First, I was able to get 2-3 hour’s worth of work done with one charge on the battery which was great since getting up and down from the attic is not that fun or easy. Second, often times I only had one hand free to drive screws and there were many awkward instances where I was leaning over or laying on ceiling joints driving screws. You don’t have to apply huge amounts of pressure to the back of the tool for the bit to stay in the screw. The black case (kitbox) provides great protection, transportation and storage options. The first thing I noticed once I got it out of its box is how small, compact and ergonomically pleasing it is.
The DCF885 measures just 5.5 inches long, making it capable of fitting into tight spots, and at just 2.8 pounds (not including battery), a user’s arm won’t get tired even with extended use. It also comes with the build quality and features found on higher-priced DeWalt drivers, including an ergonomic handle with plenty of soft rubber grip and DeWalt’s triple-ring LED work light. This kit comes with a charger and 20-volt battery, making it an exceptional deal for a DeWalt power tool. With a 4-inch length from the tip of the chuck to the back of its head, the DCF809 is one of the most compact impact drivers on the market. Its short head makes it ideal for pros who spend the bulk of their time driving in framing screws or installing cabinetry. The additional features on DeWalt’s impact drivers are standard across the product line with a few notable exceptions in its top models.
DeWalt impact drivers come as bare tools, ideal for those who already own DeWalt batteries and a charger, or in kits that include one or two batteries along with a charger. A brushed motor has a rotating aperture that makes contact with brushes, creating a significant amount of friction. A brushless motor eliminates the need for brushes, significantly reducing friction.
Outfitted with a brushless motor, the DCF887 puts out an impressive max torque of 1,825 inch-pounds, more than enough might for the pro job site. It also includes three speed settings that help rein in that torque for smaller fasteners. When the job at hand calls for something a little dewalt reciprocating saw more powerful than a classic drill, stay ready with an impact driver to get the job done. Use our helpful impact driver buying guide to learn more about the differences between these tools and other power tools, the many benefits of impact drills and which options are best for you.
The DeWalt DCF809’s brushless motor, though somewhat noisy, delivers an impressive 1,700 pounds of torque, enough to drive bolts into ledger boards or remove lug nuts from a car wheel. At 5.1 inches from its back to the dewalt cordless drill tip of the chuck, it’s at home in tight spaces, be that under a kitchen sink or in between wall studs. This 18-volt impact driver from Metabo HPT, formerly Hitachi, is part of the company’s new line of black tools.
Hart is a relative newcomer to the cordless-tool game, with a line of affordable models including this 20-volt impact driver kit. The tool head measures just over 7 inches in length, almost 2 inches longer than typical compact tools, so working in tight spaces could be a challenge. And it has a traditional electric motor with brushes, which can wear over time, affecting performance. However, we were able to drive all of the fasteners in our test with this Hart, with the bolts torqued to 40 ft-lb and lag bolts noticeably taxing it.
There are three speeds and two self-tapping screw modes—one for small fasteners, another for large ones. The self-tapping modes proved their worth when we drove screws into metal studs, as we were able to easily start the screws and prevent over-driving them and stripping them out. And with its two batteries, we had plenty of juice to finish most jobs. When we drove lag bolts into treated landscaping lumber, we easily drove the heads, cupping the washers we used, deep into the wood. The one-handed chuck on the Flex was unlike any other models we tested. We pressed a button, just above the trigger, to open the chuck and accept or release a bit.