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.

wrote:
I see these in the Screwfix catalogue, Impact Drivers. Anyone know
what that is?

As I understand it, an impact driver is a drill driver that uses impact in
the rotary sense to increase torque, that is, it does hammer, but not back &
forth.

Dave

On 29 Nov 2005 16:43:31 -0800, 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.

If it looks like a miniature grease gun, its a thing you put a bit of
some sort in the front, hold firmly over a nut or screw and whack very
hard with a hammer on the large end.

The wack is converted into rotary motion and combined with the force
of the whack, frees the nut/screw. ( you hope)

EricP wrote:
On 29 Nov 2005 16:43:31 -0800, 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.

If it looks like a miniature grease gun, its a thing you put a bit of
some sort in the front, hold firmly over a nut or screw and whack very
hard with a hammer on the large end.

The wack is converted into rotary motion and combined with the force
of the whack, frees the nut/screw. ( you hope)
That is exactly what I would have said an impact driver was. Probabley
the very first tool that I ever bought 40 years ago as it was
absolutely essential to get the very tight screws of a motorcycle
engine.

Kevin

On 30 Nov 2005 05:18:49 -0800, "Kevin" wrote:


EricP wrote:
On 29 Nov 2005 16:43:31 -0800, 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.

If it looks like a miniature grease gun, its a thing you put a bit of
some sort in the front, hold firmly over a nut or screw and whack very
hard with a hammer on the large end.

The wack is converted into rotary motion and combined with the force
of the whack, frees the nut/screw. ( you hope)
That is exactly what I would have said an impact driver was. Probabley
the very first tool that I ever bought 40 years ago as it was
absolutely essential to get the very tight screws of a motorcycle
engine.

Kevin

Brother!

Embraces long-lost Kevin!

)

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.

--
*Real women don't have hot flashes, they have power surges.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"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.

In article ews.net,
Doctor Drivel wrote:
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
[snip misleading rubbish]

Didn't expect you'd know what one is. Look at the other posts, dribble. If
Screwfix decide to hijack the name for something else, take it up with
them.

--
*You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ews.net,
Doctor Drivel wrote:
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
[snip misleading rubbish]

Richard here is snipping info he never knew.

Didn't expect you'd know what one is. Look at the other posts, dribble. If
Screwfix decide to hijack the name for something else, take it up with
them.

Richard Cranium, the OP mentioned Screwfix, and a drill and things. You
don't have a clue what an impact driver is.

In article ews.net,
Doctor Drivel wrote:
Would you believe it, Richard Cranium hasn't a clue as usual. An
impact driver
[snip misleading rubbish]

[snip more crap]

Didn't expect you'd know what one is. Look at the other posts,
dribble. If Screwfix decide to hijack the name for something else,
take it up with them.

the OP mentioned Screwfix, and a drill and things. You don't have a clue
what an impact driver is.

I doubt you know a decent tool shop, but if you find one ask for an impact
driver and see what you get.
That you didn't know what one was just shows you've never used anything
other than a hacksaw - everyone else here is perfectly clear what they
are.

--
*Arkansas State Motto: Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Laugh.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Doctor Drivel wrote:

You don't have a clue what an impact driver is.

You do not recognize a descriptive and accurate definition, when it hits
you in the face.

Having worked in engineering for over 40 odd years, an impact driver is
as Dave describes. You whack it with a hammer and it puts a turning
motion on the object of your desires.

If a manufacturer wants to introduce an electrically driven one, then
the name should suggest that it is electrically driven. i.e.
Electrically driven impact driver.

Impact means that it gets impacted. It does not specify by what means
the impact takes place. Air driven impact drivers have been in use at
most garages for as long as I can remember, but they are called air
driven impact guns, when described by their Sunday name ;-)

Get it?

Case closed

Dave

"Doctor Drivel" wrote in message
reenews.net...

"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.

A review. One Panasonic model is a drill./driver and an impact driver, but
around £450 in the UK. This test rates the Ryobi, which is well priced.

