Today I had about 30 carriage bolts to drive so I figured it would be a good chance to dust off the impact gun.
Not so much.
I didnt even finish driving the first bolt and snapped the adapter bit off flush in the gun. DOH!
I’ve looked all over for hardened bits for this gun but have had no luck. Of course the broken bit is not only stuck in the gun but its also wedged in by the torque (back to the repair shop).
I’m not really complaining about the gun as much as the very undersized 1/4″ drive. At least make a hard bit that works with it.
Replies
I had a similar thing happen to my makita, it took me a while to figure out how to get the broken off bit out, but here's my solution: (if your impactor is similar to a makita 14.4v)
Remove the lock collar from the 1/4" quick chuck. This is done by spreading the snap ring around the inner collar, and sliding the outer sleeve off. Do this over a clean surface, because there are 2 small ball bearings inside that will fall out- they are the detent catch balls.
With the detent catches out, there will be two 1/8" holes in the inner collar, that go through to the broken off bit. Get a 1/8" carbide drill, or find a machinist who will do this for you. Carefully drill through the 1/8" hole, and through the broken bit. Once you've done that, it should be fairly easy to pry/shift the bit out with a small punch.
I couldn't find a carbide drill bit on short notice, so I went to a small machine shop. When I explained what I wanted done, it took him 2 or 3 minutes to do. He charged me $20, and I had the impact driver back together and working in a few more minutes.
Hope that helps- it's frustrating that they don't give you a better way to fix this situation.
zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Thanks for the advice, however I dont know if I can do that after every bolt......
Tool abuse! Driving big lags, better tool is an impact wrench. One with a 3/8" or 1/2" square drive. And an impact socket. Then use an adapter to run 1/4" hex screwdriver bits.
Reminds me of when I worked at Sears, in Divison 9--tools and hardware. I was in junior college, we college kids covered Sundays so the full timers didn't have to. I was the guy that day who had to approve returns. So another clerk and I are standing on the main cashier's platform, raised a couple of steps off the sales floor.
The other clerk gets busy, and I'm taking care of a question from another customer. The clerk turns to me with the form for a tool return/replacement; it's a dozen 3/8" drive, 12 point, Craftsman sockets. These have the thinnest walls of any socket...I ask my fellow clerk, where are these sockets, he points ot the counter. I pick one up, side wall is split. Another one, wall split. All of 'em. I turn to the clerk and say, "Hey look at the way these are split--some ####'s been using these on an impact wrench!"
The clerk clears his throat and nods his head in the direction of a customer standing directly in front of us...and I figure, my #### is canned, as soon as the store manager hears about it. I turn to the customer, and in my best Eddie Haskell voice, say, "Sir, these are Craftsman tools so we'll replace them, but by any chance did you use these on an impact wrench?"
The guy won't make eye contact and kind of mumbles something like, "Might've once or twice..." and at that point I figure he's not going to complain to the manager, as long as he gets his replacements. I suggest he try the impact sockets if he's going to use the tools that way, and sign off on the replacement.
That moment between me shooting my mouth off and realizing that I was gonna keep my job, was a long time. Lesson learned.
Anyway, McFeeley's has a bunch of 1/4" hex bits that are designed for impact drivers. Haven't tried 'em yet, they're expensive. But I was in a crawl space yesterday, using my Makita 12V impact driver, and just as I got the last screw in, the P2 bit shattered. It would've been a pain to back out and get a new bit. Sometimes it costs money to save money.
Cliff
Tool abuse?????
Bite your tongue young man------- I use my Dewalt 18v impact driver at work with a 1/4 hex by 3/8 socket adapter & tighten 3/8 & 1/2 quickbolts
Then again I don't supply my own tools on the job either.I fear no man & only one GOD. Me
My bits get stuck frequently in the holder and all I do is bump the bit hard against something and it usually frees them up.
I would try and hit the broke end with a punch and then pull back the release and use a magnet to pull on the broken bit.
Might take a few tries but worth the effort.
ANDYSZ2
WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
Tool abuse? What am I supposed to do with 1200 in lbs? Run sheet metal screws into ducts? I questioned that chuck when I bought it and it sure seems to be the weak link.
BTW I worked the same department at Sears in the 90's. I remember clearly someone bringing in a combo wrench that he cut in half with a torch!
Yea, you're right. Too much torque for the chuck. And maybe a weak shaft behind the chuck--I've seen a lot of guys putting their impact guns through as bad, or worse. Maybe if you catch the DeWalt traveleing show at some home center and start to make a stink in front of a bunch of people...you might get a new tool.
But using a 1/4" hex drive has it's limits. Like clients of mine who put a 150 watt lamp in a fixture marked "60 Watts MAX" and wonder why there's this hot plastic smell, and the socket fell apart when they went to change the bulb.
Just 'cuz it fits....don't mean it's right.
Yea, we could trade Div 9 stories in the tavern, you betcha.
Cliff
Are we talking impact wrench or impact driver? I'm assuming impact driver, given the mention of 1/4".
Maybe something like a screw extractor would work to loosen the broken bit enough that you could let it fall out.
zak's method is probably better and sure fire.
I've bought some hardened driver bits from McFeely's for driving screws. They are more expensive, but worth the money. I have no idea if they have something for driving carriage bolts. (Are we talking the round head bolts? I drill a hole and pound them in with a hammer)
http://www.mcfeelys.com/subcat.asp?sid=490
The problem I found with these broken off bits- they often are hardened. That's why they shatter, rather than deforming like mild steel would. I couldn't scratch the bit broken off in my driver with anything short of a carbide drill bit.zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"