Cordless Impact Drivers

[edro]

These little impact drivers seem to be all the rage now a days.

What are the differences between these and a traditional cordless drill?

It looks like they only accept hex bits, so you wouldn't be able to use traditional drill bits.
Do you have to use the hex type drill bits?

I have read that these impact drivers deliver much higher torque, and produce much less torque back on the user's hand.

The size, strength, lithium ion battery advantages (weight, recharge time), all make this things very attractive.

Does anyone have one? Do you like it? Do you ever use a cordless drill instead? Things you don't like about it?

Thanks!

 

[vi edit]

They are a freaking thing of beauty. That's what they are. I just installed new cabinets in a kitchen. I predrilled with my traditional drill, then took about 1/2 second to drive the 3" screw into the studs with the impact driver. Like a knife through hot butter. A normal driver would strip out the head of the screw and get stuck on some of the studs that I had to hit. Not with the impact driver. As a bonus it's a lot smaller and lighter than a normal driver too so they are easier to handle in awkward spaces. Combine that with the easier driving power and it's great for getting things sunk where a normal drill couldn't.

Mine (a ridgid) takes plain old philips & standard bits too.

Only real downside is that they are loud as hell when they go into "impact" mode. Also - be careful on really hard to drive materials. I've actually sheared a handful of bits in half and sent them flying with this thing.

 

[mugs]

The advantages of an impact driver over a cordless drill are more torque, the bit won't twist out of the screw head, and the torque won't jerk your wrist around. It generates short, rapid bursts of high torque while pushing down on the bit to keep it in the screw head.

I would still use my cordless drill at times when I need to ensure I don't apply too much torque. I don't think an impact driver is intended for drilling; I would use a corded drill for drilling.

 

[keird]

I bought something similiar to this

http://bosch.cpotools.com/cord...mers/11225vsrh-rt.html

I use it for drilling holes in concrete and rock to emplace anchors. I wouldn't recommend it for household work. It makes a 1/2 inch hole in 6 inches of concrete in about 10-15 seconds, though. Bad ass.

 

[edro]

The bane of my existence are stripped screw heads.

I replaced a basement window yesterday and I kept stripping screw heads out when driving masonry screws into concrete.
I ended up enlarging the holes so they didn't have to bite as much, but now the screws aren't as secure as they should be.
I bet one of these impact drivers would have worked great.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: vi edit
As a bonus it's a lot smaller and lighter than a normal driver too so they are easier to handle in awkward spaces.

That's why I bought the 9.6v DeWalt cordless drill that I saw on clearance at Home Depot. A big, heavy 18v drill is overkill for a lot of things. The 9.6v is light enough that my wife can use it without complaining.

 

[Squisher]

The party starter.

I :heart: Bosch

 

[Wheezer]

I have this one from Sears that came in a combo kit and I love it.

 

[bobdole369]

An Impact driver uses a rotating weight that forces more peak torque to remove or install a fastener. Think of what happens when you take your hand socket and hammer the end of it (in a clockwise fashion) to get your bolts out. If the impact driver doesn't have enough power to overcome the torque needed, the impact part kicks in and the rotating weight works just like the above scenario when your hammer the handle to get the bolt out. It happens dozens of times a second and often thats all it takes to get a stubborn bolt out. VERY common on air tools (think nascar pit jockeys)- only recently becoming mainstream on cordless stuff.

A cordless drill is just a motor with a trigger and your bit/socket on the end of it. If the drill doesn't have enough power to overcome the torque needed - it just dies.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: vi edit
They are a freaking thing of beauty. That's what they are. I just installed new cabinets in a kitchen. I predrilled with my traditional drill, then took about 1/2 second to drive the 3" screw into the studs with the impact driver. Like a knife through hot butter. A normal driver would strip out the head of the screw and get stuck on some of the studs that I had to hit. Not with the impact driver. As a bonus it's a lot smaller and lighter than a normal driver too so they are easier to handle in awkward spaces. Combine that with the easier driving power and it's great for getting things sunk where a normal drill couldn't.

Mine (a ridgid) takes plain old philips & standard bits too.

Only real downside is that they are loud as hell when they go into "impact" mode. Also - be careful on really hard to drive materials. I've actually sheared a handful of bits in half and sent them flying with this thing.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I have one of these. It also has a light on the head, which is incredibly useful.

I've used it a ton since I got it at Lowes for $55 a few months ago. I haven't even changed out the battery yet to the backup. Its torque and small footprint is really a treat to use, probably my favorite tool right now.

 

[3chordcharlie]

I've got a 14v Ridgid impact (and drill, actually).

