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12/07/12, 07:53 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 12,680
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Cordless Impact Driver
Anybody use one?
Seen some auto repair videos, where they use cordless impact drivers, to speed up bolt removal and installation, so maybe it's Time to join the new millennium. I have heard they are also very good for driving heavy/long screws
Sears sells some nice models, but there looks to be basically two different heads/chucks, either a 1/4" female hex chuck, or the standard 3/8" or 1/2" socket heads. They are on sale this week.
So I'm not sure if a 3/8" socket head has a holder for screw bits, or of it's better to get the hex with a 3/8" socket head adapter.
Price wise, they are about the same cost.
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-c...3&blockType=L3
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-c...1&blockType=L1
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12/07/12, 08:51 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 168
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I have a dewalt impact driver. It's great for driving in long deck screws
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12/07/12, 09:00 PM
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Appalachian American
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW VA
Posts: 10,637
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I use a DeWalt as well. It's the best tool I own.
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12/07/12, 09:20 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 12,680
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deaconjim
I use a DeWalt as well. It's the best tool I own.
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Does yours have the hex chuck?
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12/07/12, 09:26 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 992
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The 1/4" is only meant for screws/lag bolts
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12/07/12, 09:30 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 437
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I'm a big fan of them I have a dewalt. They will suck up a wall nice and tight with a three inch screw, suck down the most twisted deck board and break loose nasty nuts on rusty bolts. The list goes on really, best of all no hose no cord.
__________________
The best of men is only a man at best.
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12/07/12, 10:04 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 222
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I prefer the Hitachi's myself...
I would say if you plan on using it more on mechanical projects (cars, mowers, etc) I'd go with the 3/8" bit...
if you plan on using it on carpentry projects (shed, remodel, etc) I'd go with the 1/4" hex. Repeated use at 125ft/lbs would be kinda stressful on a 'tiny' socket adapter I would think. Plus you could always get something like THIS and have the same thing.
My opinion:
If it's not li-ion, I would strongly reccomend upgrading to one.
$70 seems steep for a naked craftsman when batteries are what REALLY costs you.
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12/07/12, 11:28 PM
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 10
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I have owned Dewalt, Craftsman and currently a Milwaukee. All 18 volt. The craftsman was a step above junk. The dewalt was ok, but wore out quickly. The Milwaukee in my opinion is superior. http://www.milwaukeetool.com/tools/d...er-kit/2602-22
All tools break, its a given, it will happen, just like cars some come off the line great and some have issues. When I had problems with my DeWalt, it took a couple weeks for it to be repaired. The Milwaukee was returned to me in 4 days. A battery went bad, sent out a new one and had it next day. Great costomer service.
What ever you get... get a 1/2" drive... let me repeat... What ever you get... get a 1/2" drive! There will be a day when you want to use a larger drill bit or some type of large adapter and you will be glad you did.
Good Luck!
Ken
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12/08/12, 12:00 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,533
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We have two Hitachis. The Dewalt is the last to be used on a project. Sorry, but that name doesn't mean much to me anymore. The Hitachis are lighter, more powerful, and the batteries seem to last longer under heavy use. Also, I've had two Dewalts that had the switch break, leaving them to run in reverse only. I'd say that's a flaw.
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12/08/12, 04:14 AM
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Appalachian American
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW VA
Posts: 10,637
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plowjockey
Does yours have the hex chuck?
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Yes, it does.
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12/08/12, 04:21 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 433
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Worked with a stage crew assembling a 16'x24' metal stage out of pre-fab'd 4x4 sections. Had a kid grab the Cordless Impact and enthusiastically crank down all the 5/16 bolts he could find.
Sure wish he and the impact gun were there when we had to dissassemble that sucker!!! We had to beat the wrenches with a hammer to get those bolts loose!
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12/08/12, 04:26 PM
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"Slick"
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Moving from NM to TX, & back to NM.
Posts: 2,341
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I have both the Craftsman 19.2V impact wrench with 1/2" square drive, and the Nextex 12V right angle with the hex. I like 'em both, but I don't use them commercially.
They both have a place.
__________________
We will meet in the golden city, called the New Jerusalem,
All our pain and all our tears will be no more.....
