![]() They’re great for removing stubborn, rusted nuts and bolts. Full-size impacts will have larger, longer tool heads, with beefier internals, and thus higher torque specs. If the tool isn’t labeled specifically compact or sub-compact, you can assume, it is a full-sized model. There are also smaller ⅜- and larger ¾-inch drive models, with the latter being for heavy vehicle maintenance, agricultural equipment, or other industrial uses.Īmong half-inch impact wrenches, there are also tool body sizes-generally, full, compact, and sub-compact. What are we talking about when we say size? The most common size impact wrenches are ½-inch drive models-those with a square anvil measuring ½ x ½-inch, that accepts ½-inch sockets. And high RPM help drive nuts or bolts faster, while IPM kick in harder as the resistance increases. Impacts per minute (IPM) increase as revolutions per minute (RPM) increase. Think of amp hours like the volume of a gas tank-a bigger number equals more gas. Generally, 18-volt tools with advanced features and capabilities make them more versatile and easier to use.Īmp hours (Ah) equals the number of amps that the battery will discharge, continuously, for an hour. Tools with 18 and 20 volts have less difference between them. This makes them good for smaller jobs, working overhead, or getting into tight spaces. With smaller batteries, 12-volt impact wrenches are more compact. Batteries: Volts and Amp Hours (Ah)Īll things being equal, higher voltage will give you more power-but there are cases for lower voltage. As a result, the twisting motion-known as reactionary torque-that you feel when using an electric drill is virtually eliminated. Fortunately, impact wrenches are extremely comfortable to use because the concussive blows smoothly transfer most of that high-energy torque directly to the fastener, not to your hand, wrist, or arm. However, all that brute strength isn’t very useful if you can’t control the tool. By comparison, cordless impact wrenches can easily produce torque outputs of over 250 foot-pounds, which is more than enough muscle to power-drive the fattest lags and bust loose rusty, corroded nuts. For example, most cordless drill/drivers produce about 50 foot-pounds of torque, and the average impact driver delivers about 125 foot-pounds. It employs both rotational force (torque) and short-burst concussive blows (impacts) to deliver an unparalleled amount of power. Unlike cordless drill/drivers and impact drivers, which excel at drilling holes and driving screws, the impact wrench is specially designed for tightening and loosening various hex-head bolts, nuts, and lag screws. For a broad look at the category, see our cordless drills and impact drivers buying guide.What You Need to Know About Impact Wrenches How They Work And check out our roundup of the best cordless drills to expand your collection of power tools. Read on for reviews of four of our top-rated impact drivers, listed in alphabetical order. Last, we measure sound in decibels at the user’s ear to get a score for noise. Impact drivers tend to generate more noise than their cordless drill cousins, and as it turns out, all the models we tested require hearing protection for safe use. We also run tests to see how long it takes to fully charge the battery.ĬR’s experts use each impact driver to drive screws just as you would, taking note of attributes such as the balance and feel of the tool. We also look at the handle size and weight of the unit to determine an overall handling score. ![]() To assess run time, we measure how long a single battery can run the unit under a standardized load. We also look at how quickly it can drive wood screws in practice. This test is a reflection of how effective it is at driving fasteners into wood or other materials. ![]() To calculate an impact driver’s power score, we measure both the torque it can generate and number of impacts per minute. We put impact drivers through their paces in our lab. “For any job involving driving more than a few screws, you really can’t beat the power and speed of an impact driver,” says Misha Kollontai, CR’s test engineer for impact drivers and cordless drills. An impact driver can even drill into brick or concrete block. But this extremely versatile, cordless power tool drives screws more efficiently into wood, metal, and cement than traditional cordless drills can, making it a popular choice for heavy-duty home improvement jobs like building a deck or a fence. To the untrained eye, an impact driver may seem like just another drill. The next power tool you should add to your home’s tool kit is an impact driver. ![]()
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