Bob! How do you know when the head of the screw has gone as deep as you want
it to?
Jewel
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Kennedy" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 9:33 PM
Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] Cordless Fastening in Tight Spots
I have the Dewalt 18 volt and love it. However, the article says it is one
speed while in fact it
is variable speed.
It is very strong for a battery powered tool. I have actually taken the lug
nuts off the front
wheel of my car as an experiment so there is more than enough power. I don't
recommend working on
lug nuts with one, especially since I have an air powered model with 600 pounds
of torque in
reverse. But for any type of wood fasteners you'll fall in love if you don't
have one. You do have
to be careful to stop when the screw bottoms out. Once it starts hammering,
it's hard to tell when
you're done and if you don't stop, chances are good that the tool won't either.
Again since I get
bored easy, I ran a 3 inch deck screw joining 2 pieces of 2 by 4. When it
started impacting, I let
it keep going and it drove the screw head over a half inch into the wood before
I stopped. That is
stupid I know but that's the power you are playing with...
----- Original Message -----
From: Ray Boyce
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 4:21 AM
Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Cordless Fastening in Tight Spots
By Charlie Self
This is long so get a cup ot tea or coffee and let Jaws read on.
Every house has its nooks and crannies where there's trouble inserting a
screwdriver, or power driver, to drill holes or drive fasteners in spots
where they are needed.
Driving a screw with an anvil may sound a bit off-the-wall, but that's what
impact drivers do. A tiny anvil strikes, internally, to drive the screw so
quickly that much of the time it seems to melt into the work. Little
pressure is needed on the head of the tool-just enough to keep it in the
screwhead slots (aim for square-drive, Phillips and Torx heads to reduce cam
out). Some tools offer as many as 3,200 IPM (Milwaukee's 2650-22), or
impacts per minute, while Ridgid's right angle model kicks in at 3,100 IPM.
Bosch's 10.8-volt PS10-2, with its articulating head (usually at a right
angle), offers an impressive 3,000 IPM.
Ridgid's 18V impact driver uses both li-ion and NiCad batteries.
Do You Need Yet Another Tool?
Whether or not you need an impact driver depends on what kind of work you
do, or intend to do, around the house, shop and elsewhere. To ease tight
corner chores, there are plenty of compact impact drivers.
Impact drivers (IDs) don't work supremely well for drilling. The anvil
strike at 2,000+ times a minute isn't ideal, on top of which it requires a
hex head on the bits, or a hex adapter, both readily available in most
hardware stores
<http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60767>
http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/mag-glass_10x10.gif. Drilling can
be done, but it's not the main aim of the tool. In tight spots, though, IDs
are a wonder, drilling or driving.
Impact drivers also work well as small impact wrenches. However, use impact
sockets, because regular sockets shatter.
Where impact drivers really shine is at running in long (2-1/2- to 3-inch)
deck screws, and driving ledger board lag screws rapidly. (Although, the
9.6- and 10.8-volt models don't do well at this heavier work).
The powerful torque means slotted screws are best avoided. Generally, only
light pressure is used on the driver, just enough to keep it firmly in the
screwhead opening without cam (torque) out. Slotted screws don't have enough
gripping surface to handle the torque.
Impact drivers work exceptionally well on any screw that gives a good
friction fit. With pilot holes, they drive Tapcon anchor screws in concrete
quite well.
IDs are not a substitute for a standard drill/driver or hammer-drill. They
are drivers, and very effective at what they do-the younger siblings of
impact wrenches. Contractors love them; heavy-duty DIYers love 'em, too. The
better ones are pricey. Lithium-ion is available for most and is a touch
more costly, but is well worth it. Lithium-ion batteries are often backward
compatible with NiCads.
Impact drivers are many times noisier than drill/drivers. I strongly suggest
you try a couple to see if the chattering ratchet noise is too great, before
deciding to buy any model.
Hitachi offers impact drivers in two sizes, 14.4V and 10.8V.
