Recommend an impact driver please
Discussion
I bought several years ago a cheapo McAllister job. biught one for a mate and FIL too.
I have sockets for it and the drivers - never failed to shift, drive or remove a screw or bolt.
Maybe not a fully invested PH answer I know... but I dont know what else one needs from a gun.
https://www.diy.com/departments/mac-allister-solo-...
I have sockets for it and the drivers - never failed to shift, drive or remove a screw or bolt.
Maybe not a fully invested PH answer I know... but I dont know what else one needs from a gun.
https://www.diy.com/departments/mac-allister-solo-...
You shouldn't use them with normal sockets because they can split and spit bits of socket at you - a set of Bergen or US Pro impact sockets aren't expensive
The first question is are you looking for a small one to speed up jobs or a massive one to get off wheel nuts ?
I ask the question because bought a big heavy one and found it to be useless for 99% of jobs. I then bought a small light one and it's great and I just use a big bar when required (I CBA to dig the big one out unless I'm stripping a car down)
The first question is are you looking for a small one to speed up jobs or a massive one to get off wheel nuts ?
I ask the question because bought a big heavy one and found it to be useless for 99% of jobs. I then bought a small light one and it's great and I just use a big bar when required (I CBA to dig the big one out unless I'm stripping a car down)
21TonyK said:
As I'm doing more and more home mechanics one of the things I am missing is an impact driver.
Looking for something I can use with normal sockets but also for DIY as a driver.
No battery system to match, my makita stuff is on its last legs (20+ years old).
I've one similar to this that I've had for years now; use it all the time on our cars, zero issues - for £99 its unbeatable IMOLooking for something I can use with normal sockets but also for DIY as a driver.
No battery system to match, my makita stuff is on its last legs (20+ years old).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Protmex-Cordless-Brushles...
As mentioned, normal sockets will fail and an impact wrench isn t like a hammer drill in that it s impact can be turned off.
There s a lot to be said about a mighty impact wrench. I have an ingersol rand beast that is most definitely an off tool, wouldn t want to use it to fit a nut I wanted to stay nut shaped.
But for light duty, your preference of tool brand in an 3/8 will suffice.
There s a lot to be said about a mighty impact wrench. I have an ingersol rand beast that is most definitely an off tool, wouldn t want to use it to fit a nut I wanted to stay nut shaped.
But for light duty, your preference of tool brand in an 3/8 will suffice.
Edited by shirt on Monday 23 June 09:47
I've got separate impact drivers and impact wrenches - I think you can get an attachment so that you can use impact sockets for a driver, but not sure if they are limited in torque... Both mine are Makita and have survived light DIY use very well (wrench mostly used for stubborn wheelbolts, driver made short work of repairing my decking last summer). I think Makita / de Walt are mostly on a par and both offer various models of each, Milwaukee if you are made of money 
I bought a cheapo Parkside middle-of-Lidl impact wrench a few years ago and it was great in testing. When I first came to use it in anger a few months late the battery had s
t itself internally... buy cheap buy twice...
I bought a cheapo Parkside middle-of-Lidl impact wrench a few years ago and it was great in testing. When I first came to use it in anger a few months late the battery had s
t itself internally... buy cheap buy twice...KTMsm said:
You shouldn't use them with normal sockets because they can split and spit bits of socket at you - a set of Bergen or US Pro impact sockets aren't expensive
The first question is are you looking for a small one to speed up jobs or a massive one to get off wheel nuts ?
I ask the question because bought a big heavy one and found it to be useless for 99% of jobs. I then bought a small light one and it's great and I just use a big bar when required (I CBA to dig the big one out unless I'm stripping a car down)
Small one, didnt know about using specific sockets... add to the list.The first question is are you looking for a small one to speed up jobs or a massive one to get off wheel nuts ?
I ask the question because bought a big heavy one and found it to be useless for 99% of jobs. I then bought a small light one and it's great and I just use a big bar when required (I CBA to dig the big one out unless I'm stripping a car down)
You may want to investigate getting an impact driver and a seperate impact wrench. Most of the decent manufacturers often have a boxed combo of the two and a couple of batts and a charger, almost as a loss leader. Check out the likes of FFX and ITS. I’d recommend Milwaukee all day long, but 8m biased! Good luck.
