Impact Driver - Necessity or Time Saver?

[CoogarXR]

I didn't read all the responses, so forgive me if I am duplicating another post, but...

As you get older and start having wrist trouble, back trouble, trouble with your elbows, etc (I've got it all, lol), you will need all the labor-saving tools you can get. I used to put cheater pipes on big breaker bars and fight with stuck bolts. Now, my back would ache for days if I did that. The big impact wrench is a life saver.

Same with my little 1/4". If I had to turn 75 screws with a screwdriver, I'd be wearing a wrist brace for a few days afterwards. I can zip them out with my 1/4" impact and have no consequences afterwards.

Sometimes I wonder if all that manual labor with hand tools isn't what screwed up my back and hands in the first place. (hint-hint)

Somebody once told me, if you have to grunt when using a tool, it's the wrong tool. Just spend the money and put the preservation of your body first.

 

[laser3kw]

Somebody once told me, if you have to grunt when using a tool, it's the wrong tool. Just spend the money and put the preservation of your body first.

was it the Snap-on guy?

 

[ruffryder]

was it the Snap-on guy?

probably someone that abused their body to be "tough" and ended up not having a functioning body when they got older...

Had a friend that liked to muscle through projects instead of taking the time and doing things smarter.

Now his elbows / shoulders don't work to well. Young and stupid can mean old a crippled when it comes to using your body as a tool.

 

[Fretters]

Somebody once told me, if you have to grunt when using a tool, it's the wrong tool.

How do you tell when something's tight enough, if you don't work to the "one grunt or two" method?

 

[48RON54]

Its a huge time saver. No way I would do without one. Have you ever removed tires from a car using a ratchet and a socket? Man that takes forever.

And.........none of us are getting any younger. An impact is going to reduce the chances of me injuring myself wrenching. That alone is worth it. You don't think about getting hurt working on something in the garage until it actually happens and you realize you are not superman.

 

[neuralsnafu]

How do you tell when something's tight enough, if you don't work to the "one grunt or two" method?

The count of uggaduggas or use the Ave method, tighten till it loosens up, the back off a quarter turn

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T377A using Tapatalk

 

[2level]

Hand and power driven impact drivers/wrenches are not only a time saver, they're a frustration saver and a parts/money saver. Both are among the first tools that I purchased.

 

[SIX225]

Best tools I ever bought for working on cars was and air compressor and an IR231 impact wrench. Did lots of work that I never would have even thought because of on rusty old bolts. Wouldn't even think of working on suspension systems with out one.

 

[8200rpm]

I have a 1/4” hex impact driver for driving screws. I bought it to put up fence boards in my yard with deck screws instead of swing a hammer with nails. Made the fence job easier and faster. There are 1/4 hex to square 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drive socket adapters for use with sockets. I used this for driving lag bolts into wooden fence posts. Max torque is about 100 ft-lbs.

I also have a 1/2” drive impact wrench for use with impact sockets. I bought this for breaking loose lug nuts and axle nuts. It has enough torque to break loose STAKED axle nuts torqued to 150 ft-lbs or more. Max torque is about 450 ft-lbs.

I’m a DIYer partly to save money and partly to enjoy the work. I’ll enjoy the work a little more when assisted by power tools. Having power tools is better than wearing myself out hammering hundreds of nails or cranking on axle nuts and lug nuts with a breaker bar.

 

[bczygan]

OP,

Just buy everything. You're gonna need it all, sooner or later.

Bill

 

[crf450x]

OP,

Just buy everything. You're gonna need it all, sooner or later.

Bill

Solid advice

 

[zakmartin]

For me, air impact tools are a necessity AND a time-saver. I'm not getting any younger, and when I'm under a car, my impact tools are the first things I'm reaching for. I don't have to take so much Naproxen when I'm using tools that do all the hard work for you.

 

[ajchien]

OP,

Just buy everything. You're gonna need it all, sooner or later.

Bill

Another vote for this.

They are a necessity and a time saver.

At one time I worked on my cars with hand tools, because I enjoyed working with old tools for nostalgia. Thats great when you want to enjoy the process.

But if you would rather enjoy the end result, just buy the tools to make the project finish faster.

I think I’ve got all the tools I’ll ever need. But I still buy tools when I see where the tool will allow me to finish in less time.

 

[Fialaja]

You’ll never drive screws with a drill again after buying one of them. You can also quickly drill small holes with them, work nuts and bolts loose, even drive smaller paddle bits.
I have a makita but they are all about the same. Powerful and lightweight.

 

[Bessy]

Short answer is "Yes" It's a necessity, and a time saver, depending on what you're talking about and what your abilities are.

as for an "Impact Driver" what comes to mind first would be a battery operated 1/4" hex driver, which I honestly don't know how I ever got away without one for so long. I use that thing for everything in the garage from driving screws, small engine work, lower torque nuts and bolts (I took an entire riding mower from the 70s apart with basically nothing but my 1/2" impact wrench and 1/4" driver.)

Second would be a "manual impact screwdriver" which is admittedly a tool I've only used personally, a hand full of times. With that said, it was about the only tool that would get the job done when I had to get it out.

Lastly, an impact wrench. Air power is still great, but I absolutely love my 1/2" battery operated impact wrench, My parents have a smaller garage, that it's almost impossible to pull a vehicle in all the way and work on it (or really just to get it inside at all is a challenge itself). Battery power tools allow me to do tire swaps in the driveway without having to worry about getting the air hose out, if it will reach or not, or if it wiill catch on things.

So the answer is yes, they make life a hell of a lot easier.