Got one of the DW 1/4″ hex drivers and am amazed by its capabilities. I note that DW also offers 1/2″ square drive rechargeable impact drivers. There are of course, any number of electric (120 volt) and pneumatic 1/2″ square drive impact wrenches.
Looked on the DW site and could not find any guidelines.
Wondering the experience of Breaktimers. Practically, when would you reach for the heavier duty 1/2″ square drive instead of the lighter duty 1/4″? I don’t want to overload/abuse the 1/4″ unit (I have both electric & pneumatic 1/2″ wrenches available).
Replies
I have had the same question. I have 12 v DW and Bosch versions, 14.4v DW, and a Firestorm 12v (it was about $29 and I use it when assembling furniture). All are the 1/4" quick connect. I have run some pretty big lags and tightened some pretty large nuts on deck bolts.
I wrung off a cheap HF 1/4 quick connect to 1/2" square adapter once but have never seen any problem with the little 1/4. Sometimes after a hard drive you need to do a reverse bump to get the bit out. I have been eyeing an 18v DW square drive on eBay. I too have the air version of that and no real need but hey it is a tool and I may need it some day!!
We've used the 18v impacts to drive 1/4" structural screws in doug fir posts, but that's about max and not real fast. Smaller impacts not so much. The larger impact drivers have more torque, but may not be as fast. Many times nothing is faster for large screws than a big drill and until productivity is no longer important that's what gets used.
Good driving
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
I agree with Idaho Don- the 1/4" sds structural screws just about max out the impact driver, at least with dense doug fir. Timberlock screws are a bit thinner, and they're no problem, even the 10" ones. All of these are without predrilling. With predrilling, a few 3/8 or 1/2" lag bolts would be fine, I'd think.
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"
The question is really how much torque is needed for the application. A typical 1/4 impact will give you 1000 in/lbs of torque which is about 85
ft/lbs. It is all application, you could have a 1/4 lag that needs more and a 1/2 lag that needs less torque than that.
Saying that, I know I run up to 3/8 and 1/2 lags for decks all the time with my crapsman with an adapter and socket. I know with an air driver if it can't handle the torque needed, it will just cavitate. What happens when an electric reaches its limits? I have had mine just stall and not turn anymore but it did not seem like it was breaking itself.
Day
I have two 12V Makita impact drivers.
I regularly drive up to six inch long screws of up to 3/16" and the larger GRK lagscrews, but it starts to work the batteries and draw them down too quick for the longer lags. For the 9" to 121" lagscrews, it will be fine for 3-4 of them, but for a whole job, we reach for a corded tool.
I also drive 1/2" lags but pre-drilling first
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Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
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"For the 9" to 121" lagscrews"
Yer fibbing!
bet the longest lag U have is 120 inches ... tops.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
LOL, welcome to the liars forum!
mine is only 21" I guessno, 12"maybe I meant two?ain't them impact drivers something!?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I use a corded impact for 1/2" lags greater than 4", and even then only a handful of them. Quickly comes a point when the time a cordless will take to drive them will exceed the time it takes to run a cord and hit them with the big shootin iron. I've driven plenty of the Simpson 1/4" lags with a cordless, but battery run times will be pretty short with such an intense activity, so once again if there's more than a dozen, it's worth getting out the corded unit.
I have a 14.4 Milwaukee for doing ledger lags and I usually pre-drill first anyway. I also use an adapter with it to drive SS decking (and other)screws, as well as my new Makita 18V Impactor.
Unless you pre-drill, it will kill batteries and the unit. I've had mine smoking (literally) hot. Still works, though.
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
The other day I drove some 3/8" x 2 1/2" LDT redhead concrete fasteners with the DW 18 v impact driver, equipped with a 1/2" adapter, and a 9/16" impact socket. The holes were pre-drilled with the hammer drill and a 5/16" concrete bit. I drove 16 bolts on one fresh battery with no problems.
A few weeks back I used my older 14.4 volt Makita impact to sink in some 5/8" x 5" Simpson Titen concrete lags. It definately wasn't fast but it got the job done. Not so sure I'd do that again though...