thinking about an impact driver since i’ve read such great things about them
went looking for the old posts, went back to March, didn’t see them.
been looking on the net but getting confused (or more so) about which model
any recommendations, including model number?
saw a Makita that looked and felt sweet (whish i wrote the model number down)
TIA
bobl Volo, non valeo
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Replies
Bob: see link below Makita Model 6916 is there 12 volt version, they also have more to choose from. Good luck
http://www.makitatools.com/cordless_tree_view.asp
Don't bother looking at Ben's link...just go buy a Makita. I have a 12v and it works great. I think (but could be wrong) that this is one tool where higher voltage is not necessary...the lower voltage = less weight and still has good performance.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
I have posted this several times but for what it's worth I really like my DW052 with the 1/4 chuck. I bought the Makita without the overmolded grip and it did not compare favorably (sold it to a customer). I think the newer one with the grip is comparable though. I love this tool. If I were doing bolts I would consider the 1/2 in square drive though. I can not see anyone's 1/4" in holding up to constant use with lags or big bolts. I hardly ever pick up any of my many cordless drills after getting this driver.
For the price the Hitachi at Lowes looks pretty good too. Unless you do big stuff go for 12 volt for the weight. I went that way because I have many 12v batteries. I believe the little 12v will do around 1000 in/# ( 83 ft/lb) which is enough to tighten lug nuts.
Edited 5/18/2004 10:49 pm ET by RASCONC
I just purchased an impact gun today. It's a Dewalt DW057. It has a 1/2 inch anvil on the end for sockets, they recommend using air impact sockets so they don't blow apart. Anyway, my advice is get a Dewalt. They also make another model with a 1/4 inch drive insert but if you're driving lags and such be careful not to break your 1/4 inch bit. The 1/2 inch has more power. Both kits come with two batteries and a quick charger.
P.s. the makita is a nice tool. However, I believe it only comes as a 14 volt. The torque is the same but has less battery life. The dewalt is an 18 volt.
P.S.S. I don't usually advertise Dewalt, I own a lot of Porter Cable tools, but I will say I was impressed with this tool when I used it this first time and am happy I bought one. Also.....don't buy it at Home Depot or Lowes they are crap as most people already know. HD and Lowes bought into Dewalt an have there own model ....(blah)
good luck
I really like my 12-volt DeWalt with the 1/4" hex chuck. It won't do lug nuts completely to 70 foot-pounds but if I crack them loose and do the last 1/2 turn with the torque wrench it sure does speed up tire change over (3 cars, 4 tires, 5 lugs, twice a year = 120 lugs nuts off and 120 back on.)
And it works great on screws and small lags. Too much for sheetrock screws into sheetrock because there is no clutch but ideal for 2.5 to 4" decking screws. Or sheetrock screws into wood. Seems to drive more screws than the same voltage cordless drill.
David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
All of my cordless drills are dewalt, and when I went to get an impact driver I was seriously considering a dewalt, but I found out that the makita has longer amp hours, and the balance is so sweet. I am amazed at how long the batteries last, and the extreme speed it slugs screws and lags in. The only negative I can think of is that it sounds like a machine gun (so I wear ear protection)
amazon has it right now with a "free" keyless 3/8" chuck. Oh an toss the massive plastic case that the very very little tool and tiny charger comes in.
I thought there was discussion this week or last about Makitas crapping out. I don't know.
You should check out the new Hitachi. It has flames on the side!! I have to get one just to look cool, but the green Hitachis don't match my red nail bags aaargh!
I couldn't find the pic with flames. :-(
http://www.hitachi-koki.com/powertools/products/drill/wh12dm2/wh12dm2.html
http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/articles/showarticle.asp?articleID=1522&position=0&type=article
I decided to buy the 14.4 Milwaukee ½" impact driver. Love the machine, hate the (lack of) service.
Saw the book of words, said "drive screws", asked...how? Called the tech department - sorry, you either need to buy 2 machines, or there is an attachment for the 3/8" unit - you have the 1/2" driver - sorry, out of luck.
Oh, it costs 50.00 CDN
Went to tool supplier. ½" to 3/8" impact adaptor, 5.00. 1/4" socket, 5.00.
Easy.
Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the Handyman
Vancouver, Canada
I have the 12v Makita and 15 volt Panasonic multi driver. The Mak is light, but the batteries need recharging frequently. I recently screwed down a composite deck using 3" stainless square drive screws. I swapped drivers every other deck board (they heat up during continuous use) and the Panasonic drove faster and with no stripped screws, not a one. The Makita needed to be recharged about twice as often, though maybe it's my batteries, and stripped out several screws. Not sure the connection there, but felt it worth mentioning.
If you're gonna get one, get the Panasonic Multi driver. It comes with the 1/2" socket drive, 1/4" hex collet, and drill chuck. Just don't use the drill chuck in impact mode or you're gonna need some pipe (or strap) wrenches to get the bit out, if you don't blow apart the chuck altogether.
"If you're gonna get one, get the [15.6 volt] Panasonic Multi driver. It comes with the 1/2" socket drive, 1/4" hex collet, and drill chuck. Just don't use the drill chuck in impact mode."
I agree completely. Mine's fantastic: Strong as an ox, works for hours between recharges, and the 1/2" square drive provides a lot more utility than the 1/4" hex drive alone.
I consider the added weight (compared to the comparatively low-powered Makita) a worthwhile trade-off because of the added usefulness provided by the triple-threat of the 1/2" drive, 1/4" hex and keyless chuck.
Just be prepared for your co-workers to drool all over it when you start using it at the jobsite.-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.