The thing is freakin' awesome, The first day I had it I was putting 1/2" x 6" lag bolts into the roof of my garage to shore up a shoddy door install by the previous owner. It never even blinked (try that with a cordless drill!)

mugs is right though, it's not a good drill. I do use it for small pilot holes in wood occasionally, if I can't find my drill.

 

[Miramonti]

They work fine for light drilling, but mine max's out at 400rpms, and of course they take only the hex drillbits as well, which I don't have many of.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: edro
The bane of my existence are stripped screw heads.

I replaced a basement window yesterday and I kept stripping screw heads out when driving masonry screws into concrete.
I ended up enlarging the holes so they didn't have to bite as much, but now the screws aren't as secure as they should be.
I bet one of these impact drivers would have worked great.

Withdraw the screws, mist the holes with a plant sprayer, coat the threads of new screws liberally with gorilla glue (or a similar polyurethane adhesive) and re-fasten.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: Wheezer
I have this one from Sears that came in a combo kit and I love it.

My fiance got that for me last year for, I think, father's day. At first I was bummed out it was a 1/4" drive since I wanted one for bigger items (working on cars a lot, it helps with big 15mm+ bolts) but then once I used it to drive some wood screws and undo some stuck screws, I was hooked :heart:

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Squisher
The party starter.

I :heart: Bosch

[envy] up to 2800rpm?? :Q [/envy]

 

[vi edit]

One thing that really helps with driving screws into really stubborn woods is to take a bit of hand soap (the old fashioned bar type) and take your thumb and stick some in the pre drilled hole and a little on the screw itself.

That really helps those things drive A LOT smoother.

 

[sygyzy]

Can someone recommend some good brands/models for cordless impact drivers? I am looking to buy one.

 

[sdifox]

I bought these

http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-...&qid=1239830265&sr=1-9

 

[drnickriviera]

Originally posted by: edro
The bane of my existence are stripped screw heads.

I replaced a basement window yesterday and I kept stripping screw heads out when driving masonry screws into concrete.
I ended up enlarging the holes so they didn't have to bite as much, but now the screws aren't as secure as they should be.
I bet one of these impact drivers would have worked great.

Wouldn't help, they're not good for concrete screws. Too much vibration.

I've got his one, but I doubt most need one this nice.
http://www.amazon.com/Panasoni...&qid=1239833599&sr=1-2

Oh and I will add that you need to go an buy impact rated bits for these things. I snapped a ton of phillips bits before getting the impact ones. And be sure to predrill holes. It's so easy to drive screws with them, you end up snapping screws off.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: edro
The bane of my existence are stripped screw heads.

I replaced a basement window yesterday and I kept stripping screw heads out when driving masonry screws into concrete.
I ended up enlarging the holes so they didn't have to bite as much, but now the screws aren't as secure as they should be.
I bet one of these impact drivers would have worked great.

The impact driver is the cure for that problem. The hammering action tends to seat the bit into the screw rather than strip it out. It is such a good connection that you can go nuts and snap off a screw head in really hard woods or a knot.
When I first got mine I used a long driver bit to drag a 4" screw completely through a 2" x 4" by stacking up some backers. Why?
<Tim Taylor> More power!</Tim Taylor>

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: drnickriviera

I doubt most need one this nice.

I've always been a proponent of buying tools that are suitable for your needs - and thus I don't think most homeowners need to buy professional grade tools like Makita and Milwaukee. They're tools that I would love to have, but for the amount of use they'd get I can't justify the cost. That's why I went with the Ryobi impact driver that Home Depot was selling for $99 with two batteries and a charger. I love that Ryobi has so many tools that are compatible with the same batteries - I already bought their 18v drill that they had on sale for $30 with one battery and a charger around Father's Day last year. Those are the tools that I think most homeowners should buy. The reality is, the batteries will probably be the first thing to go bad, and the batteries for the more expensive tools can be as much as the cheaper tool in its entirety! Granted, if you know what you're doing you can replace the NiMh cells in the batteries.

I doubt the Ryobi is as powerful as the Ridgid that Home Depot packaged with a drill for $169, but it'll get the job done for me, and it'd get the job done for most homeowners. I wish I bought this thing before.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.right-drill.com/

 

[trmiv]

We have this bad mofo.

 

[bctbct]

We use Dewalt 14.4 impacts at work, fantastic tool. Compact and light weight, perfect for almost every carpentry job.

They will snap off tap-cons if you dont let up right as they begin to seat.

One trick for hard wood is to rub the screw in your hair, there is enough oil to stop it from seizing.

 

[bkoepp2]

For under $200, these can't be beat:

http://www.reconditionedsales....combo_kit___i1103.aspx

It's a pair: 1 impact driver and 1 drill, case included. They use the same type of battery and are light as hell.

You think 10.8v isn't enough? Then you haven't used an impact driver. Get this, get this, get this!