12v Impact Driver uses?

[William Burgess]

I am looking to buy a 12v Drill, probally a Dewalt or Hitachi as I don't like the feel of the fat handle drills (Bosch, Milkwaukee, Makita). As with most of these drills for a 20 dollars more you can get the combo with a drill/driver and an impact driver. I already have an 18v makita drill/driver and impact driver and don't really see a need for a 12v Impact Driver. But I was wondering if anyone had both and found a situation where they could use the 12v impact over an 18v impact. Thanks

William

[Marty Paulus]

Sorry Can't help much. I have the Craftsman C3 system with the 19.2V Impact. To be honest I can't see a need for anything smaller. The drill will handle anything under 2" and the impact is used for anything longer. A 12V impact, for me at least, would be a waste of time and money and one more tool I have to find a home for.

[Jim McFarland]

I use a 14.4V Makita Ni-MH impact driver now but couldn't really tell much difference from the 12V DeWalt I used before. The 12V DeWalt drove 3" wood screws and lag bolts very well in my experience. I would still be using it but someone stole it from my neighbor who had it on loan. I preferred the lighter weight of the DeWalt but I got a better deal on a Makita combo set when I replaced the DeWalt.

[Matt Meiser]

I use mine all the time. Recently someone showed me I could drive drywall screws with more contol than a regular cordless drill. Its the first thing I go for when doing home projects too.

[Von Bickley]

I have the Makita 10.2 volt drill and impact driver. Works great. This is my second impact driver and I love them.

The impact driver is one tool in my shop, that if it breaks, I will replace it before the sun goes down.

[Thomas Canfield]

I don't do a lot of heavy screwing, and find that the 12V drivers work for most of the screws up to 1/4" x 3" lag screws. I recently got the Milwaukee 12V Lithiom compact drill and driver and have been happy with the power and battery life and charge time. The only complaint is the drill uses the 1/4" hex drive, but I did get a 1/4" drill chuch adapter to use for smaller bits.

[Keith Westfall]

I picked up a 12 volt Dewalt drill & driver combo a while back at Home Depot. They told me the the driver was NOT an impact - but it is. I love the small hand/footprint!

I also have a Rigid drill (18 volt I think - not home so can't check) but it is quite a bit heavier and not so good for tight places. The Dewalt seems to have lots of power for what I do.

[Steve Friedman]

I have 3 kinds of Bosch 12V - 1/4", impact, and regular. I also have a Bosch 18V driver and impact drill, but never use them anymore. 12V is lighter, smaller, and if it's underpowered, I just go to a corded drill (or brace). Not much that the 12V won't handle.

Steve

[Frank Stolten]

I find the 18 v and 12/14.4v drivers have somewhat different applications. Unless I'm driving a bunch of large lag screws or something else that requires a lot of torque, I always go with either my 12 or 14.4 volt Makita drivers which I pretty much use interchangably. I like the lighter weight, it's definitely less tiring and easier to handle for an extended period of time. They are just about my favorite power tools and I'd hate to be without them.

[Darrell Bade]

Sounds like a lot of folks use the impact driver for phillips head screws.

What brand of bits do you use to stand up to the impact and give acceptable life?

[scott spencer]

I have a 19.2v, 14.4v, and a 10.8v (12v max) impact driver...I reach for the 10.8v the majority of the time. It's just so light, comfortable, and easy to use, and has enough power most of the time.

[Marty Paulus]

Sounds like a lot of folks use the impact driver for phillips head screws.

What brand of bits do you use to stand up to the impact and give acceptable life?
I tend to use the DeWalt brand bits and extensions but make sure you get the ones that are impact rated. The std. bits will not work as well and tend to twist.

[Richard Shaefer]

I have a 14.4v Dewalt pistol grip drill that I bought back in 1994 (jeez, that was a long time ago) and it's still the first screw turning tool I reach for. I have been through a later Dewalt 18v t-handle that died, a rigid 18v Li-Ion drill that was just not the equal of the 14.4, and recently (well, last year) I added a Porter Cable 12v impact driver becuase I got it on sale at Lowes. To be honest, the thing has it's uses, but I don't know why people prefer them for everyday usage, asides from perhaps weight. For normal screwing (haha) you don't need the extra torque, they don't have variable speed control, THEY ARE LOUD, and when you drive a bunch of screws in one run (like screwing down hardi-backer) the impact housing gets insanely hot.

[Eric DeSilva]

But I was wondering if anyone had both and found a situation where they could use the 12v impact over an 18v impact.

