An Impact Driver is a great tool but not necessarily a replacement for a combi drill.

Impact drivers are becoming more and more popular so do you really need one?
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► Dewalt Impact Driver: amzn.to/3Dzp4r8
► Dewalt 18v Combi Drill: amzn.to/2MiM71A
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► Dewalt Impact Driver: amzn.to/3Dzp4r8
► Dewalt 18v Combi Drill US: amzn.to/3q7uzW7
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[@Christopher574]

You missed one big benefit of impact driver: they don’t transmit the torque of a stuck fastener to your wrists.

[@fistachpl]

One of most important pros. It is also possible to drill with impact driver (unless one hex drill bit has).

[@WeldingForJesus]

Forget fasteners! Using paddle bits is where an impact really shines!

[@fubar12345]

Instead, they transmit more vibration to your hands and wrists. Not really an issue for DIY'ers, but for anyone working with tools HAVS is no joke.

[@BWEEZY8023]

Drill- Packedge in typical box, came with a tool bag (added bonus), two batteries, one charger, drill, and driver. Two words "plenty of Torque" kzbin.infoUgkxW1vOBRCMrgTCDEijzpVzDWsgI-Jm2iQv well I guess that's three. Nice upgrade from current setup. Has belt clips, I don't think I will be using those. Driver and drill were bigger than what I expected but it is an upgrade from the current setup. For the money I would say that this is a great setup for Professionals and DIY/Weekend warriors.

[@Crushwokery]

No you don't need one until, you get one and then for the next 2 hours arse kicking yourself while repeating the phrase, "Why didn't I get one years ago". 😁

[@hr8479]

One feature of impact drivers that is often overlooked is the ease of changing bits. No faffing around with a slippery well-worn plastic-coated chuck, something which often defeats old and tired hands. You just pull on the collet and the bit pops out and you stick a new one in. So simple. Best tool ever and I should've bought one years ago.

[@chrishamilton3582]

you never forget your first impact driver

[@AlexJonesWasRight1776]

thats what she said

[@stephendavies6949]

Never thought I needed an impact driver. Until I bought one! Great bit of kit. Stops my wrists getting twisted too. Just one word of caution: always drill pilot holes in wood before letting rip with the impact driver, because if you don't you're very likely to split the timber.

[@shaunlewis286]

rarely use my combo drill now for drilling apart for holesaws. impact all the way with masonary bits, jobs done

[@robertboughton11]

I have a Dewalt impact driver they are very handy to have.

[@garulusglandarius6126]

I have Dewalt and Makita drill and impact drivers ( I’m a tradesman ) which I use almost daily for so many uses and I love them. There is no need to spend more, these are perfectly good tools and I wouldn’t be without them . I’ve had the Makita for seven years and the Dewalt for four years, both are still going strong and the batteries have lost No charging capacity or power. Highly recommend them ! 👍

[@6panel300]

One of the best tools I've ever bought.

[@Daniel-Pap]

I love my impact driver... But I also love my cheap little 3,6 volt screwing machine for more delicate stuff like IKEA cabinet assembly.

[@stephendavies6949]

Oh yes: using an impact driver to assemble flat pack furniture NOT a good idea!

[@Daniel-Pap]

@@stephendavies6949 Yeah, when he mentioned it in the video, I mentally imagined someone actually trying to assemble an IKEA cabinet with an impact driver (I am sure someone somewhere must have tried)... And I had a good laugh over that mental picture. But a 3,6 volt screwing machine... I used it a lot more, than I thought I would after buying it, it is just so damn small and practical for things that doesn't need a lot of force.

[@jasonmartin5430]

Recalling the not too far off days when a Yankee screwdriver was seen as the latest tech, I do love my impact driver My wrists are not as young as they were!

[@christopherdean1326]

I remember my late dad telling me how he screwed down the floor of our dining room (screws at 9 inch centres all over the room) with a brace and bit, not even a Yankee! I was working at an office furniture company once, and I was out on site assembling furniture with a cordless driver. One of the office guys asked what blokes like us did before cordless tools were invented; "We worked a lot harder!" was my reply....

[@AlexJonesWasRight1776]

Germans actually invented screws and screwdrivers the Nazis as always perfected them.

[@billstanley5317]

Much easier to use an impact driver when you're stretching particularly on a ladder due to the much reduced torque.

[@charles3727]

Yes - you don’t have to watch the video, it’s a tool so of course you need it

[@PhillipBicknell]

I've had a manual impact driver since my motorcycling days - well, I did start with a CZ 125. So when I found my wrist and arm aching after some minor DIY, I invested in a battery impact driver, then got the matching combi-drill to go with it after my corded hammer-drill packed up. My dad still has his 60-year old corded Draper drill, but I take my own tools over when I'm doing DIY for them - I don't like the sparks from the motor on that venerable tool.

