Cordless impact drivers….somebody sell me on these. I’m thinking of getting one because of the size. I have a corded one for the heavy duty stuff but I just have a few questions on the cordless. An impact driver delivers so many blows per minute, it seems to me if you’re trying to drive a screw, wouldn’t the bpm interfere? Or can you switch that off? What about the torque? My 18v Milwaukee has about 500 which is great, but I see these drivers have over a thousand….is it geared down? Also, which brand and voltage is best? I see Dewalt and Makita and a few others.
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The blows from the impacting actually help to set the screws. It happens so fast that it's not an issue. The chuck spins freely (and very fast) like a regular drill until the resistance gets to a certain level, then it starts impacting. You can't turn it off. But on a variable speed driver, like my Makita, you can ease onto the trigger and get it to impact very slowly, which is good for setting the screw just a tad lower ... like if you don't get the screw flush in sheetrock, you can bump it a fraction at a time until it's just right.
Also helps tremendously putting long deck screws into joists. Or breaking loose a painted over or slightly rusted screw.
Obviously higher voltage = more power = more weight. But you can buy a lower voltage driver that will do the same job, or more, than a higher voltage drill, and save a lot of weight.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
You can't turn it off.
Actually, Panasonics impact driver has 2 modes, impact and drill only. A slide switch disables the percussion aspect of the tool, leaving you with a cordless drill. It's a beautiful thing, that Panasonic. (I'm not sure about any other modles other than the 15.5v model.)
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Perfect. Thanks guys. I'll have one this next week.
Current crop of 12V impact drivers have 800-1000 in-lb of torque and weigh around 3.5 lb, cost ~$250. Top end 18V driver/drills deliver 400-500 in-lb, weigh around 6 lb and cost $300. Impact drivers are also much smaller - they fit in stud spaces, joist spaces and all sorts of other spots. The impact function is present full time, but it doesn't interfere with driving screws, on the contrary, it is much easier to drive and remove screws without stripping the heads. Instead of the operator having to put pressure on the screw, the impact mechanism does the work. Remember that this is not a hammer drill - those have the hammer force running directly along the axis of the bit. An impact driver's force is in a rotational direction. The impact mechanism is what generates the torque; these tools run at quite high rpm, 2200 for my one. Because of this you don't need to lean heavily into a screw to prevent it stripping. Now I can drive 3" screws 7' up on a wall without having to get a ladder so I can put some weight behind them - just reach up and use the impact driver. Your wrist will thank you.
I have the Hitachi 12V and it packs an amazing punch for its size. I was in the market for a new 18V drill but now I won't bother getting 18V at all, the Hitchi delivers the big torque for screws that I needed. When I was shopping I chose the Hitachi over the DeWalt and Makita models because:
The 12V driver has been plenty for everything I've thrown at it so far, like 3-1/2" #10 screws into LSL rim board and beams. Can't see the need for 14.4V unless you already have other cordless tools with compatible batteries.
Wally
Buy one
you won't regret it
As for brands - I like the 12 volt Panasonic
Get a 12 volt impact driver and you will never use you drill again.
Kip
15.6 V Panasonic. Buy the kit with the interchangeable chucks. Three bills. All your other drills will collect dust from that day forward. Might as well pawn them now.
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
With such high rotational torque, do you guys have any problems with snaping off the screw heads? BTW Bosch now has three (9.6,12,14v) cordless impact drivers in their line up. They look nice, cant wait to try one.
Yeah, i've snapped a few heads. I recently bought a 18v dewalt and its great but you do have to get used to the torque.
I got seduced by Home Depot's combo of an 18v DeWalt impact driver and a hammer drill for $299. Decided on the "if some is good, more is better, and too much is just enough" approach so went for the 18v combo over the 14.4v for the more powerful hammer drill. So far, MORE POWER on the impact driver is not an unmitigated blessing. It is next to impossible to modulate the impact driver trigger to avoid sinking the head 8x3" decking screws half way through the 2x4. Have yet to drive sheet metal screws without totally reaming out the head. The trigger seems to come on at about 2/3 power and about 3K rpm, which is about twice too much on each count. Wish now that I had bought an impact driver that had a much friendlier trigger and a slower rotation speed.
I too bought the dewalt kit but got it clearanced for a 140$ at Lowes, I also have the Makita 12 volt.I am not having a problem over driving but I will agree the extra weight is a nuissance.I sure do like the bag and the 2 XRP batteries that come with the kit .
I now put all my drilling accessories in the bag with the 2 drills and set up another open box for all my other tools. This makes for a balanced and efficient way to enter the job site in one trip with almost every tool you could possibly need.
ANDYSZ2 I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Remodeler/Punchout
No problems with the Makita (12 volt) great tool for which I have spade bits but it is not a great driller because it takes a microbreak... 15/second... makes a much better driver. Perhaps that Panasonic on off driver mode is great idea... I wouldn't want to get anything heavier than the 12 volt makita... light. compact... etc Favorite screw, since you asked: square drive 2 1/2 " coated... in case you have to do a Dewer's (scotch) profile on me .
The trigger seems to come on at about 2/3 power and about 3K rpm, That's unfortunate. My Makita will come on at about 10 rpm ... seriously ... I can bump a screw one impact at a time ... really helpful when you need just another little bit to get flush. And as long as I am using quality screws that aren't too small for the application, snapping them off is not an issue. On the other hand, with a long enouigh bit I can sink a deck screws through pt lumber as far as the bit will reach ... kinda fun watching the head disappear and keep going.Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
I bought the same combo. Lowes had it for 269. I havent had the chance to use my impact too much so I didnt really notice about feathering the trigger. I just installed some furring strips onto concrete and destroyed 1/4 screws. I moved up to 5/16 and had no problems.