21TonyK said:
Small one, didnt know about using specific sockets... add to the list.
If it's a small one to speed up repetitive jobs then I bought a Milwaukee - because at the time it was one of the smallest available and I had the batteries I'm very pleased with it and personally I'm happy to use normal sockets as it can't put the force through them that I can with a ratchet
21TonyK said:
As I'm doing more and more home mechanics one of the things I am missing is an impact driver.
Looking for something I can use with normal sockets but also for DIY as a driver.
No battery system to match, my makita stuff is on its last legs (20+ years old).
An impact driver is effectively a screwdriver, think you are seeking an impact wrench if its for use with sockets.Looking for something I can use with normal sockets but also for DIY as a driver.
No battery system to match, my makita stuff is on its last legs (20+ years old).
bennno said:
21TonyK said:
As I'm doing more and more home mechanics one of the things I am missing is an impact driver.
Looking for something I can use with normal sockets but also for DIY as a driver.
No battery system to match, my makita stuff is on its last legs (20+ years old).
An impact driver is effectively a screwdriver, think you are seeking an impact wrench if its for use with sockets.Looking for something I can use with normal sockets but also for DIY as a driver.
No battery system to match, my makita stuff is on its last legs (20+ years old).
I have a socket adapter for my Bosch driver. Its fine for buzzing bolts off once they're lose, but it won't touch anything tight, or stubborn.
98elise said:
This.
I have a socket adapter for my Bosch driver. Its fine for buzzing bolts off once they're lose, but it won't touch anything tight, or stubborn.
Exactly.I have a socket adapter for my Bosch driver. Its fine for buzzing bolts off once they're lose, but it won't touch anything tight, or stubborn.
OP what mechanical work are you doing. If its undoing a few small bolts, trim etc.. an impact driver will be fine.
If you are doing anying more then you need an impact wrench. You won't be undoing wheel nuts or suspension bolts with an impact driver.
If you want to go down a rabbit hole check out Project Farm or Torque Test Channel on youtube.
Another option/hint is sign up to alerts on HotUKDeals for your chosen yellow/red/teal tools
Arent drivers and wrenches different - IE you need one one for Car use and one for home use.
Agree on the bits and sockets being different, its best to get a impact specific bit set for the driver
I bought the cheap Titan Impact driver from Screwfix as my other broke and it was all they had in stock 6pm on a Saturday
Its really good and much exceed expectations for the price - nothing has defeated it yet round the home and garden
I got it with the drill, but you can get it on its own
https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-tti885ipd-18v-2-x...
Agree on the bits and sockets being different, its best to get a impact specific bit set for the driver
I bought the cheap Titan Impact driver from Screwfix as my other broke and it was all they had in stock 6pm on a Saturday
Its really good and much exceed expectations for the price - nothing has defeated it yet round the home and garden
I got it with the drill, but you can get it on its own
https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-tti885ipd-18v-2-x...
Again - an impact driver is effectively a high power electronic screwdriver, with a hex chuck to fit screwdriver bits, plus a limited number of small / low load sockets.
An impact wrench is for sockets / automotive use. Impact wrenches come in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 and a mix of voltages and spec's dependent upon planned use.
If the OP wants it to remove wheel bolts it'll need to be high toque, probably 18V and at least 3/8 - but that'll sheer off small 10mm nuts with ease.
bennno said:
Again - an impact driver is effectively a high power electronic screwdriver, with a hex chuck to fit screwdriver bits, plus a limited number of small / low load sockets.
An impact wrench is for sockets / automotive use. Impact wrenches come in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 and a mix of voltages and spec's dependent upon planned use.
If the OP wants it to remove wheel bolts it'll need to be high toque, probably 18V and at least 3/8 - but that'll sheer off small 10mm nuts with ease.
Bizarrely my Milwaukee M18 1/4” drive impact driver is more than happy to undo wheel nuts with a socket adapter. I don’t often do that mind…An impact wrench is for sockets / automotive use. Impact wrenches come in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 and a mix of voltages and spec's dependent upon planned use.
If the OP wants it to remove wheel bolts it'll need to be high toque, probably 18V and at least 3/8 - but that'll sheer off small 10mm nuts with ease.
TwistingMyMelon said:
Arent drivers and wrenches different - IE you need one one for Car use and one for home use.
