Drilling with Dewalt impact

[checkthisout]

My 3 speed dw988 drill finally gave up the ghost. I want to get the 20v 1/4 impact driver.

Do these work as good as regular drills for drilling? What about with larger spade bits?

Thanks

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

The 20 volt tools are WAY faster than the 18 volt but I don't think that I would be using an impact driver for drilling

 

[KnurledNut]

I use mine with quick change drills, a chuck adaptor, unibits, paddle bits, etc.
They tend to start impacting with higher torque drilling, like paddle bits or bigger drills. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes its an annoyance.
Also the play in the 1/4 hex anvil greatly affects accuracy.
It'll work as long as precision isnt critical.

Do they work as good as regular drills? For heavy drilling, ill say no.
If i could only have one or the other, id probably take the impact over a standard drill.

 

[warweapon762]

You are gonna have a bad time drilling with an impact. You will snap drill bits all day long.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Maybe find a cheap corded unit for drilling holes. At least you're going to need it when you don't have a drill but with the hex base.

 

[FigureItOut]

I pop a spade bit into my impact driver on occasion, and it'll power through wood very nicely. I do that when the impact is more convenient, and I'm just needing a rough hole. I prefer to drill with a drill and drive with a driver.
That being said, a combo kit with a drill and impact is usually just a few bucks more than the individual tool, and there's often promos with a third battery or free bare tool. I would unequivocally say to go with a combo kit.

 

[Moose364]

They really don't make good drills, sure you can, in wood its not real bad, metal and your breaking bits like said above, plus you lose you 2 speed switch or low gear,
Like figureitout said wait till Christmas and you can get some really good deals on combo kits,

 

[oldldh]

Try a "Hammer Drill"...

They have a "Drill" position...

And...

A "Hammer" position...

Best of both worlds...

 

[checkthisout]

Try a "Hammer Drill"...

They have a "Drill" position...

And...

A "Hammer" position...

Best of both worlds...

That's what I had. A hammer drill hammers the drill bit axially for better performance when doing light-duty masonry drilling, not the same thing as an impact.

 

[checkthisout]

I pop a spade bit into my impact driver on occasion, and it'll power through wood very nicely. I do that when the impact is more convenient, and I'm just needing a rough hole. I prefer to drill with a drill and drive with a driver.
That being said, a combo kit with a drill and impact is usually just a few bucks more than the individual tool, and there's often promos with a third battery or free bare tool. I would unequivocally say to go with a combo kit.

That's pretty much what I'm going for.

I want to be able to drive a spade bit for electrical work or hogging out holes in wood for general principles without having to whip out the corded model.

I like the suggestion for the combo kit it's just that money is tight and I want to be sure I can "get by" with just an impact driver.

I tried to fix my Dewalt with new brushes but the armature went bad and took the speed control with it so I'm like 80 bucks in parts to fix it or 120-130 for a new 20V impact driver.

 

[mrvm]

My 3 speed dw988 drill finally gave up the ghost. I want to get the 20v 1/4 impact driver.
Do these work as good as regular drills for drilling? What about with larger spade bits?

IME the 12V or 18V impact drivers can drill small pilot holes but I would NOT use them as a drill for larger bits or spade bits

 

[Skin]

Try a "Hammer Drill"...

They have a "Drill" position...

And...

A "Hammer" position...

Best of both worlds...

Vast majority of cordless hammer drills are regular drills with a wimpy vibrate function. Often times its just a matter of switching the gearbox to engage a metal or plastic cam with a raised section so it just bumps a bit and that's your hammer drill mode. With a real hammer drill you actually engage a small piston (or a much beefier dedicated cam/spring setup) to provide a substantial "hammering" action.

 

[checkthisout]

Impact drivers work excellent for large wood boring bits.

I just did some more research and can see that Dewalt sells "impact ready" drill bit sets and even hole saws.

So they must think it works pretty good?

I'm going for it!

 

[FigureItOut]

Quick Amazon search shows me a Dewalt impact with 2x 4AH batteries for $199 minus $40 with a %20 made in USA promotional discount. The same impact in a kit with a combat hammer drill with 2x 3AH batteries, also $199 minus $40 with the same %20 made in USA promo discount. Same price, made in USA, give up one amp hour and also get the drill.
Please don't take this wrong, but I'm fairly sure that for your use you won't notice the extra amp hour.

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

Lots of guys use impacts for drilling, not sure if they use the impact intended bits or not. Its industrial, so its all metal, no spade bits. Personally I use my drill for drilling but that's mostly because its on top and the first one I grab. I keep forgetting but try the impact instead. The impact seems to do a fine job with the unibits we usually employ.

 

[Kay_poops]

I use my Milwaukee impact for drilling holes in wood using spade bits. It really shines when using 3/4"+ sized bits to quickly bore through framing members. I bought a set of Bosch Daredevil spade bits for my last bathroom complete remodel, I really like them. I wouldn't use the impact for drilling through metal though, too many rpm's, but you got to do what you got to do.