"Dave Plowman (News)" througha haze of senile
flatulence wrote in message ...
In article . com,
wrote:

I see these in the Screwfix catalogue, Impact Drivers. Anyone know what
that is? Does the drill hammer? Is it just a drill/driver without a
chuck? What is the advantage? Also, Drywall Drivers, also in Screwfix,
what do they do over a drill/driver? If a tool can save me time, effort
and produces a better quality job, then I am always interested.

An impact driver is usually a screwdriver which can take a variety of bits
or sockets and has a cam mechanism within. It's purely mechanical. You
engage it on the screw or nut and whack it with a hammer. Most commonly
used on cars rather than houses.

Of course Screwfix may mean something else - if so a reference would help.

Would you believe it, Richard Cranium hasn't a clue as usual. An impact
driver in this sense, is a drill/driver that has a "rotational" hammer
action. When no resistance to the screw it spins, resistance, and then the
hammer action comes in. The action cannot be turned off, like in hammers
dills. A 12v impact driver can outperform a 18 or 24v drill/driver in
driving screws. They cam be used as drills too, but are primarily designed
to drive. An 18V impact driver can run in a 6" screw without any pilot
hole. Even smaller voltages can do the same. They also don't chew up
screws as much as normal drill/drivers. They are

They are purely professional tools that is why you don't see them in the DIY
sheds. Wickes, who are a professional outlet don't even sell them yet.
They have not been around long and are very expensive with over £200 the
normal price. The cheapest is the 18v Ryobi at £70 with the battery extra
(the one battery fits all system). Two batteries and a charger would be
about £60, making the cheapest around £130, or even cheaper using just one
battery. Because of the hammer action they do not take a lot out of the
battery compared to a drill/driver. They tend not to have a chuck just a
1/4" hex socket for driver bits and drills. Some versions have a detachable
chuck. In the US there is an angled version available, made by Ridgid.

They take a little bit of getting used to but are brilliant when you have
the knack. Stretching out from a ladder, a screw can be driven in with no
problems. If doing a lot of driving, they are the business. I prefer one of
these with a detachable chuck to a normal drill/driver. When the price
drops and the cheaper DIY makes start making them, then the price will drop.