If you're struggling with trying to drive a screw into wood with a drill, you're not doing it right.

Since you already have the drill, all you need is the proper sized drill bit. You know, the things a drill uses to make a hole?

Drill a properly sized pilot hole first, using the drill you already have.

Now you can easily install the screw with just a hand screwdriver, and you will have a much stronger joint as you won't be splitting/tearing the wood forcing a screw to make it's own hole.

Makita 18v for me. For tires and lawn mower blades, I use an 800lbs torque air impact driver. So nice

Would a 3/8 drive probably have enough oooomph to remove the average car lug nuts? Or would I have to go to a 1/2 drive?

quote:

Originally posted by Yellow Jacket:
If you're struggling with trying to drive a screw into wood with a drill, you're not doing it right.

Since you already have the drill, all you need is the proper sized drill bit. You know, the things a drill uses to make a hole?

Drill a properly sized pilot hole first, using the drill you already have.

Now you can easily install the screw with just a hand screwdriver, and you will have a much stronger joint as you won't be splitting/tearing the wood forcing a screw to make it's own hole.

Clearly I must not have drilled pilots

It couldn't possibly be I was driving through oak and into framing. Nope, my pilot hole, despite it being 11/64th for a #8 screw, was just too small.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
Would a 3/8 drive probably have enough oooomph to remove the average car lug nuts? Or would I have to go to a 1/2 drive?

My 1/4" actually does it though I use an adapter to the 3/8" sockets.

quote:

Originally posted by TAllen01:
They are great for removing tires. Do not make the mistake I did of using one to INSTALL the lug nuts. A slightly imperfect alignment and I buggered two studs (had to rethread them) and messed up several lug nuts. Lesson learned.

I use the impact to put them on but stop short of tightening them. That's when the torque wrench comes out. aluminum wheels can be destroyed using the driver. My sons car takes 75lbs. and my truck 140lbs. Too easy to screw up a wheel and studs.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
Would a 3/8 drive probably have enough oooomph to remove the average car lug nuts? Or would I have to go to a 1/2 drive?

Good lithium ion impact DRIVERS typically have maximum torques somewhere close to the appropriate torque for putting on lug nuts.

But if you put a lug nut on with 80 foot-pounds of torque, then two years later, 80 foot-pounds of torque may not be enough to get it loose.

Impact DRIVERS are not really intended for large diameter nuts and bolts. They are (relatively) high-RPM, low-torque tools intended for driving screws and small diameter fasteners.

On the other hand, there are also lithium ion impact WRENCHES (relatively low-RPM, high-torque tools) that have maximum torques up to about 1000 foot pounds. There are a whole bunch of different impact wrenches with different torque ranges available.

I like to watch the shows where they fix up, customize, restore and flip old cars. I notice that many professional mechanics now use battery pack impact wrenches in both 3/8" and 1/2" drive for almost everything that air tools used to do.

I guess "impact driver" is acceptable to describe these battery operated tools and I'd like to have a couple myself, but...this is what I thought the thread was about.
Impact driver

I recently upgraded my old 18V Snap On 1/2 Impact to the new Lithium Ion version. I sent my old one in to be repaired/rebuilt. The only original part left was the "trigger". It only cost me $85 to have my old impact rebuilt. It now lives in a tool bag in the back of my CRV along with a Harbor Freight "racing" aluminum floor jack. I've helped several people on the side of the road with flat tires. They are very appreciative AND amazed at how powerful the impacts are. I had a guy pay me $100 cash at a junk Automotive Recycling yard to remove differential bolts and nuts. I use mine every day, all day. But that's what I do for a living. They're not cheap but to have 600 lb/ft available in a cordless impact is AMAZING.