Small impact driver vs. driver/drill

Shrute · 04-11-2010, 12:52 PM

Take a look at the following sets:

Both sets include both an impact driver and a driver/drill/screwgun.

What is the benefit of the driver/drill/screwgun over the impact gun? The impact gun is much faster (2,400RPM vs. 1,200-1,300) and much more powerful (800-850 in.lbs. of torque vs. 100-200).

The driver/drill/screwgun seems to be pretty popular, why would people buy it over the impact gun? Why would people buy a set with both tools?

I ask because I am looking to buy one of these and the impact gun seems like the clear choice, but there must be something I'm missing if people are buying the driver/drill/screwgun for around the same price.

Thanks!

Bob Mariani · 04-11-2010, 03:44 PM

we buy both because they are used for different uses. The screw guns are used for drilling and driving most screw. The impact guns are used for driving longer screw or lags and such which will place too much torque of a screw gun.

Yoyizit · 04-11-2010, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shrute

and much more powerful (800-850 in.lbs. of torque vs. 100-200).

The average current draw, and therefore power, of each may be the same but the peak torque is higher for the impact driver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_driver
It's more of a brute force tool.

Impacts are louder and need special toughened bits, but your arms and hands need to resist less average torque while using it.

What are the comparative weights of each tool? I'd think the impact is heavier because it needs a flywheel to store the energy for each impact.

Shrute · 04-11-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Mariani

we buy both because they are used for different uses. The screw guns are used for drilling and driving most screw. The impact guns are used for driving longer screw or lags and such which will place too much torque of a screw gun.

Why not use the impact for both purposes?

Shrute · 04-11-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoyizit

Impacts are louder and need special toughened bits, but your arms and hands need to resist less average torque while using it.

What are the comparative weights of each tool? I'd think the impact is heavier because it needs a flywheel to store the energy for each impact.

The impact is about 0.1 lb. heavier (1.9 vs. 2.0 lbs. for example).

So the only determining factors are noise and bit toughness?

Thanks!

Bob Mariani · 04-11-2010, 04:59 PM

you cannot drill with an impact hammer. Also different materials need to be drilled at different speeds. And to make matters worse for you a hammer drill is needed for holes for concrete or tile

Shrute · 04-11-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Mariani

you cannot drill with an impact hammer.

Really? I wasn't aware of that. I've seen many sets of tips and drill bits on the 1/4" hex shank that said they were rated for impact guns that I took it for granted.

Quote:

Also different materials need to be drilled at different speeds.

For what it's worth, the impact gun is variable speed from 0-2,400 RPM, a much greater range that the driver/drill.

Quote:

And to make matters worse for you a hammer drill is needed for holes for concrete or tile

Sure, but that is when I'd use either the 18V or the dedicated hammer drill.

itin1200 · 04-14-2010, 05:00 AM

I bought a Makita BTD 141 a month or two ago. It is a fantastic tool for sinking screws, lag screws, etc. I recommend it to everyone I know.

I've not tried to drill any holes with it, as I don't have any 1/4" hex shank drill bits. But it seems to "wiggle" a little, so I'm not sure how it would drill.

I've got an old Porter Cable cordless drill that just won't die and a Bosch hammer drill that eats anything I throw at it, so I'm content with just driving screws with the impact. And it does that VERY well.

It IS loud, but no louder than the hammer drill when hammering into concrete.

I say buy both the impact and the drill/driver. They are two different animals that can overlap a little, but each has its strengths.

Check out this thread for some more opinions/info.

impact driver

And don't forget, you can never have too many tools.

Shrute · 04-14-2010, 12:42 PM

When it comes to full size cordless tools, like your 18V impact gun, I can see the benefits of having both a drill with a keyless chuck and an impact gun.

But when dealing with the small 10.8V tools, and the drill/driver only has a 1/4" hex shank instead of an adjustable chuck, I can't see why someone would use the 100-200in.lb. and 1,300RPM drill/driver when the impact gun has 4 times the torque and twice the speed (and it's variable speed so it could be used for drilling if necessary.

I'm not saying that someone is wrong for doing this, I am just interested in their reasoning why. I only need one of them and I want to weigh the differences so I get the best one for my purpose.

Yoyizit · 04-14-2010, 04:00 PM

I guess the main thing this tool can do is deliver the proper amount of torque to a screw without stripping it or snapping the head off. Power and speed is secondary and the weight issue cancels out for your two candidates.

Shrute · 04-14-2010, 04:22 PM

I ended up ordering the Makita 10.8V Impact model. I just hope I don't find out later that the driver/drill would be better

PaliBob · 04-14-2010, 06:22 PM

I consider a tool with a conventional drill chuck a necessity. Individual drill bits are much more common and a whole lot cheaper than hex shank drill bits.

http://www.amazon.com/DeWalt-DW2551-...1283052&sr=1-2

Besides conventional drills an Impact driver cannot be used with Hole saws, rotary rasps, bits for glass or ceramic, or any sanding or grinding attachments.