[@stephendavies6949]

My dad had manual impact driver. I once used it to help me get the door off a Morris 1300.

[@its_marc]

I don’t really use my drill since getting an impact driver, and I’m on my third!

[@SpartanMJO12]

Did they die of death or did they need a friend? 😁

[@its_marc]

@@SpartanMJO12 upgrades. I use them a lot making raised beds commercially. Always good to have working spares.

[@johnryder8464]

Makita impact drivers are superb. Love the magnetic head and it applies just the right amount of pressure as soon as uou start screwing/driving.

[@KenCharlesTheGreat]

I use my impact for lag screws, decking or when working with dimensional lumber like when building a bench. Other than those operations I find them annoying, some people use them for everything, I prefer using a drill to drive screws, pre drilling as necessary.

[@timtim4603]

Thanks Stuart, I use impact driver all the time it’s a must if you’re doing a project with lots of screwing, combined with the drill it’s a great combination for these jobs, didn’t realise how much I needed one, wouldn’t do without it. You can get great combi sets in screw fix etc

[@SpartanMJO12]

I love my impact driver - I barely use my drill any more. My DeWalt driver has three torque settings, where 1 barely seats the screw (good for predrilled holes I suppose), 2's a bit more useful and 3 (naturally the one I leave it on) is the turbo nutter setting. Built some decking with my dad a while ago before we had two impact drivers, and by the time I'd finished screwing down one decking board with the drill, he'd done two and a half with the impact driver. A great tool, and when you can pick up a name brand one for £50 quite regularly it's a no brainer to have in your tool kit

[@mrnormski9005]

I prefer my 12v Makita impact drive to the 18v, it's lighter & not so severe, also use the 12v sds for all the masonry work in the house never seem to use the combi drill these days

[@PrinceBarin77]

I waited far too long to invest in an SDS for home DIY work. Even better was the comb chisel I bought with it for chasing out back boxes. Combo drill only for very light drilling now.

[@mickeyfilmer5551]

I have two worx Drill Drivers- one is 5 years old the other about 8 months and the difference is quite noticeable, however, the new one only puts out about 40nm of torque so when I saw one in Aldi last Monday for £39.99 with Battery AND Charger included I looked twice and saw that it had 180 nm Torque- so I didn't hesitate- it has a 3 year warranty as well- and it drives screws through my fence straight into the concret base without any hesitation! Well worth it as now I wont have to replace stolen fence panels at 40 quid a time ever again!

[@jamesrodgers3132]

Good video as usual, although you missed the other big benefit of an impact driver: no (or little) reactive torque. You know the tendency of a drill to twist your wrist under heavy load or with a stuck screw -- you don't really get that with an impact driver. If you've ever had a wrist or hand injury from that phenomenon, you'll appreciate it; and it can at least cut down fatigue on bigger jobs.

[@AdityaMehendale]

A _crucial_ difference is that the average torque that your wrist has to deliver is lower with an impact-driver - with a drill you struggle with Newton's third, especially problematic for heavy jobs or odd angles. ...exactly where impact-drivers shine. That and the inwards tap that some drivers give, making the needed pushing force lower too - see MatthiasWandel's explorations on the topic.

[@llljustcallhimdave]

Have 2 impact drivers, they are my most used power tool

[@pauldine4072]

Some good points raised here. I bought an impact driver almost on a whim and tbh, have used it less than I thought I would. The impact driver has wrecked a few things that a drill wouldn't have. They've got their place in a tool kit, but they're not the answer to all problems.

[@tttt4029]

@@ryk3899 Never made a mistake Mr perfect ? 😂

[@ProperDIY]

I totally agree Paul.

[@lesthiele4921]

Nothing like a new tool in the collection,

[@tureq85]

my dewalt has three speeds, including drywall setting which will never overscrew a plasterboard. i could not live without an impact driver

[@valborchardt3596]

Oh thank you Stuart, my hubby has been wanting an impact driver for ages. Now even more so……stay safe

[@SimoneChiaretta]

That’s the best description of the difference between a combo drill and the driver

[@mrgunn2726]

Great video! Talk about your language barriers though: in the USA fixins are food related, turkey dinner with all of the fixins or more often to delicious candies, nuts, or fruit, that are mixed into an ice cream treat. A fastner is somthing used to hold two things together. Imagine the confusion if a Yank in a UK hardware store was asked; Do you want fixins? Oh yes please, yumm! What, I don't even know what a Pozi head screw is or why would I want it in my ice cream.

[@jam9468]

Finally! A clear explanation!

[@ProperDIY]

Thank you!