What's Out There
Prices range from a low of about $129 for the Ridgid right angle to more
than $300. More costly versions are often better handling, more durable,
more powerful, less likely to spit and sputter along the way. The Ridgid,
though, is not a low-end tool.
A plain ol' clutched cordless drill is fine for turning the few screws most
of us need. What changes the equation is a need for resurfacing a deck,
building a deck, hanging ledger boards, installing doors, or installing
anything that uses a fair amount of screws.
Pull the collar forward to change the hex-shank bits.
Though the cordless ID is heavy compared to a screwdriver, and only a bit
lighter than a cordless drill of the same voltage, there the comparison
ends. Place the bit in the driver, then put the bit into a 3-inch screw
head, hold firmly and squeeze the trigger. Seconds later, repeat the process
with the next screw, and move on down the line. Pushing the head of the
impact driver into the screwhead with more pressure doesn't do anything but
tire out the user.
Some models feature an LED task light.
The small 10.8-volt models from Bosch and Hitachi, the 9.6-volt from DeWalt
and the 12-volt right angle from Ridgid, can get into some unbelievably
tight spots, and all have compact heads just a few inches long. They're
useful for hanging cabinets in tight areas when there's little internal room
in the cabinet. Think of a 12-inch deep cabinet going in a corner where a
screw needs to go in at a slight angle to make sure you hit a stud. The fact
that no extra pressure is needed to drive screws makes IDs nearly ideal,
easing some jobs that can make you crazy with hand screwdrivers, or that
can't be done with a drill/driver. As an example, the Hitachi head is only
5-3/4-inch deep. Add a 3-inch long screw, and you can still easily fit the
unit into a standard 12-inch deep cabinet (more like 10-1/2 inches of actual
inside depth).
These tools are not wrenches, but drivers meant for installing and removing
small fasteners easily as when building a deck, fence, or installing
cabinetry. Impact wrenches are their big brothers, and run larger fasteners
in and out, such as vehicle lug nuts. But the impact drivers are powerful
enough to drive almost any screw, lag screw or nut within a reasonable size
range. I've been told by deck builders that they're fantastic for running
nuts onto carriage bolts when building decks, saving an incredible amount of
time and energy. They also speed up lag screw installation appreciably.
We looked at a number of cordless types, from 9.6 volts to 18 volts, with
and without the newest lithium-ion (li-ion) technology.
Above and Below: Lithium-ion batteries are lighter and more compact than
NiCads.
Cordless Wins at Home
For this review we looked at a bunch of fastening tools, including a
cordless drill or two in the mix (see sidebar).
DeWalt offers lighter duty 9.6V and heavy-duty 18V versions of its impact
drivers.
DeWalt's drivers are single speed. The Milwaukee has one speed listed in RPM
(2,200), and the other in impacts per minute (IPM) at 3,200. Bosch offers a
similar listing on both its PS10-2 and its PS40-2, with 1,800 RPM and 3,000
IPM (Bosch calls it BPM, or blows per minute).
Milwaukee's 2650-22 is a lithium-ion powered tool, very comfortable to hold
and use, even in an 18-volt version. Lithium-ion batteries are a great
change for the handyman or handywoman, offering more power in a small,
lighter battery. The battery may be as much as 40-percent lighter than
comparable NiCad batteries, has more amp hours and more endurance. We
weighed the 18-volt DeWalt batteries. The lithium-ion battery is a full
pound less than the NiCad. It is considerably smaller as well. Plus, run
time is considerably longer than the NiCad. Recent claims for similar
top-of-the-line batteries include 2,000 recharges.
Ryobi's P230 offers one speed range, as does the Craftsman 11483, while
Hitachi has two speed ranges in the 14.4-volt, along with an LED light and a
belt hook. The 10.8-volt Hitachi offers a single speed, 2,300 impacts per
minute and maximum torque of 930 inch-pounds, making it suitable for
tightening bolts from 3/16 to 15/32 inch. It does fine with 3-inch screws,
but is not as fast as the more powerful drivers, nor does it drive nearly as
many screws.
