Impact screw drivers?

[IslandTractor]

Noise levels can of course, vary based on what you are working with. My 1/4 impact has never come close to the threshold of needing hearing protection. :confused3:

I have been repairing, and testing impacts up to 1.5", Based on the OSHA training, I have received, I have not heard one yet, that was loud enough to require hearing protection.

To be dangerous, it has to be either loud, or continuous, or both. Annoying, or disappointing, does not necessarily qualify.

For comparison, I do wear ear protection for any circular saw, (including my cordless one), chop saw, power hammer, grinder, air chisel, power planer, most power sanders, and, even a framing nailer, when in close quarters.

I have several drywall screw guns that are somewhat loud. Much louder than my impact, but they do not require hearing protection.

Excellent summary.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Noise levels can of course, vary based on what you are working with. My 1/4 impact has never come close to the threshold of needing hearing protection. :confused3:

I have been repairing, and testing impacts up to 1.5", Based on the OSHA training, I have received, I have not heard one yet, that was loud enough to require hearing protection.

To be dangerous, it has to be either loud, or continuous, or both. Annoying, or disappointing, does not necessarily qualify.

For comparison, I do wear ear protection for any circular saw, (including my cordless one), chop saw, power hammer, grinder, air chisel, power planer, most power sanders, and, even a framing nailer, when in close quarters.

I have several drywall screw guns that are somewhat loud. Much louder than my impact, but they do not require hearing protection.

My 1/2 air impact gun isn't loud enough to wear hearing protection and that is much louder than my Panasonic impact driver. I do, however, wear hearing protection running grinders, chop saws, metal saws, air hammers, air chisels, power planer, table saws, live bands, and so forth.

Here is a round-up comparison of the latest round of impact drivers.

18V Cordless Lithium-ion Impact Driver Round Up | Pro Tool Reviews

 

[buckeyefarmer]

today I used my bosch impact to screw a couple 2x4's against a ceiling joists, and then screwed a piece of drywall to fill a hole. I got my drywall gun to shoot the drywall screws, but tried the impact instead, and it worked great, as you can control it so much better than a drill. you just don't mess up the screw head with an impact like a drill does.

 

[ray66v]

Here is a round-up comparison of the latest round of impact drivers.
18V Cordless Lithium-ion Impact Driver Round Up | Pro Tool Reviews

It's humorous the Ryobi is the winner. Being that it is probably the least expensive.

I have been using the Ryobi cordless tools for a while, and never expected any of their stuff to hold up as well as it does.

I like the price, the light weight, and the fact that the batteries cost a lot less.

 

[s219]

It's humorous the Ryobi is the winner. Being that it is probably the least expensive.

I have been using the Ryobi cordless tools for a while, and never expected any of their stuff to hold up as well as it does.

I like the price, the light weight, and the fact that the batteries cost a lot less.

Yeah, can't complain about the Ryobi stuff I have at all. I like my Milwaukee tools better for overall quality/feel, but the Ryobis have never given me a single problem. The only reason I have so many is that I went in to buy replacement batteries for a Ryobi one time, and found it was cheaper to get a kit with another drill and impact driver. Those "freebies" have lasted 5-6 years already and been great, and the original drill I was buying the replacement battery for has got to be over 12 years old now. If there's a project that needs multiple hole sizes drilled, I have it covered with a drill for every size bit!

 

[IslandTractor]

It's humorous the Ryobi is the winner. Being that it is probably the least expensive.

I have been using the Ryobi cordless tools for a while, and never expected any of their stuff to hold up as well as it does.

I like the price, the light weight, and the fact that the batteries cost a lot less.

Ryobi isn't the winner. It is the only one tested with a 4amp/hr battery so it looks better. The others can also be had with 4amp batteries now (certainly Bosch and Makita, probably others).

Also, note that if you compare charging times of the Ryobi to Makita, the Ryobi has 4amp/hr but takes 60min to charge. The Makita has 3amp/hr but takes 30 min to charge. You could drive more screws in a day with the Makita 3amp than with the Ryobi 4amp.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

It's humorous the Ryobi is the winner. Being that it is probably the least expensive.

I have been using the Ryobi cordless tools for a while, and never expected any of their stuff to hold up as well as it does.

I like the price, the light weight, and the fact that the batteries cost a lot less.

I've got the Panasonic that came before the 18V version (same size, just a bigger battery), and I like the light weight, easy handling. Plus I've been using mine for five years which tells us a little bit about the durability of the Panasonics. 'Course, I also like the M28 Milwaukee stuff too.

 

[ray66v]

Ryobi isn't the winner. It is the only one tested with a 4amp/hr battery so it looks better. The others can also be had with 4amp batteries now (certainly Bosch and Makita, probably others).

Also, note that if you compare charging times of the Ryobi to Makita, the Ryobi has 4amp/hr but takes 60min to charge. The Makita has 3amp/hr but takes 30 min to charge. You could drive more screws in a day with the Makita 3amp than with the Ryobi 4amp.

Thank you, for clarifying that.

I was too busy to read it.

Seems odd, if they were trying to compare them, they would not have started with a level playing field.

I have the Ryobi super charger, that charges 6 batteries at a time. So, I am never waiting for a battery to charge.

The twin pack of 4ah, 18 volt lithium batteries, that HD gets for Christmas, gives you two for the price of one. Which is normally $99 for one. I have been getting a set each year. so I have a bucket full of them now.

I was in HD today, and they had the left over ones from Christmas, on clearance, for $50 :cool2:

Two 18 volt, lithium batteries for $50, is like getting them for free.

 

[xring100]

Edit: looks like islandtractor beat me to this.
Ryobi is hardly the clear winner here article clearly states " With the eleven tools in this round up, there is hardly a clear winner"

Ryobi comparing a 4 ah battery to 3 ah for most of the rest. 25% battery capacity only resulted in 15% more screws
The 4.0 ah battery makes it the longest and heaviest.

Further more If you put the 4.0 ah battery in the makita or 5.0 ah in dewalt they would have won that single test.

Ryobi, tyed for last place in lag driving ability, as well as taking last place by a good margin for charging speed required twice the time of the majority for only 25% more charge.

Personally i did not have a good experience with ryobi i was given a multi piece when i graduated high school and went to college.
I burned up the Ni-cad reciprocating saw speed controller in less than a years time and then magically magically stopped working about 3 years after i got it.

I bought the 24 v rigid set which i like but the hammer drill is big and bulky. The circular saw and reciprocating saw are amazing.
More recently I purchased the dewalt 20v max brushless driver and drill after using the neighbors rigid driver i decided immediately that impact was the way to go.

Rigid discontinued the 24v stuff and i could'nt by a driver for it.

 

[ray66v]

Yeah, can't complain about the Ryobi stuff I have at all. I like my Milwaukee tools better for overall quality/feel, but the Ryobis have never given me a single problem. The only reason I have so many is that I went in to buy replacement batteries for a Ryobi one time, and found it was cheaper to get a kit with another drill and impact driver. Those "freebies" have lasted 5-6 years already and been great, and the original drill I was buying the replacement battery for has got to be over 12 years old now. If there's a project that needs multiple hole sizes drilled, I have it covered with a drill for every size bit!

Yeah, I do that too. Having a dedicated tool, for each job, sure beats changing blades, and bits, all day. Plus, if in my haste, if I can't find one, I grab another.

I just started giving the original "blue" ones, away. All of them, except the circular saw, (which I severely abused), still worked.

The latest versions of the Ryobi tools have many improvements, like lights, and anti-vibe handles. They are much closer to "real" tools, than they were originally.