On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:31:46 UTC, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:

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.

Impact drivers, purely mechanical, have been around for many years. Take
a look at the picture, Drivel.

http://www.tavi.co.uk/impact.jpg
--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
Avenue Supplies, http://avenuesupplies.co.uk

"Bob Eager" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:31:46 UTC, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:

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.

Impact drivers, purely mechanical, have been around for many years. Take
a look at the picture, Drivel.

I know all about mechanical drivers. The OP mentioned drills.

On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 09:37:00 UTC, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:

"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.

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.

Someone may have called such a thing an 'impact driver'. But the purely
mechanical ones have been around a long time. I bought one 40 years ago
and still use it; it lives in a box (that it came in) with 'Impact
Driver' printed on it.

So there.

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
Avenue Supplies, http://avenuesupplies.co.uk

"Bob Eager" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 09:37:00 UTC, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:

"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.

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.

Someone may have called such a
thing an 'impact driver'. But the purely
mechanical ones have been around a long
time. I bought one 40 years ago
and still use it; it lives in a box (that it came in) with 'Impact
Driver' printed on it.

So there.

The OP mentioned impact driver and drill. Quite clear.

Doctor Drivel wrote:


The OP mentioned impact driver and drill. Quite clear.

Not so. He mentioned an impact driver and then went onto mention drills
that have impact settings on them. A different thing.

By the way, how old are you?

You should be OK when you are 5 years old :-)

Dave

On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 09:37:00 -0000, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:




They are purely professional tools that is why you don't see them in the DIY
sheds.

B&Q have the Makita ones.....


Wickes, who are a professional outlet don't even sell them yet.

Hmmmm.......


They have not been around long and are very expensive with over £200 the
normal price.

The larger cordless ones are over £200. Whether that is expensive is a
matter of opinion. There are smaller ones at about £160

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...81874&ts=57909

which are quite respectable in terms of performance.


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.

Ridgid is the Home Depot brand and is made by the Chinese Techtronic
Industries company, just like Ryobi.




--

..andy

"Andy Hall" aka Matt wrote in message
...
On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 09:37:00 -0000, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:

They are purely professional tools that is
why you don't see them in the DIY
sheds.

B&Q have the Makita ones.....

I haven't noticed

Wickes, who are a professional outlet
don't even sell them yet.

Hmmmm.......

Probably Kress don't have one yet. They are so expensive with a limited
market, that is takes some thinking about before spending on R&D for a
company like Kress. Their drill/driver/angle drill is high torque and can
"most" of what the impact drivers can do. To buy an impact driver you really
need to need it. They also make a racket.

They have not been around long
and are very expensive with over £200 the
normal price.

The larger cordless ones are over £200.
Whether that is expensive is a
matter of opinion. There are smaller
ones at about £160

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...81874&ts=57909

That has just been dropped £30

which are quite respectable in terms of performance.

The beefier 18v Ryobi is the better option at that price. After all you
need power with these things. They are primarily design to drive. The Ryobi
gets good reports.

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.

Ridgid is the Home Depot brand and is made by the Chinese Techtronic
Industries company, just like Ryobi.

On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:22:10 -0000, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:


"Andy Hall" aka Matt wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 09:37:00 -0000, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:

They are purely professional tools that is
why you don't see them in the DIY
sheds.

B&Q have the Makita ones.....

I haven't noticed

Wickes, who are a professional outlet
don't even sell them yet.

Hmmmm.......

Probably Kress don't have one yet.

Ah that would be it. Couldn't be that Wickes is just another DIY shed
with limited product range.

They are so expensive with a limited
market, that is takes some thinking about before spending on R&D for a
company like Kress.

Oh I see.

Their drill/driver/angle drill is high torque and can
"most" of what the impact drivers can do. To buy an impact driver you really
need to need it. They also make a racket.

They have not been around long
and are very expensive with over £200 the
normal price.

The larger cordless ones are over £200.
Whether that is expensive is a
matter of opinion. There are smaller
ones at about £160

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...81874&ts=57909

That has just been dropped £30

which are quite respectable in terms of performance.

