Impact screw drivers?

[LD1]

I don't know how all of you guys are talking about driving screws/lags without pre-drilling. Everytime I try it I split the wood, unless it's a drywall screw.

If going into the end of 2x lumber, then yea you have to predrill or it will split.

But when sinking 1/4" or 5/16" x 2" long lags into a 2x10 garage door header to attach hardware, there isnt much chance of splitting.

Or sinking 3" lags into a 6x6 post in the shop to hang a retractable air hose real. (or hanging anything with lags into timbers for that matter).

 

[davrow]

I don't know how all of you guys are talking about driving screws/lags without pre-drilling. Everytime I try it I split the wood, unless it's a drywall screw.

Well, that's why I bought the kit! Drill in one hand, impact in the other... and a mouth full of screws, of course.

 

[farmer2009]

If going into the end of 2x lumber, then yea you have to predrill or it will split. But when sinking 1/4" or 5/16" x 2" long lags into a 2x10 garage door header to attach hardware, there isnt much chance of splitting. Or sinking 3" lags into a 6x6 post in the shop to hang a retractable air hose real. (or hanging anything with lags into timbers for that matter).

Very true LD. Just be careful with the impact. It has a tendency to strip the lags if not pre-drilled especially in cedar if you hammer on it too much.

 

[k0ua]

At some point, it gets big enough, you may as well go back to having a cord. :yes:

yeah but someone would want to plug it to 220 volts to get more speed and torque!

 

[gsganzer]

I'm getting ready to buy a new Drill/driver combo. Years ago I had a Milwaukee 12 volt drill that I used the heck out of. It finally broke when it slid off my metal shop roof when I was screwing down R-panels. I replaced it with the newer Milwaukee 18 volt lithium drill/driver combo (pre-Milwaukee Fuel). The drill felt cheap from the very start, certainly not the quality feel of the previous 12volt Milwaukee. Sure enough, the transmission went out and it's now stuck on speed 1 and can't go to speed 2. I bought 3 of the 18volt Fuel drill/driver combo's for my shop at work. All three of the drills have problems with the chucks not securing drill bits tight enough.

I've always been a Milwaukee fan, but now I'm thinking of switching camps and going with the Makita LXT combo unit. Anyone have experience with the Makita LXT line? I'm looking at the combo with the 1/2" drill/driver/hammer and 1/4" 3-speed driver, 4.0ah batteries. I see on their site they now offer 5.0ah batteries too.

 

[k0ua]

My Malika drill came with a handle that comes off and goes back on easily. I always put the handle on when I'm expecting to have the drill twist on me. It always happens when drilling with the hole saw.

Eddie

Worst one I had was with a 5/8 twist drill. This was a big old heavy borrowed drill from the 60's (metal cased), and it was geared down and had a boatload of torque. I about half expected it to catch when it broke through and when it did it about broke my wrist.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm getting ready to buy a new Drill/driver combo. Years ago I had a Milwaukee 12 volt drill that I used the heck out of. It finally broke when it slid off my metal shop roof when I was screwing down R-panels. I replaced it with the newer Milwaukee 18 volt lithium drill/driver combo (pre-Milwaukee Fuel). The drill felt cheap from the very start, certainly not the quality feel of the previous 12volt Milwaukee. Sure enough, the transmission went out and it's now stuck on speed 1 and can't go to speed 2. I bought 3 of the 18volt Fuel drill/driver combo's for my shop at work. All three of the drills have problems with the chucks not securing drill bits tight enough.

I've always been a Milwaukee fan, but now I'm thinking of switching camps and going with the Makita LXT combo unit. Anyone have experience with the Makita LXT line? I'm looking at the combo with the 1/2" drill/driver/hammer and 1/4" 3-speed driver, 4.0ah batteries. I see on their site they now offer 5.0ah batteries too.

I have the Makita LXT. Love it. Have the impact, drill, torque wrench, grinder, circ saw and recip saw. All excellent. I only have the 3amp/hr batteries which are fine. In fact I've thought of picking up a 1.5 amp for light weight. The 3amp batteries really do charge in 30 min so there is virtually never down time.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm getting ready to buy a new Drill/driver combo. Years ago I had a Milwaukee 12 volt drill that I used the heck out of. It finally broke when it slid off my metal shop roof when I was screwing down R-panels. I replaced it with the newer Milwaukee 18 volt lithium drill/driver combo (pre-Milwaukee Fuel). The drill felt cheap from the very start, certainly not the quality feel of the previous 12volt Milwaukee. Sure enough, the transmission went out and it's now stuck on speed 1 and can't go to speed 2. I bought 3 of the 18volt Fuel drill/driver combo's for my shop at work. All three of the drills have problems with the chucks not securing drill bits tight enough.

I've always been a Milwaukee fan, but now I'm thinking of switching camps and going with the Makita LXT combo unit. Anyone have experience with the Makita LXT line? I'm looking at the combo with the 1/2" drill/driver/hammer and 1/4" 3-speed driver, 4.0ah batteries. I see on their site they now offer 5.0ah batteries too.

That's all I own and I'm very pleased. The batteries last me about 2 years, but u use them just about every day. I have three charges and I usually have one or two plugged in on a job

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm getting ready to buy a new Drill/driver combo. Years ago I had a Milwaukee 12 volt drill that I used the heck out of. It finally broke when it slid off my metal shop roof when I was screwing down R-panels. I replaced it with the newer Milwaukee 18 volt lithium drill/driver combo (pre-Milwaukee Fuel). The drill felt cheap from the very start, certainly not the quality feel of the previous 12volt Milwaukee. Sure enough, the transmission went out and it's now stuck on speed 1 and can't go to speed 2. I bought 3 of the 18volt Fuel drill/driver combo's for my shop at work. All three of the drills have problems with the chucks not securing drill bits tight enough.

I've always been a Milwaukee fan, but now I'm thinking of switching camps and going with the Makita LXT combo unit. Anyone have experience with the Makita LXT line? I'm looking at the combo with the 1/2" drill/driver/hammer and 1/4" 3-speed driver, 4.0ah batteries. I see on their site they now offer 5.0ah batteries too.

That's all I own and I'm very pleased. The batteries last me about 2 years, but u use them just about every day. I have three charges and I usually have one or two plugged in on a job

Eddie

 

[MitchellB]

Well out of curiosity after reading this thread, I checked eBay and someone was selling new Dewalts.

1 Dewalt DC825B 18V 18 Volt 1 4" Lithium ion Impact Driver Tool Only New | eBay

I ordered one since my old Dewalt drill that I have also uses the same battery. After it arrived, I like it. Lighter, smaller and easier to hold than my drill with a lot more power. The little flash light has already come in handy in seeing what I doing when working inside in dark corners. My only complaint is I need to magnetize my screwdriver bits now to hold screws. I was using a magnetized quick change bit holder in my screwdriver, but don't need the quick changes extra length now.