"Bob F" wrote in message
...
Steve B wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message
...
On Jul 12, 9:02 pm, "Steve B" wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message

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On Jul 12, 2:24 pm, "Nonny" wrote:





Harbor Freight sells one of those "tools you put in your toolbox
and only get out rarely when all else has failed." It's called an
impact screwdriver. They've been around forever, and the one I
just got cost less than what I paid for one 55 years ago.

What they are is a very heavy solid steel handle with a coarse
pitched screw thread inside, so to speak. Inside the threaded
area is a mated shaft with reversing toggle, and on the end of the
shaft is a hex holder for various screwdriver bits. The tool is a
heavy duty version of the Yankee drill we all remember. They have
a socket wrench-type of shaft and apparently can also be used on
bolts, but I've never tried that, since I have a pneumatic wrench
that works well. Their best application is in loosening frozen
screws, where an inward application of force and twisting motion
is needed.

To use the impact screwdriver, you place the appropriate bit in
the holder and hold the screwdriver firmly while tapping on it
with a hammer. The impact forces the bit into the screw, helping
to prevent the head from stripping, while the coarse threads make
the bit twist just a tad. Usually, that's enough to break loose a
frozen screw if you're lucky, and you then follow up with a
regular screwdriver to finish the job.

The first one I had I bought as a teen to work on my motorcycle's
engine and had it for around 40 years. During that 40 years, I
probably had to use it a dozen times at the most. However, each
and every time it saved the day for me. The one Harbor Freight
sells appears to be a clone of my old one and I suspect it'll
serve the purpose longer than I'll ever need.

Nonny

--
On most days,
it's just not worth
the effort of chewing
through the restraints..

Its now one of the best ways to drive wood screws, there are many 18v
models avalaible at any box store

reply: There's an 18v. manual impact driver? I want one!

Steve- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I dont know what the difference is between Manual Impact and one of
the new 18v impact drivers is, but they are labeled as an Impact
Driver, Some are not big but all major cordless tool makers offer them
and they are cheaper than many drills. I saw at sears several big and
very heavy 24v inpact drivers by maybe Sears and Dewalt that looked
like they could do any job on a car, and there are many more lighter
duty units, lighter than drills for screws. For screws they surpass
drills in heavy work like making decks. Popular Mechanics magazine
just did a review of 9 LiIon Impact Drivers, but not the big ones I
saw at Sears.

reply: A manual impact driver is driven by a hammer. An electric is
driven by a motor. An electric drill with an impact setting is an
electric impact wrench, not an electric impact driver. HTH.

And, an electric "impact driver" is unlikely to be of any use when an
impact driver is needed.

Right. They are two very distinct tools that work on two entirely different
principles. Mr. Ransley was in error to compare the two. You MAY be able
to remove some screws with an electric impact, but if it's really in there,
all you will do is either strip it out or break the tip. The shock of the
hammer, coupled with the twist at the moment of shock is what knocks the
fastener loose. If one notices, the bits are black, indicating a hardened
steel. It all happens in an instant, and only happens once per blow. If
you are all lined up, and hit it right, it only takes one to two blows.
What amazed me was the price of these little jewels versus the work they do,
and do well.

Steve

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