Anyone own a cordless impact driver?

[Goodboy]

OK so I am very late to the game. I just purchased a cordless impact driver three weeks ago. Why? I don't know just really wanted to treat myself to something new. The idea came to me when I was working on my lawn mower and had problems getting a nut loose.

For anyone like me who is not aware of the cordless products for drilling, screwing, loosening and tightening nuts and bolts, here is a quick guide.

1. Cordless Screwdriver
- Been around - for a very long time.
- Fair for screwing in materials that are soft.
- Good for loosening and tightening smaller nuts and bolts.
- Best features: Cheap, small and light.

2. Typical Cordless Drill (Homeowner's Version)
- Been around for a very long time.
- Good for drilling wood and other materials that are not too hard.
- Good for screwing in materials that are not too hard.
- Good for loosening and tightening medium size nuts and bolts.
- Best features: Extremely versatile, can be used for almost all jobs requiring twisting.

3. Typical Cordless Impact Driver
- Been around for a while for professionals, but somewhat new for homeowners.
- Fair for drilling and requires special bits.
- Great for screwing in all materials
- Great for loosening and tightening all nuts and bolts, some can even loosen lug nuts from a car.
- Best features: Low cost considering power, fairly small, does not twist your wrist/arm when using.

4. Cordless Hammer Drill
- Same features as a cordless drill, but works much better drilling into concrete or other very hard material.
- Best features: Added ability of a cordless drill to screw into very hard material.

5. Cordless Impact Wrench
- Same features as a cordless impact driver, but much more powerful with larger chuck.
- Designed with the ability to loosen and tightening lug nuts on both cars and trucks.
- Best features: Added ability of an impact driver to loosen or tighten just about anything.

So I have items #2 and #3 except my cordless drill is extremely powerful as it has a lower gear for more power. This thing will twist your arm around if you're not careful. So today I wanted to compare my powerful cordless drill with my cordless impact driver. I tried inserting a long thick screw in some wood I had, but both the cordless drill and the impact driver performed that task with ease. I did have my cordless drill in the lower gear though. So I noticed while cutting down some trees in my yard, that the tree trunks left are very hard. So I decided to test my cordless drill and impact driver screwing a large lag bolt into a tree stump.

Long story short, I found that my cordless drill in lower gear is just a little bit more powerful than my cordless impact driver, but not by much. When I have my cordless drill in normal mode (about the same power as a low cost cordless drill), the impact driver is at least twice as powerful. By the way, my powerful cordless drill cost me three times more than my cordless impact driver.

So I would suggest that if you do not have a cordless drill, you should go out and buy one today as you will love it!

If you already have a cordless drill, but do not have a cordless impact driver and you do a lot of screwing or need to loosen and tighten bolts and nuts that require power, then I would suggest you purchase a cordless impact driver. The one I purchased came with a case and some bits for around $55.

Well hope this was helpful to someone. If not, then as I stated I must be the only one late to the game.

 

[Armor of Light]

The one I purchased came with a case and some bits for around $55.

That seems reasonable enough, about the same price I paid for my cordless drill 12-15 years ago. I bet the new cordless have better battery life and more power than my old one. But I must say my DeWalt 7amp hammer drill is a beast and even though not cordless it is my favorite for drilling into poured concrete, just wish it was variable speed so I could use for other jobs. I have never used an impact driver, maybe I will check out some youtube on it and then have need for another tool.

 

[Kaatje]

Why is this thread only for gentlemen?
I have all sorts of cordless tools and equipment (and am good at them too!)

 

[Goodboy]

That seems reasonable enough, about the same price I paid for my cordless drill 12-15 years ago. I bet the new cordless have better battery life and more power than my old one. But I must say my DeWalt 7amp hammer drill is a beast and even though not cordless it is my favorite for drilling into poured concrete, just wish it was variable speed so I could use for other jobs. I have never used an impact driver, maybe I will check out some youtube on it and then have need for another tool.

The coolest thing about an impact driver is it puts no strain on your wrist or arms. It's also great for loosening nuts that are on real tight.

 

[Goodboy]

Why is this thread only for gentlemen?
I have all sorts of cordless tools and equipment (and am good at them too!)

You're right! I should not have put this in the gentleman section. I kind of thought women would not be interested. As you can see, very few men are interested. If you don't have an impact driver, you might consider getting one if you deal with a lot of screws or nuts. Your wrist and arms will thank you!

