With its brushless motor, the DCF809 doesn’t compromise on power, delivering 1,700 inch-pounds of torque. A variable three-speed trigger helps keep torque in check for smaller fasteners. The impact driver comes equipped with the triple-ring LED work light and ergonomic grip found on other DeWalt drivers, along with a handy battery gauge.
Built with the same quality, and warranty, as its green tools, the black versions strip away some of the advanced features, bringing the cost down. While it’s nice to have multiple driving speeds and modes, they’re not required to get a job done. This basic impact driver has the same torque as its green counterpart and drove all the fasteners in our test well, including 4.5-inch-long lag bolts. We also used it to remove 5⁄16-inch, grade-8 bolts torqued up to 40 foot-pounds. Kobalt’s XTR Max offers an advanced, assist driving mode for what we consider to be a reasonably priced tool.
But they’re also still manageable as an around-the-house tool for hanging curtain rods, adjusting doors, and hanging shelves. The downside is that they’re heavier than the 12-volts and not as powerful as the larger, 18- and 20-volt models. They also provide an affordable entry into a company’s 18- or 20-volt line of tools, all of which have compatible batteries. For most household tasks, a 12-volt drill is more than adequate. It’s the smallest class of drill, and due to advances in battery and motor technology, such models have become formidable with regard to power.
Make sure that the model you choose is lightweight enough to ensure easy movement but also strong enough to withstand heavy use in industrial tasks. When evaluating a Dewalt impact driver, the most important factor to consider is the brand. While other manufacturers may offer impact drivers in similar designs and at lower prices, the Dewalt brand is renowned for its durability, reliability, and good customer service.
DeWalt’s most powerful impact drivers come with speed settings that allow the operator to rein in the torque when working with smaller fasteners. They use an impact force to increase torque when making holes and driving fasteners. Tool batteries can often be used with tools of the same brand, battery series, and voltage.
When the job at hand calls for something a little more powerful than a classic drill, stay ready with an impact driver to get the job done. Impact drivers are used to loosen or tighten larger screws and nuts in hard-to-reach areas or with greater force than a screwdriver. They’re not to be confused with impact wrenches which are bulkier, more powerful, and used differently than a driver.
One of the first power tools people buy is usually a cordless drill-driver due to its versatility. And that’s good, but we’d argue for also investing in a dedicated impact driver. One can make myriad tasks easier, such as building decks, screwing down plywood, installing dewalt impact drill tile backer board, or any other job that requires driving long screws into wood. With 2,000 inch-pounds of torque output, it’s guaranteed to perform well even in the toughest situations. It also has three different speed settings that you can choose from.
DeWalt’s lights have a special feature of having a 20-second delay after the trigger on the impact driver is released before turning off. Look out for models with a variety of speeds so that you can adjust them depending on the task at hand. A good quality model will have speeds ranging from RPM all the way up to 3000 RPM. This will give you plenty of power to work through tough jobs with ease. Ridgid and Black+Decker do not offer brushless 12-volt drills, and Ryobi discontinued its 12-volt line.