Impact drill/driver question

[radhak]

Do all impact drivers have a hex chuck? At least the ones I am seeing on sale are.

If yes, while they'd be a natural to hold driver bits, it'd be a problem to hold drill bits, right? I'd need to buy drill bits that have a hex base, a pain IMHO.

Maybe I'm missing the point - maybe I should not be using an impact driver to drill?

[Uncle Cracker]

Maybe I'm missing the point - maybe I should not be using an impact driver to drill?

The manual that came with my Bosch warns against exactly that...

[LCHIEN]

I would not use a impact driver to drill.
An impact driver uses the mass of the drill mechanism to impart hundreds of tiny blows to drive or loosen torqued fasteners. Drilling would seem to require a continuous smooth action.

An ideal use is for driving long deck screws with phillips or square drives.

I have used the impact drivers with sockets to drive hex head lag screws and other hex head bolted assemblies (like tool stands). There are adapters with hex shanks (with the quick release groove) and square socket drive with the retainer balls. The HF set is on sale this week for $2:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42191
altho I don't recommend using the 1/2 adapter...
Sears has a set, too for about $8.

[Hellrazor]

I wouldn't drill with an impact driver. Driving screws or using it with sockets is what it was made for.

[just started]

There are drill/drivers and there are impact drivers but there aren't any impact drill/drivers. All of the manuals for impact drivers I've seen state they are NOT intended for drilling.

[LCHIEN]

to the OP - I think maybe you are confusing hammer drill with impact driver... sounds similar when you equate hammering and impacting and equate rotating bits will drilling and driving but they are entirely different animals. Hammer drills drive the bit downwards repeatedly to help the drill bit penetrate masonry. Impact drivers repeatedly impact the bits rotationally to help torque the bits and fasteners.

hammer drills have a adjustable chuck to hold drill bits of different sizes, and usually a switch to turn off the hammer motion so it becomes an ordinary drill.

At one time I was confused on exactly the same thing. I now own two impact drivers and zero hammer drills.

[geeoh]

Adding to the above; Most of the new "compact" drivers are using hex type collets for hex shank accessories. Having a hex collet does NOT mean that it is an Impact type driver. Now if you have a hex collet Driver which are typically 1/4" then you can add one of these to it: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-49-2...9?ie=UTF8&s=hi
But be aware that the speed of a Driver is typically much slower than a Drill/Driver or Drill with a 2 speed gear box.

[LinuxRandal]

Not ALL impact drivers, use the hex chuck. Full size ones, tend to use either a 3/8, or 1/2" socket fitting. (1/2" normally on the corded ones used for automotive)

There are drill/drivers and there are impact drivers but there aren't any impact drill/drivers. All of the manuals for impact drivers I've seen state they are NOT intended for drilling.

There IS one exception to this that I am aware of.
Panasonic EY6535GQW 15.6-Volt NiMH Cordless Multi Drill/Driver Kit

It is designed more for things like deck building and such.

Now, I have seen a impact driver set, that contains the hex drill bits, in impact grade material. But they are harder to find, more expensive, and using a Bosch PS40 verses a PS20 for comparison, the impact driver heats up and dulls your bits quicker, and gives you more runout.

But with a separate driver and drill, and interchangeable batteries, the only real problem, may be if your trying to use them on a ladder.

[SARGE..g-47]

In my Makita 10.8 V set both the impact driver and drill-driver have hex shafts. So.. if you want to drill you use a hex shaft drill bit or...... you purchase a special chuck Makita makes for $25 that has a hex shaft. Insert the hex chuck in the hex on the drill-driver.. insert a standard drill bit and take care of business.

[dlminehart]

I've used the Ryobi impact driver for drilling 3/4" holes in old (and dense) wall studs for running electrical wiring. Worked well for this type of application where the torque was useful. Regular drill kept binding when using a fluted bit with screw point, while spade bit was taking forever and binding as well.

[BigguyZ]

I've drilled a lot with my impact driver. Expecially when installing cabinets and using the insty-drive system. I want the impact driver to drive the screws, but switching between a drill and a driver negates the ease of using the insty-bit system...

Never had problems drilling with the impact.

[jaybee]

Here:

http://www.houseoftools.com/product.htm?pid=503062

is a link to what I use when I have to drill into something stubborn.

[radhak]

I've drilled a lot with my impact driver. Expecially when installing cabinets and using the insty-drive system. I want the impact driver to drive the screws, but switching between a drill and a driver negates the ease of using the insty-bit system...

Never had problems drilling with the impact.

But the problem of needed drills with hex shank remains. I'd be happy using it just as a driver; as it it I have 3 others : one regular, one right-angle, and a hammer drill. Dedicating one to just drivers might be a good idea.

[radhak]

Interesting Jay! Right solution!

Should have known - for every problem, there's a marketing opportunity !

[LCHIEN]

OTOH...
I was using my B&D impact driver today and i noticed that the bag of bits that came with it include about 4-5 drill bits to 1/4" dia. mounted to hex shanks. The shanks even have the quick release/retaining groove. So apparently they think people want to drill with them...