Cordless 1/4" hex power drivers - your screwdriver and impact driver lineup

[YesIHaveAHammer]

There's light USB cordless screwdrivers, 18V impact drivers, and everything inbetween. It would be interesting to hear what you have in your lineup and what you use them for.

It seems the kind of tool where if you have two close together in capability, for many tasks you could use either. So if you're going to eventually have 2-3 of these tools, you want to think ahead about what range of capability you want to cover.

Impacting or not is obviously a major difference. You gain power, no kickback, less cam-out. But at the expense of torque feedback and control for small fasteners, and lack of clutch to ease consistent repeated uses.

The available range seems to go something like this:

1. Small USB ones
2. ~4V inline or pistol type, maybe with clutch
3. ~7V including twist pencil type, maybe with clutch
4. 12V drill shaped, maybe with clutch
5. 12V hydraulic/quiet impact driver
6. 18V hydraulic/quiet impact driver
7. 12V impact driver
8. 18V impact driver

 

[Gmonkee]

My wife has the little Ryobi version, she uses it on household and whatnot to computer stuff. No complaints.
I have the Truper 3.6 v clutchless and use it in woodworking, household and whatnot.
Hers cost 3X the price of mine but hers has a cool factor.

My son has the convertible version of mine by Truper, he uses it for everything, he won't be bothered by regular screwdrivers anymore.

Of course the battery drills carry this function also. We have 5 of those. Mainly when we demand more HP.

 

[Gmonkee]

One of my tricks when doing a project is to set up two drills with different bits, a screw gun with the conical countersink bit and another with the Phillips bit.

No changing tooling during the project. The downside is battery management. Everything is a different brand and model usually.

Playmobil cases make great tool cases too.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

I have two of the same 12 volt hex impacts and a 2 speed 20 clutch setting hex driver.
The impacts I stop counting after a 100 three inch screws on a small battery
The 20 clutch setting hex driver is either for finesse or using a counter sink.
Those have been able to do anyyhing I have needed done.

 

[Dave455]

Got a 12V Bosch and an 18V Makita.

The Makita is a superb tool, but honestly, for most things I need, the Bosch works fine, and it’s small and light. In fact, I’m pretty amazed at what it will do.

Drives most screws I need to, including some relatively large coach screws / lag bolts.

Works as a drill to a degree, with hex shank bits. As a drill, it won’t perform like a dedicated, but realistically, what do I drill with this? A dozen pilot holes for 4mm or 5mm woodscrews? A few holes in plasterboard for a light fitting?

It does all these things just fine, and fast, and I don’t need to carry another tool. Very controllable too. Screwing into soft materials I can easily get the screws just flush.

Not a costly tool either.

 

[engineer2]

I have a couple of 18V Makita impact drivers. My 14 year old one lives in the shed and goes into the road trip tool kit. My newer 18V Makita is for garage and household work. I like the versatility, from little Phillips screws to lug nuts.

My youngest want a driver for her apartment mostly for assembling furniture and random household stuff. But now that she owns a car lug nuts might be in her future. I was thinking the 12V Milwaukee impact driver or maybe stay with 18V Makita.

 

[finn]

Two 12v Bosch, a 20 v Dewalt, 20 V Skill, an M12 , and an 18 V Bosch.

The 18v Bosch is an older compact brushed motor that’s still hanging in there with the original ten or twelve year old lithium batteries.

The subcompact Bosch 12v drivers are ideal around the house. Technically the one in Mi is my wife’s. The other older one is labeled 10.9 v, but is the same tool before Bosch got caught up in the horsepower wars, and lives in Az, along with the M12.

The Skill was cheap at Menards and was an impulse buy, but it’s a handy size and what I reach for most often.
lThe Dewalt is the most powerful, and I like the small pouch batteries.

 

[Rusted Nut]

I have a M12 Milwaukee that works well for most things up to 2 1/4” #8 screws. Larger than that I go with the M18 1/4” impact.

 

[MushCreek]

I have an M18 and an M12. The M18 built my house, has fallen from roof height (more than once) and still keeps on ticking. I did have to put new brushes in it. It's about 16 years old.

 

[Terra Nova]

I have 2 M18 impacts I use for everything. The size has been an issue on some recent projects and have been eyeing the M12 compact or subcompact drivers for interior automotive work and the like. If I can't come up with an excuse beforehand I'll scoop one up during the Black Friday sales.

 

[Jgaz]

I have a total of five. I’m also counting the 3/8” square drive just because.

I have a 15+ year old Bosch impact driver. It’s an early model that was labeled 10.8v.

The power screw driver came with it impact. I use it so much more than I thought I would.

The Ryobi 18v was a free tool when I purchased a couple of batteries. Probably the only Ryobi tool I own that I wouldn’t buy again. It has good power, but I don’t care for how sensitive the trigger is for controlling speed at the highest setting.

My 4 in 1 Bosch instalation tool that is only about a year old. Love it!

And last but not least, my 12 year old Milwaukee 3/8” drive impact that was issued to me at work.
It doesn’t have nearly the torque of today’s models but that’s why we were issued these.

Bolts on the transducers of our test rigs were getting stripped out when idiots used an air impact like a NASCAR tire changer. The rule was made, no air tools during instrumentation change over. If you used air tools it was an automatic write up.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Got a 12V Bosch and an 18V Makita.

The Makita is a superb tool, but honestly, for most things I need the Bosch works fine, and it’s small and light.

The subcompact Bosch 12v drivers are ideal around the house.

They do seem ideal for this. Seems a bit too close to my M12 Surge hydraulic impact though. When I'm using that indoors, I often wish I could turn off the impacting and just let it drive with the motor directly. Sometimes do the final tightening to "just snug" level with a hand screwdriver. I think the M12 Surge is a good call for a single tool, but if someone wants two, might be better to go for a bit above and a bit below.

