Cordless Impact Driver. Do you use ear protection?

[uart]

I just bought my first cordless impact driver last week. I figured I'd use it mostly on screws, decking screws and lag screws etc, so I got an impact driver rather than an impact socket.

I've only had a couple of opportunities to use it so far, but not surprisingly it's a pretty noisy little sucker. I'm just wondering how many people here wear some type of hearing protection when using these things, or if you don't worry about it.

Here's a link to an article having a bit of a complaint about their noise levels: http://www.hear-it.org/Hearing-alert-raised-against-new-cordless-drills

And I know this forum loves pictures, so here's the one I got. Yeah it's an off brand, but so is my drill and it takes the same battery packs.

 

[mayday0017]

My impact driver is one of my most used tools, I have mixed emotions about using it for driving screws for decks and what not but I use the **** out of my 12v one for automotive work. Pulling all the plastic covers off a BMW and putting intake manifold can be done in about 10min with my trusty impact driver. The same job is about 30-40min using a ratchet and is really boring

 

[uart]

Pulling all the plastic covers off a BMW and putting intake manifold can be done in about 10min with my trusty impact driver. The same job is about 30-40min using a ratchet and is really boring

Yeah I'm not questioning the usefulness of them, just thinking I might need to use earplugs if I'm using it for any period of time.

BTW. Are you using hex to square (socket) adapters for the car work, or are the covers just held on with screws?

 

[mayday0017]

I have hex to square adapters in all sizes to run on it, also it only impacts for a split second with my use so there is not a lot of noise. Only time it impacts longer is if it is something to tight for it to loosen. I could use my 20v too for this but the 12v is almost always powerful enough for what I'm using it for. If not I step up to an actual impact, or grab a socket wrench and bust it loose real quick by hand.

 

[bobcatdan]

Never thought of wearing ear plugs, but I'm already deaf as ****.

 

[BK13]

It may be a question of the about of use they've given me, but I wear ear plugs when using my M12 impact wrench, but not the impact driver. I hardly ever use the 1/4" hex.

 

[davesnothere]

What is this hearing protection you speak of?

 

[rlitman]

I don't generally use hearing protection with mine, but there are exceptions.

Just the other day I was screwing brackets into the back of a closet. In a tight space like that (or with my head in a cabinet, etc), with heavy impacting to drive screws into studs, yeah I had hearing protection on.

Outside of a closet, I don't generally find my impact screw gun loud enough to bother with hearing protection.

Most of the noise comes from the tool though. I almost always used hearing protection with my Snap On impact wrench. Now that I have an Aircat, I don't bother. The difference in sound levels is hard to believe.

 

[BK13]

What is this hearing protection you speak of?

Huh?

 

[cheechi]

I don't generally use hearing protection

Huh?

What

This thread in a nutshell.

I should more often than I do, but yeah I like my hearing and eye protection a lot better than a lot of people seem to like theirs.

 

[carbon]

I use hearing protection with my bosch 12v impact. My grandpa was totally deaf from being a farmer, before the days of these things called "cabs" on tractors and combines. He also hunted without ear plugs. Basically completely isolated him socially. Felt sad for him, no easy way to get close to him. If he would've been blind but had good hearing, it would've been much easier to get to know him.

So, about the only things I DON'T wear ear protection when using are wood band saws, welding stuff, hand tools and drills. If I'm hitting metal on metal I usually will wear protection, though.

My rule is if I wince when I first use it, on go the muffs. (git yer mind outta the gutter)

If you wait and keep on using the tool to see if the wince goes away, well, if the wince goes away, then so did your hearing.

 

[rlitman]

So, about the only things I DON'T wear ear protection when using are wood band saws, welding stuff, hand tools and drills. If I'm hitting metal on metal I usually will wear protection, though.

You find a band saw less loud than a Bosch 12V impact? I find it to be the other way.

Lots of people wear hearing protection when welding. If welding overhead, you don't want a spark falling in your ear (bet you didn't think of that one).

Yeah, aside from hammering, one reason I like hand tools so much is the lack of noise.

 

[rsanter]

Huh?

Bob

 

[48RON54]

At the ripe old ago of 37 i really say "what?" more than i would like.........wish as a young person I had used hearing protection a little more often. I keep taking ear plugs home but they never see any use.

 

[NoahG]

It depends. If I'm using it steady, or bolting steel to steel, then yes, almost always. However if its just going to be used throughout the day on a handful of screws, usually not.

 

[Deskmechanic]

I always thought the littlle 12v ones were too quiet to need it, but then again I think my hearing is already damaged from motorcycles and model airplane engines.

 

[truckdriver]

No I don't.

 

[Sheriff Roscoe]

I don't use protection with my impact driver.

 

[Big Bad Pete]

The vast majority of the time I wear ear protection when using my 18v Dewalt impact driver.

 

[turdferguson13]

I do. My m12 can be fairly loud and I've already lost some of my hearing, I don't want to lose any more.

 

[rtole]

Ha, I also just got a cordless impact. (milwalkee m18 fuel 1/2 have not used heavy yet) I found it to be quite pleasent compared to my air tools. Never used much hearing protection in the past, now I pay for it. I wish I would have.

 

[ADSR]

Just about all power tools will take a toll over time. I use plugs with all of them as a general rule.

