1/2" vs 1/4" Impact Driver Question
 

Hi RS,

Father's day is coming up and I want to get my dad an impact driver/gun. I remember him mentioning that he really wanted one awhile ago and I figured what better time to get him one.

I'm debating if I should go 1/2" or 1/4". I didn't even know there was an option, so i'm not sure what he would prefer...

I would say he is a handy man. He does build things on occasion and has been working with wood a little more now that he's semi retired.

Is a 1/2" driver typically heavier than a 1/4" driver?
Is a 1/2" driver typically louder than a 1/4" driver?
Would you recommend a 1/2" over a 1/4" driver?

Thanks RS!

edit; oh, any suggestions for a good one?

1/2" would be the way to go if he is a handyman. 1/4" ones break pretty easily with pretty minimal force. On the plus side, most kits that are 1/2" come with a reducer to 1/4" if need be.

There are generally some half decent sets sold at Canadian Tire from the brand Stanley. They're nothing amazing but the price is right and they have great warranty and return options with Canadian Tire. I've broken and bent some of mine from my set by basically using it as a breaker bar and they swapped it out for me no questions.

Is 3/8 not an option?

Impact driver =/= wrench

Driver for driving screws and usually 1/4" hex drive
Wrench for fastening/loosening bolts/sockets and have a square drive

if he is using the driver for mostly doing wood work, then a 1/4" hex driver will be adequate. look for brushless motors from various big brands, bonus if he already owns power tools with compatible battery system that can be interchanged. 1/2" drive is really for bigger bolts/nuts

for electric cordless 18v milwaukee surge 1/4 hex if you want a quiet impact driver for screwing fasteners, screws etc


if he has a collection of tools already like dewalt or makita etc then you might as well buy tools for the batteries he already owns

id stick with milwaukee dewalt or makita but thats my personal choice

if he uses compressed air and has a tank, then buy him tools for that

Currently using a Milwaukee M18 brushless 1/2". I'd avoid the impact driver if he plans on using drill bits. If it isn't going to be used heavily you could go with the M12 or something similar. I've gone through two makita drills prior but they only lasted a couple years (weren't brushless).

Get an impact driver and an adapter to turn it into an impact wrench

MAXIMUM 3-pc 2-in Socket Adapter | Canadian Tire

Add this and you'll be good to go for changing tires and doing housework

https://www.amazon.ca/STANLEY-97-126...dp/B000NIKA4U/

This.

To answer your questions above: Yes; yes; depends.

1/4" impact is more for woodworking. 1/2" is more for nuts and bots.

Get dad the combo kit.

Sometimes a hex impact doesn't work out. If he has high quality drill bits, they are most likely not hex shank. The combo kit comes with a normal chuck, drill and a hex, drill. Both are impact nowadays. That impact action helps you power through some nasty shit, like spade bit through wood when you encounter some knots.

Since I'm a Milwaukee fanboi, I can only give you advice based on what I use.

The biggest choice is between an M12 (12 volt system) and the M18 (18 volt system). M18 is way more powerful but big and heavy. The M12 is perfect for homeowners. It's small and weighs less. Make sure you get the Fuel (brushless technology). Not that the older ones are crappy. The non brushless ones go on sale all the freaking time. Get flyers from KMS Tools, Summit Tools and even on-line places like BC Fasteners and Tools. Then take it to Home Depot for price match, plus an additional 10% off, lol.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.m...000672700.html

this one I got when they went on sale for 99 bucks!!!!! Black Friday. I keep it upstairs for odd jobs.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.m...000847699.html

I would never pay that kind of price for it, but they will most likely go on sale for Fathers Day.

This is assuming you meant impact/driver, not impact wrench as in the stuff that loosens nuts and bolts.


EDIT: when you are shopping around for this stuff, make sure you are comparing the same models. Brushless vs Non-Brushless and most importantly, what battery size the kit comes with. You can also buy tools only, but the kit usually comes with a really handy bag and charger. Milwaukee now has batteries up to 12 amps hour. The lowest is their 1.5 amp. Not much running time. Anyway....................


EDIT 2: GODDAMNIT! It would help to read the title once in a while, lol. I guess you are looking for the Impact Wrench type. Why else would you ask about 1/2 inch vs 1/4 inch. It would be nice to know if he wants a pneumatic, corded, or cordless type. Also what he wants to use it for.

we use a makita 1/4" 18v impact driver at work for fastening screws.
it gets used dozens, sometimes hundreds of times a day with absolutely no issues.
we've had it for 2 years and it's never skipped a beat.

Yup. 1/4" driver and drill kit with batteries and charger. I use them a ton in the garage. Removes almost any bolt with a 14mm head or smaller, no problem.

Most guys would only use the 1/2" for wheels.

The kit is the way to go.

I've had the Dewalt 20V Brushless Drill & Impact driver set for about 4 years now, my best and most used tools in the toolbox, awesome, never let me down and I've built a lot of shit with them.

I didn't bother getting the Hammer capability on the drill since I have an actual SDS drill.

drill is for drilling, driver is for driving

there is no substitute imo.. the days of trying to drive screws etc with a drill are long gone, they are useless for that lol

For driving screws into wood/metal for construction sure.

For disassembly/assembly of manufactured stuff (IE taking apart my basement fridge to fix the broken defrost heater) my Milwaukee M12 screwdriver is best suited because of the compact size and torque stops settings. It'd be too easy to strip/break things using an impact driver in this type of use.

Amazing, thanks for all the feedback everyone.

My dad has some really old nicad tools from random brands, so this will be his first set of power tools from this generation. Since he's semi retired now, he finds more projects to do.

So I think you guys are right, i'll get him a combo set. He doesn't even change his own tires (goes to costco), so I don't think he'll need the 1/2" impact driver. The 1/4" impact should be more useful for him.

Now, in terms of which brand to choose... That's the harder question.
I'm leaning towards either Dewalt or Milwaukee just because their marketing has worked on me? Does the Milwaukee have more torque than the Dewalts?

Could you tell me what the difference is between the set you mentioned..
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.m...000847699.html

vs. something like this...

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.m...001002378.html

I can't tell why there is such a discrepancy in price.

Watch the videos corollagtSr5 posted above to help answer your question.

And personally I'm skeptical on the whole "Hydraulic surge" type impact drivers systems versus the traditional hammer/anvil type. The premise of the former is that it invokes fluid cavitation, which destroys metal pretty quick. It will be interesting to see how long tools with those systems last.]

Watch this vid on the rigid hydraulic driver to see what I mean (17:30):

More expensive one has Hammer function in the drill. Not worth it.

Butter, check out Lee Valley Tools. Get him a gift card there. It’s every man’s candy store. I’m here right now, in fact. Getting the BBQ mop and this Taiwanese hat with netting. Keep them bugs off my pretty face. If he’s into gardening, this is the place for quality tools.

Lee Valley is great if you're a hardcore woodworker, or just yuppie that likes to overpay for crap.

Get him a a gift certificate for somewhere like KMS tools.

agreed, he'll never use the hammer function

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.m...001002378.html

these are great tools...only upgrade would be to the FUEL line

i have one at work and love it

personally I like makita, the milwuakee brushless stuff is nice though.

I wouldnt buy Dewalt any longer, since black and decker bought them i feel/have seen the quality go down hill.

Not only that, but at $120 premium that's close to the price of a cheap SDS rotary hammer drill which will still blow the doors off that "Hammer function" any day of the week.