Impact screw drivers?

k0ua · Feb 8, 2015

ray66v said:
The Ryobi's work fine, and if the rest tested better. I would not worry about which has the most power. Because they all are apparently pretty good.

Pick a budget, and pick a color. :thumbsup:

Exactly, even the worst of them are awesome.

DFB · Feb 8, 2015

LD1 said:
Milwaukee is actually up to 5.0 AH batteries now for the M18 tools

I just see Bosch has a new 6.0 AH

This one upmanship has no end in site :laughing:

bcp · Feb 8, 2015

DFB said:
This one upmanship has no end in site :laughing:

GManBart · Feb 8, 2015

xring100 said:
The dewalt "20v Max*" are still 18v cells which is misleading at best. *maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a working load) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18 taken off the fine print on my DCG412B box

I was just referring to them as they're marketed....looks like at least three or four companies are selling what they call 20V setups.

I honestly don't care if they put out any additional torque, but they do seem to be lighter, and have longer run times, both of which are nice improvements. Our work 18V DeWalt setups are significantly heavier (and bulkier) than my "20V" DeWalt systems. I actually bought the matching sawzall after reading so many positive reviews....was really hesitant to go cordless, but it's been a total beast.

I've been thinking about getting a 1.5 or 2AH battery because the lighter weight might be nice when you're on a ladder (or walking between trusses the way I have been lately), and I just saw they came out with a 6AH battery that doesn't look much bigger than the 4AH...at least they're putting out products that seem to get better.

DFB · Feb 8, 2015

bcp said:
View attachment 410730

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

That idea is closer than you think

ROBOPAKS

lostcreekranch · Feb 8, 2015

bcp said:
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/projects/410730-impact-screw-drivers-batt4-jpg"/>

12 volt drivers are sooooooo 2004.

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bcp · Feb 8, 2015

rlgustafson said:
12 volt drivers are sooooooo 2004.

lostcreekranch · Feb 8, 2015

bcp said:
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/projects/410754-impact-screw-drivers-batt5-jpg"/>

Ok, 24 volts! MUCH BETTER! More Power!

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k0ua · Feb 8, 2015

rlgustafson said:
Ok, 24 volts! MUCH BETTER! More Power!

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

So two 80 amp hour battery's in series for 24 volts.. Yep that would drive some screws alright.

ray66v · Feb 8, 2015

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

jwstewar · Feb 9, 2015

When people ask me about the impact driver vs. the drill, I always use this analogy. Remember how great the drill was at putting screws in compared to a screwdriver? Now imagine that much of an improvement again. That is how much better the impact driver is. I've only found one instance that I prefer the drill over the impact driver and that is lowering the stabilizers on our camper. I used the drill the first time I took the camper out and it twisted my arm pretty good at the end. So the second time out I took the impact driver. The impact coming off the steel I-beam frame was crazy loud - especially echoing throughout the hollow of the campground. Went back to the drill for that job and just prepared to hold the drill a bit better.

EddieWalker · Feb 9, 2015

jwstewar said:
When people ask me about the impact driver vs. the drill, I always use this analogy. Remember how great the drill was at putting screws in compared to a screwdriver? Now imagine that much of an improvement again. That is how much better the impact driver is. I've only found one instance that I prefer the drill over the impact driver and that is lowering the stabilizers on our camper. I used the drill the first time I took the camper out and it twisted my arm pretty good at the end. So the second time out I took the impact driver. The impact coming off the steel I-beam frame was crazy loud - especially echoing throughout the hollow of the campground. Went back to the drill for that job and just prepared to hold the drill a bit better.

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

Gunny · Feb 9, 2015

Well, I've followed this entire thread and it really piqued my interest, so I just got back from buying an impact screw driver. I went with Ryobi 18 volt, since I've already got about 12 other tools that work on that same battery (and six Li-On batteries).

It looks and feels good, but I've wandered all over this place and can't find one place where I need to drive any screws today. Guess I'll just have to wait for the opportunity to arise.

It has been some good reading, good information and I really liked all the differing opinions on manufacturers and all.

mikehaugen · Feb 9, 2015

Gunny said:
Well, I've followed this entire thread and it really piqued my interest, so I just got back from buying an impact screw driver. I went with Ryobi 18 volt, since I've already got about 12 other tools that work on that same battery (and six Li-On batteries).

It looks and feels good, but I've wandered all over this place and can't find one place where I need to drive any screws today. Guess I'll just have to wait for the opportunity to arise.

It has been some good reading, good information and I really liked all the differing opinions on manufacturers and all.

I just got to use mine! Darn plow knocked over the mailbox last week so I had to make a new post and attach brackets. That part wasn't bad, if only the impact driver could make it easier to dig in the frozen ground.

brt · Feb 9, 2015

I have the DeWalt 20V mode (won it and some other great DeWalt 20v tools in a contest)l. I previously had the 18v nicad model (my son has that now). The 20v model is lighter and the battery seems to last longer, plus it has a battery power indicator on it. One thing that I have found is that when you are going to be driving a lot of the new "Timber-Lok" type of screws (lag replacements), a pilot hole makes things go much easier. It will make your drill last longer also. DeWalt had to replace my original 18v model because it literally smoked itself to death on a retaining wall project. I did not predrill the many holes. DeWalt did a rapid free replacement with an upgraded model. Thanks DeWalt! Even if you only predrill 1/2 of the hole depth the speed of your job will be reduced dramatically.

mikehaugen · Feb 9, 2015

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.

DFB · Feb 9, 2015

Gunny said:
I've wandered all over this place and can't find one place where I need to drive any screws today. Guess I'll just have to wait for the opportunity to arise.

Haha when I got mine I had an old B&S horizontal shaft engine in the garage I played around with hammering bolts on and off till I finally stripped a few! :laughing:

dragoneggs · Feb 9, 2015

Too many posts to read in it entirety now so...apologies if this has already been addressed. I am wondering about the effectiveness in removing cross head (philips) fasteners? Does the impact feature work in reverse? I have a bunch of deck screws in old decking that need to be removed and I am stripping them with my drill/driver.

IslandTractor · Feb 9, 2015

Gunny said:
Well, I've followed this entire thread and it really piqued my interest, so I just got back from buying an impact screw driver. I went with Ryobi 18 volt, since I've already got about 12 other tools that work on that same battery (and six Li-On batteries).

It looks and feels good, but I've wandered all over this place and can't find one place where I need to drive any screws today. Guess I'll just have to wait for the opportunity to arise.

It has been some good reading, good information and I really liked all the differing opinions on manufacturers and all.

Come on Gunny, you must have a couple of 2x4s or better a 4x4 to practice with. I find the real difference shows up at about 2.5 inches of self tapping screw length.

jwstewar · Feb 9, 2015

dragoneggs said:
Too many posts to read in it entirety now so...apologies if this has already been addressed. I am wondering about the effectiveness in removing cross head (philips) fasteners? Does the impact feature work in reverse? I have a bunch of deck screws in old decking that need to be removed and I am stripping them with my drill/driver.

Yes, the impact works in reverse. The impact driver will stand a much better chance of getting the screws out without stripping vs. a normal drill.