The beefier 18v Ryobi is the better option at that price. After all you
need power with these things. They are primarily design to drive. The Ryobi
gets good reports.

While I wouldn't suggest that an 18v Ryobi tool is on a par with a 12v
product from a manufacturer, and I would probably say that an 18v
Ryobi tool is likely to have better batteries than a Fermerbauer
Champion Devil; it is not reasonable to assume that 18v Ryobi product
means very much in terms of performance.




--

..andy

Doctor Drivel wrote:

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

They are ar their best tightening and freeing nuts/bolts rather than
screws. That is why they typically have a 1/2" square drive on the end.

The most common type are pneumatic, and you typically see them in action
on wheel nuts when having wheels changed by a tyre service outfit.

to drive. An 18V impact driver can run in a 6" screw without any pilot

An 18V drill driver will do that just fine without impact (unless you
buy the toy ryobi/ppoo stuff).

They have not been around long and are very expensive with over £200 the

They have been around for *ages*. The electric cordless variety is a
more recent development - but the basic technology is stone age.

normal price. The cheapest is the 18v Ryobi at £70 with the battery extra

If you have a source of compressed air, then something like the clark
from machinemart is way cheaper at 25 quid

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product...0&r=2017&g=103

When the price drops and the cheaper DIY makes start making them, then the price will drop.

You say some powerfully dumb stuff.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

John Rumm wrote:
Doctor Drivel wrote:
An 18V impact driver can run in a 6" screw without any pilot

An 18V drill driver will do that just fine without impact (unless you
buy the toy ryobi/ppoo stuff).

What are you on about, girls? When did you ever need a 6"
screw?? Ulp! I'll leave the reply to others.

"Chris Bacon" wrote in message
...
John Rumm wrote:
Doctor Drivel wrote:
An 18V impact driver can run in a 6" screw without any pilot

An 18V drill driver will do that just fine without impact (unless you
buy the toy ryobi/ppoo stuff).

What are you on about, girls? When did you ever need a 6"
screw??

Recently I drove in about 300 them. I used a pilot hole, drill/driver to
start and a Kress/Wickes SDS, without hammer action, to slowly drive the
screw in. The Bosch drill/driver could not cope. An 18v drill/driver could
not drive in a 4 or 6" screw without a pilot hole, an impact driver can,
doing the job in a fraction of the time.

"John Rumm" wrote in message
...
Doctor Drivel wrote:

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

They are ar their best tightening and freeing nuts/bolts rather than
screws. That is why they typically have a 1/2" square drive on the end.

More confusion. The impact drivers a 1/4" hex shank. The 1/2" is for
impact wrenches. Sort of similar, but quite the same.

Impact drivers can drive screws and drill. They are small and light and
beat a drill/driver hands down. The downside is the noise and heafty price.
Only pros use them, so only the big rip-off makers produce them,.

to drive. An 18V impact driver can run in a 6" screw without any pilot

An 18V drill driver will do that just fine without impact (unless you
buy the toy ryobi/ppoo stuff).

It is clear you haven't driven 6" screws. Or smaller screws into hard wood.

They have not been around long and are very expensive with over £200 the

They have been around for *ages*. The electric cordless variety is a
more recent development

The cordless is the one in question, not the air guns.

normal price. The cheapest is the 18v Ryobi at £70 with the battery
extra

If you have a source of compressed air, then something like the clark
from machinemart is way cheaper at 25 quid

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product...0&r=2017&g=103

Please be serious.

When the price drops and the cheaper DIY makes start making them, then
the price will drop.

You say some powerfully dumb stuff.

It is clear you just don't know and you wrote the Power Tools FAQ? Read my
posts, the links and Mark's posts.

When my drill/driver dies, if the price has dropped I will consider an
"impact driver" drill with a detachable chuck. Always been on my wish list.

John Rumm typed:

Doctor Drivel wrote:

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

They are ar their best tightening and freeing nuts/bolts rather than
screws. That is why they typically have a 1/2" square drive on the
end.