Agree on the bits and sockets being different, its best to get a impact specific bit set for the driver
I bought the cheap Titan Impact driver from Screwfix as my other broke and it was all they had in stock 6pm on a Saturday
Its really good and much exceed expectations for the price - nothing has defeated it yet round the home and garden
I got it with the drill, but you can get it on its own
https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-tti885ipd-18v-2-x...
Yes they're different, but an impact driver can also drive sockets (with an adaptor). Agree on the bits and sockets being different, its best to get a impact specific bit set for the driver
I bought the cheap Titan Impact driver from Screwfix as my other broke and it was all they had in stock 6pm on a Saturday
Its really good and much exceed expectations for the price - nothing has defeated it yet round the home and garden
I got it with the drill, but you can get it on its own
https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-tti885ipd-18v-2-x...
I use mine on the car, but if say I'm getting a wheel off then I have to start with a wheel brace. It still saves time but its not replacing a wheel brace or breaker bar.
Its like the difference between a combi drill and an SDS drill.
As above is a difference between a wrench & a driver & big power differences, like the Mac driver listed above is 100nm but my Sealy wrench is 650nm & it wasn't much more dosh.
Some of the cheaper eBay or amazon etc wrenches will have a bit holder in the middle of the 1/2 end so it can kinda do both. I've got a cheapie one of those too, not the power of my larger sealy but it's done wheel nuts etc & for me handy as it sharesthe Makita fake battery type of my cheapie cordlessangke grinder.
My cheapie
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176791209106
The bigger grunt sealy, I got it for £131 tho I think
https://www.toolden.co.uk/new-sealey/sealey-cp650l...
Some of the cheaper eBay or amazon etc wrenches will have a bit holder in the middle of the 1/2 end so it can kinda do both. I've got a cheapie one of those too, not the power of my larger sealy but it's done wheel nuts etc & for me handy as it sharesthe Makita fake battery type of my cheapie cordlessangke grinder.
My cheapie
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176791209106
The bigger grunt sealy, I got it for £131 tho I think
https://www.toolden.co.uk/new-sealey/sealey-cp650l...
Edited by iguana on Monday 23 June 12:29
normalbloke said:
bennno said:
Again - an impact driver is effectively a high power electronic screwdriver, with a hex chuck to fit screwdriver bits, plus a limited number of small / low load sockets.
An impact wrench is for sockets / automotive use. Impact wrenches come in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 and a mix of voltages and spec's dependent upon planned use.
If the OP wants it to remove wheel bolts it'll need to be high toque, probably 18V and at least 3/8 - but that'll sheer off small 10mm nuts with ease.
Bizarrely my Milwaukee M18 1/4 drive impact driver is more than happy to undo wheel nuts with a socket adapter. I don t often do that mind An impact wrench is for sockets / automotive use. Impact wrenches come in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 and a mix of voltages and spec's dependent upon planned use.
If the OP wants it to remove wheel bolts it'll need to be high toque, probably 18V and at least 3/8 - but that'll sheer off small 10mm nuts with ease.
I have not found anything my Mcallister driver could not shift (I have an adaptor and impact sockets)
I dare say that there will be something it cant do - but i have not experienced that for some / all of my DIY. / auto stuff.
PushedDover said:
normalbloke said:
bennno said:
Again - an impact driver is effectively a high power electronic screwdriver, with a hex chuck to fit screwdriver bits, plus a limited number of small / low load sockets.
An impact wrench is for sockets / automotive use. Impact wrenches come in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 and a mix of voltages and spec's dependent upon planned use.
If the OP wants it to remove wheel bolts it'll need to be high toque, probably 18V and at least 3/8 - but that'll sheer off small 10mm nuts with ease.
Bizarrely my Milwaukee M18 1/4 drive impact driver is more than happy to undo wheel nuts with a socket adapter. I don t often do that mind An impact wrench is for sockets / automotive use. Impact wrenches come in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 and a mix of voltages and spec's dependent upon planned use.
If the OP wants it to remove wheel bolts it'll need to be high toque, probably 18V and at least 3/8 - but that'll sheer off small 10mm nuts with ease.
I have not found anything my Mcallister driver could not shift (I have an adaptor and impact sockets)
I dare say that there will be something it cant do - but i have not experienced that for some / all of my DIY. / auto stuff.
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