Is there a downside to impact driver bits?

[marlinspike]

Is there any downside to the impact driver bits? Do they offer any advantage over standard bits in a hammer drill?

 

[malibu101]

Impact, as in driving a bit.
And hammering, like drilling concrete.
They are 2 totally different things.

A hammer drill is not used for driving a screw.

??????

 

[marlinspike]

Impact, as in driving a bit.
And hammering, like drilling concrete.
They are 2 totally different things.

A hammer drill is not used for driving a screw.

??????

Well, I guess the word hammer was unnecessary there. Assume you took it off hammer mode and put a bit holder in there (or in the case of Metabo took it off hammer mode and swapped out the drill chuck for a bit chuck)

 

[Katodog]

A hammer drill is not used for driving a screw.

Don't tell that to my hammer drill, it would forget it has the ability to drive. This is why companies put speed selectors and mode switches on hammer drills. I've used a hammer drill for driving plenty of times, all you do is switch it from hammer mode to driving mode.

Now, if you're talking about an SDS, that's a different animal altogether.


The difference in impact bits versus standard bits, in any type of drill/driver, is its ability to handle impact. They're made from different materials that are designed to take the force that an impact driver puts out. In most situations you won't notice the difference in regular drill/drivers, but putting a standard bit into an impact, you run a stronger risk of breaking the bit.

 

[kctyphoon]

They are all consumable items.. But if you are using a drill to drive screws its basically your choice.. There is not much of a price difference between them, but I personally buy the impact rated ones for my impact drivers "just in case".. There was a test done at one time comparing some Phillips bits to one another, and I think a non-impact rated Bosch bit actually won in terms of home many screws were driven before the bit broke..

I just buy MIlwaukee... I have no complaints..

 

[demolitionman]

Impact driver bits are designed to absorb some of the torque from the hammers along the bits shaft, so the tip of the bit doesn't take the shear part of the load and fragment or break. Think of it like an automotive torque stick that is used on impact guns. Same principal. A downside you ask? well id think the downside would be they may deliver a little bit less torque at the head of the fastener. You have to ask yourself if breaking bits is worth it to you for the added drive strength or if you'd rather not break bits and by using a torque limiting option like the impact driver bits.

I'm referring to the stuff like dewalt and Milwaukee makes for driving p2's where the shanks are thinner.....

 

[marlinspike]

Ok, cool, I can get a good price on the Wiha ones, and as long as they aren't meaningfully worse (sounds like they aren't) I was planning to get them to use in my drill.

 

[77Mini]

I think I am going start buying the millwaukee impact bits. I have a couple. Every time I buy a long driver bit its not straight. I have tried a few different brands, Dewalt Etc and they all seem to be bent. I find that so frustrating.

 

[espyking83]

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