Do I really need an impact driver

[Baldchap]

I've got some decking to build at a property I'm renovating soon. Having already built a timber outbuilding on a raised base (that is strong enough for three people to work on top of), I know 100% that my impact driver and torx screws are what I will use to make my life easier. So much quicker and more user-friendly than using a combi drill.

I have a brushless Makita ID and the level of torque is very easily controlled by how hard you press the trigger. I was nipping up screws into plasterboard with it a fortnight ago without issue (for lots of boarding, collated screws and an autofeed screwdriver are your best friends!). It's not spectacularly noisy, though I guess in a flat or something it might be an irritation if used regularly.

I honestly can't comprehend how anyone could prefer a combi drill for driving in screws, but each to their own.

I guess for infrequent DIY it might be overkill.

[buggalugs]

dogz said:

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

Well I cheated a bit and got a local shed company to do the actual playhouse! I just did the base which was a 2x6 frame on 100mm posts. It’s about 10-12 inches above ground level. The playhouse floor is OSB, the walls are 2x2 with loglap cladding and the roof is OSB with felt over it. There’s a little 1ft veranda at the front which is decked. The guys were really good they made the sections that morning then came over and had it up in about an hour.

[thebraketester]

LeadFarmer said:

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?

Well yes. That would break the bolts free, but using the impact driver still speeds it up the process.

[Meprobamate chic]

LeadFarmer said:

You might need am impact wrench for that?

Once they've been popped with a breaker bar you can just spin them free with a spider wheel brace. An impact driver just makes it faster to zip them on and off before and after the first crack with a breaker bar. Also faster if you don't have a spider wheel brace to spin them off with...

[Carbon Sasquatch]

neth27 said:

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

Clearly a combo-drill Ninja - presumably that's the difference & why a true pro has no need for an impact driver.

On the other hand, a DIY klutz like me, would strip screw heads constantly if I tired to use the drill setting every time. Maybe that's why I prefer the impact driver ? Equally, there's loads of screws I've removed with an impact driver, that I can't conceive of ever getting out with a drill - but fair play to your finger control if you can

I'd still argue that for the vast majority of people an impact driver is way more suitable for screws than a combo drill - and particularly if you want 2 devices so that you're not continually swapping bits over. The fact that an impact driver takes a hex bit rather than me having to tighten up a chuck is just a bonus

[Little Lofty]

My neighbour has just reminded me of this thread, he spent last week fitting some decking and this week he's doing his fence, he has used an impact driver for the vast majority of it. WHAT A fkING NOISE, Its absolutely not needed for what he's doing, a cordless driver would have been virtually silent in comparison. For those on here saying they are fine, if I ever do some work next door to you, I’ll make sure I buy some new impact drivers just to piss you off For everyone else I work next door to I’ll carry on with my cordless drivers to keep noise to a minimum.

[Varelco]

They aren't essential but they are good to have, I'm a big fan of my impact driver, except for the noise, definitely worthwhile having. I have the little Bosch GDR, very tactile, Impact drivers are a lot stubbier than a combi drill so can reach in tighter areas. It snags less and gives less kickback. There has also been times where I have needed to use it along with a drill, having them separate is handy as I don't need to keep switching out bits. There is a reason why there are so many combo kits out there which sell both a drill and impact driver.

[hyphen]

I like the noise. It's cool and makes it sound like I know what i am doing

Plus with a good screw, no pre-drilling