Wrong,
different tool and intended use.
Do read
http://tinyurl.com/9htyt
and try and keep up


-

In article ,
Mark wrote:
They are ar their best tightening and freeing nuts/bolts rather than
screws. That is why they typically have a 1/2" square drive on the
end.


Wrong, different tool and intended use.

They are essentially the same, in principle at least. You can buy adaptors
from 1/2" square drive to hex. Would make the tool less wieldy, but the
performance would be near enough the same.

--
*Born free - taxed to death *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Mark" wrote in message
...
John Rumm typed:

Doctor Drivel wrote:

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

They are are their best tightening and
freeing nuts/bolts rather than
screws. That is why they typically have
a 1/2" square drive on the end.

Wrong,

Right.

different tool and intended use.
Do read
http://tinyurl.com/9htyt
and try and keep up

It is clear by what you write, that you only have half a clue at best. From
the above link, which I have given already...

Cordless Impact Drivers vs. Cordless Drills - How Do They Compare?

"Although they look like a smaller replica, don't confuse a cordless impact
driver with a standard cordless drill or hammerdrill. The biggest difference
is inside. Unlike a cordless drill - which creates continuous in-line
torque - a cordless impact driver uses an internal spring-loaded pulsating
cam and gear mechanism to create rotational torque. In simple terms, the
effect is similar to that of a hammer wrapping on a wrench to loosen a
stubborn lug nut, only faster."

Cordless Impact Wrenches

"The basic difference between cordless impact drivers and cordless impact
wrenches is the chuck configuration. Impact drivers have a chuck which
accepts 1/4 inch hex-shank bits for screwdriving, drilling, and nut driving.
A cordless impact wrench uses a 3/8 inch or a 1/2 inch square anvil
primarily for driving impact sockets. In addition, the wrenches develop more
torque. Today's cordless impact wrenches, like the ones from DeWALT, now
have enough power to rival many corded electric wrenches, a big plus when
you're up on a lift away from an outlet.
The type of work you're doing will dictate which category to choose - driver
or wrench. For example, if most of your work involves driving self tapping
sheet metal screws or deck screws, an impact driver would be right for you.
If most of your work involves driving large lag bolts or bolting pipe
couplings, a dedicated cordless impact wrench would be a better choice.
Although a cordless impact driver can be fitted with a socket adaptor, the
larger square shaft of the impact wrench will prove more durable for heavy
duty applications."


So, "Impact Divers", do hard driving and can do drilling too. Some have a
detyachable chuck. One model is switchable from a dril/driver to an impact
driver. Check drill specs before buying

Some "Impact Wrenchs" have fixed 3/8" or 1/2" shanks to take sockest ad the
likes.

Some "Impact Drivers" may have 3/8 or 1/2 adaptors, so it can be used as
both. The "drill/driver - Impact Driver" Panasonic can be used for all
functions with suitable adaptors. Not cheap, but maybe worth it if all
functions are used regularly.

Now you know, you can update the FAQ.

The message
from "Dave Plowman (News)" contains these words:

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.

Until drivels brother posed the question I thought such information was
common knowledge. ;-)

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

They do. Page 634/635 of the current catalogue. Not indexed - Impact
wrenches were which is how I found them.

"Impact mechanism uses rotary impacts to generate extremely high torque"
is the description on the DeWalt jobbie. (Only £249.96.) Seems a bit odd
asking the question in the first place when it is there in black and
white but what would you expect from drivels brother?

--
Roger Chapman

"Roger" wrote in message
k...
The message
from "Dave Plowman (News)" contains these words:

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.

Until drivels brother posed the question I thought such information was
common knowledge. ;-)

seems half you lot are confusing two very different tools, and the intended
use.



Impact drivers

Building/construction

screwfix

http://tinyurl.com/a3yw7



Mechanics automotive tools

screwfix

http://tinyurl.com/7asw8



since the OP also asked about Drywall Drivers its reasonable to assume the
former.





