this is an instance where you should never pay full retail. While it’s technically competitively priced to begin with, a little bit of patience can take your money a lot further.

At the time of writing this, you can land a more modern Craftsman model with the same battery for $159.00 at Lowe’s. That impact wrench is capable of pumping out 1,000 foot-pounds of breakaway torque. Since this older model is similar in size to a modern high-torque anyway, you might as well save a few bucks and go with the upgrade. Even if that deal’s over by the time you’re reading this, it’s still something to be considerate of as power tools constantly go on sale.

The Verdict: 

Normally, I don’t factor sale prices into my reviews. I try to base my take on the retail pricing. I’m making the exception this time around because this is an older tool that really is vastly outpaced by modern alternatives that are often selling for less thanks to some sort of deal. No. You don’t necessarily need modern features or even more torque than this can deliver. But who doesn’t want to get a little more for their money?

That’s not to say this isn’t a good tool, though. The Craftsman CMCF900M1 V20 1/2-inch impact wrench is a solid piece of equipment all around. It’s got the torque and working speeds you need to get things done and shares batteries with a long list of quality DIY-level power tools. When the sale price inevitably rolls around, it’ll make a killer addition to any home garage.

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