Using power tools to work on power tools

[Wamsutta]

I don't like it. I gotta be able to feel the torque when I'm tightening a fastener or loosing a fastener. For me it's all about the feel. I'm flying blind if I'm using a power tool. My favorite hand tool for working on small lawn equipment is the Bondhus driver. Super comfortable handle that gives me plenty of torque without worrying about over torquing anything. I get an excellent feel for when something is tight and I feel that "crack" when something is breaking free.

 

[whateg01]

Ok

 

[Etchase]

I think it’s better on your wrists over a lifetime if you use power tools, if you are doing a high volume of work. I agree feel is important, but little 4-8 volt screwdrivers give good feel.

 

[whitesco]

I know where you’re coming from; I like to cut my lawn with scissors to get that tactile sensation of the steel blades dividing the plant fibers. All these guys with their power mowers actually getting finished before the weekend are just missing out on life’s simple pleasures.


Oh and the smell of fresh cut grass just inches from your nose makes all the immobility from my back and knee aches just melt away!!!

 

[KnurledNut]

Depends on the fastener for me. Sometimes I will run them down with an impact driver and then do the final tightening by hand.
Coarse thread forming screws are very commonly used to hold plastic housings together and often times attach to nothing more than a female plastic stud. I always start those screws backwards until it finds and "drops" into the original thread which will usually screw in fairly easy at that point. I started doing this after accidentally snapping off some of those plastic studs by just running them in. I think it was Dewalt I had that problem with.
As with most vocations, guys that repair tools for a living simply dont have time (or desire) to do everything by hand. A friend of mine has been running a tool repair shop for decades. He is probably 85 years old and he often uses small cordless drivers since its less fatiguing on his seasoned hands.

 

[PCustoms]

I could tell you pretty much everything was assembled with a power tool to begin with

But I wouldn't want to upset you

 

[Wamsutta]

You guys have it your way. Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying my BON-DOOSE T27 Torx driver with that luxurious soft grip for the rest of my life.

 

[zendriver]

Contrary to popular belief, it's said that when you get older, it's actually good to to actually do physical things, to keep range of motion, muscle tone, balance, etc, even with arthritis, muscle issues, all that ****. "motion is the lotion" 99 yo **** Van **** preaches.

I'll use hand tools on most stuff, unless driving wood screws, removing 12 automotive panels bolts, etc.

When new power tools (and everything else) are assembled, looks like they usually use small, rather wimpy powered drivers. I really wouldn't want to be tightening small screws, into plastic/aluminum with the Hercules hex impact.

 

[rust in the eye]

Love letter to a screwdriver, allrighty then.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Contrary to popular belief, it's said that when you get older, it's actually good to to actually do physical things, to keep range of motion, muscle tone, balance, etc, even with arthritis, muscle issues, all that ****. "motion is the lotion" 99 yo **** Van **** preaches.

I'll use hand tools on most stuff, unless driving wood screws, removing 12 automotive panels bolts, etc.

When new power tools (and everything else) are assembled, looks like they usually use small, rather wimpy powered drivers. I really wouldn't want to be tightening small screws, into plastic/aluminum with the Hercules hex impact.

Wouldn't working with power tools be like using smaller dumbbells ?

 

[cody1325]

I think as long as you just use an electric screwdriver, or your drill clutched way down, it shouldn't be a problem. Too many people (including pros) I've noticed always use impacts, despite the fact they really mess with the hardware and often ruin it.

From previous warranty work, I can tell that impact use messed with how some of the screws fit into the sheet metal of the washer when I took it apart with a nut driver (and later my cordless drill clutched way down), and the guy who came last time used an impact AGAIN.

 

[zendriver]

Wouldn't working with power tools be like using smaller dumbbells ?

Maybe, but IMO using a screwdriver is more like doing calisthenics.

A more effective way to gain/keep body muscle strength.

 

[Hakeem]

I don’t always agree with @Wamsutta but I, too, love that satisfying *crack* when you break a stubborn fastener free by hand

 

[Dannywq]

I don't like it. I gotta be able to feel the torque when I'm tightening a fastener or loosing a fastener. For me it's all about the feel. I'm flying blind if I'm using a power tool. My favorite hand tool for working on small lawn equipment is the Bondhus driver. Super comfortable handle that gives me plenty of torque without worrying about over torquing anything. I get an excellent feel for when something is tight and I feel that "crack" when something is breaking free.

I’m all about the feel when tightening or loosening fasteners. Power tools just don’t give that feedback. My go-to for small engine work is the Bondhus driver super comfortable and lets me apply solid torque without overdoing it. I can feel exactly when something’s tight or breaking free.

 

[tarmy]

I use impact wrenches on my truck all the time. And yeah…it is a POWER tool.

 

[Beerhippie]

I know where you’re coming from; I like to cut my lawn with scissors to get that tactile sensation of the steel blades dividing the plant fibers. All these guys with their power mowers actually getting finished before the weekend are just missing out on life’s simple pleasures.


Oh and the smell of fresh cut grass just inches from your nose makes all the immobility from my back and knee aches just melt away!!!

Aw, heck--I use a razor and comb. Scissors are so crude.

Honestly, I drove school bus for a time many years ago. Near our bus yard lived a little old lady. When we were leaving at 6 AM for our morning run, she'd be out in the lawn, rain or shine, on her knees, trimming the grass with a pair of barber's shears. When we returned from our evening run at 6 PM, she'd still be there--about ten feet further into the lawn. It was an immaculate lawn, but seemed to occupy her entire life during the growing season. We all called her "scissors lady".

I use power tools to disassemble power tools, but use hand tool to assemble them.