Impact Drvr wears drill bits faster?
My cordless drill is on its last breath. While at Home Depot today, I handled the Makita 12 volt. It was nice. The compactness was nice (as you may know, I’ve been looking for a way to drill in tight spaces…till now, I used a cheap right angle attachement.)
I was considering getting the Makita and its drill bit chuck attachment for my non-hex shank bits.
2 questions:
1) Does the impact action wear down bits (or even increase the chance of snapping) faster than a normal drill/driver? I have hardened bits for my Makita hammerdrill and was wonder if I needed the same.
2) Without a clutch, what keeps the impact driver high torque from stripping a screwhead? I rely on my drill/driver’s clutch to ensure that I don’t strip heads. I can strip a head in no time at all with my no-clutch corded drills if I’m not careful.
Thanks in advance for your help. I’ve asked a ton of questions recently and everyone’s been so helpful.
Replies
1) Does the impact action wear down bits (or even increase the chance of snapping) faster than a normal drill/driver? I have hardened bits for my Makita hammerdrill and was wonder if I needed the same.
I've noticed that mine wears out the magnetic bits pretty quick. Not the phillips(or whatever) bit, but the tube that holds the tip. I think the impact action bends the tube, and the bit doesn't fit quite right
2) Without a clutch, what keeps the impact driver high torque from stripping a screwhead? I rely on my drill/driver's clutch to ensure that I don't strip heads. I can strip a head in no time at all with my no-clutch corded drills if I'm not careful
You release the trigger. ;-) I never used the clutch on my drills, so maybe I'm just used to it. Do it enough, and you will know when to let off.
As far as stripping screws, I haven't had a problem, like with regular drills. I think the difference is that when the impact driver hits the tension, it starts to hammer rather than just try to screw.
It is not a vertical or in-line hammering action but a rotational hammer type action.
Thang, I do not see any faster wear or breakage with either the Makita I had or the two DW's I have now. I have broken a few screws but did that with drill too unless torque set pretty low. You will have to develop a little finesse with when to let off the trigger, it will bury a screw as deep as your bit is long in some materials.
Edited 7/23/2005 9:28 am ET by RASCONC
Edited 7/23/2005 9:29 am ET by RASCONC
In my bosch impact driver it says clearly, "not to be used for drilling". I believe the bits may actually break.
I've been using mine to drive self tapping framing screws and the tips seem to last about the same as a corded screwgun.
I drill with mine all the time without any problems
My biggest problem is finding sets of drill bits for the right price that fit my holder.
ANDYSZ2I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Remodeler/Punchout
Thang,
I was able to avoid that conundrum by purchasing the 15.6v Panasonic multi-driver, which enables the user to switch between drill and impact modes; they specifically admonish against drilling in impact mode; in drill mode there's an adjustable clutch.
The Panasonic has a 1/2" square drive to which you can attach 1/2" sockets directly. Additionally, it comes with two accessories that attach to the square drive: a 1/4" hex drive, and a keyless drill chuck.
I haven't looked back since buying it, and everyone who's used it has left drooling; highly recommended.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask youself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Wait. Are you saying 'drooling' is highly recomended?
"Wait. Are you saying 'drooling' is highly recomended?"
Let me put on my bib and think about that for a minute...
Good retort,-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I've tried it. Ok for occasional use, but I think it is better to get an actual drill for drilling. Once it starts hammering, it turns much more slowly. The impact action here is rotational (like a pneumatic wrench), unlike a hammer drill which pounds the bit into the material.
Fastener depth is very easy to control with the impact driver with no clutch. Drills tend to have a lot more momentum, so they need the clutch.
Edited 7/25/2005 1:41 pm ET by csnow
i haven't found they wear out bits faster- in fact, kind of the opposite since i have less problem with the bit slipping in the screw head. however, i have occasionally experienced catastrophic bit failure (chunks of bit ricocheting off a wall one time and my cheek another) and have learned to keep my face back from it or wear goggles if for some reason i'm driving or drilling somewhere that can't be avoided. just use common sense. i love my 12v makita and almost never use the regular drill/driver anymore- maybe that's why makita has been giving one away with every impact unit sold.
m
This has been my experience too. I had a set of five bits that I shattered in about 30 screws, and the same bit from another set (or lot) has lasted for hundreds of screws. Square bits last longer since you are less likely to "spin" them accidentally, but I've bent alot of phillips head tips in my impact gun.
When the hammering action of the impact driver is working while you are driving, the RPM of the bit is much slower - sometimes just as fast as you would hand turn the screw. Keep your eyes on the "drive" and you should be OK.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
I have not broken many bits with my Makita 12v impact driver. I find that the bits last longer than if they were used with a regular drill.
By bits, I mean bits to drive screws, not drill bits.
I would not recommend using the impact driver to drill holes, definitely not over 1/4 inch in diameter in anything with depth. I used the Makita chuck adapter and shattered the hex shank portion. I also had to reset the hex shank part into the chuck body with JB Weld before it broke completely.
If you get hex shank bits, do not get the cheap ones with the pressed on hex shanks.
If you use a drill bit with any burrs on the shank in the Makita chuck adapter on your impact driver, you will have a problem. The chuck will not want to let go of the bit.
You will know when to release the trigger without a clutch. The impact driver generates enough torque to snap some screwheads off.
There isn't a better tool out there to drive screws than an impact driver. Use a drill to make your holes.