Impact Drivers

I got this drill for free from the company I work for, and have been using (and abusing) it every single day for like 5-10hr. All I've ever heard is bad things about DeWalt, but is it just me or is this a totally fine drill? It feels identical to the Milwaukee's I've used, has better battery than mikitas, and the only impact it feels noticeably lesser than is Bosch, but the only real difference is Bosch has way better throttle control.

But ya, I've been beating the piss out of this thing (using it as a hammer, drilling into plate steel, etc), and it's held up fine. What's the problem with DeWalt? If you want a cheap impact, I think it's the best bet tbh (go Bosch if you want to go more expensive). It feels like Milwaukee tools have been turned into a meme, they aren't the best at anything, yet everyone speaks so highly of them for some reason

250 Piece Survival Gear First Aid Kit

LifeStraw Water Filter for Hiking and Preparedness

250 Piece Survival Gear First Aid Kit

  1. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Idk why my image is 404'ing, it was just a pic of my impact. Also I've had it for about 6 months

  2. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I'm pretty sure any of the big brands are "just fine" for quality.
    It works fine and is comparable to an impact driver from another brand that also works fine.

    I mean, we're talking about a $100-$150 tool here. It's not like anyone has to take out a second mortgage to finance it and needs to be absolutely certain that they're getting the absolute best thing money can buy.
    The marginal differences between brands are basically insignificant.
    Effort spent arguing about one brand versus another is a small-minded waste of time and energy.
    Just buy one and use it.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      This is pretty much my thoughts on it as well, I just thought it was funny how guys I work with were refusing free drills to buy their own Milwaukee's which are more expensive and basically the same thing

      I use Milwaukee power tools at my job, but I have some co-workers that use DeWalt. I am not a big fan of the run-out on DeWalt impacts. Any extensions I used would have a noticeable wobble. Nothing like my 12v Milwaukee Surge or my 18v Milwaukee Impact.
      At the end of the day, DeWalt works just fine. I don't see the issue with most of their cordless power tools.

      >Noticeable wobble
      This is fair, I find not using the chuck for 1/4" cladding screws makes a big difference in longevity, but then again I can count on one hand the number of times I've need an extension longer than 3" for my job in the last 2-3 years (sheet metal flashing installer)

      I'm a plumber and my company provided me with dewalt everything.
      I have no problem with any of their tools(drill, driver, impact driver, light)
      The only one that crapped out on me was the sawzall. They're not made for continuous use and will start smoking after a while.
      Also theres a bunch of dewalt batteries in our office that are waiting to be replaced because they like to crap out.(half a year of use and one of four stopped working randomly)

      I think makita is better but dewalt seems just fine

      I've burned out so many DeWalt drills it's not even funny, for those, esp hammer drills, I only use Bosch now. The only battery I've had crap out on me was one I dropped off a roof tho.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        >ive burned out so many dewalt drills
        Fricking how...

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          probably covering the vent with his hand and bearing down the high torque situations.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          He's also probably too deaf to hear the drill screaming at him in 14k hz.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      this. people fight about tools, but in reality it doesn't matter all that much. the only real "tool tiers" now are
      >big brands like milwaukee, dewalt, ridgid, etc.
      >homeowner tier tools like ryobi, makita, etc.
      >bargain basement disposable like all HF (though they've gotten really good lately), Amazon mystery chinkshit
      yeah sure you may have your designer tools like frickin hilti or whatever, and yeah, there are some extremely high quality power tools out there. but 99% of people, even the contractors, don't really *need* it. 10 years ago this wasn't true, but nowadays when everything is pretty much the same factories and same internal workings with battery packs using the same 18650 cells, it doesn't matter. it's all pretty much good, and that's a good thing in the end.

      that being said i will continue to shit on ryobi every time i see it because frick ryobi

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        agreed. I have all ranges of tool brands, and if you know it's limits/uses they're fine. Would I buy harbor freight cordless? No, but their $20 corded drill is great for long term drilling an abuse etc

  3. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I use Milwaukee power tools at my job, but I have some co-workers that use DeWalt. I am not a big fan of the run-out on DeWalt impacts. Any extensions I used would have a noticeable wobble. Nothing like my 12v Milwaukee Surge or my 18v Milwaukee Impact.
    At the end of the day, DeWalt works just fine. I don't see the issue with most of their cordless power tools.