Great tool ... I got the 14V DW just because I had 14v DW tools already
Couple things not mentioned ... the impact driver is lighter and better balanced and feeds back nearly no torque, which is great for my wrist and arm ... not a bad thing to say except ear plugs are a must
i think hitachi has hired some designers from nike- and i'm not entirely sure i'm kidding, by the looks of their new tools...
m
I have the 12 volt Panasonic and really like it. Considered the 15.6 volt Panasonic multi-driver, but didn't like the size of it. I really only drive screws with mine - not lags, and really like the size and weight of the 12 volt. Do a fair amount of cabinet installs and the size is great.
I also use mine for drilling with bits with the quick change hex end on them - works good.
I got the 12v mak and have been happy with it. But after a while like 2-3 years of very infrequent use the batteries will lose their charge rather quickly. A couple of friends of mine have the same issue. We all bought ours about the same time. I notice on the newer models that they have changed the batteries. So maybe this corrected the prob. But all and all its a good gun
Darkworksite4:
El americano pasado hacia fuera ase la bandera
not to push the dewalt or anything but it comes with a memory erase charger. Because the old dewalt batteries seemed to die off rather quickly after time. I'm not sure about the makitas though" Looks good from my house!!"
Very happy with the Makita 12v.
Had it for 5+ years, and it may be the cordless tool I use most.
Small, light, powerful. Not a day of trouble, no signs of wear. Mine did come with the better NMHI batteries, which last long enough IMHO, and continue to take a full charge.
The newer 14v model scored about the same as the 12v in the last test I read in JLC (I think). May not be worth the weight. It did have a nice LED.
Suggest switching to square drive or 'posidrive' screws. Impact action is tough on phillips bits, though they are still much less likely to cam out than with a drill.
I have the Milwaukee 9081-22. It has a 1/4" hex so I bought the 1/4" and 3/8" square drive. I love this thing. Drives everything from screws to bolts Buy one don't wait.
Same gun and I love it!
I've been using a 12V Hitachi for about 6 months. Since it's the only one I've ever used, I can't help with any comparison, but you probably won't be sorry no matter which one you get.
No more stripped out heads, even with 3" stainless deck screws. Sinks 'em. It's a whole new world getting to actually use all the screws in a box<G> But dang, I didn't get any flames!
Don't worry, we can fix that later!
Edited 5/20/2004 6:07 pm ET by bucksnort billy
Edited 5/20/2004 6:08 pm ET by bucksnort billy
Edited 5/20/2004 6:08 pm ET by bucksnort billy
As I stated in another thread, I got the DeWalt 18v impact driver. The way the guys were testing them at the tool show was to drive 6 inch screws into 6 inches of Doug fir. i mashed down too hard on the stinking screw first, so I bent it a little, but it still drove all the way in with no problem. I know that I'm going to get lots of use out of that lightweight little impact driver. I do lots of Trex decks on houses I frame and side. It feels real good in my hand. DeWalt has a new line of batteries coming out, too. The DeWalt guy told me that they are putting a two year customer satisfaction guarantee on the battery. If it fails or you are unhappy with the performance, they will replace the battery with a new one.
completing the circle
got the Mikita 6916 12v bobl Volo, non valeo
What kind of work do you do? If you are more of a finish carp then go 12v. If you do framing and decks mostly get a 14 or 18v. There is a review of all the impact cordless drills in the latest Tools of the Trade.
I'm an HO who likes good tools.
it will be used for lots of things
tired of having trouble driving screwsbobl Volo, non valeo
I got the 12V its all I need does everything I want it to do.
Darkworksite4:
El americano pasado hacia fuera ase la bandera
I was in a tool store couple weeks back and they had the Makita 12v on the wall. Held it. it felt sweet in my hand, nice balance
I've been leaning that waybobl Volo, non valeo
re - I was in a tool store couple weeks back and they had the Makita 12v on the wall. Held it. it felt sweet in my hand, nice balance
-----
Make sure to pay attention to which model it is - 6914 vs 6916.
The 2.6 mAh NiMh battery 6916 is suppose to be the better one to get of the two but typically costs about $40 - $50 more.
Home Dump never stocks/displays the 6916 and I haven't seen it on display in smaller local stores.
I have my eys set on either the 6916 or a 12V DW (because I already have two batteries.)
your usage is similar to mine- go with the mak 6916 and don't look back. recently did a bunch of deck and stair work and it was absolutely invaluable. btw- i already had a makita m-force drill/driver (6227?- which i also love) and picked up the 6916 impact driver on ebay with no batts, charger or case but full warranty and registration card for about $120 and just share between units. i almost never use the regular unit for anything anymore.
they will go through bits (buy in bulk and don't get cheap ones). the bits don't seem to be wearing out but they actually work harden until they shatter. try to keep your face back or wear safety specs- i skipped a chunk off my cheek the other day.
m
Put down a composite deck a week ago using 3" SS composite deck screws. Several of the square holes are plugged with the remnants of the bits. I use a hardened variety from McFeely's, and had one shatter just yesterday. I was amazed, considering it was a SS screw I was driving. But use the bit enough, I guess, and it is bound to fail, regardless of what you're driving.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
and those chunks ain't ever coming back out, are they? i didn't even think it was possible to seize the broken tip of a phillips driver in a screw head but there's couple of them in my latest project! out of curiosity, even tried a rare earth magnet, to no avail.
m
I'm not so sure about McFeely's bits. I broke and rounded a bunch of their #1 square drives. I went to Lowe's and got some Bosch bits, bitched about how much they cost, but I've been using the same two for months<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!