Replies

1. 
   FrankB89 | Jan 07, 2003 04:37am | #1

   I've been using just garden variety 1/4" , 5/16" and 3/8" sockets for driving Tapcons and they hold up just fine.  I don't think the cordless really has so much snoose that you have to step up to a heavy socket.

   I use an air impact drive occasionally for heavy stuff, but it starves the compressor pretty fast, so if you go that route, try to mate the CFM requirements for the wrench to the CFM capacity of your compressor.

   Jules Quaver for President   2004

2. 
   CAGIV | Jan 07, 2003 05:52am | #2

   I recently got a makita impact driver, not sure if its the same model as the one your talking about,  but I love mine for driving screws, especially longer ones, works great, a little noisy, I just use regular bits for screws, and have yet to use it for a lag...

   Defiantly a good tool in my opinion

3. 
   pinecone | Jan 07, 2003 06:07am | #3

   I've had mine for about 9 months now. I've already had to replace the trigger twice (once from over-use and once because it was bad from the factory). The over-use was in driving about 70 of those new Simpson SDS (Titan) screws on rafters. It seems like the gun does real well on standard screws but if used in a heavy duty or long application and it gets hot, it will start to use up parts.

   I went out and bought a heavy duty electric impact gun for driving my lags and thick stuff and leave the Makita for the small stuff. By the way, a new trigger is $60...ouch.

1. 
   jazzdogg | Jan 07, 2003 07:13am | #4

   Thanks for your responses, everyone!

   I also saw the Milwaulkee Impact driver at HD: $50 more, higher voltage, more amp/hours. It has a 3/8" square drive with a hog ring - seems less compatible than a standard hex-drive, but definitely a lot beefier.

   The big red M has a laudible reputation for being bulletproof...   ... anyone know whether the Red M has any advantages over the teal blue M?

   I really don't want a tool I'll have to "baby" or worry about expensive repairs following what I would deem fairly normal use. Which heavy-duty unity did you buy, Pinecone?

1. 
   Sancho | Jan 08, 2003 06:11am | #5

   Ive had mine for about a year or so and i dont even use my cordless screwdriver anymore 

   At Darkworks  Customer satisfaction Job One..Yea yea were all over it , I got my best guys on it.........

2. 
   FastEddie1 | Jan 14, 2003 01:21am | #6

   There was a review in FHB mag recently, and the Milwaukee was in last place.  Heavy, lack of power, lack of stamina.

1. 
   jazzdogg | Jan 14, 2003 02:26am | #7

   Thanks for the update, El Cid; all of my mags are in a box, under a stack of other boxes, behind my tools, in a effin storage unit until further notice. Aaarrrggghhh!

1. 
   MIKEBUETTNER | Jan 14, 2003 03:49am | #8

   Don't miss checking out the 6916:

   http://www.makita.com/Cordless_Item_View.asp?id=244

   bit

   Edited 1/13/2003 7:50:50 PM ET by Bitman

2. 
   FastEddie1 | Jan 14, 2003 04:00am | #9

   So in other words, you failed to properly plan!

   Issue 148 July 02 pg 100, summary of the summary:  Without question the most popular tools were the Hitachis and Makitas.  Some preferrd the 9.6v because they were very light but still drove more screws than a heavier 14v drill, but the 12v models would be preferred for driving a large number of screws.  The Panasonic and Milwaukee spent the least time out of their cases.  Details on the Milwaukee: heaviest tool, slowest motor, least torque.  Details on the Panasonic: lightest tool, least number of screws driven, high torque, no case.

   If you read the discussions here, it seems that almost everyone has a makita, and so far no one has any complaints (except waiting so long to buy one).

3. 
   FrankB89 | Jan 14, 2003 05:00am | #10

   I gotta jump in here with one revelation (for me) using an impact driver:  I've long hated spade bits or butterfly bits for general work (although someone rightly pointed out their value when doing restoration work...hitting nails, etc.).

   Well, recently, I clicked a 3/4" spade bit into my little Makita to drill some holes through a double top plate and that puppy bored through like poop through a goose!  And the bit wasn't even particularly sharp.Jules Quaver for President   2004

4. 
   jazzdogg | Jan 14, 2003 06:48am | #11

   Thanks a million, my on-line friends. As Jackie Gleason might have said, the folks at this site are "The Greatest!"

   I was looking at the Makita website and noticed that they market SEVERAL cordless impact drivers of various voltages and with 1/4" hex drives, 1/2" square drives, ad infinitum.

   So, inasmuch as most of these posts affirm the wisdom of a Makita cordless impact driver, I guess the choice of a particular model comes down to what kind of work you're using it for.

   Judging by the latest post concerning spade bits, I'd surmise an investment in 1/4" hex shank screwdriver bits could be very much worthwhile.

5. 
   bill_1010 | Jan 14, 2003 06:05pm | #12

   I love my mak impact.  In all honesty i go through less bits and drivers with the impact versus the previous use of a plain ole cordless drill.