Dewalt Vs Craftsman Impact Driver - connectionstorrents99’s diary

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Impact driver 101 the basics

A few years ago,

cordless

impact drivers

were a specialty tool,

rare on job sites and

scarce on store

shelves. Today,

you ll see several

models at any tool

retailer and hear their

machine-gun chatter

wherever there s construction.

When a tool gains popularity that fast,

you have to wonder what s going on.

And, more important,

what you re missing.

To sort out the pros and cons of impact drivers, we put them in the hands of our staff editors

and field editors, who are pros on the job and DIY guys at home. Here s what we learned:

Tip 1: It s all about torque

Drive long screws You can drive long screws because impact drivers generate a lot of torque. title Drive long screws

Drive long screws

You can drive long screws because impact drivers generate a lot of torque.

Impact drivers have one

overwhelming advantage

over standard drills and

drivers: enormous torque.

Basically, that means you

can drive a big screw or

bore a big hole with a

small driver. In this photo,

we sank 3/8 x 10-in. self-drilling

lag screws into cedar

lumber. No pilot holes, no

cheating.

Tip 2: Not just for driving screws

Bore big holes Impact drivers can easily handle big bits for boring large holes. title Bore big holes

Bore big holes

Impact drivers can easily handle big bits for boring large holes.

Impact drivers make great drills. With small bits up to 1/4 in.

or so, they act like a drill but at nearly twice the rpm of most

cordless drills. With bigger bits, they kick into high-torque

impact mode so you can bore a big hole with a small driver.

Tip 3: One-handed driving

Easier driving The drill bit stays engaged, allowing for easier one-handed driving. title Easier driving

Easier driving

The drill bit stays engaged, allowing for easier one-handed driving.

With a standard driver, you

have to get your weight

behind the screw and push

hard. Otherwise, the bit will

cam out and chew up the

screw head. Not so with an

impact driver. The hammer

mechanism that produces

torque also creates some forward

pressure. That means

you don t have to push so

hard to avoid cam-out. Great

for one-handed, stretch-and-drive

situations.

Tip 4: The only driver you ll ever need.

Maybe. An impact driver will

handle just about any job,

and some of our testers have

already retired their old drivers.

But when high torque

isn t needed, most of us like

to avoid the noise and reach

for standard cordless drills or

drivers instead.

Tip 5: Loud, really loud

Sound protection Protect your hearing. Impact drivers are loud. title Sound protection

Sound protection

Protect your hearing. Impact drivers are loud.

An impact driver can bring

a heavy-metal drummer

to tears. Wear muffs or

earplugs or get fitted for a

hearing aid. Your call.

Tip 6: It s not a hammer drill

An impact driver works kind

of like a hammer drill and

sounds a lot like one. But

it s no substitute for a hammer

drill. An impact driver s

innards are engineered to

generate torque, not powerful

forward blows.

Tip 7: Use hex shafts only

Hex shaft drill bit The driver chuck only accepts hex shaft bits. title Hex shaft drill bit

Hex shaft drill bit

The driver chuck only accepts hex shaft bits.

The chuck on an impact driver

makes for quick changes; just

slide the collar forward and

slip in the bit. But you ll have

to buy hex-shaft drill bits.

Regular bits won t work.

Tip 8: Small and smaller

Generally, there s a big torque difference between 12- and

18-volt models. But some of the 18-volt sluggers are amazingly

compact not much bigger than their 12-volt cousins.

Big torque in a compact tool that s why most of our testers

favored the 18-volt versions.

The 18-volt driver is only slight larger than the 12-volt driver. Both are compact.

12-volt impact driver

18-volt impact driver

Tip 9: Easy to handle

Easy on the arm Despite the torque, an impact driver is easy to handle. title Easy on the arm

Easy on the arm

Despite the torque, an impact driver is easy to handle.

You might think that extreme

torque puts extreme strain on

your arm. Nope. For reasons

Isaac Newton could explain,

an impact driver actually

generates less wrist twist

than a standard driver. Don t

be fooled by the macho-man

feeling you get when you

effortlessly sink a big screw.

