Thread: Impact driver difference

hi pulpo.

i have the 18 volt makitas lithium range since 2006.

they have got a lot cheaper, back then an impact driver and 2 batteries was $600.
i use the $150 versions that you have linked to and they are a great little package.

i punish them onsite everyday and they still go strong.
they have been dropped off roofs, dropped in concrete, puddles of water.
a quick spray with wd-40 and away we go again!

that said, the 14.4 volt hilti impact driver is in a different league.
the hilti is without doubt, the best impact driver on the market. $600 - $700.

as you already have the makita 18 volt drill, its a no brainer for you.
i recommend you buy the $150 version.
you wont be sorry!

justin.

Originally Posted by Pulpo

Need to acquire an impact driver.

Never owned one previously nor used one.

I have Makita cordless 18v drill lithium 3 hr.

So my choice is simple 18v Makita impact driver.

However there appears to be a couple of choices.

One with 3 speeds, is this a good thing?

http://www.sydneytools.com.au/shopdi...ch=Yes&sppp=18

But the price ranges from $150 to $350.

Can any one comment on the better one?

I think $250 seems ok, no idea why just a guess.

Cheers

Pulpo

Makita's best rattler is their BTD144. It's small, robust, brushless and powerful. Tradies who use them consider them the absolute state of the art. Having used a few other Makitas, a Hitachi or two and a Panasonic, I can categorically say that it makes the others (including my own Bosch) feel crude in comparison.

Makita's absolute worst rattler is the BTP140. It actually claims to be a "4 mode" two speed drill, impact driver and hammer drill.

It fails spectacularly in all 4 roles. The clutch is the weakest I've used, the L-shaped selector gate jams between modes, and as a rattler it's too big, top heavy and ungainly. Too fast in top gear, too slow in low.

It took all of an hour of use to determine what an abortion of a tool it was, and a weekend of hell with it to force me to return it as an "unused, unwanted purchase", the only way I could obtain a credit for the tool. To this very day I feel guilty of lying about its use/unuse, but in my defense I would've committed murder if I'd been forced to keep it!

It's also the most expensive drill/driver I've ever seen, making even Hiltis a bargain in comparison. It was, from memory $899, less 20% for a one day sale event!

I have acquired the BTD145 impact driver.

My only annoyance is not being aware of how good they are.

They are light, smaller and more powerful than my drill.

Started even buying drill bits that fit the impact driver.

They are superior to drills

Thanks for your advice

One happy punter

Cheers

Pulpo

I wouldn't recommend using spade bits, however.

Although I occasionally do it myself, anything larger than a 18mm. tends to bog down with the sheer speed of the rattler or even worse overheats, dramatically shortening their life. The bit, I mean, not the drill.

With impact drivers, once it start rattling does that mean its at max torque?

Once it rattles I guess it reaching maximum torque.

Mine has three speed settings.

But for some reason I seem to have more control over the impact driver than the drill.

Anyone who owns a cordless drill should use a rattler.

Pulpo

Yeah i have been using a cordless drill for drive screws for many years. i recently just bought am impact driver (Milwaukee M18) and i am loving it. So light, compact, yet so powerful.

Ive got a Makita BTD140 18V and love it, make sure you get the 3 Ah batteries though.

A few guys at work have the Panasonic drivers and im not really a fan of them, they feel like they have a bit of a delay in the trigger. Maybe its the brushless setup.

Makita hands down has the best belt clip ive used if you need that feature.