Impact screw drivers?

[dragoneggs]

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.

I just purchased the Dewalt circular saw with the 20v li-ion 3ah batteries and it is pretty impressive. Never thought a circular saw could be battery powered. I haven't stretched it to know how long a full charge will last but so far so good. Yes the bigger battery on my impact driver could get a little heavy but two 3ah is all I have for now. Maybe I need to buy another Dewalt tool just to get a lighter battery?

 

[DFB]

I have had Makita 6-1/2" 3.0 NiMH cordless saw for years always performed well for me. Using thin kerf blades aids in cutting. New cordless ones are even better Milwaukee Fuel cordless saws are utterly awesome.

 

[IslandTractor]

If I recall correctly, some of the Makita tools (other brands too??) won't work with the 1.5amp batteries. The 1.5 amp batteries have been designed so they simply don't fit in some tools. That shouldn't be an issue for thing like impact driver or drills or flashlights, the kind of tools where a 1.5amp battery makes most sense. It does mean that if you later add tools like an impact wrench (not driver) that you'd need a 3amp battery anyways.

I don't own a 1.5 amp battery myself. I do own a set of 12v Bosch tools (impact driver and drill) that I find remarkably handy around the house. And, not only for their light weight. They are physically much smaller and therefore allow me to get access to areas I couldn't reach with a bigger tool. They are the perfect size as nut drivers for disassembling and reassembling appliances too.

 

[DFB]

I do own a set of 12v Bosch tools (impact driver and drill) that I find remarkably handy around the house. And, not only for their light weight. They are physically much smaller and therefore allow me to get access to areas I couldn't reach with a bigger tool. They are the perfect size as nut drivers for disassembling and reassembling appliances too.

What size amp hr battery does the 12v Bosch use?

 

[IslandTractor]

What size amp hr battery does the 12v Bosch use?

I believe they are 1.5 amp hr. 12v "Max" batteries. Bosch also sells a 2 amp hr battery and an even bigger one but I bought a kit that came with 1.5s Bosch CLPK27-120 12-Volt Max Lithium-Ion 2-Tool Combo Kit (Drill/Driver and Impact Driver) with 2 Batteries, Charger and Case - Power Tool Combo Packs - Amazon.com

 

[DFB]

I believe they are 1.5 amp hr. 12v "Max" batteries. Bosch also sells a 2 amp hr battery and an even bigger one but I bought a kit that came with 1.5s Bosch CLPK27-120 12-Volt Max Lithium-Ion 2-Tool Combo Kit (Drill/Driver and Impact Driver) with 2 Batteries, Charger and Case - Power Tool Combo Packs - Amazon.com

So you have the 1/4 hex shank collet on both tools then and not a 3/8 chuck on the drill?

I have 2 similar 1/4 shank drill/drivers. One is the 12v Fuel. Milwaukee calls theirs "screwdrivers"

The old 2401 is not overly powerful but its a great little tool. Super lightweight for bench assembly and ideal for something like appliance repair or oil burner service. Somewhere you have a lot of little screws and don't want to over torque them.

Amazon.com: Bare-Tool Milwaukee 2401-20 M12 12-Volt Li-Ion Subcompact Driver (Tool Only, No Battery): Home Improvement

I like the idea that you cant lose a drill bit when your up on ladder. (and obviously using hex shanked drill bits) Dang 12v Hitachi drill driver we had never failed to drop a bit. I honestly don't know why the chuck kept loosening up. I always thought that it was the abrupt stop from the electric brake.

 

[IslandTractor]

So you have the 1/4 hex shank collet on both tools then and not a 3/8 chuck on the drill?

I have 2 similar 1/4 shank drill/drivers. One is the 12v Fuel. Milwaukee calls theirs "screwdrivers"

The old 2401 is not overly powerful but its a great little tool. Super lightweight for bench assembly and ideal for something like appliance repair or oil burner service. Somewhere you have a lot of little screws and don't want to over torque them.

Amazon.com: Bare-Tool Milwaukee 2401-20 M12 12-Volt Li-Ion Subcompact Driver (Tool Only, No Battery): Home Improvement

I like the idea that you cant lose a drill bit when your up on ladder. (and obviously using hex shanked drill bits) Dang 12v Hitachi drill driver we had never failed to drop a bit. I honestly don't know why the chuck kept loosening up. I always thought that it was the abrupt stop from the electric brake.

Yes. 1/4 hex shank collet on both. I have learned to like the 1/4 hex shank system. Obviously I had to acquire a set of hex drill bits but as I use this for general purposes, I don't care if I don't have a 7/16th drill size. 3/16 or 1/4 or 3/8 will do fine for the type of task I use this for. I generally just use a couple of nut driver bits, a long and short flip over phillips and a couple of straight blades. I also use a three inch extension. If I need more I just bring the whole little Bosch (or may it is Makita) plastic case kit with about twenty or thirty different bits/drivers/drills with me.

I gave one of these kits to my daughter when she bought her condo. Much easier to deal with for simple household chores than the old style 3/8" chuck.

