Impact screw drivers?

[k0ua]

Yes that is great to have an option like that. I think Ryobi is also like that with their One system but I could be wrong You are not wrong, they do. I have taken my old 18 volt drills and they now run on L-I batteries.

Best I can hope for with my older Makita's is an aftermarket adapter that engages the tool first and then you can slide the new style LION battery. At $35 each its hard justify having one for each cordless tool

Hey but at least the option is there to keep the tool viable for future use.


Trivia...did you guys know that the Milwaukee and Ryobi brands are owned by the same company?

yes I did know that and Rigid too.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have the 18v Makita impact driver and I love it. Not only is it lighter then the drill, it has more power and it's half the size. I prefer star drive for deck screws, but if I can't find them, I'll use square drive. I hate Phillips head screws, but for things like sheetrock, that's all you can get for a reasonable price.

One thing the others didn't mention, or I missed it, is that after a day of driving screws while building a deck, your wrist wont be tired using a driver. Using a drill and dealing with the torque wears out my wrist. Kind of like going from a hammer to drive nails to going to a nail gun.

Eddie

 

[senecak19]

I also use the 18v Lithium Makita. I have their 3/8 and 1/2" drills and they collect dust by comparison. My impact gets put to work. I may have finally hit the wall with mine driving 10" timber screws. In short, the day it dies is the day I immediately replace it. No question. I see reference to HD and HF but I haven't seen my goto for all of my power tools. www.cpooutlet.com. Great place and I always go refurb, never had an issue.

 

[timswi]

I have a Ryobi 18v LI impact and 2 Dewalt 20v LI impacts...I'll never drive another screw with a drill unless it's detail type work.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Does anyone have experience driving self tapping screws into heavy sheet metal with impact driver?

We have a project in the works that will use self tapping screws. Last time, using battery drill, had poor experience trying to use ST screws so, ended up pre-drilling holes for them.

Thanks!

 

[farmer2009]

Does anyone have experience driving self tapping screws into heavy sheet metal with impact driver? We have a project in the works that will use self tapping screws. Last time, using battery drill, had poor experience trying to use ST screws so, ended up pre-drilling holes for them. Thanks!

Pre-drilling will always be better. But how heavy of sheet metal? I don't pre-drill when installing d-rib roofing. The screws don't walk as bad as a drill either.

 

[s219]

Impact driver is one of my best tool upgrades in a decade. Huge improvement for driving 3-4" wood screws and deck screws. For my recent boat house project, I used the impact driver for everything including 3-4" wood screws, 6" timber screws, 1/4" structural hardware lags, and metal roofing screws.

For even more love when building with lumber, switch to star-drive screws that have cutting/drilling flutes on the tip and cutting bars on the head -- they go in smoother and will not spilt wood in situations where a regular screw would.

 

[EddieWalker]

Not sure about how heavy, but I put several hundred #8x2 inch self tapping screws into a metal building recently. Hard part was just holding the driver until they cut their way through.

Eddie

 

[tow653]

" I hate Phillips head screws,"

When they make me dictator I will outlaw Phillips heads!

 

[timswi]

" I hate Phillips head screws,"

When they make me dictator I will outlaw Phillips heads!

I really hated them when I was using a drill. Not so much with an impact.