Makita Impact Driver

[The Medway Handyman]

The wee beastie arrived in time for the big decking job this week. I'm simply gobsmacked!

300 sq ft of decking on three levels. This tool has saved me half a day at least.

Two days spent building the frame with Screwfix 6 x 90 Turbo Gold Coach Screws - which go in so fast it's just silly. Spent today screwing down the boards with 4mm x 65mm decking screws. You can drive one in faster than you can reach into the box to get the next one.

Why didn't someone tell me to buy an impact driver earlier?

Instead of working Saturday to finish the job, I reckon I'll be home by 3pm Friday.

[boltmail]

Some people tried, but it got lost in petty personality wars

[Mark]

Plenty of people who have actually used one of these have said how good they are, you must listen to the wrong people.

-

[The Medway Handyman]

Dead right there. This NG would be for the better if people tried to help rather than score points or express their own jaded attitudes ......... there is always someone waiting to have a go at someone.

However, my post was to inform readers about the real benifits of impact drivers.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

If I remember the original 'discussion' it was over the name of the tool since an impact driver existed long before this sort of device came on the market - it's a tool for loosening screws etc via the kinetic energy obtained from a hammer. I don't remember anyone saying they'd tried these impact drill drivers and didn't think it worked.

Of course a certain person used to claim he'd got just about every new thing on the market and it worked perfectly. Like magnetic water softeners and so on. So when he recommended anything it was a bit like crying wolf...

[rob]

Try it with Square screws ( get them off ebay) no camming out they fly in, mega impressed with mine de walt imported from the states. drives big screws straight through sleepers no bother. super tool

[John Rumm]

Quite a revelation on big jobs like that aren't they? ;-)

I think we did (although there was much noise in there as well).

There is even a FAQ on them (although to be fair it had only been published in the group as a draft and not included in the power tools FAQ on the web site yet.

However it does have a home in the wiki now:

Instead of working Saturday to finish the job, I reckon I'll be home by 3pm > Friday.

Fixed price job I hope! ;-)

[dom]

They really make nails redundant, they go in faster, easier, with less damage, and can be taken out again - virtually no effort to add a few more large screw to stiffen up anything that needs it.

Now you're listening to us(!) - I'll recommend this cheapy bit again:

you can put a socket on the front of an impact driver, it extends it's capabilities quite a bit.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Actually the first incarnation of this type of device was designed for car use - to allow easy wheel nut loosening in event of a puncture, etc on the road. They ran off the car battery and took any standard 1/2" drive socket. I wonder if the cordless ones have enough 'impact torque' to do the same job?

[Andy Dingley]

The _first_ incarnation was used on-site in the 1920s with early pre- stressed concrete work. You could tighten these things up with a couple of hefty Mohawks and a long spanner, but even they couldn't undo them from the straining framework afterwards to put the stress into the concrete.

[dennis]

Not that they were needed if you remembered to grease the studs and not overtighten the things in the first place.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Ah - right. Perhaps I should have said the first DIY incarnation. ;-)

[John Rumm]

The modern day cordless equivalent would be some of the bigger beasties on this page:

hex drive variant can still pack a fair punch though.

[The Medway Handyman]

Don't know, but the 12v Makita claims 125 nm.

[The Medway Handyman]

Aint that the truth!

And very good it is.

Oh yes! And I finished by 2pm. And they paid in £ notes. And I got it into the bank before closing time!

[fred]

You paid _cash_ into the bank , you have much to learn in this business ;-)

[The Medway Handyman]

You have much to learn about the awesome powers of the tax man!

[The Medway Handyman]

Definately on my order list. I used a nut driver to put in around 200 6mm x

90mm turbo gold coach screws on this job.

[The Medway Handyman]

I'll check that out - thanks.

I use the Wickes decking screws at the moment, but the price has increased recently.

I also bought a pack of three Wickes 50mm titanium coated 2pz bits. One fitted perfectly, one fitted but wouldn't 'lock' and one wouldn't even go in. Took them back & swapped them for another pack, all of which fitted & locked perfectly. They seem good, one bit has driven the best part of 1,000 screws with no apparent change in performance.

[John Rumm]

You mean he is happier when *some* of the cash goes through the books? ;-)