Impact drivers and cordless drills have many different features
If you are looking for a power tool that can release the burden of your work, consider the impact driver vs drill. This article will compare these two, so you can make an informed decision about which power tool will work best for your needs.
The first thing we’ll cover is the difference between drill driver and impact driver in terms of their mechanism, clutch, application, torque capacity, and how they’re powered. Next, we’ll tell you their pros and cons respectively. So let’s get started!
Impact Driver vs Drill – A Full Comparison
This part is where the mechanism features of the impact driver and drill will be brought to light. Let’s have a closer look!
Mechanism
Impact drivers are tools that resemble hammers, but they have more energy and make the torque better, which mark a great difference.
Within the impact driver, there is a spring that can be tightened every half turn until it releases. This part delivers a lot of force to the screws and other fasteners. With an impact driver, the energy moves in the same direction with the rotation of the chuck instead of a straight line.
On the other hand, a cordless drill has two parts: a handle and a rotating part with a clutch on it. Due to the clutch feature, you can put less force on the screw by turning it until there is more resistance, then stop turning the screw to make things go in or out. The drill works better for materials like drywall or wood.
Clutch
The difference between an impact driver and a drill lies in the clutch. While the drill does have a clutch, this part is not available on an impact driver. This fact makes the tool shorter enough to fit into places where a drill cannot go. It also means that the bits are not as easy to change for the impact driver.
Application
An impact driver is a tool with more power and torque than a conventional cordless drill. It’s best suited for larger projects like replacing flooring or building pergolas, but it can also be used for small tasks around the house.
A cordless drill can do some tasks like drilling holes, driving screws, and carrying out other DIY tasks. A lot of people buy this well-rounded tool to handle many jobs around their home or garden. This product comes with different attachments that make it even more versatile. It’s capable of installing doorbells and gates as well as assembling modern furniture.
Power
For impact drivers, to know if the tool is powerful or not, we will count on how much torque they have. There are two different units that you can use to measure torque: inch-pounds and Newton meters. One inch-pound is the same as one Newton meter.
A good cordless drill can be found by looking for a wide range of speeds as this feature makes the tool easier to drill different materials. The number of clutch settings is often exposed as well. You will usually find around 8 or 10, and there is not too much benefit if having more than that.
Torque
Traditional drills have low torque. On the contrary, impact drivers utilise more torque with fast spinning. This trait makes them different from hammer drills. More strikes will help the bit go through hard materials like concrete.
The rotational strikes on impact drivers will make the screw move. They are like a wrench on a bolt but with a hammer. You can use them for extra power when you’re turning the bolt.
Impact Driver vs Drill – A Full Comparison
Either a cordless drill or an impact driver has advantages and drawbacks. Let’s have a closer look!
Impact driver
People use an impact driver for hard materials
Pros
- Can prevent the drive bit from slipping off the screw
- Provides more power
- Make screws go into tough materials with ease
Cons
- Noisier than drills
- Provides less option of the bits
Drill
A drill is more user friendly than an impact driver
Pros
- Offers more gears
- Works well with a clutch
- More user-friendly than impact drivers
- More versatile
- Cheaper than impact drills that at the same models of power
Cons
- Gets struggle when doing jobs with harder materials
- Requires more effort from users
Impact Driver vs Drill – Who Is The Winner?
Different types of drills are designed for various purposes. If you need to drill in wood, and light materials, use a handheld cordless drill because it’s lightweight and convenient! However, if you have tough materials like brick or steel that require drilling into them, an impact driver is the best option as these drivers can create 3x more torque than similar-sized tools. As a result, they won’t get stuck on difficult surfaces.
The Bottom Line!
Drills and impact drivers are two powerful tools that can be utilised for a variety of purposes. In case you are not sure about impact driver vs drill, which one would be best suited for your particular needs, we hope this article has helped you find out the answer! Choosing the right tool for each project will save you time, energy, and money in the long term. Good luck with your choice!