impact drivers

been looking into getting a couple of impact drivers for the garage. i have used a bosch impactor before,and they are pretty nice...but i think i like the dewalts a lil better. problem there is.....the 1/4 inch dewalt impact driver is right around $250...and you can get the 6 tool set for right around $560.

also looked at the porter cable and the ryobi......not really impressd with the ryobi.


what all do ya'll have.....what have ya'll used? pros/cons??? thanks.

 

I have used pretty much all brands on a professional level. I ended up going with Ridgid 18v for my own personal tools. Between Ridgid and Dewalt you can't go wrong. The price difference between those two and the lessers isn't really that much.

You get what you pay for.

For home needs, it really depends on how much you are going to use. My older brother swears by ryobi but then again he did cut off his middle finger with a table saw.

 

I usually swear by milwaukee tools, but I just got a ryobi driver for 50 bucks at home depot on sale with two batteries and a charger and case. Never used ryobi before, I've heard mixed things about them though. Some good some bad. We'll see... I'll keep ya posted.

 

i didnt think to look at home depot yet. i am looking around at lowes,cause its 5 minutes from the house, and i got some lowes gift cards.

 

pneumatic or battery?

 

battery/cordless. i need one around the house, and when i go off somewhere for work.

 

ahh I'm no help then, sorry

 

I just bought a harbor freight impact wrench with 2 year warranty for $53 and Im satisfied so far.

 

i got the 6 piece dewalt set for christmas last year...lemme tell ya, that the 1/4" impact driver has plenty of power. I used it to drive lag bolts into a wooden cart we made for a generator. I'm not sure for about ALL day use, but for workin on your truck or probably even building a deer stand it should have tons of power.

 

im leaning towards the dewalt kit....even tho its a lil more than i wanna spend...and a couple of the tools may not see much use at all.

 

I love it..The only thing I havent used so far is the grinder, but thats just cuz the grinding disc they give you sucks, and dosent fit on the grinder. Im to cheap to go buy new ones..haha

Everything else I have used at some point and works great. Im itching to really try it out, and build a deer stand with it just for something to do..haha

 

i saw some of the makita stuff.....never really used any makita tools. how are they?? they hold up to heavy use pretty good,Chad?

 

You get screwed when you have to buy replacement batteries. I recently bought a pair of batteries for my DeWalt XRP for $149.00

I prefer pneumatic. Cant go wrong.

 

i have 2 half inch pneumatic impact guns......use them alot, but alot of times....im where there isnt any electricity...so i gotta rely on hand tools a good bit....and cordless tools.

cool...i'll look into them as well.

 

i forgot to add to this thread the other day..........at home depot...i picked up the dewalt xrp 18v 6 piece kit.....1/2 inch drill, 1/4 inch impact,sawzall,grinder,light, and circular saw, plus 2 batteries and charger for $490......which beat lowes price of $570. im gonna get a few more batteries and charger eventually, along with a 1/2 inch impact to go with it.

 

Im a Carpenter, and I use them alot. My boss got the Dewalt kit, and that Impact is pretty good. But My Makita I think is alot better, quality wise and it has a LED light.
One of my co-workers has Makita also. Best tool I have baught so far...

 

the drill and the driver that came with my dewalt kit have the led area light as well. handy as hell.

 

I have a ridgid and it is great...until the battery expired! I have used them all at one time or another if you go cordless lithium batteries are a must and maybe the only ones available any more. I like the makita kit that has a impact and screwgun. It is reall nice to have both at the house or on the job. I like the Ridgid warranty so I tend to go that direction. It has paid off several time for me. Plus you save a little over dewalt. I personally think your batteries will die before you wear out the tool so replacement cost is a big consideration.

 

I've been using a 12V Makita impact for years. I love it because it is light - doesn't ware your arm out using it all day and does the job. Bits and nut drivers never get loose in the 1/4 inch drive like they do in a chuck. The impact is great zip screws, carbide bits, sockets everything. I also have a chuck for it for drill bits.I got my son in law a Makita kit for under $200 on sale on the internet, included 2 14V bats, charger, impact driver, regular drill and a florescent work light. A lot for the $

 

I got a Skil 2372-01 7.2-Volt Lithium-Ion Power Wrench for my last b-day.

$220 SKIL 2372-01 7.2-Volt Lithium-Ion Power Wrench

http://www.amazon.com/Skil-2372-01-7-2-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Wrench/dp/B000P7MAGU
At first I thought I was going to exchange it but I used it a couple of times and the thing works good. Don't expect a lot of torque. It's good for small stuff, like taking off the tail light assy. However, I did use it to disasemble my garage door opener to replace the worn gears.