Impact drivers that you can disable impact function?

Hi all,

As topic suggests; which impact drivers on the market are useable purely as a driver also? Id love to have the benifits of an impact driver when I want it and not all the time! I find that for 70% of tasks there really is not a need for the impact mode, but it certainly has its uses.

Im aware of the makita 4 in 1 (very expensive) option, but that seems a big over spend for me.

I currently have the 10.4v hitachi twin pack, drill and impact – which in ernest the impact doesnt have enough guts for when its really needed, and the drill only gives 1300 (possibly 1500 i forget) RPM – which isnt adequate enough for anything other than 50mm no8 pilot holes etc.

So, I’m looking at the new Stanley FATMAX 18v drill as my main drill, excellent build quality for the price point and considering options to replace my driver.

I would love to hear anyones thoughts and suggestions about my options?

Many thanks

Are you just wanting a Drill/Driver? I’m not sure I know for sure what you’re asking.

No, I want an impact driver that has the capability / function of disabling the impact mode so it just functions as a non impact driver.

How about going with an impact that has speed settings such as the new Milwaukee Fuel? I don’t know of any others that let you disable the impact function, but speed control may be able to provide the functionality you’re looking for. There are a few models that have this capability. If you’re interested we can put together a list.

The Rockwell 3rill looks right up your street 🙂

Makita has a tool like that except the price is pretty insane at 500 bucks. You could get a whole power tool set for that kind of money

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=202072852&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=202072852&ci_kw={keyword}&kwd={keyword}&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-202072852&ci_gpa=pla#.ULBMnYawV3c

Protool also has this function with the IWC 18-2 TEC LI but if you didn’t like the Makitas price…..

Im with Wayne, the Rockwell 3rill is the one for you.  Ive used the Hitachi 18v Brushless Impact that has four settings so you can nearly disable the impact mode but it is still there.

Without the impact function it’s a screwdriver.

Im confused isnt that pretty much a drill driver?

crazyandy wrote:

Im confused isnt that pretty much a drill driver?

Yep

He must do a lot of work in the library  shshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshsh  LOL 🙂

Looks like he’s gone haha… but the 3rill is an interesting tool. I almost bought it for my first tool but then realized, it was not a pro tool…

I’m glad that I saw this thread. I also figured that the impact function is what I disliked so much about impact drivers. 

I just picked up an M12 fuel impact and the low speed function is great for all of those things where I would have been worried about snapping screws on a typical all or nothing impact. 

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BababooeyHTJ wrote:

I’m glad that I saw this thread. I also figured that the impact function is what I disliked so much about impact drivers.

I just picked up an M12 fuel impact and the low speed function is great for all of those things where I would have been worried about snapping screws on a typical all or nothing impact.

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Well, I’m glad you found it too. Hope you stick around 🙂 I have an M12 Screwdriver that sees a ton of use, but the impact with speed control kinda renders it obsolete.

Welcome to our forum!

Speaking of snapping screws, i could not stop snapping screws today, I dont know if it was the box or me..

Hard to find good quality hardware anymore.

Yeah you can say that again.

Thanks, I’m still thinking that the fuel screwdriver may be the better option for me. I usually keep a 5/8 speedbor in my pouch and the impact can’t really spin that too well. Its nice to not have to grab a drill to just pop a hole or two and I think that the fuel screwdriver may do the trick for that. 

On the other hand the impact is fantastic for self tapping screws. It also seems to do well for machine screws when set to low speed. 

I did pick up the fuel drill and it has some serious testicle. It’ll spin a good sized hole saw pretty easily. Its just a bit too bulky and heavy to carry in my pouch. 

I don’t know if the screwdriver has enough speed and power to run a spade bit. Unless the fuel really blows the previous model away, I’d think you’d be better off with the impact.

I wouldn’t be surprised. The fuel drill really blows the old model out of the water. The difference is night and day. 

I tried the older 4 pole Milwaukee side by side with the fuel Thursday just gone and the older drill was the most powerful drill I saw on the day of the tool fair in Manchester.