[@stretchclogg]

I picked up a bare Workzone rattler from Aldi for £15 which uses the 20/40v batteries I have. Very useful tool.

[@frankblack1481]

I’ve been remodelling my basement and being loathe to have the noise of an impact in my life - I use an 20v drill/driver to pilotdrill/countersink but a light 12v Bosch driver to put in the screws. #8x3 is the max I put in and all works ok. A good hammer-drill is a great all rounder if you only can get one tool.

[@PaulBakewell]

Always did wonder what the difference between hammer drill and impact driver was, now I know! Great video thanks Stuart.

[@ProperDIY]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@c.a.g.1977]

I agree on everything you said! I bought my Makita impact driver (well, I suggested it to my wife as my birthday present) for the sole reason of not having to swap bits every time. Very handy tool indeed!

[@ProperDIY]

Well said!

[@David-xc4us]

Didn’t know you could use it in reverse to remove stuck screws, I’ve got old decking that I need to remove so think I might invest in one 👍

[@GiggleBytes2011]

Please note: NEVER use an impact driver when building IKEA furniture, it won't end well. 😂😂

[@stephendavies6949]

Hear hear. I think Mr Proper DIY makes this point in both this and his video on the subject of flat pack furniture building

[@eamonnmckeown6770]

great video. I just picked up a 20v yellow as my first impact driver.

[@ProperDIY]

Good choice!

[@ralphtaylor5328]

Great video. One bit I think you missed is the bits designed for the impact drill.

[@andyc972]

Thanks Stuart, as always a great overview, in many ways a luxury, but with "bare" prices as they are now it's such a useful addition if you have 2 or more batteries !

[@ProperDIY]

Very true!

[@KieranWilliam662]

Another quality video Stuart keep up the good work!

[@ProperDIY]

Thank you

[@AccountantDoesDIY]

Fantastic for multiple stud/joist/rafter work with 100mm turbo golds and PZ2 bits. However make sure you buy the bulk box of bits as you’ll be shattering god knows how many of the blighters!

[@christopherdean1326]

I doubt I've shattered more than half a dozen bits in my life.

[@contessa.adella]

If need to choose for general diy use…then get the Drill Driver. If you only drive crews then an impact driver makes sense. If you can afford it get both! Essentially, Drill Drivers are good for drilling masonry, have proper chucks and selectable torque control. Impact Drivers are good at not camming out screws, can bury huge lag bolts and set screws a bit faster than a drill (if speed matters). Choose the tool based upon your need huh! (Mine: DeWalt 796 Drill and DeWalt 887 Impact)

[@YesiPleb]

Interesting points. I've had a cordless hammer drill and a cordless drill/driver for several years now and there have been times when an impact driver would have been very handy and I had that happen recently taking a cooker hood off the wall in my mum's kitchen. Whoever fitted it, really rammed those screws in tight and I couldn't for the life of me remove two screws because my drill wouldn't fit inside, too big. I had to cut a bit of the hood with my multitool to allow me to bend the hood and the impact driver fit in the gap and out came the screws. For the most part I still use my cordless drivers 99% of the time but there's the odd job the impact comes out to play. As for using the torque of the driver to insert screws to the right depth, I thought everyone did that!

[@figrollin]

I fell into this trap and used it inappropriately at first. Stripped far too many screws before realising it's true role.

[@ProperDIY]

It's not just me then!

[@gavinpotter8505]

I've found my Dewalt combi an OK all rounder but master of none. I also have the Dewalt combi and makita SDS. If I were to star my tool set again, I would recommend to myself to start off with the combi & SDS leaving the combi until later if indeed needed at all? The impact is a highly capable driver, out stripping the combi in terms of sheer power/torque every time. (I'm yet to find a situation whish has beaten it!). Simile the SDS out strips the combi in shear power for screwing/drilling fixings and has the added bonus of chiselling capability too! - providing a powerful tool with dual purpose! The combi I find is too heavy and cumbersome for drilling (whilst also lacking power compared to impact) whilst not having enough power for many drilling situations (compared to SDS!)

[@Neil-Hanson67]

Nice new intro Rodger, now i don't have to press fast forward 3 times to get to your new videos.

[@spatel3783]

thanks Stuart, very helpful

[@HIYAharry]

I've made do without one for a couple of years, but I'm going to buy one next month to build a deck. The main reason I want one is so I can drill and then fix without having to swap the bit!

[@stephendavies6949]

Agreed. The convenience of having both tools to hand cannot be overstated. Just be a little careful when driving srews directly into wood: the power is such that you can easily screw them in too far!

[@bmonck5110]

Great stuff. Getting beyond the fashion and marketing. Thanks

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks for watching!

[@johannes.f.r.]

