Impact drivers, don't forget how useful they are !

Justin Smith

Justin Smith

Justin Smith

Permabanned
Joined
29 Nov 2012
Posts
72
Location
Sheffield
At the risk of being accused of teaching grandparents how to suck eggs I really think an impact driver is a worthwhile addition to any tool kit. It`s one of those things you won`t use often but when you do need it it`s a life saver.

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/conservitive/2011-07-19_205403_impactdriver.jpg
NO HOTLINKING IMAGES!

I used to use mine on my cars (when I did the work on them ! ) but the latest time I used it was removing the blades from my garden shredder to sharpen them. Three of the four allen headed bolts just would not come undone, in fact the allen bit just rounded off ! So I got a bigger allen key bit, filed it off so it was a very tight fit for the (by now slightly rouded) allen head, then used the impact driver and a big hammer, and out they all came no problem ! Apparently it`s not just the torque provided by the driver but also the shock that loosens the bolts. Oh yes, plus the fact the drive bit is being forced onto the screw at the same time as it applies the torque.
Incidentally, I once read that if you haven`t got an impact driver the next best thing is for one of you to apply the torque whilst your mate hits the nut with a hammer ! I`ve never tried it myself but it would still apply the shocvk to the nut/bolt I suppose.
 
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Can you use them with sockets as well? I've always gone for the breaker bar + extension combo on stuck bolts but I'm always up for trying different approaches.
 
Battery impact guns ftw, most useful things ever. I badly need to get one but keep thinking of other things to spend the money on. Used one all day at the last skid risk day, 2 minutes to change tyres with that and a proper big jack. Usually takes me like 10 mins or more using a hand wrench and small jack.
 
Concrete said:
Can you use them with sockets as well? I've always gone for the breaker bar + extension combo on stuck bolts but I'm always up for trying different approaches.
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Oh yes, the drivers come with a half inch drive, it`s that that any screwdriver (or socket) is fixed onto. I should add that it`s recommended to use heavy duty sockets with an impact driver, you know the thick ones usually black in colour ? I`ve got one of the latter (10mm) because it`s got a hexagonal drive in it rather than the double hexagon, the latter only grips the corners of the nuts.
 
Clarkey said:
Battery impact guns ftw, most useful things ever. I badly need to get one but keep thinking of other things to spend the money on. Used one all day at the last skid risk day, 2 minutes to change tyres with that and a proper big jack. Usually takes me like 10 mins or more using a hand wrench and small jack.
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But do battery/electric drivers provide the forward force at the same instant as the torque ? For instance, if trying to undo a pozi drive bolt, I`d have thought using an impact driver (which you hit) forces the bit into the screw they making it slightly less likely to round off the pozi head ?

Incidentally, on a completely unrelated note, what`s the point of those black covers which I sometimes see on cars bonnets ?
 
Justin Smith said:
Incidentally, on a completely unrelated note, what`s the point of those black covers which I sometimes see on cars bonnets ?
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Bonnet Bras - Designed to protect the front of your car from stone chips and so on..

I guess its only really useful for show cars that spend most their life on stands.
 
Justin Smith said:
But do battery/electric drivers provide the forward force at the same instant as the torque ? For instance, if trying to undo a pozi drive bolt, I`d have thought using an impact driver (which you hit) forces the bit into the screw they making it slightly less likely to round off the pozi head ?

Incidentally, on a completely unrelated note, what`s the point of those black covers which I sometimes see on cars bonnets ?
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You re right, tbh I don't know why Posi screws still exist, they are sooo crap for slipping and rounding.
 
I have an air powered one, but hardly ever use it unless i'm really stuck (security wheel nuts please die) as it's such a pain to get the compressor out everytime.
How much do you need to spend to get a decent cordless one?
 
Justin Smith said:
But do battery/electric drivers provide the forward force at the same instant as the torque ? For instance, if trying to undo a pozi drive bolt, I`d have thought using an impact driver (which you hit) forces the bit into the screw they making it slightly less likely to round off the pozi head ?

Incidentally, on a completely unrelated note, what`s the point of those black covers which I sometimes see on cars bonnets ?
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They're very, very effective on pretty much anything that you can find an adapter for.

I have only destroyed one bolt using one, even then it was useful as I just tapped round the thread once the pressure was gone but there have been a couple of occasions where the bolt that's come out was so worn (before touching it) that I wouldn't want it to go back in
 
Matt82 said:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-cew1000-electric-impact-wrench

Thats the one i have. saved me so many times, dont underestimate the talant of an impact tool.

I had to remove from driveshafts from a diff the other day and due to the diff not being attached to anything the shafts would just turn. impact gun just buzzed them straight out

awesome awesome tool :P
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I've just bought the same one... Got a kewl deal on it too. Some muppet returned it coz the black plastic "trim" where the chuck would be comes off.. So I got it for £47 !!

Stupid plastic bit doesn't even do anything !
 
People that buzz wheel nuts on with air drivers are morons :p. Fortunately the tyre place I use puts copperslip on the bolts and then does them up with a torque wrench.


Thick question re power tools... What is an impact driver compared with a combi drill? Is an impact driver doing the same thing that a combi drill does when it's not on the hammer mode, or is it something different? :confused:
 
Clarkey said:
You re right, tbh I don't know why Posi screws still exist, they are sooo crap for slipping and rounding.
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You can put a lot of torque through a Pozidrive with the correct sized screwdriver (in good condition), but it's easy to round them off by using a Philips or incorrect size or worn out Pozi screwdriver. The alternative is a Torx or socket head screw, both of which are just as easy to round off under similar conditions.
 
Westyfield2 said:
Thick question re power tools... What is an impact driver compared with a combi drill? Is an impact driver doing the same thing that a combi drill does when it's not on the hammer mode, or is it something different? :confused:
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The same, just much stronger (10X the torque I think)
A lot of people talking about impact driver the power tool when the thread is about an impact screwdriver though! All good tool talk though!
 
I have one and it's only ever been used for brake disc retainer screws. Brilliant thing.
 
Justin Smith said:
Incidentally, on a completely unrelated note, what`s the point of those black covers which I sometimes see on cars bonnets ?
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They come from America in general, mainly due the numerous bugs as far as I'm aware. Never been so embarrassed in an American store when I was trying to ask for one, and he couldn't understand my English accent lol.

Impact tools though.... I just push harder ;-)
 
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