The debate over whether or not an impact driver is required to get a project done has been settled among the pros. However, for all the DIY’ers out there who aren’t sure whether or not they want to invest in one, here’s a rundown on why an impact driver might be a welcome addition to your toolbox.
An impact driver is a pistol-shaped power tool that’s designed to drive screws and other fasteners through different materials. You’re probably thinking, “that sounds just like a cordless drill.” Well, impact drivers do look similar to snub-nosed cordless drills, but they are much better at getting the job done.
A cordless drill does work for driving fasteners. All you have to do is swap out the drill bit for a driver bit. However, drills are designed for drilling (hence the name). An impact driver is designed for driving, and it does it much more efficiently than a regular drill will.
Have you ever been driving a screw with your drill and stripped the head out? Do you always end up with your driver bit mangled and covered with metal shavings?
Those are signs that you’re using the wrong tool. Both are caused by the bit slipping out of the screw head. This happens because a drill delivers constant, smooth torque.
An impact driver delivers the same, smooth torque motion, but with bursts of extra torque added. This works to keep your bit from slipping, as well as prevents it from stripping out the head of the screw.
It also cuts down on how much the drill pushes against your wrist. If you’re driving multiple fasteners on a project, an impact driver will make your life much easier. It will save your wrist from pain, and it will save you the headaches that stripped screws can bring.
While a hammer drill is also capable of driving fasteners, it is still not ideal. Hammer drills are more heavy-duty than impact drivers or regular drills, and using one for regular projects around the house often just isn’t necessary.
Hammer drills are unique because they work in a back-and-forth pounding motion, while impact drivers move in a smooth rotation. This makes hammer drills great for working with tougher materials, such as concrete, but for most other materials, they can be overkill.
So, while you can use things like a cordless drill or hammer drill as a makeshift driver, they’re just not ideal for driving a large number of screws. For bigger projects that require a large number of fasteners, such as framing a room or performing woodworking, an impact driver will be the right tool for the job.
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