  4. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I'm a plumber and my company provided me with dewalt everything.
    I have no problem with any of their tools(drill, driver, impact driver, light)
    The only one that crapped out on me was the sawzall. They're not made for continuous use and will start smoking after a while.
    Also theres a bunch of dewalt batteries in our office that are waiting to be replaced because they like to crap out.(half a year of use and one of four stopped working randomly)

    I think makita is better but dewalt seems just fine

  5. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Feel like within the last 3-5 years or so most well-known battery tools have reached a level of quality where I can’t tell the difference anymore. I’ll get a dud battery every now and again but that’s always been the case. Just concerned that we’re rapidly approaching 12+ years of M18/dewalt’s equivalent battery being popular. Wouldn’t be surprised at all if they switched to a “NEW AND IMPROVED” model that’s incompatible with our current tools.

    Still building my Hilti collection for personal use though.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Based purely on Project Farm videos, each brand seems to have a few tools that stand out from the others. However, if you were always chasing the "best" of any one type of tool, you'd end up with 8 different battery systems, which is moronic.

      • 1 year ago
        Bepis

        That 20% difference in his random tests will make so little difference in the grand scheme of things most of the time. And maybe DeWalt’s top model released this year beats Milwaukee’s top model from 2 years ago, but Milwaukee will have it topped in 6mos.

        A lot of the tests are good at determining what is utter garbage and what is in the rest of the pack. But then dude tests saws and the variability between hard wood and soft wood and how much pressure is applied to the thing, I’m sure you could change the list of “best tools” by tweaking some variables. And then things like impact drivers for OP, the type of fastener and material you’re driving into makes such a big difference, like lots of torque with medium IPM could win the Project Farm test, but real world work with 2” wood screws into pine, a low torque but real high IPM might drive twice as fast as PF’s winner.

        They’re close enough. Maybe the Makita drives lag bolts well but the DeWalt wins with 3” screws and the Bosch wins with thinner 2-1/4” screws while the Milwaukee wipes the floor when using sheet metal screws.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        That 20% difference in his random tests will make so little difference in the grand scheme of things most of the time. And maybe DeWalt’s top model released this year beats Milwaukee’s top model from 2 years ago, but Milwaukee will have it topped in 6mos.

        A lot of the tests are good at determining what is utter garbage and what is in the rest of the pack. But then dude tests saws and the variability between hard wood and soft wood and how much pressure is applied to the thing, I’m sure you could change the list of “best tools” by tweaking some variables. And then things like impact drivers for OP, the type of fastener and material you’re driving into makes such a big difference, like lots of torque with medium IPM could win the Project Farm test, but real world work with 2” wood screws into pine, a low torque but real high IPM might drive twice as fast as PF’s winner.

        They’re close enough. Maybe the Makita drives lag bolts well but the DeWalt wins with 3” screws and the Bosch wins with thinner 2-1/4” screws while the Milwaukee wipes the floor when using sheet metal screws.

        Torque testing channel is also great. I would never have bought a 12v skil right angle, I was going to buy a Milwaukee since that's what I have in the normal impact, but I got a drill, right angle impact, and battery for like half of the Milwaukee tool alone and its stood up to mechanic and deck building use so far.

        • 1 year ago
          Bepis

          >Torque testing channel
          Don’t buy an impact driver based on power alone though. The 2000+ in-lb impact drivers are kind of moronic for what impact drivers are meant to do. And even when they have speed/power settings, the hammer mechanism is still really big and slams small fasteners hard even when you want precision. I guess if you drive lots of lags, the powerful drivers are good, but you will be shredding socket adapters so you might as well get an impact wrench for that job and a smaller driver for screws.

          I love my babby subcompact impact driver. Lower power hammer and high speed is awesome.

          I think the only reason the Skil beat the Milwaukee in that test is because Milwaukee hasn’t updated that specific tool in years and years. I don’t know how popular Milwaukee is among cabinet makers and shit, but I would bet sparkies and Milwaukee fanbois in general would buy a good M12 Fuel right angle driver.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      If they come up with some new chuck design that forces me to get all new attachments (fricking love my nibblers), I'm gonna be so pissed

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      I work for Hilti as a Sales guy. Ask me anything

  6. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Dewalt is fine, but I find the power isn't always there with their impacts. Not a huge fan of their battery life in general either. My most recent low end brushed milwaukee just keeps going, even though it sometimes gets like a hot potato in summer. If I hadn't lost it, I'd probably still have the original I bought 7 years ago

  7. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    From my experience the "best" tools always comes down to customer service nothing makes people smile like no worries that break wasn't user error here's a new one on the house or WOW that's a well loved tool here's our loyalty discount

  8. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    DCF887 is an older impact driver, but servicable. I've had one for a couple years that's had a steady diet of tightening 3/8" grade 2 bolts and I've noticed that the hammer nose cap is a little loose, but I'm going to keep using it until she smokes. Their newer, smaller atomic impact driver dynos with more beans somehow.

