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.

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks Bruce for starting this thread. After reading... I purchased this 20V Dewalt Impact Driver this afternoon.

DEWALT 20-Volt Max Lithium-Ion 1/4 in. Cordless Impact Driver (Tool-Only)-DCF885B - The Home Depot

First impressions here: Replaced a rotten tread/step on our entry deck. Removed 6 3in rusty deck screws and reused them through a treated 2x4 outdoor wood. This thing had absolutely no issue, easily sub flushing all but one that I decided to drive too near a tight knot. Didn't think it would handle it but got near flush. The LEDs are bright and the balance is nice and steady and feels solid for such a compact driver. Quick disconnect chuck sweet too.

Don't know how I have gotten by without such a tool. :duh: Not sure the rest of my drill/drivers will see much action going forward.

 

[deerseeker001]

I love mine also.

Thanks Bruce for starting this thread. After reading... I purchased this 20V Dewalt Impact Driver this afternoon.

DEWALT 20-Volt Max Lithium-Ion 1/4 in. Cordless Impact Driver (Tool-Only)-DCF885B - The Home Depot

First impressions here: Replaced a rotten tread/step on our entry deck. Removed 6 3in rusty deck screws and reused them through a treated 2x4 outdoor wood. This thing had absolutely no issue, easily sub flushing all but one that I decided to drive too near a tight knot. Didn't think it would handle it but got near flush. The LEDs are bright and the balance is nice and steady and feels solid for such a compact driver. Quick disconnect chuck sweet too.

Don't know how I have gotten by without such a tool. :duh: Not sure the rest of my drill/drivers will see much action going forward.

View attachment 411386 View attachment 411387

 

[murphy1244]

They seam to look like toy's anymore.

 

[timswi]

Thanks Bruce for starting this thread. After reading... I purchased this 20V Dewalt Impact Driver this afternoon.

DEWALT 20-Volt Max Lithium-Ion 1/4 in. Cordless Impact Driver (Tool-Only)-DCF885B - The Home Depot

First impressions here: Replaced a rotten tread/step on our entry deck. Removed 6 3in rusty deck screws and reused them through a treated 2x4 outdoor wood. This thing had absolutely no issue, easily sub flushing all but one that I decided to drive too near a tight knot. Didn't think it would handle it but got near flush. The LEDs are bright and the balance is nice and steady and feels solid for such a compact driver. Quick disconnect chuck sweet too.

Don't know how I have gotten by without such a tool. :duh: Not sure the rest of my drill/drivers will see much action going forward.

View attachment 411386 View attachment 411387

Have a couple of them now. Love them.

 

[EddieWalker]

I just installed almost 1,300 square feet of metal roofing for my small horse barn with 400 screws and my impact driver. It took 3 batteries to get it done on my 18 volt Makita.

Eddie

 

[woodlandfarms]

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

So I was doing a job having to drill a ton of holes. had a couple of pros working along side me. next day came in with my craftsman home level corded drill that weighs nothing and outdid those guys with the heavy dewalt batteries drills. They laughed at first and brought theres in the next day.

Not saying anything bad bout those batteries but yeah, they weigh.

 

[IslandTractor]

So I was doing a job having to drill a ton of holes. had a couple of pros working along side me. next day came in with my craftsman home level corded drill that weighs nothing and outdid those guys with the heavy dewalt batteries drills. They laughed at first and brought theres in the next day. Not saying anything bad bout those batteries but yeah, they weigh.

I sometimes think that for most of us, a couple of 1.5 amp/hr batteries and a charger would be better than 3 or 4 amp batteries. I rarely put in more than 50 screws in an hour and a 1.5 amp battery could handle that type of task easily with 15-20 min recharge.

 

[GManBart]

I sometimes think that for most of us, a couple of 1.5 amp/hr batteries and a charger would be better than 3 or 4 amp batteries. I rarely put in more than 50 screws in an hour and a 1.5 amp battery could handle that type of task easily with 15-20 min recharge.

This thread got me thinking I should get a 1.5ah battery or two for this very same reason. There are times when I've needed the bigger batteries (3ah is the biggest I have), but I think 80% of my tasks would be well within the capability of the 1.5ah.

 

[mikehaugen]

I was always against the 1.5ah batteries because they were small and I figured useless. The set I bought a while back has them, it was cheap so I figured "what the heck?" I planned on buying a set of bigger batteries in the near future, but after using these now for a few months I'm not sure it's so necessary. The 1.5's are pretty impressive and quite nice because they are light. If I have a big project planned I may still get a set, or if I decide to get something like a circular saw I will probably get the bigger batteries.

 

[DFB]

I recently bought 2 18v kits with 1.5AH compact batteries I like the light weight but I found the run time is seriously less then the XC's I have though I'm probably just spoiled now. More than I thought it would be but that point also is mentioned in a lot of the online tool reviews.

Still they are just fine for smaller jobs (you know like driving less than 50 or more screws at one time :laughing or to save some money purchasing a new kit. And I feel its almost a total waste to use one of my 4.0 in any of my lights. Plus that frees them up for the big stuff like the vac or blower.

I have to say though on the Milwaukee 12v line the standard 1.5 ah battery is terrific for me. I probably have about 8 of them along with 2.0ah. They charge 15 min faster than the new 2.0 and run almost as long. I find the run time difference not as big a deal as the recharge time is between them. Plus the impact driver doesn't take the juice out as fast as the drills. I don't have any of the 12v 4.0 XC ..at least not yet. I am very interested in seeing how they perform.