Looking For The Best Impact Driver? The Only List You Need To Check!
It is important to have a tool kit in your home. And no tool kit is complete without a good impact driver. Impact drivers are great for driving screws and making holes in the densest of surfaces. But there are many different brands and models of impact drivers available in the market.
These different brands and models make choosing a proper impact driver for your use a hard and daunting task. Through this article, I would like to help you in choosing the best impact driver for your use as per your requirements. Read the article to find out.
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**Below, you'll see more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices and read customer's reviews on Amazon.
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Why Choose An Impact Driver Over A Traditional Drill?
So why do we need an impact driver and not just an ordinary drilling machine? The answer is the torque. Even though an impact driver and an electric drilling machine might look same, their working is different.
The impact driver is designed to provide more torque and a concussive force on the screw to drive it into harder and denser surface as compared to the drilling machine. The impact driver can sense if more torque is required to drive the screws on the surface or for making holes.
The drill delivers the hammering action around the driving shaft, whereas the impact driver delivers the same hammering force along the driving shaft, making it easier to drive through wood, concrete, and other dense surfaces.
What To Look For When Buying An Impact Driver For Your Use?
The Size Of The Device
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The size of the impact driver is very important. Impact drivers are more lightweight and compact when compared to conventional drills. This is the reason, they are widely used in a range of applications. It is important to choose an impact driver that is both lightweight and portable.
Cordless
Corded vs Cordless Impact Driver ̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣(via bestoscillatingtool.net)
Most of the impact drivers that are available today in the market are cordless and run on batteries. It improves the portability and applications of the impact driver. However, wired versions are available. Whether to go for a cordless or with the wired version of the impact driver is to a large extent also dependent on the applications you are going to use it in.
The Sound It Produces
Most of the impact drivers that are available today in the market are cordless and run on batteries. It improves the portability and applications of the impact driver. However, wired versions are available. Whether to go for a cordless or with the wired version of the impact driver is to a large extent also dependent on the applications you are going to use it in.
Hex Driver Chuck
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Most impact drivers come with hex drive chucks. This means they can only be used with hex shaft bits. This limits their use to a small extent. But this can be taken care of with hex shaft bit kit as it is easy to switch between them.
The Handle
It is important to choose a handle that is comfortable over prolonged use. A rough handle could cause blisters in the palm when used for hours. Most impact drivers have a rubber handle to improve comfort.
The Build
Since the impact drivers work in very high velocity and torque, it is important for the impact drill to have a strong and sturdy build. It is important to make sure that the internal components are firmly placed within the body. The strength and the build of the impact driver can show you the quality of the impact driver.
Built-In Light
It is always great to have light in your impact driver that lights up the surface that you are working on. It is great for working in conditions where natural light is less or where it is dim.
It is hard to find a suitable and perfect impact driver for your household and DIY activities. But keeping the few points that I have given above in your mind, you can find a suitable impact driver that meets your requirements and budget needs. We are going to make it simpler for you to choose from. Here is the list of the top 5 impact drivers. Let’s have a quick look.
Product Name | Quality | Price | Our Rating |
---|---|---|---|
A | $ | ||
A- | $ | ||
A | $$ | ||
A+ | $$$ | ||
A+ | $$ |
**Below, you'll see more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices and read customer's reviews on Amazon.
Don’t Buy Impact Driver Without Checking This List
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The Milwaukee impact driver is a powerful yet compact and lightweight machine that is claimed to deliver 1,000 in-lbs of torque in forward and reverse direction. It is powerful enough and comes with a quick fastening speed of 0-2,500 rpm. It comes with a comfortable handle which won’t strain your hands, all thanks to its knurled grip. Further, the in-built battery fuel gauge gives a clear indication of the remaining run time.
Pros
- Great power in a small and compact form
- The comfortable handle provides improved comfort and fatigue-free working for hours
- Comes equipped with battery fuel gauge
Cons
- No warranty
- Not as durable as expected
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The Ryobi Impact Driver Lithium-ion is a great impact driver when it comes to the world of impact drivers. It is a small and compact impact driver that can produce a great deal of power. The impact driver does not come with battery or charger.
