Replies

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Mar 29, 2004 05:29pm | #1

   butch

      I don't have your tool and cannot comment. I do have the Hitachi 1/2" drill 9V. It it the most torqueing drill I have every owned and the balance it good in my hand.

   Regards...

   sarge..jt

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   UncleDunc | Mar 29, 2004 07:25pm | #2

   Square drive screws are better. Phillips drive were designed to cam out, to prevent overdriving.

3. 
   jazzdogg | Mar 29, 2004 08:39pm | #3

   Butch,

   After researching cordless impact drivers for a few months, I finally bought one and it has been a terrific investment that has paid for itself in unexpected ways.

   It proved handy when I needed to remove overtightened lug nuts for a tire change the day I bought it -- really glad I had it (and my 1/2" drive sockets) in the truck!

   Using the 1/4" hex drive, deck screws go in quite easily now - so easily, in fact, that instead of concerning myself with the heads stripping-out, I now have to be watchful to avoid driving them too far beneath the deck surface.

   This weekend I participated in a steel-framed-barn raising and the 1/2" square drive proved more than adequate for driving home the large nuts and bolts that held the structural members tight to the concrete slab.

   I ended-up buying a Panasonic "Multi-driver" with a 1/2" square drive as the primary means of attachment. As mentioned above, it also has a removeable 1/4" hex drive; there's also a standard keyless drill chuck. I'm really satisfied with it, and plan to use it when assembling a friend's dock next week - wouldn't want to use a corded tool while standing in a lake.

   Have fun,

   -Jazzdogg-

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.

4. 
   workingwoods | Mar 30, 2004 05:35am | #4

   I have 2 impact drivers, my old one is a dewalt 1/2" corder inpact driver, I have probably driven about a half of a million 4 1/2" lags with it when I was a deck contractor. It was wonderful.

   Recently, I bought the 12v panasonic cordless impact driver. IT IS AMAZING!!!!

   I love it! I have been using it for about a month, It hardly ever strips a screw, and could drive a wood screw through concrete I swear. LOL The only thing you have to watch is that it has so much torque, it does break bits rather regularly.

    

   John

1. 
   Brewster201 | Mar 30, 2004 03:32pm | #8

   John, I have the Hitachi impact driver which is excellent but since I have a Panasonic 12v drill I was looking at the new Panasonic impact driver. This way I could share batteries with both. Queston, how does the Panasonic compare to the Dewalt/trigger feel.?

                                    Bruce

5. 
   mudman | Mar 30, 2004 06:36am | #5

   Butch,

     I think I have the same drill as you. I actually got it on sale at Blowes fo 30 off. I was worried because the price was 50 to 80 bucks lower than any other compairable impact drive on the market. I love it and it is my primary drill. My 18v sits in the van unless I need to run an auger bit or hole saw.

    The Journal of Light Construction did a review on cordless impact drivers about 4 months ago. One of (mabey THE) best building trade publications on the market. Though I do love FHB for its super cool high end stuff!  I think that their web is JLC.com. The reviewer tested a model that is a little better than the one I/we have. It sold for $190 or $210 but was 12 v. It had a different looking grip and a better charger I think. He basicly said that he liked the weight but prefered the dewalt's and Makita's greater power. He was a decking guy and drove lags all day. I love my Hitachi. I think that it is a little quiter than the others, a bonus for me and my clients.

   Mike

6. 
   JMartinsky | Mar 30, 2004 01:55pm | #6

   Not to bum you out, but if you had used square drive scews, you wouldn't of had the "cam out" problems like you did with philips' head. That being said, an impact driver is supposed to be much easier on the wrist, and I love new toys!

   John

7. 
   Brewster201 | Mar 30, 2004 03:26pm | #7

   I agree with you Butch, I have a Hitachi impact driver and once my buddies used it they couldn't  believe how well they worked. It has really saved my arm. There is a video test at Fine Homebuilding. 

   http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/pages/hvt029.asp

   Bruce

1. 
   micanopy | Mar 30, 2004 03:47pm | #9

   Thanks to all of you for your feedback.

   butch

8. 
   RW | Mar 31, 2004 03:57am | #10

   Panasonic combo is the cats meow. And in impact setting, the phillips heads don't cam out so much. But keep lots of tips around. You'll break them a lot more often. That little bugger has enough juice I've put 8" GRK structural screws in with it, and took the lug nuts off a truck. Pretty amazing for such a little (and cordless) tool.

   "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain

1. 
   micanopy | Mar 31, 2004 02:51pm | #11

   Thanks for the tip on the tips. As I said originally, none ever came with the driver which was really a surprise, but after about 300 screws I still haven't broken this one.

1. 
   mitch | Mar 31, 2004 09:26pm | #12

   speaking of which-  what brand of 2" bits do you prefer?  i've been using bosch with my makita 12v impact driver and it seems they don't wear out hardly at all- right up until the moment they fail completely- often rather spectacularly!  i bounced a good sized chunk of bit off my left cheek about an inch under my eye that had me thinking safety goggles might not be such a bad idea after all.

   m

1. 
   RW | Mar 31, 2004 11:08pm | #14

   I guess I haven't gotten real finicky on bits. I've used DW, Magna, pretty much anything that's sitting at the counter in a 25 ct box. They run until they quit, and yeah, like you said. It's all over at once. It seems to make a difference just what you're torqueing into (you can spell check flame that if you want) - rock maple breaks more bits than SYP."If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain

9. 
   MarkRoderick | Mar 31, 2004 10:33pm | #13

   I read a review somewhere about a year ago and they said that once you use one of those things you'll never use a standard drill-driver again. So I guess your experience proves that out.

10. 
    CRAIGCONEY_M | Apr 01, 2004 02:28am | #15

    Butch-

    I have the Hitachi impact and it has been great.  I've used Makita and Dewalt impacts, and I prefer the Hitachi for cabinet work & installs.

    I've had mine since November, too bad they don't give a commission or kickback for everyone that has bought one since seeing mine in use.