Compare impact driver brands…..
I have Dewalt 9.6 & 14.4, so they get first consideration. I would use it for general woodshop construction. I have a hammerdrill for heavy stuff.
For those of you that have tried different brands, what are your experiences. I have tried Dewalt, makita, and Ridgid, but have not compared them side by side.
I have not seen discussions here about brand comparisons……
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Replies
torque delivered to the screw seems to be the top criteria for me.
Edited 5/26/2008 11:37 am ET by john7g
Makita belt clip and headlight is my favorite.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
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A must read.
was thinking I saw the Hitachi with more torque @ 1020 in/lbs but might be confusing it
I have a 12v Hitachi as well, it has a light ( you have to turn it on) and a belt hook ( thats where the light is) but compared to the Mak.14.4 , I like the mak better. I keep the Hitachi in the shop now, for general stuff, but the Mak goes to everyday use.
I think the torque is similar, but the batts seem to last a little longer in the Mak.
I'm tempted to try the Bosch Impactor, but that lil pocket driver I have is a POS, and that is keeping me from taking the plunge, prolly go with another Mak. when this one dies.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
New book alert; Eckhart Tolle "A new earth"
A must read.
A hammerdrill for heavy stuff? I think you have your tools confused.
A hammerdrill, and a roto-hammer, both hammer the bit forward. This is great if you're drilling masonry.
An impact driver uses the 'hit' to make the drill spin. As such, look at the torque valuse of the different tools. There's very little difference between most models, regardless of battery size. All the bigger battery does is let you go longer between charges. Personally, I have the DeWalt 9.6, and I really like the smaller weight and size of the tool, as compared to my 14.4 tools.
Indeed, that's one big advantage to the new Lithium Ion batteries. An 18 volt Li-ion tool compares to a 9.6 volt Ni-Cd in both size and weight.
When I bought it, I still had a bias in favor of DeWalt, as I don't want to schlep an entire assortment of chargers and batteries everywhere. That advantage, however, has gone away ... what, with the change to the Lithium Ion batteries. If I need to get new chargers, batteries, and even tools anyway - well, all bets are off!
I have used the Panasonic, and I work in many situations where that little LED in the nose is quite useful.
Makita has a similar feature, and I've had enough recent positive experiences with Makita to give them serious consideration. Keep in mind that there are very real differences between the "white" and the "blue" Makita tools. (That's why there is such a huge price difference!)
Whatever tool you use, the drill bit can make a huge difference. The Irwin "Speedbor Max" is perfect for use in an impact driver. These three-flute hybrid bits - part auger, part spade - make fast, clean holes in wood. No, they do NOT cut through nails ... but, used in an impact driver, damage caused by hitting a nail is minimal. These bits will stall a 14.4 drill, but a 9.6 impact will drive them without problem.
Oops! Yes, I was a little too quick in my post in mentioning the hammerdrill which, of course, has no relation to the impact drivers. Thanks for the complete review of the offerings. I was thinking that a 9.6 volt version might be just fine for my purposes, but I thought I would see what everyone else said.
I bought the Dewalt and returned it for the Makita.
They both have plenty of torque, I just thought the Dewalt's trigger was to touchy. Less control when setting the depth of the screw.
Next time you try them, try going at a very slow speed rather than testing the power and speed.
If you like the Dewalt, having the same batteries for your drills can be a big plus. Batteries are expensive, so having a couple extra is good.
I havent tried the Rigid and I havent tried the Dewalt for a couple years,
so they may have improved them.
I and most of my subs have the 12V and 14V Makita NMH impacts.One guy had the 12V, wore the battery out, and got a DW 14V. It was then getting weak and he picked up the newest Makita LIon impact and then threw the DW in the trash!I still use the two makita 12V impacts daily that I got sometime right after they came to the market.
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If I had to keep only one impact driver, it would be the Makita with the bigger battery, (not the white one)
It's lightweight, very powerful, and you could use it for practically anything.
If I used it just for electrical work, I would get one of the new 10 volts...take your pick. I am always impressed by Panasonic drills and drivers too.
I just used my Bosch PS40-2 Impactor and I love it (really, would like to be alone with it for a while). I can't really compare it to full sized impact drivers, as it's like apples and oranges. My 18V DeWalt definitely has more power and higher RPM, but the Impactor (10.8V) fits nicely in my tool belt or tool box. It's got plenty of power for it's size. Will easily drive 100 3" screws in pine on a single charge, just not as fast as an 18V driver will. And yes, that is without pre-drilling.
I wouldn't want to build a deck with it. But if you want an impact driver for miscellaneous tasks, portability is key. I'm glad to have recently added this one to my collection.