 

[ADSR]

On a side note, I have to get my hearing tested once a year and can see first hand the damage from power tools

 

[usmc_noma]

I never cared for hearing protection until the last few years. Between shooting rifles and machine guns over the years and small arms these days, it has taken a toll in my hearing. I can definitely tell on some days how bad it has become. I try to use at least soft ears when I'm using my tools and lawn equipment. I did buy a set of compact earmuffs a month or two ago. They're comfortable and I don't get headaches from them squeezing in on my dome. I'd say get at least soft ears and you'll be glad you did in the long run.

 

[Kin Creed]

I find myself NOT using an impact unless I need to just because they are too noisy and for many applications unnecessary.

I do 90% of my fastener work with this thing, which is awesome and quiet...

Milwaukee M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion 1/4 in. Cordless Hex Screwdriver

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-12-Volt-Lithium-Ion-1-4-in-Cordless-Hex-Screwdriver-Kit-2401-22/100615066

If I need a little extra torquing I will pull out the impact to start or finish a fastening task, but for pretty much everything else this puppy is all I need.

I was using the Ryobi tek4 driver mainly prior to this, and it's still a good tool especially for stripping prone fasteners like Phillips and small technical work.

But for general purpose fasteners the M12 screwdriver is perfect for what I do.

It's does not drill worth a toot or do anything else except fasteners, but I have many other tools to handle that kind of stuff. I hate putting on hearing protection just to drive a screw!

 

[Major Ramifications]

I don't find my Bosch or Dewalt models loud at all.

 

[Kin Creed]

Not sure if the brand makes much difference, impacts all work via a hammer and anvil that makes noise, perhaps mitigated if there is some sort a sound deadening built into the tool. Even then just transfering that action to a fastener head is inherently noisy.

It's all relative I suppose. Working in a cramped space the noise will be more noticeable than outdoors. My point was I find I don't need an impact for many tasks. They are great when you need them, but most of the time a cordless screwdriver does the trick for me.

 

[uart]

I don't find my Bosch or Dewalt models loud at all.

In the report I linked in the opening post they said "In tests of 10 different models of impact drivers, CU found that they averaged 104 dB at ear level under heavy load"

Now of course it may be both your Bosch and Dewalt are significantly better (quieter) than the average, or it may be that you just don't notice it. I guess we would have to measure them to know for sure.

Keep in mind however that those tests were conducted under "heavy load", which I think basically means with the impact going flat out. For work in which things are busting loose at well below maximum impact level and then coming the rest of the way fairly easily, then I think the noise levels could be very much less than those maximum figures.

 

[dankicksass]

I don't wear hearing protection with my impacts, cordless or air, but I probably should. Most of them are all reduced noise models, but hearing is precious.

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

I try to use hearing protection in many situations (like with an air impact gun) but I honestly don't think the cordless impact drivers make enough noise to warrant it, ay least when you're talking about things like driving in a screw.

If you were using it for "metal on metal" like say using sockets and breaking nuts and bolts loose, I could see it, but a screw going into something soft like wood doesn't make much noise.

If it was something you did all day though, maybe it takes its toll.

 

[uart]

I find myself NOT using an impact unless I need to just because they are too noisy and for many applications unnecessary.
...
I hate putting on hearing protection just to drive a screw!

Yeah I really know where you're coming from Kin. That's been my (albeit somewhat limited) experience with the impact too.

There's definitely advantages to using the impact over a regular driver, I can totally understand why guys doing bulk fastener work would prefer them. Personally though I'm starting to come to the same conclusions that you mention for my particular usage. I'm thinking I'll probably leave mine mostly for applications for where I really need the torque and still use my drill/driver for the lightweight stuff.

 

[crewchief888]

no

only time i use ear protection is doing heavy sledgehammer work, or air hammering for an extended period of time

 

[aussiek2000]

My m12 is nothing compared to my MG725. But I only wear ear protection when using air hammer for extended period of time.

 

[danski0224]

What?

 

[truckaddict]

im just a hobby guy but when i step in the shop hearing protection goes in, hearing worth too much to even risk a little.

 

[uart]

im just a hobby guy but when i step in the shop hearing protection goes in, hearing worth too much to even risk a little.

Yeah I've got a small amount of hearing loss already, so I'm pretty quick to put on hearing protection these days.

BTW. I recently found and old sound level meter that I'd forgotten about and did a survey of noise levels of some of my tools. If anyone hasn't seen it already, the results are in this thread here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239287

Oh and I gotta add. I got another opportunity to use my impact driver today, installing some polycarbonate sheeting on my garage. Ok I'm starting to get it now, why these things are so useful. Hanging off a ladder and working one handed in some awkward positions would have been tons more difficult with just a regular drill/driver.

 

[Kin Creed]

I'm also a hobby guy and a big reason I am spending more time in the shop is some health problems, so I try to be a bit cautious when it comes to safety issues like hearing, dust, eye protection.

Don't want even more issues arising from what's supposed to be a theraputic activity!

So I now wear hearing protection for things like using the portable air compressor (crazy loud) the snow blower, lawn mower and many power tools. I'm also trying to use quieter tools where possible.

One nice recent buy was a Ridgid WD1450 vac based on reviews by GJer SKMS. It's quiet enough to use without hearing protection... awesome! I think 85 decibels is the level where you should protect, and this vac is thankfully not that loud.

Impacts especially indoors seem louder than 85db, so if I am using a lot I try to wear protection, but not always.

Having several good pairs of comfortable ear muffs hanging around is key in this effort. If I can't quickly locate the muffs I'm probably not gonna bother!