Yup don’t fall for max capacity being king. Unless you’re doing stacks of continuous work go light and if needs be add a higher capacity 2nd hand batt off eBay for endurance later. I’d go 2x 2.0 or 3.0 max, that’s why u get 2 batts so u can keep going between the 2.
Cordless power tool system?
- Thread starter raysablade
- Start date
raysablade
pfm Member
Screwing; very well.
I'm still in awe of what these and SDS hammer drills can do every time I use one.
venton
pfm Member
I always wondered why they sold boxes of driver bits.
sq225917
Bit of this, bit of that
Drill driver or impact driver? Mmm, speaking as someone who works for a manufacturer...
If you need to drive m12 x 140mm coach screws, or intend on putting in hundreds of screws get an impact, otherwise get a decent drill driver. The trade off is torque vs speed.
Most brands are made by 3 or 4 oems and there's very little difference in the tools, the difference is in the battery control units and motor controllers.
Cheap kit will use Chinese sourced batteries, better brands Samsung sony or LG cells. You pays yer money, you takes your choice.
If you need to drive m12 x 140mm coach screws, or intend on putting in hundreds of screws get an impact, otherwise get a decent drill driver. The trade off is torque vs speed.
Most brands are made by 3 or 4 oems and there's very little difference in the tools, the difference is in the battery control units and motor controllers.
Cheap kit will use Chinese sourced batteries, better brands Samsung sony or LG cells. You pays yer money, you takes your choice.
ks.234
Half way to Infinity
I use it for everything! It’s variable speed and the impact bit only comes in when needed for stiff stuff. Rusty screws and nuts, driving in screws big and small
suzywong
Wot, no electrons?
Good question…. I think the idea is that it’s a ”hammer” screwdriver for “difficult” screwing
Subsequent to my purchase of the Dewalt screwdriver, I got the matching Impact driver on a really cheapo deal. I’ve only used it occasionally, and would probably not buy it again.
Edit: but having written the above, I see that SQ & KS are in favour of impact drivers. Do you guys have electric screwdrivers as well?
raysablade
pfm Member
Exactly the job i bought the Wickes one for. I'd been reduced to using my socket set. Once it was charged the job was finished in half an hour. Staggering power in a tiny thing.
PS; I'll miss it. I've also got a job planned in the shed that it will be ideal for, the idea that its still up to the job, but for the battery issue, is very disappointing.
ks.234
Half way to Infinity
No, just the impact. Impact only comes in when it encounters sufficient resistance, variable speed is useful for slow stuff.
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Stop buying nasty £1 bits and invest in some proper impact rated bits (not those that pretend to be at B&Q). I have several bits here that have lasted well over 2 years and I use my Impact driver a heck of a lot.
I know everyone has their favourites but I mainly use the Makita LXT (impact drivers, drill/drivers, planers, jigsaw, multitool, router, needle sander, impact wrench, masonry drill, circular saws, impact wrench etc.) and hammer my tools not far off as much as a professional - as in the middle of renovating several properties at my place. I have 10 5.0Ah batteries and 2 6.0 Ah and non of them have let me down. The batteries last all day in most tools (masonry drill and circular saw excepted) and the tools themselves have been very reliable with only one impact driver failing simply through going end of life through excessive use and a problem with the larger multitool where it wouldn't always release - fixed free under warranty. Also have some Festool stuff for specialist work including a insulation cutter and a rail saw. Very expensive but very well made and accurate.
A lot depends on the grade of impact driver you have. Until about 3 years ago I used a drill/driver for finer screws and the impact driver for heavy duty screws as it puts them in lightning quick. Then when that impact driver expired I bought a better one with multiple speed settings and torque limiters (Makita DTD172)... now I very rarely use the drill/driver as the impact driver does the lot.
Martin hifi
pfm Member
Depends on the brand but rule of thumb don ever buy a used battery. If buying Millwaukee the 5 amp hour battery is the sweet spot for longevity and price.
Tumeni Notes
pfm Member
The 'battery' for these systems is usually a cluster of AA-size rechargeables taped together and placed inside the maker's branded and shaped case.
There are oodles of videos on YouTube detailing how to open cases, remove old batteries, and substitute new ones, with only modest DIY skills.
There are oodles of videos on YouTube detailing how to open cases, remove old batteries, and substitute new ones, with only modest DIY skills.
It is used for driving in screws, but the impact mechanism means that it has much more power than a standard drill and also that it doesn't exert any rotational force on your arm, which is a big benefit if you work with it for longer periods of time. The downsides are the noise of the impact mechanism (you really should be wearing ear protection while using one) and the high power means it can feel like a "blunt instrument" until you get used to it.
Yep, that's how I started
Bought a second-hand Domino and a small dust extractor, then a tracksaw and the small router. Suddenly the "system" starts to make sense and the dust extraction performance is a bit of an eye opener, and before you know it there are white systainers all over.
Pete MB&D
Pete Maddex, the one and only!
@CarrotMan I was given a Festool extractor it had a break in the mains lead a was a bit bashed about but it now works fine.
Festool want £60 for 3meters of cable, they didn’t get it.
Pete
Festool want £60 for 3meters of cable, they didn’t get it.
Pete
I have the Makita oil damped impact driver that is quieter, but not that much... it is however slightly nicer to use as it vibrates a bit less. I tend to use it indoors where the noise is amplified, but it's not as good as the DTD172 in terms of the control available.
DarrenW
Oxygen User
I wondered that for a year or so after my wife bought me my first kit which had both and two batteries.
finally realised the drill is for drilling and the driver to pop the screws in - all that changing of drill bit to driver bit gone and double the battery life (two tools used in tandem)
No idea why it took me so long to work this out
impact drivers and powerful screwdrivers will rip the heads off woodscrews if you get the torque setting wrong. I've done this a few times. Drill a hole, so torque setting to max. Switch to a driver, woodscrew, zzzzz-crack. Bugger.
Nero
Re: Tired
I thought a box of Dewalt bits would be impact rated. And they weren’t cheap. Mind you, building a clinker dinghy does go through a lot of screws, all of which are removed later when the epoxy cures!