10 New Brushless Impact Drivers
Modern impact drivers have longer run times, smaller housings, and better features than your old driver.
Fine Homebuilding contributor David Frane recently tested 10 impact drivers from Bosch, DeWalt, Hitachi, Hilti, Kobalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Porter-Cable, Ridgid, and Ryobi for a feature in FHB issue #274. All of the drivers have brushless motors. Compared to brushed-motor models, brushless versions have longer runtimes and smaller housings (generally speaking) than their brushed counterparts. Each driver was tested with both compact and high-capacity batteries. In this video, senior editor Patrick McCombe talks about the various features and how they vary by individual model. He also shows Dave’s favorites, so you can shop for a new impact driver with confidence.
For detailed information about all 10 impact drivers featured in this Tool Tech, including driver weight, rpm/ipm, modes, pricing, and more, see the full article, “What’s the Best Impact Driver?” in FHB #274.
Senior editor Patrick McCombe has been testing power tools on behalf of national publications for more than 15 years, and he regularly meets with product manufacturers to try out new introductions. In the Tool Tech series, Patrick reviews the latest tools and materials, discusses building technology, and shows time-tested techniques for better, more-efficient home building. Consider becoming an online member to watch other Tool Tech videos.
I too am a Makita fan. I have a nice old Hitachi router but their new current color / body style is aimed at the Transformer crowd. Not my taste...
A lot of people tend to be brand-loyal without really knowing what's best right now. I'm sure Makita is great. I was very surprised a few years ago when I read a professional journal's evaluation of the top 18V tools and Hitachi came in even with Makita and Milwaukee as the best of all. I bought Hitachi because it was the least expensive of the three. They look like the Green Hornet's running shoes, but they are very capable and extremely durable tools.
It was a very good purchasing decision, but it's nice to know that the newer ones are still considered tops by people who have used all of the different brands, not just one or two.
My Hitachis have the older type of battery, but they just won't die after who knows how many cycles. Well over a thousand, I'd say. Drill, driver, and reciprocating saw all get almost daily use. Jigsaw is used less frequently, but still quite a bit. I do a lot of plywood fitting (sheathing, paneling, etc.) and use the jigsaw like a sheetrocker's utility knife.
I wish I'd gotten a circular saw while they were still making them with the plug-in battery. It's nice to have all batteries the same. When one does run out, you can grab one out of the other tool lying nearby and finish what you are doing quickly, then go put the dead battery in the charger and trade it for the one that's always sitting there ready to go.
I'm sure if I'd gone with Makita I would have been as happy with the tools, but my budget is a lot happier with Hitachi.
I agree, makita XDT12 or the xdt12 are the best
Makita is the best.