Do I really need an impact driver

[Little Lofty]

I know there is a difference between what tyre fitters/mechanics use and these impact drivers, the thing is, they need the extra muscle of those tools to release and tighten bolts, while you simply don’t need impact action to drive in woodscrews, building work is noisy enough without one of those pounding all day. If I’m drilling wood or soft masonry I don’t use a hammer drill because it’s not needed, impact driver are not needed to drive woodscrews. If they weren’t so loud I’d use one as they are lighter and smaller but I’d rather not have to wear ear defenders all day and ps off the neighbours any more than have too.

[kambites]

The advantage in an impact driver for screws is not that it applies more force than a drill (although it does) but that the way it applies the torque makes it far less likely to strip the head. The fact they twist then release then twist then release gives the bit a chance to resettle into into the screw which makes it less likely to slip.

I have both an impact driver and an impact wrench and they're certainly very different things!

[NextSlidePlease]

neth27 said:

I’m guessing I haven’t a clue, only been working as a joiner for 35 years. I’m really going to put ear defenders on every day to put screws in.
All the joiners, kitchen fitters, plumbers I know have impact drivers but never use them

Im sorry i call bks on joiners not using them day in day out. Out of all the trades its joiners who would use them most.

Simply put, if your going use large screws for anything then impact driver is a very useful tool to have, not essential bit very useful.

My combi is relegated to screwing through things, wood with spade bits, pilot holing through materials etc. Anything which involves screwimg screws into stuff and the impact is chosen.

Yes, you can get by with a combi for DIY use, but a 2 drill combo is ideal, parrticularly when they are bundled together in a promo pack. Anything from Erbauer through to Milwaukee will see you fine.

The only downside is the noise, which is problematic for prolonged use granted, but new oil filled impact drivers attempt to minimise the noise.

You will not need an impact until the day you fancy doing some decking, or heavy duty fixing and your combi drill tears the head off the screw or the bit trying to unscrew something stubborn. Thats when you wish you had an impact driver, kinder to screws, kinder to bit heads.

Edited by NextSlidePlease on Saturday 17th April 20:46

[Ladders]

I didn’t think I needed one either.

But I had a load of jobs when fitting my bathroom out that needed screws putting in.

For example I’d started putting floor supports in and was using the combo drill to drill holes. Then put screwdriver bit in. Then use it to screw the screw in.

Thought I’d just get a bare body impact driver as I had the battery etc with the combo drill. What a difference! Don’t have to drill pilot holes in battening etc, just hold the screw where you need it and it just goes in!

Same with plasterboard screws. Same with screwing hardboard flooring down.

Will also come in handy when I do my decking and summer house one day.

[Bill]

kambites said:

Bill said:

That said, the trigger on my 18v driver isn't an on/off switch but you do need to be on your toes if you're using it for smaller stuff.

Don't most drill-drivers have an adjustable clutch? My Makita certainly does and the lowest settings are pretty weak.

I mean an impact driver.

I take it from this that you get it:

kambites said:

The advantage in an impact driver for screws is not that it applies more force than a drill (although it does) but that the way it applies the torque makes it far less likely to strip the head. The fact they twist then release then twist then release gives the bit a chance to resettle into into the screw which makes it less likely to slip.

I have both an impact driver and an impact wrench and they're certainly very different things!

[neth27]

NextSlidePlease said:

neth27 said:

I’m guessing I haven’t a clue, only been working as a joiner for 35 years. I’m really going to put ear defenders on every day to put screws in.
All the joiners, kitchen fitters, plumbers I know have impact drivers but never use them

Im sorry i call bks on joiners not using them day in day out. Out of all the trads its joiners who would use them most.

Simply put, if your going use large screws for anything then impact driver is a very useful tool to have, not essential bit very useful.

My combi is relegated to screwing through things, wood with spade bits, pilot holing through materials etc. Anything which involves screwimg screws into stuff and the impact is chosen.

Yes, you can get by with a combi for DIY use, but a 2 drill combo is ideal, parrticularly when they are bundled together in a promo pack. Anything from Erbauer through to Milwaukee will see you fine.

The only downside is the noise, which is problematic for prolonged use granted, but new oil filled impact drivers attempt to minimise the noise.

A impact driver is not needed if you have a good quality cordless drill. I can put 100mm screws in all day long with my drill. I only use my impact if I’m using Thunderbolts or concrete screws as a cordless drill will try to snap my wrist if they jam in the brickwork.

[tendown]

I much prefer doing stuff up with an impact driver rather than a drill driver, but tend to use a 10.8v one rather than an 18v one.

Yes you can adjust the torque of a drill driver but it's too easy to set it high and spin a screw/knacker something and you're starting again. To be safe you put on low torque and you're checking everything with a screwdriver.

