I spoke to my local protool rep this week, and he has kindly given me the protool iwc 18-2 impact wrench/driver to test for the next week.

My first impression is that it is bloody heavy!
2.3 kg to be exact.
It is a solid and sturdy tool, i reckon i could put it to good use driving 100mm batten screws for decking.
Lately i used my little makita and a hilti impact driver for 2500 of these 100mm batten screws.
The makita failed miserably. The hilti was able to drive 2 screws for every one of the makitas screws. Time is money........
So now its time to retire the makita and upgrade to either another hilti or hopefully the mighty protool.

It is not as well balanced as the protool 18 volt cordless drills. It is front heavy.
I assume this is because of the extra gears required for impact and non impact operation.

The centrotec chuck is slightly longer than the standard centrotec chucks found on the protool 18v drills.

It has 3/8 square socket head which is hollow. The 3/8 socket wrenches fit over the socket head.
I have tried to push the protool centrotec bit holder inside the socket head because it looks like it is designed for that purpose but there is no ball bearing
to keep it in place. The 1/4 inch bit holder just falls out.
I can only assume that you have to use the centrotec chuck when using this drill/driver.

Now here is the problem I am facing.
I have been told by the protool rep that i should not use the impact mode with the centrotec chuck as it will damage the chuck.
Has anyone else found a way to use the 1/4 inch protool bit holder in impact mode without using the centrotec chuck?

I would like to call the protool rep right now, but i do not want to annoy someone on a sunday morning.

This could be a deal breaker for me, the main purpose for an impact driver is to drive screws using impact mode.
I know this driver will drive screws without impact mode.
But that is not my point.
Either it does drive screws using a protool 1/4 inch bit holder or it does not.
On the protool pdf page, they show the wrench being used in impact mode.
It does not show any details of the centrotec chuck in impact mode.

I would like to hear from other protool owners regarding this little detail....

Regards, Justin

Hi Justin,

What does the manual say?

__________________
Regards,
Anthony

IDEAL TOOLS - For FESTOOL powertools and accessories.

TORMEK SHOP - For the TORMEK sharpening system.

Hi Anthony.

Unfortunately the drill I have been loaned does not include a manual in the box.
I have looked on the protool websites.
The australian website is useless.
The german website is great but google cannot download the file containing the manual as it is too large a file to translate.

I will contact the rep tomorrow and find out exactly why the centrotec chuck cannot be used.

I am sure there is a generic brand adapter available.
I am curious to hear what other people do to resolve this minor inconvenience.

Justin.

sounds a bit too heavy to me, my panasonic drives anything i throw at it and wieghs a lot less.

__________________
darren stewart

http://oldschoolcarpentry.com.au

Justin
I am pretty sure that standard bits fit into hexagon socket holder.

Kapex

hi kapex.

you are right. standard bits do fit in the socket holder.
but how do they stay in?

justin

Justin
Mine is new and they seem to stay in ok. Maybe the demo one is a bit worn?

It sure has some grunt!

Kapex

hi kapex.
thanks for the reply.
can you confirm that you use a standard 1/4 inch shank which fits directly to the socket or do use the centrotec chuck when using impact mode?

i have been warned that the centrotec chuck is for drill mode.
and that it should never be used for impact mode.

justin.

Justin

Just using standard tips. There is a circlip inside that seems to hold them in ok

Kapex

It seems i'm a bit late to this topic.

It is not true! you can use the Centrotec chuck for impact mode. The Centrotec chuck for IWC is a special one which can be used in the impact mode. If you check the accessory, you will notice that the one used with IWC is called:

"CENTROTEC chuck Impact" model: "CC-IP" Art. no.: "636 508"

It's the similar with the new Festool TI15 impact driver, which also has an Centrotec chuck and can be used in the impact mode.

Yes, that's right. All Centrotec chucks are not really chucks, just holders. The hex shank of the Centrotec bit or bit holder actually slips into the hex socket in the drill shaft. The Centrotec chuck just stops the Centrotec bit/holder from pulling away from the drill. So driving or impacting all is ok, because the forces are being applied from the drill shaft hex socket directly to the Centrotec bit itself.

__________________
Regards,
Anthony

IDEAL TOOLS - For FESTOOL powertools and accessories.

TORMEK SHOP - For the TORMEK sharpening system.