Great for putting in large amounts of fasteners and large fasteners. Saving your wrist and your drill. Drills are usually not happy doing jobs that require high torque at low speed.

[@karlosgrizz356]

Muy bien explicado.Gracias

[@djb2200]

Thanks for the really useful video. In the background I could see a blue metal plate, I think that I have seen something similar in some London Underground stations on the tunnel linings. What is it?

[@somewhereelse3813]

Short, sweet and to the point. You know what.... Thankyou I didn't know that stuff! I was given a voucher at Christmas by my company, guess what I'm buying? (nowt for the Mrs I assure you 😁) Shhhh...

[@ProperDIY]

Nice one!

[@smashyrashy]

A really ood combi drill is fine for nearly everything i just goyt an impact for the power when the drill is struggling

[@random6809]

Impact driver for wood decking every time.

[@awantamta]

A great explanation

[@alejandroalessandro7820]

Do you have any experience of the larger impact wrench type (automotive use?) Could that be used with an adaptor or is it too much power for wood fixings etc?

[@Stu1982]

Proper diy, proper job mate, I’m afraid I’m a Bosch man myself.

[@ProperDIY]

I'm sure all of the top brands are good

[@martinschmidt3782]

Hello. What is the type of drill bit you used to create the wide hole at 4:06 with the combi drill before using the impact drill to actually drill the screw in flush against the wood face?

[@ThadySenior]

What is the driver bit you use for screws?

[@richardhalliday6469]

Brilliant power tool, bought my DeWalt at Screwfix in the sale for £49.99. I already have DeWalt 18v tools and batteries - at that price it comes in a cardboard box but bought a branded case for £8. Bargain.

[@christopherdean1326]

Where the h*ll did you get a branded DeWalt case for £8? Or was it branded something else?

[@ThriveTalesTV]

my dewalt impact driver have 3 speed settings .

[@dr6124]

Can you use impact driver as a drill to drill holes? / Would you ever want to

[@stephen-boddy]

Can you? Maybe. Should you? No. An impact driver delivers a _rotational_ impact. This is where the huge torque comes from. The hammer action on a combi-drill delivers impacts in-line with the bit. When you are trying to drill into masonary/stone/brick the hammer action is the one that helps breaks down the material at the tip. An impact driver will probably get nowhere, assuming you can even get a drill bit to fit the quick release. Stick to using the right tool for the job.

[@dr6124]

@@stephen-boddy good reply, thanks

[@stephendavies6949]

I wouldn't recommend it

[@richardstevenson2727]

👍

[@frankblack1481]

As someone living in the middle of an American city… Impacts have joined leaf blowers as having apparently become too cheap. Everyone has one and the noise is a menace.

[@ProperDIY]

I'm sure it is

[@fubar12345]

Battery powered blowers are quieter and better anyway

[@The_man_himself_67]

Let's face it, they may be noisy, but who would swap their impact driver for a combi drill?

[@dr6124]

I like my drill.

[@stephendavies6949]

So do I. But I like my impact driver too

[@AlexJonesWasRight1776]

hillarious the glove wearing ... careful dont nick a finger nail mr workman LOL east easy...

[@russiaprivjet]

impact driver saves a lot of sweat

[@kuehnel16]

Fixens 😂🍻

[@troyboy4345]

If my neighbour used an Impact driver at 9am on a Sunday morning .... he would be wearing his FLYMO

[@wowyummyyy]

L I K E 👍👍👍👍👍💯💫💥💯💥💫💥💯💥

[@ProperDIY]

That sure is a lot of thumbs up!

[@Mitrasmit]

All I'm seeing with impact drivers is destroyed screwheads. And I've literally never had any situation where my drills couldn't seat a screw completely - and going too deep is just a human mistake. All my drills are always in their highest setting and I can feather it to a point where it barely turns. I will use up to three drills on a project simultaneously: one to drill, one to countersink, one to screw. I don't see the need to replace one of those with an impact driver as it doesn't reduce the number of tools, but does limit the number of versatile tools within reach. Just get a good quality drill and you can do everything the impact driver does, and much more. I'm still not at all convinced an impact driver has any real benefit.

[@anthonywhittingham1979]

I'm first to comment, can I get a shoutout me and my boy love these videos.

[@ProperDIY]

Well done Anthony - glad you and your son are enjoying them!

[@HayzeeHayes]

They are friggin noise polluters horrible sound and really annoying to hear. I ain't getting one I'm happy with my Makita combi.

[@shandd9640]

Oil Pulse Impact Drivers are the future. Works the same as a regular impact but with less than half the noise.

[@AlexJonesWasRight1776]

invest in one? just buy one cheap skates seriously its 100 bucks maybe