I don't have that problem often.
Of course, I use the proper screw for the application (no Piffin screws in cabs).
I find the most important thing in driving a screw without camming out is to keep the bit inline with the screw. The reduced pressure necessary with an impact allows the user to focus more on their position.
Jon Blakemore
my suppliers (coastal tool - 7 corners) don't list a 15.6v impact (panasonic) - do you have a model number or a source?
"there's enough for everyone"
http://www.mytoolstore.com/panason/pan02-01.html#ey6835nqkw
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Yup. (Thanks, Nick). That one. It'll even suck up those ledger lags on the deck you do next spring. Or change your tire when you get a flat in a snow drift. Grab a set of impact sockets to go with it. Life is good."If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
Can you seriously spin a lug nut with that thing? I've got two of the 12v Makita impacts and although I'm not sure, I wouldn't think that it would spin a lug nut.
brian.. good question.. i've got a 20 year-old corded Dayton /Tradesman impact driver..
use it all the time for lug nuts..
but it's collecting dust now tht i have the 15.6 Panasonic..
i gotta think it'll drive lug nuts too...
i'll let you knowMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
brian.. i went out , grabbed the 15.6 Panasonic.. put an impact socket on it and started driving lug nuts...... NOT !
wouldn't budge 'em.... no matter what..
so.. hey wait a minute.. i wonder iof the old impact wrench will drive these ?
so ran a cord out to the truck... hooked up olde bessy and gave it twirl..
nothing... nada.... zilch....
so.. on my old truck it used to work..
point is.. my big old corded one wouldn't drive 'em and neither will the new panasonic
now with the new truck ( '01 F150 ) i think they use a different lug nut and they sure do torque 'em down .. luck for me i got AAA Gold.. i don't do lug nuts anymore
anyways.. here's olde bessy and the new one..
AND..
here's a Stanley set i picked up .. 150 pcs. ($80).. i got one about two months ago.. but i gave it to my SIL in Charlotte...
View Image
so I ordered 3 more.. one for each of the guys and one for me..
if you use impact tools.. this is a great set.. you don't have to use a chuck.. everything in it is hex-drive...
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 11/13/2004 1:53 pm ET by Mike Smith
Mike-
Where'd you get that Stanley set?
Looks like it would be very handy.
Thanks in advance.
Edited 11/13/2004 4:57 pm ET by Shep
shep.. i got it at Quaker Lane Tool, North Kingstown, RI ... apparently , it's a hard item to come byMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Thanks anyway, Mike.
I've got to get better tool stores around here.
I saw a Craftsman set that, IIRC, looks exactly like that one.
Jon Blakemore
I was at Sears yesterday- didn't even think about looking.
guess I'll have to try again.
I've really:
changed three tires with it - a trailer, a Ranger, an F350
Driven 7 1/2" x 1/2" lags with it (1/4" pilot holes)
Mixed full buckets of durabond with it
All of which are the limit of it's energy supply and require fairly fresh batteries, but yeah, it will actually change a tire in a pinch.
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
thanks...
hmmm...another $50, another 1.5 pounds over the 12v - - signifigantly bigger than the 12v also - looks like the 12v has the hex chuck as the default, no straight drill setting either...
hmm... there is more than one 12v model also...
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/ab/pana/ey7201gqkw.htm?L+coastest+ffkn9038ffc92ac9+1100328007
http://www.7corners.com/7c_store/findprod.cfm?DID=1&sku=77&cat
izzat a 3/8" square drive on the 15.6?
"there's enough for everyone"
The Panasonic 15.6v drill/driver has a 1/2" drive and two attachments. One is a 1/2" chuck and the other is a 1/4" quick-connect spring-loaded bit holder.
I have found this insidpensible for installing Tek screws in 1/4" thick steel columns. Get a set of nut setters and use the hex head screws with the drill points. 1/2" long is best [to reduce wobble].
~Peter
The only reason Kerry lost is because he didn't make a big fuss about.... Dump Ashcroft now.
David, the choice really depends on your specific needs. I looked at the 15.6 volt multi-driver pretty hard, before buying the 12 volt impact. The real selling point for me with the 12 volt is that it is so much lighter and more compact.
I was considering getting a small right angle drill for screwing together the face frames of adjoining cabinets when installing, but have not had to since I got the impact driver.
Another consideration was that often when I am using the impact driver, I have a pilot bit chucked up in a seperate drill anyway - so I don't need the impact to act as a drill.
You pointed out the two different models of 12 volt Panasonics.
The 7201 is their "new and improved" second generation of impact driver. Has a high and low setting (6506 only one setting). 7201 also has a belt hook and led light that the 6506 doesn't have. I have the 6506 that I bought before the 7201 came out - good driver, but, if I were to buy today, I would get the 7201.
Go for it
hey doud... guess what i'm eating ?
working my way thru your wares..
lessee , this one is a "mutsu"..
wow!.. do you feed 'em hormones or something ?
problem is .. i can't pick a favorite
multi graziMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Not to be redundant, but...
The impact driver is possibly my favorite tool. If you buy one, I can't imagine you would regret that purchase.
Jon Blakemore