Pros
- Optimum Grip with GripZoneTM for ultimate and convenient user comfort
- Can deliver up to 1500 in-lbs of power for a wide range of purposes
- It is extremely lightweight (weighs just 2.8 lbs.) and portable
- Comes with basic attachments
Cons
- No light in the impact driver for working in the dark. The previous models had lights in them for working in dim environments
- Heating issues. The system heats up pretty fast
- Not enough power for many users
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The Makita Cordless Impact Driver Kit is a great and powerful impact driver that is heavily sought after by both professionals and amateur users. It comes with a variable speed adjusting system and works at 0 to 2300 RPM and 0 – 3200 IPM. It is designed in a compact manner and measured 16 inches in length. It is just 3.3 lbs in weight along with the battery.
Pros
- The system is extremely lightweight even with the battery. This helps prevent long usage without fatigue
- Convenient one-touch 1/4" hex chuck for quick bit changes
- The Makita build 4 pole motor that can deliver more than 1400 in-lb of torque
- Built in LED with afterglow function
Cons
- Unsatisfactory customer service
- Doesn’t come with any drill bits or driver's heads
- Battery performance is unsatisfactory
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The DEWALT Impact Driver Kit is a strong and sturdy impact driver that is also compact and lightweight. The device only measures 5.5 inches from front to back and is as light as 2.8 lbs making it suitable for working for long hours without fatigue. There are also 3 LED lights with a 20-second delay after trigger release for efficient working in even the dimmest of light. It also comes with a one-handed loading ¼inch hex that even accepts 1inch bit tips.
Pros
- Extremely compact and lightweight design for better comfort and portability
- Variable speed with trigger pressure
- 3 LED lights that help for better working in the dark
- The carry case has extra space for bits
- Fast and solid machine and working
Cons
- The chuck is a bit wobbly
- The device doesn’t come with a single bit holder attachment like many other products available in the market
- The new device smell is pretty bad, but this will change after you change the battery for the first time
- High vibration in the second speed can cause some difficulty while working
via Amazon.com
This could be one of the strongest choices for the best and most sought after impact driver in the price range. The DEWALT DCF815S2 comes with 3 LEDs that improve its application in dim and low lit areas. The compact and lightweight design is aimed for fitting the most congested and hard to reach areas and also does not cause fatigue after constant usage. It is a perfect small drill for both professionals and hobbyists alike and is easy to use.
Pros
- It is light, compact and feels good in your hands
- Can provide all the power you will ever need
- It is suitable for light construction
- Good LED lights for easier working in dim and low lit areas
- Belt hook and bag include with the impact driver
Cons
- The battery fits loosely and leaves a lot of wriggle room
- Lot of dead space in the trigger
- Cannot keep up with the newer and more expensive models
- Can be a bit loud at times
Wrapping Up
In today’s world, it is important to be prepared and self-sufficient to be one step ahead of everyone. Therefore, it is important to have and to learn to operate an impact driver. The impact driver can help you do a lot of things in and around the house without the help or waiting for others.
Finding the best and perfect impact driver for all situations and users is an impossible task. The perfect impact driver changes from person to person. Whereas some impact drivers are a specific purpose, others might be better than it in other fields. So it is important to choose wisely and smartly when choosing a suitable and ideal impact driver for your use.
Even though finding a perfect impact driver is nearly an impossible feat, it is not impossible to choose an impact driver of your liking and to satisfy your needs. In my opinion, the DEWALT ¼-Inch impact driver kit is one of the best and most affordable of systems available in the market. Not only it is a cheap and compact impact driver, it can produce enough power to meet all your requirements and needs.
Even though it may not be as powerful as the others in the list, it is more suitable for home activities, remodeling, and DIY projects. It is lightweight, compact and can produce enough power for most of your needs, making it a top contender for the best impact driver title.
This doesn’t mean that any of the other impact drivers on the list are bad. The most suitable impact driver is only dependent on your requirements and what you hope to achieve with it.
I hope that this article would have sorted the confusion out and would have helped you in making the right choice. If you have any queries about any of the product that is given in the list, feel free to contact me through the comment and do share it with your friends and family to spread the knowledge.