Impact Wrench, or Impact Driver...?

[The Z'eer]

My 10.8v dewalt impact driver happily drives 6mm coach screws, just about manages 8mm.

It'll undo m8 nuts/bolts too, but doing up always seems to need a spanner afterwards. Dead handy as a spinner though.

My air impact wrench (fettled aldi one) will shear off no.12 woodscrews if you hit a knot...

Different jobs, different tools.

"Different jobs, different tools" that's kind of my thinking too. I've noticed that many of the impact drivers appear to be in the 100-200 NM field of torque where as the impact wrenches are far higher. The weight isn't too much of an issue, but yes a lighter tool after sustained usage is better than heavyweight item.

 

[The Z'eer]

If I had to chose one tool it would be a 3/8 drive impact wrench with variable power control.
Nice and light. Usual max power is around the 300-350ft lb
mark but with the variable control you can take it down to the most delicate approach. Milwaukee do a lovely little brushless 3/8 thing.

I don't suppose you know what torque each setting produces?

 

[Hitch]

The one we have in the site van is an Hitachi 18v impact wrench, the smaller type. It has 2 settings, full power which winds up m16s etc no bother, then a low power mode which is safer for smaller fastenings, screw etc.

Once the workshop is built, do you plan on needing to drive big screws?
Or do you tend to mess with nuts and bolts more...
Or get both- bare tools arnt all that dear.

 

[The Z'eer]

Initial disclaimer that the following is entirely subjective, and may even be psychological

I've been through a fair few drill/drivers...

I now have (for just over 3 years) the dewalt 10.8v drill/driver and impact driver.

I find the impact driver simply better at putting screws in (and taking them out) than any drill/driver I've ever experienced. Anything over a 3.5/20 and it's the tool I grab - under that, I do it by hand...

The impact action appears to be able to get screws tighter (and loosen tighter ones) with much less chance of breakage compared to a non impact or by hand.

Where it's designed to use the impact, there's also less tool wear than setting a slipping clutch on a drill/driver - and stalling a motor just doesn't feel right to me.

Given any sort of choice, I'd never go back to using a drill/driver on screws - if my little dewalt failed I'd buy another instantly without thinking about it.

(Marketing section: I love the design of the dewalt - it'll stand upright on it's base due to the flat slide on battery, if you decide to lay it on it's side it has rubber bumpers so it won't damage the case or slide off a roof. It weighs about a kilo so more use without fatigue. The lights built in actually illuminate what you're working on instead of next to it like so many others.

The day before yesterday I used it to put in almost 200 4/35 (a few left in the box) and about 30 4.5/60 screws on a single charge of it's 3.5 year old battery. It would've done more but the other battery in the drill went flat so I had to swap about while charging - I'm looking at additional battery options...)

From what I've read elsewhere, your findings seem conclusive. I'm actually looking at a DeWalt item at present as an impact driver http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DeWalt-DC...936120&hash=item4b160d82bb:g:HmsAAOSwA3dYdAKz

 

[The Z'eer]

The one we have in the site van is an Hitachi 18v impact wrench, the smaller type. It has 2 settings, full power which winds up m16s etc no bother, then a low power mode which is safer for smaller fastenings, screw etc.

Once the workshop is built, do you plan on needing to drive big screws?
Or do you tend to mess with nuts and bolts more...
Or get both- bare tools arnt all that dear.

I think it may be best to buy an impact driver first off (since the creation of the workshop is imminent) then an impact wrench when that time arises. It's hard to say exactly what jobs/work will occur in the future.

 

[Richard.]

I don't suppose you know what torque each setting produces?

With mine I can set the 4 modes to do any speed and torque setting I like because it's linked to an app on my phone through Bluetooth fancy software stuff. It's max working torque is 210nm so I can make any of the 4 modes everything in between.

 

[The Z'eer]

With mine I can set the 4 modes to do any speed and torque setting I like because it's linked to an app on my phone through Bluetooth fancy software stuff. It's max working torque is 210nm so I can make any of the 4 modes everything in between.

Thanks for the reply with the info That's quite impressive with the amount of control you have over the tool

 

[Richard.]

Thanks for the reply with the info That's quite impressive with the amount of control you have over the tool

It is very useful. I can use it with self tapers if I like and not worry about stripping the thread
But on the other hand it will rip off car wheelnuts. Size and weight wise it's not a lot bigger than your average impact driver. The software on the tool is called ONE-KEY™ but it doesn't seem to cost any more money with the software than the standard tool without so it's worth having.

 

[The Z'eer]

It is very useful. I can use it with self tapers if I like and not worry about stripping the thread
But on the other hand it will rip off car wheelnuts. Size and weight wise it's not a lot bigger than your average impact driver. The software on the tool is called ONE-KEY™ but it doesn't seem to cost any more money with the software than the standard tool without so it's worth having.

Might you have a model number for the tool? I think it might be worth looking in to.

 

[Richard.]

I certainly do mate.
Here's my inventory.
Model numbers stated here.

 

[The Z'eer]

I certainly do mate.
Here's my inventory.
Model numbers stated here.

Wonderful, thank you very much

 

[Richard.]