My 4 in 1 Bosch instalation tool that is only about a year old. Love it!

Having those attachments could be enough of a differentiator, but I haven't missed being without this kind of installation driver. I use a right angle adapter reasonably often, have hex drill bits to fit it, and have both a 12V compact drill and impact driver.

 

[zimman]

I do okay with these. I don't think I'd ever need another.
Zim

 

[KnurledNut]

Secular multi-trade and mechanical use.
18v brushless impact drivers are the workhorse.
18v subcompact for some drilling and driving.


18v heavy duty brushless drill. Burnt up one too many puny-*** drills.
Older brushless 18v impact driver that won't die. Survived a 30' drop. Subject to abusive tasks.


18v subcompact drill converted to mini hex driver for delicate or limited access work.


18v impact driver complements impact wrenches for fleet and equipment maintenance and field calls.


I don't have any real small powered screwdrivers. Not really a need for my uses.
Sometimes I use my cordless ratchet with a bit adaptor.
Manual ratcheting screwdrivers earn their keep in the arsenal.

 

[NoahG]

My “lightest duty” drivers are the M12 Surge and the M12 Installation Driver. I would buy a micro impact if someone reputable would make that form factor. I can’t stand small power tools with built in batteries.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

My “lightest duty” drivers are the M12 Surge and the M12 Installation Driver.

Aside from the heads of the installation driver, would you say there's enough distance between them?

I would buy a micro impact if someone reputable would make that form factor.

Something different to the new-ish M12 brushless?

 

[finn]

The problem with those multi head tools is that at least in my case, it wouldn’t take much for the heads not on the tool to be scattered from here to Timbuktu.
And never to be found again.

 

[alinc100]

Gosh, I have several. From the 4V Ryobi ,with internal battery(which replaced a removable pack 4v Craftsman),Craftsman 12v Nextec, M12 impact,M12 Surge impact( My favorite) Dewalt 12v impact, Makita 18v sub compact impacts. At work, Interior commercial carpentry, I at any given time may have up to 4 on my cart depending on the job. A tool I was skeptical of ,but now happy with the hex shank Milwaukee drill bits. I use them often to pre-drill/clearance hole aluminum. I originally thought being in an impact, they'd be brittle, possibly snap but in real life I have not found that to be the case. If I totaled them all up and put them all in one place I'd bet I'm close to 15-18 units.

 

[Steel_Rain]

1. Small USB ones
2. ~4V inline or pistol type, maybe with clutch
3. ~7V including twist pencil type, maybe with clutch

1. 12V drill shaped, maybe with clutch
2. 12V hydraulic/quiet impact driver
3. 18V hydraulic/quiet impact driver
4. 12V impact driver
5. 18V impact driver

As you can tell, I’m a major tool weirdo and love 1/4” drive tools.

I use the smaller USB/4v/single speed/low RPM stuff for light work, mostly interior trim, small engine work and electronics repair.

I LOVE “pen” type (pencil) drivers for small repairs. My favorite is the Makita impact pen driver, especially with this sensitive trigger. I also love the Panasonic drivers for the raw feel of them. I’m currently replacing all the battery’s with Li-ion packs.

M12 is insane power for 12v. I’m shocked by these tools for the power they offer in the form factor.

Makita is my favorite brand, but I have a mix of FLEX, Milwaukee, Bosch, SO (not pictured), Hercules and even a few Craftsman V20 RP 1/4” stuff.

I have several more at work included a few dups of what’s pictured from my @ home stuff.

12v/18v/40v stuff is for heavier work. I just stripped a large mower deck today to replace four spindles. It was rusty in parts, but my 40v Makita had zero issues. I did it all with 1/4” drive tools, no impact wrenches needed. My work varies from light automotive, to heavy equipment to agriculture repair, but I love 1/4” drive tools for the lightweight nature, control and high power the newer brushless stuff offers.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Milwaukee M12 and a Snap-On 14.4V 1/4" drive impact - love them both and I can't imagine not having them.

 

[Steel_Rain]

The problem with those multi head tools is that at least in my case, it wouldn’t take much for the heads not on the tool to be scattered from here to Timbuktu.
And never to be found again.

Agree @finn

Check out 10 spot tools 3D printed organizers for these:

Packout Insert for M12 Install Driver - Jonah Pope Design (JP-ID)

From the designer: This is a custom insert that I have designed to fit your Milwaukee Packout to store your M12 Installation Driver and accompanying kit. It specifically fits the Milwaukee 48228435 PACKOUT Compact Organiser. This design actually includes 2 inserts help you maximise your set up...

10spottools.com

Not saying it would fix it all, but it might help.

 

[finn]

Agree @finn

Check out 10 spot tools 3D printed organizers for these:

Packout Insert for M12 Install Driver - Jonah Pope Design (JP-ID)

From the designer: This is a custom insert that I have designed to fit your Milwaukee Packout to store your M12 Installation Driver and accompanying kit. It specifically fits the Milwaukee 48228435 PACKOUT Compact Organiser. This design actually includes 2 inserts help you maximise your set up...

10spottools.com

Not saying it would fix it all, but it might help.

I’m not buying a Packout.

Seems like the fad of the day, although I understand why contractors like them and their competitors.

More clutter to me. Where am I going to keep them?

 

[Steel_Rain]

I’m not buying a Packout.

Seems like the fad of the day, although I understand why contractors like them and their competitors.

More clutter to me. Where am I going to keep them?

This would be just the small case, not the big roller. The factory Milwaukee soft shell case you get with the M12 installation driver *****, but the packout is more bulky.

 

[Jgaz]

My Bosch Installation tool lives in this travel bag.

The heads not on the tool are kept in the black, zippered, Husky pouch they are setting on.