A little princess can do the

same thing.

Tip 10: Consider a combo kit

Combo kit You save when you buy a combo kit. title Combo kit

Combo kit

You save when you buy a combo kit.

For a few bucks more than an impact driver alone, you can

add a driver, a drill or a hammer drill to your tool collection.

This driver/impact driver twosome cost us just 25 more than

either tool sold separately. We couldn t resist.

Tip 11: Prepare for impact

Hex-shaft accessories Most of the items in an accessory kit will come in handy. title Hex-shaft accessories

Hex-shaft accessories

Most of the items in an accessory kit will come in handy.

Pick up a set of hex-shaft

accessories for about 25

drill bits, driver bits, socket

adapters. You ll want most

of that stuff sooner or later,

and buying a kit will save you

a few bucks. Check the label

and get a set that s tough

enough for impact-driver duty.

Tip 12: They all look alike outside, but. . .

The difference is how they transfer torque from the motor to the chuck. On a standard drill or

driver, the motor and chuck are locked together through gears; as the workload increases, the

motor strains. An impact driver

behaves the same under

light loads. But when resistance

increases, a clutch-like

mechanism disengages the

motor from the chuck for a split

second. The motor continues to turn

and builds momentum. Then the

clutch re-engages with a slam, transferring

momentum to the chuck. All

of this happens about 50 times per

second, and the result is three or

four times as much torque from a

similar-size tool.

These two tools may look alike on the outside, but they operate differently.

Impact driver, torque: 930 in.-lbs.

Standard driver, torque: 265 in.-lbs.

Tip 13: Good for gearheads, too

They don t have nearly

the torque of big impact

wrenches, but cordless

impact drivers can be a

time-saver when you tinker

with engines. They re perfect

for small engines, where less

torque is usually enough. For

automotive work, consider

an angle version, such as

the Craftsman shown later. Hitachi,

Makita, Ridgid and others

also make angle impact

drivers.

Impact driver round-up and test results

Makita BTD141

Cost: 280

Torque: 1,330 in.-lbs.

Weight: 3.4 lbs.

Battery: 18V lithium 2

A great tool with

ample power and

a compact,

comfortable

design.

title Makita BTD141

Makita BTD141

Hitachi WH14DAF2

Cost: 145

Torque: 1060

Weight: 3.8 lbs.

Battery: 14.4V NiCad 2

The work light is in the belt hook and operates by

push button. Some testers liked it; most didn t.

title Hitachi WH14DAF2

Hitachi WH14DAF2

Ridgid R86031

Cost: 170

Torque: 1,440 in.-lbs.

Weight: 3.5 lbs.

Battery: 18V lithium 1

A pro-grade performer, and the lifetime battery

warranty is a huge bonus.

title Ridgid R86031

Ridgid R86031

Milwaukee 2450-22

Cost: 120

Torque: 850 in.-lbs.

Weight: 2.3 lbs.

Battery: 12V lithium 2

Well-made and pro grade with

a tempting price tag.

title Milwaukee 2450-22

Milwaukee 2450-22

Makita TD090DW

Torque: 800 in.-lbs.

Weight: 2 lbs.

Battery: 10.8V lithium 2

Just 10.8 volts, but as much torque as some

12-volt models. Very light and comfortable, too.

title Makita TD090DW

Makita TD090DW

Rockwell RK2515K2

Cost: 200

Weight: 3 lbs.

A lifetime battery warranty and two cool

features: a clutch like the one on standard

drivers, and adjustable impact mode.

title Rockwell RK2515K2

Rockwell RK2515K2

It wasn t easy, but after weeks of

testing, retesting and arguing, we

settled on six favorites. The models

shown here are widely available at

home centers and hardware stores.

If you re willing to do some hunting,

you ll find several other models and

manufacturers.

Tip: Watch for falling prices.

Don t be surprised if you find lower

price tags than listed here. We

watched prices during a six-week

period and saw prices drop on one

out of every four models shown here.

The discounts sometimes sales,

sometimes permanent price cuts

were in the 10 to 20 percent range.