The impact driver delivers a set amount of energy per ugga dugga. if something needs a big torque it'll rotate a tiny bit per ugga dugga, if something needs a small torque it'll rotate it more, but actually not much more, giving you a chance to stop before it's f**ked

My 18v impact driver only gets used for the 4" screw into solid timber type stuff. It goes to fast to modulate when using rawlplugs for example

[neth27]

I have never used a torque setting on any drill I have ever owned, just left them on the drill setting

[NextSlidePlease]

neth27 said:

NextSlidePlease said:

neth27 said:

I’m guessing I haven’t a clue, only been working as a joiner for 35 years. I’m really going to put ear defenders on every day to put screws in.
All the joiners, kitchen fitters, plumbers I know have impact drivers but never use them

Im sorry i call bks on joiners not using them day in day out. Out of all the trads its joiners who would use them most.

Simply put, if your going use large screws for anything then impact driver is a very useful tool to have, not essential bit very useful.

My combi is relegated to screwing through things, wood with spade bits, pilot holing through materials etc. Anything which involves screwimg screws into stuff and the impact is chosen.

Yes, you can get by with a combi for DIY use, but a 2 drill combo is ideal, parrticularly when they are bundled together in a promo pack. Anything from Erbauer through to Milwaukee will see you fine.

The only downside is the noise, which is problematic for prolonged use granted, but new oil filled impact drivers attempt to minimise the noise.

A impact driver is not needed if you have a good quality cordless drill. I can put 100mm screws in all day long with my drill. I only use my impact if I’m using Thunderbolts or concrete screws as a cordless drill will try to snap my wrist if they jam in the brickwork.

Surely the reason the combi tries to snap your wrist is enough to use an impact for those jobs. Impacts use one hand in situations where a combi uses two hands, one to hold to drill and one to put pressure on the back so the bit doesnt strip the head of either the screw or bit.

It does take prolonged use to realise its potential, but an impact driver does have a prominent place in the toolbox of a lot of trades.

Edited by NextSlidePlease on Saturday 17th April 21:10

[kambites]

Bill said:

kambites said:

Bill said:

That said, the trigger on my 18v driver isn't an on/off switch but you do need to be on your toes if you're using it for smaller stuff.

Don't most drill-driver have an adjustable clutch? My Makita certainly does and the lowest settings are pretty weak.

I mean an impact driver.

Ah, Oops!

Yeah I always wondered why my impact driver doesn't have the ability to vary its torque.

[neth27]

How many times will someone doing diy around the house be using thunderbolts or concrete screws? If you want two drills get a cordless drill,and a cordless sds.

[xcesx]

I bought a Makita twin kit in 2013 and it’s still going strong. I wouldn’t be without the impact driver now. I use that more than the drill. General DIY.

I don’t think I used the combi drill when I boarded my loft last year. Impact all the way.

[Meprobamate chic]

If you look at the "Tools you wish you had bought sooner" thread you'll find loads of people saying "I should have bought one years ago!". None saying "That was a waste of money".

[sjg]

I don’t use it much (the noise is pretty obnoxious) but useful when you are putting in big screws. Or a tricky bolt via a socket adaptor.

I use a little Bosch Ixo far more of the time, been eyeing up a Makita DDF083.

[kambites]

Meprobamate chic said:

If you look at the "Tools you wish you had bought sooner" thread you'll find loads of people saying "I should have bought one years ago!". None saying "That was a waste of money".

Well saying "that was a waste of money" wouldn't make it a "tool I wish I'd brought sooner" would it?

[buggalugs]

neth27 said:

Little Lofty said:

I seem to be in the minority that don’t like them, they are good, but just too noisy to use all day every day. My small light Dewalt will drive in 90mm screws all day long. Impacts tools they are good for tyre fitters and scaffolders as they are great for for large nuts, they simply aren’t needed for woodwork imo.

I said excactly the same thing on another thread on here and got told I don’t know what I’m talking about ??

I agree with you guys. I built a base for a playhouse the other weekend, putting screws through 2x6's into 100mm posts wasn't troubling my makita brushless combi even a little bit. I'm sure there are types of job where they're really useful but I don't think it's anything I'm going to need.

[Cold]

In summary, an impact driver is good for not knackering up screws and bits, but don't over do it or you'll knacker up the screws and bits.

[dogz]

buggalugs said:

I agree with you guys. I built a base for a playhouse the other weekend, putting screws through 2x6's into 100mm posts wasn't troubling my makita brushless combi even a little bit. I'm sure there are types of job where they're really useful but I don't think it's anything I'm going to need.

I’m building the kids a play house as well and built the floor last weekend. I’m going to build some of the sides today if I get time - we should compare notes 😃

I’ve made the floor from decking boards and used an impact driver to get the screws in. I used c200 screws screwing the boards to the frame. For me it’s quicker and easier, possibly overkill and I do agree about the noise. I’ve got a makita dhp458 as a combi and I’m sure it would be up to the job but the impact driver is just easier for me

[thebraketester]

I have started to use my impact driver on my wheel bolts. It won’t crack them off but it does make the whole process much quicker once the bolts have been crack with a breaker bar.

[LeadFarmer]

thebraketester said:

I have started to use my impact driver on my wheel bolts. It won’t crack them off but it does make the whole process much quicker once the bolts have been crack with a breaker bar.

You might need am impact wrench for that?