Bosch 10.8V PS240-2 offers 800 in/lbs of torque in a compact package.
Bosch works its way in with two small models, both 10.8-volt lithium-ions.
The PS40-2 is a standard T grip, while the PS10-2 has a head that
articulates to five different points, from right angle to straight out. It
is the handiest of all for those who consistently work in confined spaces.
As a bonus, the PS10-2 offers a seven position clutch to prevent
overtightening.
Ridgid's well made right angle ID has a fixed head, comes with NiCad
batteries, handles quite well and, overall, is excellent in tight spaces. It
is heavier than the Bosch 10.8 articulating head ID, as well as considerably
larger overall, though only fractionally larger at the head where it counts.
Some people will find the larger tool more comfortable. It is the lowest
cost ID here.
Every tool works well within a fairly tight space. The Ryobi head is the
longest at 7-1/8 inches, while the Ridgid right angle, at 3-1/8-inch is the
smallest, with the Bosch PS10-2 striking along behind the Ridgid at 3-5/8
inches. The others all drop somewhere in that area, with most right around
5-1/2 inches, slightly above, or slightly below.
Compact heads make it easy to maneuver impact drivers in confined work
spaces.
Which One Is Best?
Our series of impressions was gained in short bursts of use; it's not really
sensible to compare DeWalt's 9.6-volt model or Bosch's 10.8-volt to
Milwaukee's (or DeWalt's or Ridgid's) lithium ion 18-volt models, or, in
fact, with the Hitachi 14.4-volt li-ion.
For heavy-duty fastening of screws in deck or fence building, or lag
screwing, or carriage bolts on ledger boards, any of the 18-volt impact
drivers with lithium-ion technology serve well. Lithium-ion is a bonus, as
NiCad does fine. All the 18-volt tools we looked at came with a charger and
two batteries (except the Craftsman, Ryobi and Ridgid-more on this in a
bit). All will serve a homeowner for years, working well and effectively.
All of the tools handled easily, and were controllable when running in
1-inch screws, as well as 3-inch. Weight varied between tools. The right
angle heads were slightly more difficult to control with very long screws.
Craftsman has a system similar to Ridgid and Ryobi, using either NiCad or
li-ion batteries (19.2 volt), one battery for use in several tools. The
battery is sold with the charger for the Craftsman C3 system. The tool has
the usual LED, 1/4-inch quick change hex chuck, turns out 0-3000 IPM, and
produces 900 inch-pounds of torque.
Hitachi's 14DL has easy-to-change brushes and a two-speed switch.
Hitachi provides the only 14.4-volt tool, another lithium-ion model, and a
tool that does everything the 18-volt tools do, though not as long. I liked
the handling on the Hitachi a great deal, with its lighter weight. I'm not
dead sure about the placement, or control, for the LED. It's on the tip of
the resin belt hook, with its own off/on buttons-something that might create
a problem for forgetful types. Leave the LED on when you stick the driver in
its case, and the battery may run down before you open the case again.
Otherwise, the tool was an exceptional handler, with the most easily
selected two-speed range-a switch on the side of the tool.
Hitachi's 10.8-volt was a surprising performer. It was light, with a li-ion
battery, a 5-5/8-inch long head, an LED set under the chuck, and a single
speed range, controlled by the trigger.
DeWalt's two models provide a widely varying look at needs. The DeWalt
9.6-volt ID is lightweight, very small, easy to handle, and well made. It
lacks all excess weight, but ranks at the bottom regarding the number of
possible screws or bolts driven, because of the 9.6-volt battery.
Craftsman's 19.2V ID offers 900 in/lbs of torque.
Milwaukee's lithium-ion 18-volt vies with the DeWalt 18-volt for power, is
light and handles beautifully for all its power. Milwaukee claims a
2,000-charge capacity for its lithium-ion batteries, a factor in its favor
if you're using the tool heavily, daily. Batteries have run-time gauges.
