fourjeepin
Well-known member
So I just got my first cordless impact driver (via the HD sale on Rigid refurbs) and was wondering if folks use them for drilling? And if so, is there any drawback to this?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Use impact driver as a drill???
- Thread starter fourjeepin
- Start date
kctyphoon
Banned
They can be, but I dont think its good for drilling anything except wood or other "soft" materials. (Not 100% on that) The IR drill I use at work to drill through telephone poles are impacts, and I've seen plenty of vids online of people using impact drivers with spade bits. They even sell 1/4" hex to 3/8" or 1/2" chuck adapters so u can use regular bits with impact drivers. In case your not familiar, it's not that same as a hammer drill.. Impacts hammer in the direction of the drilling, while hammer drills impact down toward the hole..
We used mine at work with hf step bits for drilling a frame for a gooseneck install. Went from a 10 monute hole to about 20 seconds. Since it was hf 8.00 for 3 bits......I was not concerned. I was surprised that they held up. It was on my m18 impact driver.
I have used my impact driver to drill a few small holes with some cheap Ryobi bits. Didn't have any problems, but I also went slowly and didn't bear down in it much at all to make it actually impact as little as possible. Ymmv. Never hurts to use safety glasses at any rate, in case shrapnel
rick carpenter
Well-known member
I have had a Bosch 18v impact driver for about 4 years and only recently drilled my first four holes with it. Nothing went wrong, but I didn't feel right about doing that and swore I will always only use my drill for a drill from now on.
I have a friend who is in the home audio install business, and he swears using an impact driver as a drill is a good thing. I guess I can see his point in carrying & using fewer tools onsite, plus his tools are business expenses.
I have a friend who is in the home audio install business, and he swears using an impact driver as a drill is a good thing. I guess I can see his point in carrying & using fewer tools onsite, plus his tools are business expenses.
G_P
Well-known member
I used a makita 18v impact for drilling plenty of times. At work sometimes it was the only cordless tool you could find. Worked great with normal twist drills and paddle bits when drilling wood. Even worked damn good for drilling small holes in concrete.
JR 42
Well-known member
In my limited experience, you can, but it's not very satisfying. I drilled dozens of holes with a NiMH 14V Makita impact and with an early Bosch Li-ion that was tiny and made a gawdawful racket (9.2V... maybe? It was so underpowered and loud I avoided it whenever possible).
Spade bits and drill bits with 1/4" hex shanks fit in the bitholder, but don't fit nearly as tightly as in a three-jaw chuck, so the bit has a lot of runout and drills a sloppy hole.
After the first few holes in wood, I never bothered to try it in metal... I don't think the results would be very precise. Works ok for rough holes in wood, though, if that's what you need.
JR
Spade bits and drill bits with 1/4" hex shanks fit in the bitholder, but don't fit nearly as tightly as in a three-jaw chuck, so the bit has a lot of runout and drills a sloppy hole.
After the first few holes in wood, I never bothered to try it in metal... I don't think the results would be very precise. Works ok for rough holes in wood, though, if that's what you need.
JR
I use mine with auger bits all the time, in fact several makers now make special bits for use in the impact driver.
I have the special ones from Irwin and Milwaulkee. makes short work of drilling through 2x for running wires and pex.
I have the special ones from Irwin and Milwaulkee. makes short work of drilling through 2x for running wires and pex.
knobby
Well-known member
MatBirch
Well-known member
I run an impactor nearly every day for work. The single best tool in my quiver is my DeWalt keyless chuck with 1/4" ball detent drive that fits in my impactor. It allows me to carry one tool instead of two for pre-drilling and general use. I use it constantly and have for several years now. I did have to tig the 1/4"adaptor on, because it started backing out when unlocking the chuck. I started out with a Makita one, but it only lasted about 3 days.
Nothing has ever shattered...
Nothing has ever shattered...
ajchien
Well-known member
Spade bits and drill bits with 1/4" hex shanks fit in the bitholder, but don't fit nearly as tightly as in a three-jaw chuck, so the bit has a lot of runout and drills a sloppy hole.
JR
same experience here
woodstockva
Well-known member
You can drill through sheetmetal with the Milwaukee Thin Wall Hole Saws with an impact driver....thats what they are designed for.
I made a video about them...check it out.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wjEcqYZg_Zk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I made a video about them...check it out.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wjEcqYZg_Zk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Jarhead0408
Well-known member
Dude, ^^^^ That is awesome!
Great video!
Great video!
Jarhead0408
Well-known member
I'm going to have to get a set of those.
Ign
Well-known member
We used mine at work with hf step bits for drilling a frame for a gooseneck install. Went from a 10 monute hole to about 20 seconds. Since it was hf 8.00 for 3 bits......I was not concerned. I was surprised that they held up. It was on my m18 impact driver.
Was this solely because of the impact driver or because of the step bits? IOW were you using a drill w step bits and it took 10 minutes, then you put the step bit in an impact driver and time dropped to 20 seconds??
I have had a Bosch 18v impact driver for about 4 years and only recently drilled my first four holes with it. Nothing went wrong, but I didn't feel right about doing that and swore I will always only use my drill for a drill from now on.
I have a friend who is in the home audio install business, and he swears using an impact driver as a drill is a good thing. I guess I can see his point in carrying & using fewer tools onsite, plus his tools are business expenses.
I don't follow that. Since I can deduct all my tools I only buy more.
As to the topic, I've never tried to drill steel with a typical twist bit with an impact driver. It just doesn't seem like a good idea, although maybe it'd make for an awesome chip breaker effect. I do love my impact driver for self-drilling, self-tapping sheetmetal screws anchoring into 14ga (and sometimes 11ga) wall thickness square tube.
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
So I just got my first cordless impact driver (via the HD sale on Rigid refurbs) and was wondering if folks use them for drilling? And if so, is there any drawback to this?
Thanks!
I've never had an issue when proper bits were utilized.
I use mine with auger bits all the time, in fact several makers now make special bits for use in the impact driver.
I have the special ones from Irwin and Milwaukee. makes short work of drilling through 2x for running wires and pex.
x2 on using the proper bits -
Impact Drilling
http://www.irwin.com/promotions-events/impact-performance-series#
http://www.milwaukeetool.com/search-results?FullTextKeywords=shockwave+hex+bits
http://www.dewalt.com/tool-part-categories/Impact-Ready-Accessories.aspx
http://toolguyd.com/dewalts-impact-ready-drill-bits-a-boring-review/
Ed ke6bnl
Well-known member
I'm going to have to get a set of those.
Nice tool but wont work for my use on coping tubing for chassis tubes on my offroad buggy
Voi
Well-known member
So I just got my first cordless impact driver (via the HD sale on Rigid refurbs) and was wondering if folks use them for drilling? And if so, is there any drawback to this?
Thanks!
A couple of years ago I had to drill a hole through both sides of a soffit I could only get to from one side. I bought a 1/4" hex chuck and an extension and it worked fine for that project.
I have used it a bit since for drilling with my impact in wood and it works great. Not to the point that I'm going to sell my drill or run out and buy a bunch of 1/4" shanked twist bits but it is a handy adapter to leave in the tool box.
If you don't have a drill I would definitely get one a 1/4" chuck and use it with your impact for drilling until you get the matching drill.
Main thing I use my drill for anymore is driving screws into pocket holes. Torque settings are very helpful for that.
Oh yeah, pick up some socket adapters for your impact as well. I use them enough that I leave a set in my home box and in both of my travel boxes. I think mine are all Kobalt and Dewalt.