Impact Screwdrivers

[bczygan]

The ones you hit with a hammer.

Are these still used?

If not, what replaces them?

If so, what are good ones? And where are they used?

Bill

 

[jeeper46]

I used my US-made Craftsman one just a couple of days ago-I have to remove the cowl gas tank on a Model A car, that is held on by a line of screws. These screws have not been out since 1931, and I first had to clean all the layers of paint out of the slots, and tap on the washer under the screw heads to loosen them up. They came out hard, with a lot of pounding, spraying PB blaster, and more pounding, but out of around 10 screws, I only twisted the head off one-and they were #10 screws. I use an impact screwdriver on motorcycle case screws, also.

 

[smuro04]

I have a Craftsman USA 1/2" drive impact driver. Was cheap and seems to work just fine for the limited use I put it through. Mainly locking screws on Import rotors, Ford 2.3 (Lima) camshaft retainer screws, and rebuilding Subaru oil pumps. There's millions of uses for impact drivers.


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[itsvegas]

I have a Snap On one with there bits and case that I love! I use them it motorcycles and it works great! Case bolts are hard/impossible to get out without one! I like the Snap On cause they make good quality bits and it takes a standard 3/8 socket!

 

[stingry]

bought mine some 40 years ago for motorcycle case screws. Haven't used it much since but it's one of those tools that isn't used often but nothing else will do the job.

Cheers
Steve

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

I have a Snap On one with there bits and case that I love! I use them it motorcycles and it works great! Case bolts are hard/impossible to get out without one! I like the Snap On cause they make good quality bits and it takes a standard 3/8 socket!

+1

No replacement for phillips or flat type screws that risk camming out and stripping the head. The benefit of this impact, it drives the bit into the screw with each hammer blow.

 

[ChaseDE]

snap-on looks nice. i have a harbor freight deal, came in terrible packaging so i keep it in a smaller section of a drawer. use it seldom, mainly for rotor screws, works a charm though.

 

[2oolhound]

Indispensable! Bits like philips have a tendency to climb up out of the head as you apply turning force. Like BMW power said it drives the bit down into the fastener as it turns. The hammer blow delivers a shock to the fastener that breaks any corrosive bond that may exist.

I have snap-on ones. We used to break the housings on the cheap chrome ones from hitting them too hard. Koken are supposed to be good too.

 

[scooternut]

I have a Snap On one with there bits and case that I love! I use them it motorcycles and it works great! Case bolts are hard/impossible to get out without one! I like the Snap On cause they make good quality bits and it takes a standard 3/8 socket!

x2, along with any old stuff that I take apart. Used it just last night on a vise mains screw collar set screw that probably hadn't been removed for 80 years.

 

[Rewind97]

YES!!! They are a must have tool!! I used mine last when I had to remove the factory set screws on the brake rotors on my daughters Honda. It's a screw they us in assembly to hold the rotor on.

 

[fordnut85]

In the automotive world all I use it for is rotor screws and door latch screws. It one of them tools you don't use very often but when you need it, you REALLY need it.

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[bczygan]

A lot of people mention the SO ones.

One person mentioned the HF one. Anyone else use one of those? Work OK?

Bill

 

[ChaseDE]

FWIW the HF one that I have is kinda shiny black, the bits seem the same material as an impact sockets, matte black.

I don't even see the one I have for sale on their website. It looks similar to the SO, basic black cylinder type, but with no case, just a blister pack with everything loose.

this one seems pretty ok, reviews on youtube for it that I see

http://www.harborfreight.com/impact-screwdriver-set-with-case-37530.html

here is a topic on GJ about that one

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12806

 

[Davefr]

Its one of them tools you don't use very often but when you need it, you REALLY need it.

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+1!!!

 

[crab]

If you work on motorcycles it is a must have tool. I have had my S.O. for probably 25 years, never let me down.

 

[uncwstudent]

According to the packaging on the Craftsman one that I have (1/2 inch drive), you can also use impact sockets with these. Has anyone used those to any great effect?

