Do you own a HAND impact driver

[03protege]

So I just learned what these things are, saw one in a pawn a few weeks ago (I think it is still there) and couldn't figure out where the air line attached LOL.

Anyway how often do you make use of a hand impact driver? I watched a video and it seems like the perfect tool to prevent stripping of stubborn screws, or are there more modern methods which make this obsolete?

 

[Daz-scotland]

I have a cheap one, it works well but I don't use it much.

 

[Hiball]

I own 3-4.. Invest in good bits versus the driver.

Wouldn't be caught without one, they are life savers.

 

[xbeatles4x]

Hey I have been really wanting one but didn't want to spend crazy money yet wanted something affordable. It is a great investment if you are working on your car. I had to borrow my friends and it worked better than expected.

 

[greyghost302]

I have one but use it rarely. I am more likely to cut off or drill out the old fastner. It seems it should work better than it does, strangely enough.

 

[shocksandstrutz]

They work great to remove the disc brakes on the older hondas, there is a big screw that holds them in. you can pick up an inexpensive one at HF for about 10 bucks.

 

[xbeatles4x]

^ if you don't want it let me know.

 

[lametec]

I have one but use it rarely. I am more likely to cut off or drill out the old fastner.

The point of the impact driver is that you don't mangle the screw to begin with.

Instead of trying and trying with a screw driver until you strip the screw, you take out your impact driver the moment you realize the screw won't come out with the screwdriver.

This way the screw comes out unmangled, and you can reuse it.

 

[87Pomona]

I own two, got both from yard sales but work great.

 

[Tone-NY]

Yes, has been in the tool box over 20 years. Used it a handful of times worth it.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I have one. One of those rarely used, but saves your ***, kinda tools.

 

[Jagmandave]

Had mine for ever, it's the bee's knees for getting screws out of motorcylce cases....

 

[Craftsman86]

have a craftsman one I pain $20 for and a MAC that I got in a tool box I bought. I dont use them often but they are a must have. Good bits are the only way to go try and find ones that are grooves as opposed to smooth

 

[nine4gmc]

I had a HF one that I used but I got a Craftsman from a member here and just recently picked up an old Blue Point at garage sale. As mentioned, they are lifesavers when needed. I mine most recently to remove the jaw pad screws of a vise I was restoring, before that a rusty screw on a parts car.

 

[beerdog]

Now here is a question to ponder. I recently got a MAC one at flea market for $5 along with some good bits. Bought it from one of those ladies selling toys and dishes. She had no idea what it was and was was happy with the $5. Anyways, how do the newer electric impact drivers work in comparison to these? i know how this works but have not had a need ot use it yet.

What I do know is I love using my Makita electric impact driver when working on the cars.

 

[not-required]

It can definitely save your *** at times.

 

[xbeatles4x]

It is pretty much the old school way of doing it before electric really existed.

At least according to my good friend who inherited most of his tools from his dad who restored an old healey.

 

[itsvegas]

if you work on motorcycles, this is definitely a must have!

 

[Ajmckay]

I own one... Cheap one from Autozone, but it's saved me on multiple occasions so I think it's worth the $7 or whatever at Harbor Freight...

 

[balane]

I have the 3/8" drive Snap On set and I used it every day, or nearly every day. They are indispensable for taking apart old, stuck, rusted equipment. I use mine on vise restoration, power tool rebuilds... really anything old with Phillips or standard screw fasteners where camming out is a possibility. I absolutely couldn't get by without mine. Just used it this morning in fact, on an old vise main screw locking collar. That thing absolutely wouldn't budge with a regular screwdriver and a bit on a ratchet was tearing up the head.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

must for honda brake rotors.

 

[maddawg308]

Don't own one, but planning on getting a swench impact set in the near future. It's not quite a hand impact wrench, but it is definitely a mechanical one....

 

[KCarGuy]

These are not something that you could even compare to when it comes to Cordless or Air Impacts...Different Animal all together.
Its more of a "Controlled" Impact.
I use mine alot during Older Car disassembly.
Or Rotor removal.
1 Hit or 2 to bust the rust loose...and your good to go.
Or....Smack the **** out of it and watch stuborn screws slowly loosen up.
Great Tool!
Been using mine for 30+ Years.

 

[Steinmetz]

Since hand impact drivers are generally quite inexpensive, you only need to use it once to make ownership worthwhile. I've owned one for years and used it only a few times, but it delivered when almost nothing else was going to work.

 

[balane]

Really, when you need one I can't think of anything else that would work. The only other option I know of is to destroy the fastener by drilling it out and that's a whole bunch of unnecessary work if you don't have to do it.

 

[Geurt]

These things make fast work of stubborn screws that hold the jaws in a vise for instance. A must have especially when working on older stuff.

 

[zmotorsports]

Yes I own and use them. I have a Snap-on set at the shop and keep a Lisle set in the trailer. I use them occasionally on automotive but a lot on motorcycle/ATV repair.

Mike.

 

[ears]

Outboard motor lower unit. I don't even attempt with a screwdriver. Straight to the impact.

 

[bthomas]

no, but im already aware i should

 

[bcradio]

must for honda brake rotors.

Hyundai also

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I have 2 Snap-on sets and a Lisle set that I gave the future SIL. Must have item for Honda rotors, motorcycle cases (and chain saws) not to mention any old, rusted equipment that has been outside for any length of time (pretty much any farm equipment in the SE...). Mine gets used weekly just working around the house on either my stuff or the neighbors.

 

[fredybender]

What makes this a complete different animal, is tha fact that when hammering on the hand impact (to provide the rotation) it also has an axial force, that pushes the driver into the fastenener; any power tool will always need your hand force to counteract camming out...Until the camming out force becomes greater than the force applied... then, you're screwed

Great for any "female" type fastener ie ; screwdriver heads, Allen heads, torx, etc...

 

[Conor42]

I use it pretty much exclusively on screws. Has saved me on numerous occasions when dealing with manufacturers who like to use phillips-head screws in corrosion-prone areas.

Like brake rotors. :| And idle control valves on throttle bodies. Junk like that.

 

[ianguilly]

Have a snap on set, it is awesome for home use when you don't have air tools.

 

[53 hemi]

Like everybody else says - its a must have tool once a year. Last time I used mine was to loosen the door hinge screws in a 60 year old car. Worked like it was meant to, and no having to source obsolete specialty screws. Like a flaring tool, or anything else, buy a good one once.

 

[Neuswede]

Have a KD Brand in the tool box just for those "special occasions". Still remember the day I bought it back in 1982. Definitely source and use the best bits you can buy, as already mentioned. Makes for easy work.

 

[yost69]

Yes. I use mine mostly on the screws in brake rotors.

 

[03protege]

Wow thanks for all the good input. I was thinking surely it was a non-necessity being I have never seen it mentioned on here. I'm going to hit that pawn up tomorrow and see if it was still there. I think it was a major brand but I can't remember who off the top of my head.

 

[shampoop]

Like has been said, no modern device does the same thing or can replace one when working with screwdriver style fasteners. The key is how they push in on the fastener.

An absolute necessity when replacing brake rotors. Unless you don't mind drilling out the screw and replacing it.

 

[zakmartin]

I have one that's about 20 years old (Craftsman USA) and it's been used probably a dozen times in the past 20 years (for pounding out a rusted screw on a brake rotor). It was worth its weight in gold to have when I needed it, but it's just been taking up space in my toolbox for the most part.