 

[Kaatje]

Your right! I should not have put this in the gentleman section. I kind of thought women would not be interested. As you can see, very few men are interested. If you don't have an impact driver, you might consider getting one if you deal with a lot of screws or nuts. Your wrist and arms will thank you!

I certainly deal with lots of nuts.
On the Forums for instance...

 

[Armor of Light]

I have all sorts of cordless tools and equipment (and am good at them too!)

I would like to hear what power tools you have and what you like using
I have Skill 7.25 " saw, 4.5" hand angle grinder good for cutting rebar/steel, hammer drill, cordless drill and a more powerful corded drill for drilling with long 20" wood bits.

 

[Kaatje]

That isn’t not as easy as you’d think. The Dutch names won’t mean much to you, and to translate everything, is beyond my pay grade.
But I have tools for screwing, drilling (wood, stone and metal) and sawing (tiny blades and oscillator blades).
They all work on the same type of rechargeable batteries, so I’m never out of power.
I even have a few powerful cordless led lamps for work in the dark etc.

And now I’ve started looking for solar powered equipment and diesel powered generators.
(Just in case power will fail due to virus, or panic, or government collapse)
Ideas anyone?

 

[Tall Timbers]

A couple decades ago I purchased a black and decker cordless drill. Dueto nerve problems and weakness in my hands I wasn't doing too well with regular screwdrivers. That was a good solution. The life of that drill was short so I switched to ryobi and haven't had a ryobi power tool fail on me yet. I've had to replace old batteries but that's all. I've got lots of different battery powered tools now... and I've got an air compressor and a bunch of air driven tools as well. I'm a tool junkie, I guess.

 

[Armor of Light]

I hear Generac backup systems are very good, I think they run on diesel and natural gas, we are thinking of having one installed for emergencies.

 

[Armor of Light]

The life of that drill was short so I switched to ryobi and haven't had a ryobi power tool fail on me yet

That is my brand of cordless drill, I think it needs a new battery as the charge does not hold very long.

 

[Tall Timbers]

That is my brand of cordless drill, I think it needs a new battery as the charge does not hold very long.

I liked that early on they standardized their batteries across all of their tools... that's why I chose Ryobi when I did. Sometimes Home Depot will have a 50% sale on the batteries... that's when I get new ones if I need any.

 

[JamesSuth]

That isn’t not as easy as you’d think. The Dutch names won’t mean much to you, and to translate everything, is beyond my pay grade.
But I have tools for screwing, drilling (wood, stone and metal) and sawing (tiny blades and oscillator blades).
They all work on the same type of rechargeable batteries, so I’m never out of power.
I even have a few powerful cordless led lamps for work in the dark etc.

And now I’ve started looking for solar powered equipment and diesel powered generators.
(Just in case power will fail due to virus, or panic, or government collapse)
Ideas anyone?

There are small petrol generators available in the UK. They don't produce much power but they can run lights, and a gas central heating system. I've not got one but I was thinking about it. But they need to be isolated from the mains so that anyone working on the lines during a power cut doesn't get a shock, I'm not sure how to do that but I could ask an electrician.

 

[Carl]

My experience has been two Black and Decker 12 volt drills. Paid about $30 back in 2012 One started smoking last year so took it apart and cleaned around the brushes. Good as new. They can handle everything up to #9 3" screws.

 

[Jonathan]

No, but I SERIOUSLY want one. Unfortunately, the amount of use I would get out of one wouldn't justify the cost. But Impact Drivers are very cool tech and can get stuff done in a way traditional drills can't.

 

[3 Nails 4 Given]

I have the Dewalt 20V impact drivers and impact wrenches. I used to buy the Craftsman models but quit with them and went to Dewalt.

 

[ItIsFinished!]

I have the Milwaukee combo kit plus accessories. (All battery operated)
20 volt Drill
20 volt Drill/Hammer Drill
20 volt Impact Driver
20 volt Skill Saw
20 volt Jigsaw ( Love)- Very versatile especially if you have the right blade. It will cut through just about anything. Lightweight, but powerful.
Practical and user friendly. I look for reasons to use it.
8- 20 volt batteries (lithium)
3- Chargers - One in the garage , one in the basement, and one in my truck at all times.
None of the tools you got are of no use without juice hence the 8 batteries.
I do not like running out of power.
Also have a Milwaukee flashlight that uses the 20 volt battery and it will light up a area pretty good . Has a swivel head that comes in real handy.
And I have a really nice Milwaukee radio that is electric or runs off batteries.
Great sound and great quality, but yet rugged like all of Milwaukee's fine products.
I've been using Milwaukee tools for over 30 years and will stick with them.