 

[kabinenroller]

I have the normal impact driver with the 1/2" drive that uses sockets or screw driver tips. I also have just purchased a set of Vessel impact screw drivers. Vessel tools have a distinct tip design that works well on normal Philips heads but is made for JIS headed fasteners. For Japanese manufacturered motorcycles and other equipment they are the tool to use. The normal type of Philips screw driver will cam out of a JIS head and leave you with screw thatwill be difficult to remove.

http://www.vesseltools.com/hand-tools/screwdrivers/impact/980-series/flypage.tpl.html

 

[shockwave]

I have both the snap on and a matco the matco I seem to grab more seems to grab better

Also heard good things about koken attack driver from frank tools on here

This is a must on anybody who does brakes either import and domestic with lock tight on rotor retaining screws

 

[californiaHank]

I have one of the old Vessel 1/2" impact screwdrivers - the ones that came in a blue metal box with cross and slot bits. I don't know if it's still available from Vessel, but ones that look like it are sold under dozens of other names. It's a good tool. Search for 'impact screwdriver' on eBay and you get lots of original Vessel ones and many clones from other brands. Used ones are in the $10 to $20 range.

 

[duwem]

I have the Craftsman one and it works great on rusty Phillips heads that round out.

I have also used it on rounded out alen head with allen bits, the force drives the hex deep into the head to keep it from poping out. Same with Torx bits.

 

[wafrederick]

I rarely use my hand one now.I have the Wivco shake and break which is used on an air hammer.You don't go full trigger on the air hammer and says this in the instructions.It does work and used it on brake rotor screws for a Hyundia last week.This one,

 

[LB-1911]

A lot of people mention the SO ones.

One person mentioned the HF one. Anyone else use one of those? Work OK?

Bill

Previous thread with several options -
Best Hand Impact Driver
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346227



One option other than Snap-On or HF

PROTO® 3/8" DRIVE 13 PIECE HAND IMPACT DRIVER SET

ITEM #:J7099A

 

[2oolhound]

I rarely use my hand one now.I have the Wivco shake and break which is used on an air hammer.You don't go full trigger on the air hammer and says this in the instructions.It does work and used it on brake rotor screws for a Hyundia last week.This one,

Those shake and breaks look alright.

I watched the vid and mentioned another video with the 2 hammer routine which I spotted at the top of the list so I clicked on it. When that guy hit his impact driver he was giving it love taps. You have to smash those things if the screw is in there tight. That's why the cheap impacts break. You have to hit them. Then the guy switched to his 2 hammer routine and proceeded to use love taps again necessitating he keep hitting it again and again. I have complete faith in hand impacts on really stuck bolts but don't be afraid to wail on it. Those early chrome vessels are the ones I've seen broken on the outer housing but if the stuck fasteners you're dealing with come off with just some light love taps then they will last forever.

 

[WhiffySpark]

I don't think your cars have rotor set screws

 

[ecotec]

I have a Lisle 3/8" that I love, and a Tekton 1/2" that I do not like. They both work okay, but the Tekton looks and feels cheap.

 

[DFB]

I have had the black impact driver sold by Craftsman for decades now. Much better tool than the cheapie chromed China imports that were around at the time. Definitely was what one always needed to break loose motorcycle engine case screws without stripping the heads, cant quite remember when I last used it though!

 

[mechanical turk]

I have the Craftsman and a couple Vessel Impacta screwdriver/impact combos for JIS stuff but generally I've reached for the a cordless impact driver and have had great success with that. It's possible being diligent with a hand impact might have saved me from a few screws where the heads got rounded and stripped or sheared completely off, but for me I mostly run into trouble when I'm trying to remove a screw with a screwdriver and end up galling the head that way.

I'm not getting rid of the hand impact tools, but for me I'd rather have something like a compact 12v impact driver and the right bit, and be able to get into places where I don't have room to swing a hammer. As long as I get the bit in line with the screw and put enough pressure down on the head it works great.

 

[ecotec]

I think the Craftsman ones are (or were) made by Lisle.

 

[dogdog]

The ones you hit with a hammer.

Are these still used?

If not, what replaces them?

If so, what are good ones? And where are they used?

Bill

I used mostly on brake rotor screws.... works wonders. have NOT used it officially on anything else successfully.... like that seized bolt on that outdoor aluminum electrical box....... ...... I have the craftsman ones more than 10years dunno the COO, but works. I think others reported all of them does the same thing. There was at least two thread about these impact drivers, this past 2 years....

 

[bczygan]

I don't think your cars have rotor set screws

I think you may be right....!

 

[oldldh]

Tekton Impact Driver...

