Drilling with impacts

[rick carpenter]

When impact drivers became cheap enough for me to afford a long while back, it was said not to drill with them. Even though many bits come with 'power bit' hex shanks, I can't get that original warning out of my head. A lot of kits like my M12 kit offer a drill driver and an impact driver which reinforces for me the idea to keep drill bits in the drill and driver bits in the impact. What do y'all do?

 

[WunTon]

For non precise holes they can work just fine but I find that you can get a lot of run out in the bit depending on brand and fitment into the drill. I have a set of Milwaukee hex drill bits that I do use in my m12 impact driver occasionally but I generally tend to grab the m12 drill and save the driver for driving screws.

 

[txvwnut]

Impacts won’t turn at a constant speed when trying to drill due to the fact when the bit loads, the impact will do what it’s supposed to do and “hammer” the bit through it’s turn. Add to that the some impacts turn at a higher speed than a drill which will turn the bit faster than it may be needed for drilling. A drill pretty much stays at a constant speed more so than an impact driver.

I’ve tried using my impact driver to drill and haven’t really liked the results I got plus the bit ended up dulling due to the higher speeds.

 

[WunTon]

^ also good points! I should have clarified that I only use mine when drilling quick holes in soft wood and not in steel or anything else hard.

 

[jayoldschool]

They work well with step drills.

 

[MushCreek]

I've used my M18 Milwaukee to drill holes where there wasn't enough room to get a drill, such as between close wall studs. It works fine with a wood bit. Acts kind of odd, but drills the hole.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

you'll find those impacts really handy when you're drilling through a stud in a super tight space and can't push very hard.

 

[mike93lx]

I have only used an impact with a spade bit to pop holes in studs for wiring, and that was only due to size constraints. A drill is much better at drilling holes. Plus a hell of a lot quieter

 

[jd_1138]

I don't see a problem drilling with an impact if you're careful. It's usually a matter of it being convenient to keep a drill bit in the drill and a driving bit in the impact driver, so you're not having to keep swapping bits.

 

[Farmall450]

I don't, even though I have set of the bits.

 

[dogdog]

I broke a few bit with the impact... but only when they are caught in the metal and the impact start impacting.... but it works great with those screw wood boring bits... had to find a pic... that thing goes through a 5" thick beam like it was nothing...


these... the one I have is ridgid not sure why they don't have them any more...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...d-Boring-Bit-Set-7-Piece-49-22-0065/203116098