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>> just used my Bosch PS40-2 Impactor and I love it (really, would like to be alone with it for a while). I can't really compare it to full sized impact drivers, as it's like apples and oranges. My 18V DeWalt definitely has more power and higher RPM, but the Impactor (10.8V) fits nicely in my tool belt or tool box.Our local Lowes has the Bosch Impactor with a 12V battery. Otherwise it appears to be the exact same product. I'm not sure if the battery really has more power, or is just re-labelled as another post seems to suggest.Anyway it looks like a really slick product. I almost bought it, but went for the Panasonic EY7202 with the "digital clutch". I used it yesterday to drive a pound or two of 3" x10, square drive screws into pine strapping. After a few false starts, tweeking the clutch settings etc, it worked very well at driving the screws to a consistent depth (flush with the boards). The LED clutch settings are nigh impossible to read in sunlight so you have to take it into the shade or cup your hands over it. It has a NiMh battery (3.5 ah), and at 4.1 pounds is a little heavier than some of the competition, but still feels very comfortable in my medium-size hand. It has a built-in light and belt hook, but no bit holders. The Bosch is easier to find in local stores, and will share batteries with a couple other products. I don't know that Panasonic makes much of any battery-powered tools other than drill/drivers. I had read where these drivers are noisy. One article I saw compared the sound to a chainsaw. No way! The Panasonic is noisy, a little annoying maybe if your partners are taking a nap, but hardly ear-hurting loud.
Read this it just came out.
http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1490&articleID=705143
Makita and Panasonic were the favs
I bought a Hilti SID 144 last fall and it continues to be the most powerful, handiest tool I reach for on numerous tasks. It is the lithium ion model and much lighter and more powerful than the 18v Dewalt I have also used. No belt clip but a wrist lanyard is surprisingly useful, more so than a belt clip for overhead or 'need another hand' type projects.
I used it on everything from driving screws in concrete stakes and reinforcing ICF forms, driving deck screws through Warmboard subfloor, electrical and plumbing rough-in...it makes every task almost a pleasure.
I am disappointed that Hilti products rarely get mentioned in the trade press and tool shootouts - I don't think the price is out of line considering the features, fit and finish of almost all their tools.
I have never seen a bad Hilti tool.But I've always had to order to get one, never saw one on the shelf.
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The makita 18 volt lithium is a thing of beauty. i got the blue type with the 3.0 amp/hours battery packs. The white makitas are almost identical except the battery packs don't last nearly as long. i can get replacement 3.0's at HD, can't say that about the whites. Also ,i've heard rumor that the "white" and "blue" batteries are not interchangeable.
How many different chargers do you plan on having?
I use Dewalt, not that I think they are the best of the best, but I have plenty of chargers & can stick any battery into any charger.
I just donated the rest of my 12v dw stuff to my employer as it was taking up space, I use the 14.4 & 18V dw stuff as it works for me.
Panasonic - brushless motor, very good ergonomics, good battery... the bummer poor customer service.
I also have the Makita and did own the Bosch. The Bosch was just weird. The Makita is good because more tools are available that run on the same battery.
http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1490&articleID=705143&artnum=5
Where I am in Japan, Makita's 14.4V is definitely the choice of impact drivers, with National Panasonic #2, Hitachi #3, Ryobi and DeWalt carrying up the rear.
After using impacts for years, I've gone back to my regular Bosch 18V drill/driver. Its a lot quieter, the bits seem to slip out of the screw less, etc. Of course its a lot heavier than my Makita impact.... My Bosch became my favorite when I started working at 6:00am in the morning here to beat the heat, the impact driver was too loud, so I used my Bosch drill/driver.
Of course, the new Makita impact drivers are drill/drivers as well, its just a switch to get change them from impact to regular drill/driver, guess that could be the perfect option.
I still want to know why Makita has marketed their 18V tools in North America but are still on the 14.4V(3.0AmpH) tools here. Makita does quarterly full color catalogs too, available everywhere, and they keep coming out with new tools, new impacts drivers etc., but they won't go up in voltage.
SS
Impact drivers just do not seem to be catching on here in the Southeast, I don't understand! Other than me, there might be one guy on the job site I've seen using one. I work at a five story condo! I got a steal on a Hitachi 12V. I own two drills, one Milwaukee and one Makita Li. The Hitachi beats them all. Its not brand preference, I just happened to buy the Hitachi first. I've used the white Li Makita impact, and I really like it. I've already got the drill/driver so I can share batteries. I know that it has half the amp/hour , but it charges in 15 minutes. I've been eyeballing the Bosch Impactor as well, as I used to own the 10.8 drill/driver. No comparison. I borrowed that Impactor for a day from a customer and was thoroughly impressed. Basically, I think that what I'm trying to say is, just by the one you like. All of them have some kind or warranty and I'm sure your store has some kind of return policy so if you don't like a particular brand take it back and replace it.