-

"Mark" wrote in message
...

"Roger" wrote in message
k...
The message
from "Dave Plowman (News)" through a haze of
senile flatulence wrote these words:

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.

Until drivels brother posed the question I thought such information was
common knowledge. ;-)

seems half you lot are confusing two very different tools, and the
intended
use.

Impact drivers

Building/construction

screwfix

http://tinyurl.com/a3yw7

Mechanics automotive tools

screwfix

http://tinyurl.com/7asw8

This is a good desciption:
http://tinyurl.com/9htyt

Mark wrote:
"Roger" wrote in message
k...
The message
from "Dave Plowman (News)" contains these words:

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.

Until drivels brother posed the question I thought such information was
common knowledge. ;-)

seems half you lot are confusing two very different tools, and the intended
use.



Impact drivers

Building/construction

screwfix

http://tinyurl.com/a3yw7



Mechanics automotive tools

screwfix

http://tinyurl.com/7asw8

since the OP also asked about Drywall Drivers its reasonable to assume the
former.

Wow, what a thread when I came back. A good assumption, I did say
drill, so it was the power drill. Thanks for all the links and
explanations. If my drill/driver can't cope with large screws, then I
use a mains drill. That always does it. These impact drivers appear to
have the ability to ram in heavy screws without pilot holes all in one
go. That would be handy and save me time too. They sound good. When the
drill driver goes west I will definately go for one of these "impact
driver drills".

A cheap drywall drill would be handy, as I consider that a luxury, as I
don't board up all day.

In article ,
Roger wrote:
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.

Until drivels brother posed the question I thought such information was
common knowledge. ;-)

Everyone else here seems to agree. Of course dribble doesn't use tools but
only drools over them in catalogues. So it's no surprise he doesn't know
even common stuff.

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

They do. Page 634/635 of the current catalogue. Not indexed - Impact
wrenches were which is how I found them.

Ah - a very different thing.

"Impact mechanism uses rotary impacts to generate extremely high torque"
is the description on the DeWalt jobbie. (Only £249.96.) Seems a bit odd
asking the question in the first place when it is there in black and
white but what would you expect from drivels brother?

I've got a 12 volt one which runs off the car battery. Can be useful for
some things, although it's really meant for loosening wheel nuts after
Kwik-Fit have been at them with their air tool set on kill. Didn't cost
anything like 250 quid, though.

--
*Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" through a haze of senile
flatulence wrote in message ...
In article ,
Roger wrote more Rogerness:
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.

Until drivels brother posed the question I thought such information was
common knowledge. ;-)

Everyone

** the senility must be snipped **

Dave Plowman (News) typed:

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


I've got a 12 volt one which runs off the car battery. Can be useful
for some things, although it's really meant for loosening wheel nuts
after Kwik-Fit have been at them with their air tool set on kill.
Didn't cost anything like 250 quid, though.

NO. what you have is a 12v cigar lighter plug-in one of these
http://tinyurl.com/8a45q
A different tool completely, this is called an Impact Wrench.
Notice the 1/2 square drive.
the small battery Impact Drivers have a 1/4 _HEX_ drive to take a driver
bit.
FFS even Drivel know more about this then you.


-

In article ,
Mark wrote:
Of course Screwfix may mean something else - if so a reference would
help.


I've got a 12 volt one which runs off the car battery. Can be useful
for some things, although it's really meant for loosening wheel nuts
after Kwik-Fit have been at them with their air tool set on kill.
Didn't cost anything like 250 quid, though.

NO. what you have is a 12v cigar lighter plug-in one of these
http://tinyurl.com/8a45q
A different tool completely, this is called an Impact Wrench.

Which is what I have, but without the cigar lighter plug. It's an impact
wrench. If you hadn't snipped the text that would be clear. Here's the bit
I was referring to.

******************

From: Roger
Subject: Impact Drivers
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:05
Newsgroups: uk.d-i-y

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

They do. Page 634/635 of the current catalogue. Not indexed - Impact
wrenches were which is how I found them.