Milwaukee claims torque of 1,400 inch-pounds.
Ridgid's full-size ID offers a choice similar to Ryobi's, a single battery
for several tools, but it adds one point: a 24-volt battery also works in
the R8823. The 18-volt is available as lithium-ion and in NiCad. The 24-volt
is lithium-ion only. The tool has the standard LED, a variable speed switch,
the usual 1/4-inch hex chuck, and excellent handling. The 12-volt right
angle is not lithium ion, but is powerful enough for its chosen chores.
The Ryobi P230 operates on the interchangeable One+ battery system.
Earlier, we mentioned Ryobi's battery/tool set up. A few years ago, Ryobi
launched the ONE+ system; one battery can be used in many tools, thus
freeing the purchaser from buying a battery and charger at every cordless
tool purchase. Ryobi's lithium-ion and NiCad batteries are interchangeable,
from tool to tool and charger to charger. During checks, I found the li-ion
claims to be solid, so Ryobi's 2X performance claims are probably low.
Certainly the claim of 20-percent less weight is true. Ryobi's tools are low
cost, on the edge of high performance and quality, so often they're bargains
for those trying to keep from being nibbled to death by the tool ducks of
the world.
Bosch and Ridgid offer right-angle IDs
Comfort Grip
A great feature of newer tools, corded and cordless, is the soft cover. In
the good old days, you gripped bare aluminum (or steel if you're older than
I am), with a two-wire system that had iffy insulation on the wires. On very
cold and very hot days, handling tools was torture. Today, we've advanced
into plastic bodies, blow-molded accurately. Improvement continued so that
in the past decade or so, a soft-touch plastic coating that feels much like
soft rubber is used on most tools. On cordless impact drivers, you'll find
it on every tool. The tools are more comfortable in the hand because of it
(and some further research into ergonomic design), and less likely to spin
or slip in the hand.
The articulating head of the Bosch PS10-2 can be adjusted to drive fasteners
at a wide variety of angles.
How To Buy
Start with a work check. Do you have a few dozen long screws to drive each
month? Each week? Each day? Do you see yourself driving lag screws? Do you
do a lot of heavy work around the house? Are you likely to install your own
cabinetry? Will you be building a deck, a porch, a workshop, anything major
in the next short period of time?
The more you have to do, over a long or short period of time, the more it
makes sense to spend for the more power of a professional-grade tool. If
you're looking for short-term use, heavy but only for a week or two, or
light- to medium-duty over a course of years, then go for the mid-range
tools described here.
If you've just got a couple dozen screws to drive, forget about an impact
driver, and stick with your drill/driver. Even consumer models cost over
$100, and the best models punch the lights out of three $100 bills.
Compact, Versatile Cordless Screwdrivers
For anyone who decides either the cost or the noise of an impact driver is
too great, there are three excellent choices for drills or screwdrivers to
work in those tight corners.
The smallest, Skil's little iXO is a 3.6-volt lithium-ion screwdriver and is
one of the best selling power tools
<http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60767>
http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/mag-glass_10x10.gif of all time. It
comes with a set of 10 driver bits, will also drill with the proper bits,
and includes a right-angle attachment. Performance is impressive when
compared to size, offering a speed of 200 RPM.
Ryobi and Craftsman offer right angle drills in full size, with many similar
features. They're about the same height and weight, both have large
easy-to-use switches, and both are easily reversible. Both use speed-control
triggers and have 3/8-inch chucks. The Craftsman has a built-in LED for
those tight niches, while the Ryobi doesn't. But the Ryobi has a rotating
foot to allow easier clearance in odd-shaped spaces. Both come without
batteries, accepting their own brands of lithium-ion batteries. Look for top
speeds of 1,050 RPM with the Craftsman and 1,000 with the Ryobi, which make
them very versatile. Craftsman gets $64.99, minus battery and charger, for
its right angle, while the Ryobi goes for $64.97 at Home Depot, without
battery and charger.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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