Don't let the apparent condition fool you, they've done a LOT of work.

You sure????
They look like you just opened the box today

 

[Richard.]

Yes, I know it's a little ocd

It's not OCD.
I was taking the Micky but in reality I do exactly the same.

 

[Richard.]

Every thing is just so much nicer if it's wiped down for when you next come to pick it up.
Just wish the people that borrowed it adopted a similar attitude. Someone who shows care for there tools generally shows care for the work they apply them too.
Plus tools are expensive. I cannot afford to be buying them twice so a little clean can be seen as preventive maintenance (that's my ocd excuse anyway and I'm sticking with it)

 

[Agrismith]

Thanks for the link I see your Makita unit has three power settings, do you know what each setting is good for? Do you use this impact wrench for carpentry duties as well as undertaking garage/workshop tasks?

Yeah i use it all the time for wood working
From drywall screws to 12 inch timber locks to all sorts of mechanic and engineering jobs
I never really use the power settings the trigger control is so good i dont find its needed
Very occasionally it shears a tec srew but ive put tens of thousands in and probally broken a dozen
Its the most universall tool i have
The Milwaukee version has the three power settings and a 4th setting that is a timer on the hammering
Occasionally with the addapeter it is slightly to lon g that the impact driver but there are always round this and rarely matters

 

[The Z'eer]

This is the set I bought 3 1/2 years ago for £150:

View attachment 121407

Don't let the apparent condition fool you, they've done a LOT of work.

I rarely use my corded drills any more, this little one does almost everything I ask of it (including masonry even without hammer) - anything I feel is beyond it the sds comes out...

I've currently got a big project on at home (new chicken accomodation) so I borrowed my dad's ex set off my sister to use as backup while the dewalt is charging:

View attachment 121417

There is honestly no comparison. Had I bought that set instead (I did consider it, but spent the extra £50 on the dewalt) I likely would've been happy enough - but they just don't get close. They feel heavier and unbalanced (the impact is 40g lighter, drill is 200g heavier) and don't 'fit' me as well...


Oh, using an impact driver you'll probably want a bit extension - pro tip time

View attachment 121418

Avoid the type on the left. Even if impact rated the hex will spin out of the round - I've been through at least 20 of these (they seem to come with everything) since I got the dewalt...

The one on the right (erbauer brand) is a little chunkier, but it's machined from solid stainless and well worth the ~£3.

Thanks for the tip with respect with the Erbauer item, I'll pick one of those up

The Milwaukee M18 seems to be the pick of the bunch and most versatile with full RPM/torque adjustments but the price tag for tool, charger and batteries isn't. At nearly a hundred quid cheaper the DeWalt https://www.howetools.co.uk/dewalt-...content=DEWALT&utm_campaign=Shopping Campaign seems to be the next best option.

 

[Agrismith]

Thanks for the tip with respect with the Erbauer item, I'll pick one of those up

The Milwaukee M18 seems to be the pick of the bunch and most versatile with full RPM/torque adjustments but the price tag for tool, charger and batteries isn't. At nearly a hundred quid cheaper the DeWalt https://www.howetools.co.uk/dewalt-dcf887d2-18v-impact-driver-14-hex-drive?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=12208&utm_content=DEWALT&utm_campaign=Shopping Campaign seems to be the next best option.

Thats not really properly comparable as that version only has the 2ah batterys
The batterys are the expensive bit and if this is your first cordless tool i would be looking to future proof and get 4ah in 18v they make a huge difference
If you want light weight as a preference i would go for the 10 or 12 volt ranges
18v i feel would be compromised by a small battery for a lot of jobs
Also have a good look at the range of tools for all battery systems and make sure the range you buy into has everything available that you may want in the future
Check
Hitachi
Bosch
Makita
Milwaukee
Metabo
Dewalt
As all there ranges are different

 

[The Z'eer]

Thats not really properly comparable as that version only has the 2ah batterys
The batterys are the expensive bit and if this is your first cordless tool i would be looking to future proof and get 4ah in 18v they make a huge difference
If you want light weight as a preference i would go for the 10 or 12 volt ranges
18v i feel would be compromised by a small battery for a lot of jobs
Also have a good look at the range of tools for all battery systems and make sure the range you buy into has everything available that you may want in the future
Check
Hitachi
Bosch
Makita
Milwaukee
Metabo
Dewalt
As all there ranges are different

Yes of course, those smaller batteries won't give the kick of the bigger ones. It's this one I ought to be looking at https://www.howetools.co.uk/dewalt-dcf887p2-18v-impact-driver-14-hex-drive

 

[The Z'eer]

The smaller capacity (2Ah) will provide exactly the same 'kick' as the larger ones (4+Ah), they just won't do it for as long between charges.

The smaller ones take less time to charge (in the same charger) though...

How long do you think a small battery might last? Yes, I know piece of string an all that but maybe half an hour of heavy usage??

 

[The Z'eer]

Oh, also...

Dewalt and Milwaukee offer 3 year warranty on their power tools - I think both require registration but it's worth doing.

The other famous names likely offer something similar, but I haven't looked at those.

I bought a DeWalt angle grinder around a year back. I tried register it for a month or so, the site was down and in the end I gave up.