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12/09/12, 08:33 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NY
Posts: 572
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What are you looking to do with it?
A 1/4 Inch one is good for wood working, I have a Dewalt which I like a lot, I have used Makitas and Porter Cable and they all seem to be the same. It is my go to tool, I don't know how I used to use a drill for a lot of this stuff.
If you want to use it for farm work or working on cars and what not I would Prob go with a 1/2 inch, Snap on ones are nice for this.
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12/09/12, 09:39 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 992
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i am going to get the ridgid 18v drill and 1/4" impact. wanted milwaukee after owning them fro 30 plus years but talked to too many people I know that have newer lithiums that are less then 3-4 years old and their batteries are only lasting 1 to 1.5 years and be bought 30 of them at work 2 years ago and have had problems stripping the gears.
a few coworkers went with the ridgid and are very happy, they have a lifetime service agreemnet that replaces/ fixes batteries and tools. sounds like a lot of paperwork to sign up and need to keep all recoeds but worth it. lots of good online reviews too.
on sale for $199 now with the smaller batteries waiting to see if that goes down a little.
hope they are good...???
i wanted to just get a milwaukee 1/4" impact to go with my ten year old 14.4 drill but the no longer make nicad tools... bummer i love that drill tough... dropped several times and hundreds of hours of use and the batteries are origanal, but i take care of them and never drain them... key to long life. no matter what anyone tells you...never drain any batteries down. never
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12/09/12, 11:37 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 12,680
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe.G
What are you looking to do with it?
A 1/4 Inch one is good for wood working, I have a Dewalt which I like a lot, I have used Makitas and Porter Cable and they all seem to be the same. It is my go to tool, I don't know how I used to use a drill for a lot of this stuff.
If you want to use it for farm work or working on cars and what not I would Prob go with a 1/2 inch, Snap on ones are nice for this.
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Mostly for screw driving and lighter automotive work, where there there is a lot of bolts or nuts to remove/replace. I have a 1/2" air impact, for heavier stuff.
Purchased the Craftsman 1/4" hex impact driver, yesterday. It's free if purchasing their newest 1/2" drill.
I don't really need a new Sears cordless drill, since I have been pounding the heck out current drill for six years, with no problems. I'll put it away for when I ever need it, when the old one wears out. 
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12/10/12, 09:45 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Montana
Posts: 439
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I use a Dewalt 1/2 square drive to break down victaulic couplings and large gas meters. I got about 6 years out of the 12 volt and am hoping for more out of the 18 V.
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12/10/12, 12:31 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 6
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I'm a professional builder and put hard miles on cordless tools, I previously owned Milwaukee 18 volt tools and now use Makita. The Makita resip and circular saw are well designed and not clunky feeling like the Milwaukee tools I owned before.
The Makita li-ion set is the best I've ever used, I would stay away from brands like Craftsman, Ridgide and Ryobi etc The good stuff isn't much more expensive. You will cry once when you pay for it but be happy every time you use it, buy cheap and you'll cry every time you use it!
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12/10/12, 03:15 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 12,680
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RazorCityDen
You will cry once when you pay for it but be happy every time you use it, buy cheap and you'll cry every time you use it!
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No tears shed here.
I've had my 1/2" Craftsman cordless for nearly 7 years, which has driven thousands of sheet metal roofing, or wood screws and drilled all kinds of holes in wood and metal. The drill performs great right up until the Ni-cad battery is completely dead. The chuck works great always.
The batteries finally gave out this year, were replaced and the drill works like new.
There are plenty of folks who think Makita tools are junk also, The one's I have used seem to be good quality and work just fine - just like the Craftsman.
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12/10/12, 06:48 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NW Georgia
Posts: 7,205
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Consumer Reports rates the Hitachi DS18DSAL as a best buy. They are $139 on Amazon with two batteries and a flashlight. It's an 18 V lithium ion model with 1/2 drive. I've had some good luck with DeWalt. I have a Craftsman now, but the batteries don't seem to last very long.
__________________
"Luck is the residue of design" - Branch Rickey
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12/10/12, 07:34 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 168
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When Consumer reports does a comparison on something that you personally are an expert on you will realize their reports aren't worth the paper they are printed on. Go ahead ask me how many gallons of Behr paint I buy.
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