I've got an 18V Makita drill and impact driver, and also have the original Bosch 10.8V (now 12V) mini-drill and mini-impact driver. While I've run into plenty of instances where I could use the smaller drill, but not the larger, I don't think that situation has ever come up with the impact driver. In other words, I've found that if you have a larger impact driver, there isn't a much of a case for the small impact driver. That said, it is lighter and I do find myself reaching for it a lot. For $20, I'd say go for it...

[matt tennessen]

I've got the 12v dewalt kit too and I love it. When I was rehabbing houses I needed the longer power that the 18v provided and I was still using NiCad rather than Li-ion. With the incredibly short charging time and more efficient power of Li-ion, I don't know what I'm missing with the 12v vs the "big brothers." The small size is great, you can use it just about anywhere and they weigh nothing. I agree with everyone in regards to impacts driving screws easier and with more control (especially if you're on a ladder or inside a cabinet). Also, Marty's definitely right, the driver tips not rated for impact will twist. Get a bunch and you'll always have them around. Be aware of what you're driving into though, they are notorious for breaking screws.

[Ed Griner]

My choice for myself(electrician) is Panasonic 12 volt impact driverEY7202 I think is the correct number. It has a 3.5AH battery,this thing is tough as nails,easy to use,has an LED right where it should be in front of the trigger. Its a great tool.

[Curt Harms]

I have 10.8 & 18 volt Bosch impacts. I find the smaller impact better for smaller screws like cabinet hinges, it's slower so easier to control depth. I think the 18 volt would drive deck screws all day long and never complain. Analogy for me might be tack hammer vs. framing hammer. They both have their places.

[Jim German]

I've got a Bosch 12V impact driver, and its the best tool I've ever owned. Driving screws is so much easier with it than with a regular cordless drill, and it'll drive a 3" screw into oak without a problem (although it isn't the speediest). Its so nice and light its easy to use in awkward positions, or for long periods of time.

[Steve H Graham]

You have to get the driver. You will find it does 90% of what a drill does, better than a drill. I got a 12V Hitachi kit years ago. It was actually cheaper with a drill and driver than the driver would have been by itself. I'm not even sure where the drill is. I never use it. The driver is one of the greatest tools I own. Turns bolts and screws without stripping. Goes longer between charges than a drill. Turns fasteners a drill won't budge. Gives excellent control over speed and torque. You need this thing.

For drilling, when the driver isn't the best choice, I use a press and a Bosch Brute hammer drill. If you don't have a hammer drill, believe me, you need that, too. After that, a rotary hammer.

[Rick Potter]

I have a Makita 18V, and a Milwaukee 12V, impact drivers and drills. For general use and woodworking I almost always use the 12 V.

I really like the Milwaukee 12V system, had a Rigid 12V, and it is really front heavy.

If you decide on the Milwaukee combo, be aware that they make a drill/driver with a chuck, as well as a 'screwgun' with a hex drive. The impact driver has a hex also, and it is easy to confuse them. You want the combo with the chucked drill and the impact driver. The little 'screwgun' has pretty slow speed, and makes a lousy drill.

Rick Potter

[phil harold]

just read this article today

toolsofthetrade.net/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1489&articleID=705143

[Steve Griffin]

Last year I hung 60 sheets of 5/8" sheetrock with my 12 volt impact. I was attaching to old, rock hard framing, and much of it was on a ceiling up on scissor trusses. There is not a better tool in the universe than a small lithium impact when you are up on a ladder, overreaching and putting in sheetrock screws.

Oh, I also use them to assemble cabinets and install hardware. Never once thought: "gee, I wish I was stressing my arms and wrists with a heavier and more expensive drill."

[Greg R Bradley]

just read this article today

toolsofthetrade.net/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1489&articleID=705143

That is a good review and I would agree with his #1 & #2 choice of the Makita BTD141 & 142. A year later, that article is out of date. Bosch now does have a Li 18v and Makita came out with the BTD144, which is a brushless model with 3 different power settings. As good as the 141 was, the 144 is dramatically better. An entirely new class of 18v impact.

HOWEVER, The post is about the usefulness of the 12v Li units (actually 10.8v). I have a Bosch 12v Impact and find it very useful. I would think it would be always first choice for woodworking type functions over the bigger 18v units. The BTD144 on low has about the same power as the 12v units so it really would do everything from fine cabinetry to removing car lug nuts. I would reach for the 12v unit by choice for most small stuff. I think anyone buying a 12v drill will be very happy if they spend a few bucks more and get the pair.

[phil harold]

funny the article is a year old online and i just got the magazine last week in the mail


lol