  9. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I've dropped my 12V Milwaukee impact driver from 6+ feet onto concrete multiple times in the last year and it's still chooching along. Sometimes the quick release won't grab on and I have to wobble the bit around a little bit to get it to hold

  10. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    yeah it's not a metabo hpt/hikoki though

  11. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I bought a used DeWalt Impact for 60$, it came with 3 batteries, a charger, a clip and a bag, I have used it 8+ hours a day 6 days a week doing HVAC, it's been thrown, rained on and it's still running fine, it's also perfect for getting in tight spots on Furnaces and ACs

    • 1 year ago
      Bepis

      >ive burned out so many dewalt drills
      Fricking how...

      probably covering the vent with his hand and bearing down the high torque situations.

      He's also probably too deaf to hear the drill screaming at him in 14k hz.

      He's also probably too deaf to hear the drill screaming at him in 14k hz.

      Yup, user error comes into play at some point.

  12. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >better battery
    You're using a 4Ah chunky boy. Other guys want to use the light batteries with half the cells. I think the worst things you can do to lithium are run them hot and bury their charge to nothing. Otherwise they're pretty bang up no matter what.

  13. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >I got this drill for free from the company I work for

    Give it back Tyrone

  14. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    DeWalt and Milwaukee perform the same
    DeWalt does have some super cheap not good models but they're XR will be on par or better than Milwaukee

    Everyone circle jerks Milwaukee cuz "their guy" at "their store" recommended it but it just doesn't fricking matter

    We use DeWalt at work and unless you completely coat a steel chuck with epoxy, they just don't die

    We only replace ones that we can't turn the chuck on anymore, they don't die

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      >We only replace ones that we can't turn the chuck on anymore, they don't die

      I found a great way to remove all sorts of plastics including epoxy when I needed to remove a plastic water pump rotor without damaging the shaft. I used a knotted wire wheel with an angle grinder. Skinned it right off as dust (work outdoors) and left the shaft shiny for easy pump seal and rotor swapout.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      >Everyone circle jerks Milwaukee cuz "their guy" at "their store" recommended it but it just doesn't fricking matter
      there's a lot of that going around. milwaukee invested a lot of time and money in cultivating salespeople, and that strategy has paid off for them. that's not so say their tools are subpar, they're absolutely not, like you said dewalt is on par or even above with certain tools. dewalt is really the only one really gunning for electric chainsaws and they blow EVERYONE out of the water on that because they have the flexvolt system. dewalt is good, so is milwaukee, so is whatever other brand you can pick up at home despot (except ryobi)

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        My issue with Milwaukee tools are they are heavy as frick usually. They are generally bulletproof however.

  15. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I had to buy proper power tools 2 years ago and I knew that the moment I bought even one of them I'll be stuck in that ecosystem due to the batteries. I spent months researching each brand and individual tools. My conclusions:
    >DeWalt, Milwaukee and Makita make top tier tools, meaning that if you choose a given category these 3 brands will show up time and time again in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd. place. Sometimes DeWalt makes the best X and other times Milwaukee makes the best Y while Makita makes the best Z, etc.
    >the difference between these 3 brands when it comes to performance is almost always so insignificant in day to day use that it doesn't matter
    >sometimes the mid-tier brands are good enough, but there will be compromises that you won't know about until it's too late. For example most of the big brands use a very high quality grease in their tools (really expensive shit that costs like $1000 per kg). The cheaper brands use cheaper grease which will affect the longevity of the tool.
    >Customer support and warranty matters. Most of the top dogs are alright here. The cheaper brands might not be as generous.
    >Not being greedy israelites matters. It's the main reason I went with DeWalt. I don't trust Makita enough to not change the battery platform overnight and drop support for the older generation. Milwaukee sometimes seems more expensive than DeWalt for no apparent reason. This was the main factor that made me go with DeWalt, but overall I would have probably been happy with any of the big brands.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      go away chatgpt

  16. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    ive had mine fall 3 stories down an elevator shaft, and get knocked into a pool
    still works

  17. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I have Dewalt cordless tracksaw, palm sander, planer, router, work lights, jigsaw, impacter and drill. The impacter is the weak point, my trigger is going after a couple of years. The rest of the cordless tools are great. In particular the jigsaw and trim router. The impacter is the only disappointment. I will stick with it because of the batteries though.

    t. finishing carpenter

  18. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I have the same one and it's one of my favourite tools. Idc what people say, if I would have bought into the Makita or Milwaukee or Bosch platform it would have been fine too. The real redpill is that it doesn't really matter. Any one of the main brands is fine and the difference between them is minimal.

  19. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    give it back jamal

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *