Compact drill vs impact driver

 · Impact Driver vs Drill: Key Features. In this section we examine the key features of drills and drivers in general, and the specifics of each type. When it comes to the hammer drill vs. impact driver vs. cordless drill/driver question, this is another way to help you decide which model to buy.  · Impact Driver vs Drill Basics. Simply enough, a drill spins the chuck at the front of the drill. Most chucks are now keyless, meaning you don’t need that funny-looking key that’s bent to 90 degrees to change out the bits. To use a keyless drill chuck, simply grab it and twist one way to loosen and the other to tighten.  · And while the cordless drill is commonly perceived as a general-purpose tool, an impact driver is designed specifically to drive threaded fasteners. More noteworthy is the difference in the manner of operation — an impact driver combines torque with brute force to drive screws more efficiently than a standard drill.

A capable drill will sink a ledger screw faster than an impact driver every time almost. The exception comes when the torque required exceeds the power of the drill to maintain its optimal speed. When that happens, the drill slows down while the impact driver keeps driving the fastener into the material. As the voltage increases, so does the power and speed of the impact driver. Unlike a drill, impact drivers do not have a chuck. Instead, they feature a quick-change clamp that holds drill bits and driver bits with a hexagonal shank. This hex-bit design is necessary to accommodate the power output of impact drivers. You see, both are pretty different from one other and serve different functions. While drill drivers are lighter and easier to handle, impact drivers are heavier and with more torque. And that’s not all that sets them apart.

An impact driver's main purpose is driving big, long screws into tough material (studs, concrete/masonry. The primary difference lies in the rotational action and power. Impact drivers are lighter and more compact than most drills. Moreover, they. One main difference between a drill vs. driver is their physical size. Impact drivers have a very short body due to their internal workings.