Model #2905...3/8" Drive...

$14.34 from Amazon...

Model #2910...1/2" Drive...

$17.07 from Amazon...

When nothing else will budge the fastener...

These will, guaranteed...

And, the price is right...

 

[davethorik]

Tekton Impact Driver...

Model #2905...3/8" Drive...

$14.34 from Amazon...

Model #2910...1/2" Drive...

$17.07 from Amazon...

When nothing else will budge the fastener...

These will, guaranteed...

And, the price is right...

How did I know you'd be pimping an asian import when i saw you replied to this thread??

 

[lbhsbz]

I have an old KD, snap-on, a few craftsman, and have thrown away a few imports. The Snap On is the best, hands down...first smack, every time. The others sometimes take a few tries

 

[eyeball]

I have a Snap On and when I need it, there is no better tool. On old rusted screws that are prone to stripping,the combination of the hammer blow driving the bit into the screw head and the twisting action works like a charm. Best of all, no batteries required.


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[Bessy]

Picked one up at Princess Auto, a Pro-point branded one, to use on my old sears tractor project. Came in real handy with the PTO side of the engine block, as the seals were bad around the shaft. those were seated with phillips (at least #12 or 14). bolted the block to the bench and gave it a couple whacks and out they came!

 

[oldldh]

How did I know you'd be pimping an asian import when i saw you replied to this thread??

Because I'm a poor old retired USAF MSgt...

Who has a hard time, affording anything made in this country...(All my wrenches are USA Craftsman...All my screwdrivers are "Yellow Handle Professionals by Proto"...)

But the stuff I "Pimp" is adequate for the job...A lot of folks don't want or need to spend for SnapOn or Matco...

All I do I provide alternatives...

And, "Grasshopper", all the OP is trying to do is turn a reluctant fastener...And it doesn't care what is turning it...

 

[four.cycle]

No reason to spend Snap-on money for one of those gizmos- that's just crazy.

Stevens Walden 5-pc impact driver set w/metal box
driver, adapter, 3 bits, box
made in Worcester, Massachusetts
$44.99 incl. shipping "buy now"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEVENS-WAL...488406?hash=item51f453df96:g:AYwAAOSwOgdYscLr

Lisle 7-pc impact driver set w/plastic box
driver, adapter, 5 bits, box
used
$10.00 + $10.00 shipping "buy now"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LISLE-TOOLS...500891?hash=item4b11c2699b:g:B0AAAOSwr~lYn0q3

same kit as above NEW:
$28.48 incl. shipping
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LISLE-TOOLS...500891?hash=item4b11c2699b:g:B0AAAOSwr~lYn0q3

Lisle made them for a number of private label accounts as well. I see them frequently on Ebay, I usually just ignore them because they're so common.


and Bill: for the record:

I have two of the Taiwan-made cheapie models out in the garage that were both given to me years ago. They work just dandy for loosening up the baked-in 1/4-20 #4 phillips head machine screws that hold the intake tubes onto the sides of Tecumseh TVS and LEV engines.
A couple good whacks and the screw is out.
It's one of those deals you're going to use only once in a blue moon (unless you're working in a motorcycle repair shop) and you're going to beat the **** out of it with a 2-pound ball pein. So what the hell?

We sold hundreds and hundreds of them in "Wilmar" for $8.88 all day long in the 70s and 80s. Warranty return rate was less than 2% of net purchases on the entire product line.

 

[four.cycle]

here's one of the Lisle-made private label models - Powr Kraft -
unfortunately it's missing the adapter.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Pow...530149?hash=item2c7e0fde25:g:R78AAOxyJX1TEO9J

like I mentioned above: Lisle made them for a whole mess of other outfits, but it's late and my brain's fuzzy and I can't remember them all now.

best bet is probably that used one I posted just above - $20 bucks shipped for a decent unit - you can buy a whole set of brand new bits from VIM for about $8 bucks.

 

[ecotec]

For only a few dollars more than the Tekton, the Lisle (made in USA) is much nicer. It looks and feels nicer.

 

[DeliveryGuy]

I got a Snap On kit for $80 Canadian a couple years ago. Even that's a lot of money considering the price of the Lisle ones. I use mine whenever I work on metal swing doors. The #3 phillips screws that are in the hinges do not cooperate, but a hammer screwdriver works every time.