 

[DFB]

So this little ditty was in my newsfeeds this morning. They're called duplex screws and like duplex nails they allow for holding power and are designed for easy removal. They suggest you can use your impact driver WITHOUT a bit insert to drive or remove them. I personally didn't realize that was a way to use one.

RemoveRite Duplex Screws - Reusable Screws for Construction | Pro Tool Reviews

Mainly for use in temporary construction.

It was hard to decide post it here or in the thread "How did I ever live without it"

 

[Parkanzky]

So this little ditty was in my newsfeeds this morning. They're called duplex screws and like duplex nails they allow for holding power and are designed for easy removal. They suggest you can use your impact driver WITHOUT a bit insert to drive or remove them. I personally didn't realize that was a way to use one.

RemoveRite Duplex Screws - Reusable Screws for Construction | Pro Tool Reviews

Mainly for use in temporary construction.

It was hard to decide post it here or in the thread "How did I ever live without it"

Those are very cool for things you plan to take apart again as long as you don't mind having that big hex head sticking up. They use the example of boarding up windows and I think that's the perfect application for them.

 

[DFB]

For me concrete forms comes to mind nothing worse than having a stripped screw head on a form board. So many people want to use screws everywhere over nails today. My GC bud hates people that use screws in concrete forms :laughing:

 

[LD1]

I would still use a 1/4" bit for them.

I would rather wear out a bit, than the whole tool.

 

[ray66v]

They suggest you can use your impact driver WITHOUT a bit insert to drive or remove them. I personally didn't realize that was a way to use one.

I do that all the time, if I need a 1/4" hex driver, and don't have one handy. I would rather have a good quality magnetic driver in there, I prefer the visibility the extension gives.

Actually, on an impact, the shorter the shank, and the tighter the fit, the more driving power you have.

Magnetic hand screwdrivers are all 1/4" hex drivers too.

 

[LD1]

I re-read that article and maybe I missed it but I didnt see anywhere that they "suggested" using it without a bit. Only that you "can"

 

[IslandTractor]

I re-read that article and maybe I missed it but I didnt see anywhere that they "suggested" using it without a bit. Only that you "can"

I don't understand how an impact driver could be used without a bit. Mine has a retractable collar that needs to be moved in order to insert a bit. I think the collar would interfere with using it unless there was a bit in place. I can understand that a manual socket driver handle might be used directly.

 

[LD1]

On mine, the collar only has to be removed to remove the bit.

 

[motownbrowne]

I just purchased the Dewalt circular saw with the 20v li-ion 3ah batteries and it is pretty impressive. Never thought a circular saw could be battery powered. I haven't stretched it to know how long a full charge will last but so far so good. Yes the bigger battery on my impact driver could get a little heavy but two 3ah is all I have for now. Maybe I need to buy another Dewalt tool just to get a lighter battery?

They certainly aren't a replacement for the real deal, but they are really really handy. We don't have power in the sugar-bush (where we make maple syrup) so we used a cordless Rigid circular saw for cutting everything we needed to build a 20x20 pole-type structure. It was slower, sure, but it did the job. They're also really nice when you only have a couple of boards to cut and don't want to set up an extension cord to get to where the boards are. I don't use mine very often, but it makes me happy whenever I can use it and save a few steps.

 

[EddieWalker]

For me concrete forms comes to mind nothing worse than having a stripped screw head on a form board. So many people want to use screws everywhere over nails today. My GC bud hates people that use screws in concrete forms :laughing:

I use screws over nails in just about everything. Probably the only time I use nails is when framing up a house and I'm using my framing gun. I would never use nails on concrete forms. The most obvious reason is that with a screw, I can go back and adjust the forms easily, or remove part of the form temporarily while working on drain lines, or anything that is going to be buried under the concrete. When the concrete is done, taking the forms apart is fast and easy without causing any damage to the forms or the stakes. I prefer to use square or star point screws, but I've I'll use sheetrock screws if that's all I have without any problems.

How do you strip out a screw on something like concrete forms?

Eddie

 

[DFB]

I re-read that article and maybe I missed it but I didnt see anywhere that they "suggested" using it without a bit. Only that you "can"

No I guess not it was more of an affirmation


"Yep, you can use an impact driver with no driver bits to install and remove the Duplex Screw."

I understand the I/4 hex would fit. I never tried it. My question is do you still get the benefit of impact?

 

[DFB]

How do you strip out a screw on something like concrete forms?

Eddie

More than likely by using a drill driver and Phillips head screws. I have seen enough messed up screw heads in my life. Remember the days of galvanized screws

With the new square and torque screw drives and impacts there much less damage. I'm a firm believer in the impact driver. Must have been a good need to develop that tool.

I like using screws to make forms its handy

 

[IslandTractor]

More than likely by using a drill driver and Phillips head screws. I have seen enough messed up screw heads in my life. Remember the days of galvanized screws

With the new square and torque screw drives and impacts there much less damage. I'm a firm believer in the impact driver. Must have been a good need to develop that tool.

I like using screws to make forms its handy

We all grew up with Phillips head screws but they have about zero advantages over square or torq. I prefer square drive but there are not nearly the assortment of sizes etc available (yet) compared to Phillips head.