********************

I'm not interested in what Screwfix call things - I'm quite clear what an
impact driver and impact wrench are.

Notice the 1/2 square drive. the small battery Impact Drivers have a 1/4
_HEX_ drive to take a driver bit.

Then they should find a new name for it.


FFS even Drivel know more about this then you.

You appear to know little about common tools too.

--
*Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice?"

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Mark wrote:

Dave Plowman (News) typed:


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

I've got a 12 volt one which runs off the car battery. Can be useful
for some things, although it's really meant for loosening wheel nuts
after Kwik-Fit have been at them with their air tool set on kill.
Didn't cost anything like 250 quid, though.


NO. what you have is a 12v cigar lighter plug-in one of these
http://tinyurl.com/8a45q
A different tool completely, this is called an Impact Wrench.

I have to ask :-)

When did we Brits start to use the term 'wrench' in matters that did not
signify something like a wrenched muscle? Merkins call a spanner a wrench.
Are we in danger here, of using Merkin words that mean something
different to what we were brought up to understand in the UK? Perhaps
this is where some of us differ in our opinion as to what each tool is
called.

Notice the 1/2 square drive.

If it has either a 1/4 or 1/2 square dive, this does not change its
description, only the torque that it can cope with.

Regards

Dave

In article . com,
says...
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?

It's the equivalent of hitting a spanner with a hammer to shock a
fitting loose (or tight). When the nut/bolt is loose it spins to drive
it, when it's tight it hammers. You've probably seen an air-powered
version being used in KwikFit. The manual version is used with a hammer
- when you hit it on the end some of the force drives the bit against
the screwhead and some is converted to rotation to turn the screw
slightly.

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.


Drywall drivers have a depth stop that activates a clutch so you can't
drive screws too far and split the paper facing on plasterboard. The
cheapo version is just a bit with a fixed collar that makes it slip out
of the screw head at a certain depth.

wrote in message
ups.com...
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.


Impact screwdrivers are the business, there are now cheap ones available,
but I haven't tried a cheapy, my one is an ELU that machine mart were
selling so cheap it was ridiculous, I wish I had bought several, but at the
time I didn't realise really what they did!

You need one if you do more than a very occasional diy job.

mrcheerful

mrcheerful
. wrote:

Impact screwdrivers are the business, there are now cheap ones available,
but I haven't tried a cheapy, my one is an ELU that machine mart were
selling so cheap it was ridiculous, I wish I had bought several, but at the
time I didn't realise really what they did!

You need one if you do more than a very occasional diy job.

I've never needed one, as every time I need one, I always find a way
around it, using screwdriver bits held in a 3/8" adaptor, tapping +
plus gas + a lot of pressure.

Since then i've also bought an air impact wrench.

That's not to say a manual one wouldn't be useful though to a self
confessed tool-a-holic.

Cheers

Paul.

wrote in message
ups.com...
mrcheerful
. wrote:

Impact screwdrivers are the business, there are now cheap ones available,
but I haven't tried a cheapy, my one is an ELU that machine mart were
selling so cheap it was ridiculous, I wish I had bought several, but at
the
time I didn't realise really what they did!

You need one if you do more than a very occasional diy job.

I've never needed one, as every time I need one, I always find a way
around it, using screwdriver bits held in a 3/8" adaptor, tapping +
plus gas + a lot of pressure.

Since then i've also bought an air impact wrench.

That's not to say a manual one wouldn't be useful though to a self
confessed tool-a-holic.

Cheers

Paul.


I think you miss the point, these (cordless impact screwdrivers) are
specifically designed for installing and removing screws (particularly
woodscrews) at great speed without the need for pilot holes in most cases.
I also use them on screws on engine cases etc.

The impact driver you mean (I believe) is the sort used commonly for undoing
door hinge screws on cars etc. A better alternative for those is the air
chisel mounted screwdriver. Snap on sell them and they are amazing at
removing even the most horribly rusted in screw (and very cheap!).

mrcheerful