6 Tips To Find The Best Impact Driver
Are you on the lookout of the right impact driver? Well, there are drills or hammer drills, but nothing can work when it comes to driving large screws through hard surfaces. Now, there is no dearth of Impact Drivers products in the market today but not all would be equally suitable for you. Thus, the post below offers a pro-guide on how to choose the right impact driver.
Decide on the type
Impact drivers are majorly divided into two types- corded as well as cordless.
If you are on budget, the corded model would be great for you. They are known for excellent gear reduction and they tend to be lot cooler- compared to cordless counters. But, they are also heavier.
However, if budget is not a problem, cordless drivers would be your go-to thing. They are more powerful, more advanced and work with just all kinds of fasteners. Besides, being cordless, they make the whole process more convenient compared to corded counterparts. Whether you want to work on harder surfaces or softer surfaces, a cordless driver would be your right buddy for every surface.
You will find the cordless drivers in 12V and 18V+ ranges. The latter is obviously more powerful and can work with larger fasteners compared to the former one. Makita BTD144 18-Volt LXT is a good option if you are looking for a reliable cordless driver in 18V range. It comes with variable 3-speed power selection and assures extremely precise control on fastening.
Go for brushless motors
Once again, if budget isn’t a problem, try to look for impact drivers that come with brushless motors. Brushless motors assure more efficient operation and extend the service life of your driver. Another great advantage is that the brushless option does not generate much heat which eventually eliminates burn-out risks. Not only that, you will often find the brushless models with advanced electronic features. These cutting-edge features allow the motor and battery to jive together which consequently enhances performance as well as keep thermal overload issues at bay.
Adjustable clutch
Won’t it be great if you can have full control on how much force you want to apply on fastener? Well, in that case, you will have to look for impact drivers that come with adjustable clutch. These clutches enable you to customize the force to be applied on fastener. This is especially relevant when you have to use the driver for smaller woodwork projects.
In-built LED lights
You will need proper visual of the surface and surrounding areas while driving in a screw into a surface. Nothing is worse that ending up with a screw driven into the wrong point. To avoid such a nuisance, it’s best to invest in an impact driver that comes with in-built LED light. The LED quotient will keep the whole area illuminated and make the operation even more effective. In fact, these lights would be especially great when you have to reach out to hard-to-reach places or if suddenly the power goes out.
Ergonomic design
Though often ignored yet this particular point is vital to ensure a comfortable operational experience with your impact driver. Try to look for an impact driver that carries a convenient ergonomic design. If you have used impact driver before, you are aware of the huge pressure it transmits to hand. But, an ergonomically designed impact driver will relieve you off the pressure and makes things a lot easier. So, drivers with rubber pistol grips would be great choice here. You will especially need an ergonomic driver when you will need to use the machine for a longer time.
Charge gauges
This particular feature is handy to understand the amount of fuel left in your driver so that you know beforehand whether or not your driver needs a charge. Some of the drivers come with gauges right on tool. However, a more convenient option would be to have gauges right on battery pack which makes it easier to check charge status.
Final words
Always take a comparative study before you invest in an impact driver. Look for reliable models from reputed brands. Always check reviews and ratings – your chosen driver should be backed by a long line of happy users.
