I don't always have my compressor handy and aired up, but I always have electricity. How do the electrics compare to the pneumatic? Any brands to stay away from. I don't want to spend big bucks since this is just a backup. Any suggestions for a reasonably priced unit?

They are decent. Better then turning wrenches by hand. I don't have one but I know a few that use them.

I've got one flagstaff - in my opinion, never again...I can't loosen the lugs on my truck with it, but then again it is an older model....Some of the newer units from Milwaukee,dewalt, etc are probably a lot better than my old pos (which is about to take a 1 way trip to the circular file)

A "Plug-in" style Electric has as much power as its pnuematic equivalent.

A battery powered electric is a crap shoot but you cannot go wrong with either a Milwaukee or a Snap-on 1/2 inch drive.

Each has plenty of power!

I've used Milwaukee 1/2 and 3/4 electric Impacts.

I'd take one if someone gave it to me but I wouldn't buy it over a good air drive.

But, if you need an impact and have no air, then it'll be a good one.

Honestly, the reason I don't care for electric's is their weight to performance ratio. Those buggers get real heavy real quick when you holding them. That and they beat the crap out of your hand.

For anything smaller than a lug nut I use my cordless 3/8 12v gun. I couldn't live without it.

I have two snap-on 3/8 cordless as well and they hardly get put down. Very, very handy.

My 1/2 milwaukee does lug nuts when I don't have air around for my 1" air. I put the lugs back on as well after changing tires and then torque to 140 ft lbs. It is one of the new ones and they are a great improvement over the old.

I've got a 1/2 drive 18v snappy... I can rotate the tires on a dually and tighten them to spec with no problems.... and do that on 4 trucks before charge

Guy here at work has one and takes it to the track for his IMCA.

We've used them to crush the pinion sleeve's on rear ends in a few cases..

Thanks for the input. I hope Santa has been reading the posts.