Impact driver round-up and test results, continued

Porter-Cable PCL1201DC-2

Cost: 140

Torque: 950 in.-lbs.

Weight: 2.6 lbs.

Lots of power and one of only two 12-volt

drivers with a belt hook the other is the

DeWalt. Battery gauge too.

title Porter-Cable PCL1201DC-2

Porter-Cable PCL1201DC-2

Rockwell RK2800K2

Torque: 1160 in.-lbs.

Weight: 2.9 lbs.

Light and

affordable, plus a

lifetime battery

warranty.

title Rockwell RK2800K2

Rockwell RK2800K2

Craftsman 17428

Cost: 110

Torque: 830 in.-lbs.

Weight: 2.1 lbs.

Battery: 12V lithium 1

A good performer at a good price. Batteries

are interchangeable with other tools in

Craftsman s Nextec line.

title Craftsman 17428

Craftsman 17428

DeWalt DCF826KL

Cost: 260

Weight: 3.1 lbs.

Most compact and

lightweight of the

18-volt models, but

it has lots of power.

title DeWalt DCF826KL

DeWalt DCF826KL

Drill Master 67028

Cost: 45 driver, one battery, charger; each sold separately

Weight: 4.2 lbs.

Battery: 18V NiCad 1

Unbelievable price: about half the cost of

any other model we tried. Available at

harborfreight.com.

title Drill Master 67028

Drill Master 67028

Craftsman 17562

Cost: 100

Torque: 700 in.-lbs.

This is the only angle driver

we tested. High torque for

tight spots. The Nextec

battery works with other

tools. Nice price.

title Craftsman 17562

Craftsman 17562

Cost: 320 Ouch.

Torque: 1,400 in.-lbs.

Of our 10

testers, eight gave

this one the top

rating. In our

lag-screw races,

it consistently

matched or exceeded the others. In

addition to raw power, it has all the features

we loved: a tool-belt hook, a bright

work light and a battery fuel gauge.

Bummer: No onboard bit storage.

Dissenting opinion: The DeWalt

DCF826KL is better. It has almost

as much torque, but it s lighter, more

compact and comfortable.

Gary Wentz, senior editor

Milwaukee 2650-22

Cost: 115

Torque: 840 in.-lbs.

Weight: 2.2 lbs.

You can find a smaller and lighter

driver, or more torque, or a lower price.

But for a combination of all three of

those traits, you can t beat this light,

powerful, affordable little gem.

Cramp warning: If you have big hands

or wear gloves on the job, the handle

might be too short. Otherwise, it s one

of the most comfortable drivers we

tested.

Hitachi WH10DFL

Bosch PS41-2A

Cost: 160

Torque: 930 in.-lbs.

Among the

12-volt models

we tried, this one

takes two prizes:

lightest and most

compact. Plus, it s a

runner-up in torque.

Bonus points: Battery fuel gauge.

DeWalt DCF815S2

This driver tops

our list for 12-volt

torque. And

although it s taller

than most, it s

lightweight and

comfy.

Dissenting opinion: Torque it s THE

reason to have an impact driver. So

these 12-volt models just don t make

sense. Get an 18-volt.

Max Lemberger, field editor

Bosch PS41-2A

DeWalt DCF815S2

Porter-CablePCL180IDK-2

Torque: 1,600 in.-lbs.

Weight: 3.6 lbs.

You can t beat

this combination:

Top-tier torque

at a price that s

about 100 below

most of the competition.

Skepticism: Top torque rating by far, but

in our tests it performed about the same

as other pro-grade 18-volt models.

Ryobi P230

Torque: 1,200 in.-lbs.

Weight: 4.5 lbs.

Battery: 18V NiCad 2

Though not as

powerful as

most of the

other 18-volt

models, this

driver has plenty

of torque for

all but the

toughest jobs and a crazy-low

price tag.

Curmudgeon s note: I wouldn t buy anything with

a NiCad battery. Lithium is the only way to go.

Travis Larson, senior editor

Porter-Cable PCL1801DK-2

a class highlightStep16Callout3Image1EnlargeButton enlargeButton hidden-xs alt Ryobi P230

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Ryobi P230

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