Impact driver vs impact wrench - or just use a hammer drill

I cover the differences between an impact driver and an impact wrench vs just using a hammer drill. I get asked a lot if you can use an impact driver to take lug nuts off so I figured it was time for a video on this.

[suguride]

hahaha, it's 2020 and I'm just learning about the difference between these. Thanks for the vid!

[saltyprocrastinator]

THank you for the clear explanation, and for not taking an hour to get around to it like others do!

[robertdabob]

To be clear, if you want to throw your impact wrench in the trunk on a road trip or do a little work on your vehicle at home, then yes, an impact driver is fine. Just break the lugs first with a Johnson bar or whatever first, that's what I usually do. It's not fine for doing mechanic work on a regular basis. I think that's the answer people are looking for. If you're not doing work requiring you use sockets all the time then it makes no sense to purchase a separate impact wrench. I've driven a fuck load of carriage bolts over the last 8 years or so building decks etc, and my brushless makita is still going strong. I use it for everything, it's not gonna break. It'll just hammer away without turning the lug or bolt if it doesn't have the power, that's it. Being brushless it doesn't even get hot.

[counterpoint]

In answer to your question...IMHO - The difference between an impact driver and an impact wrench is about 150 ft/lbs. Impact drivers seem to hover around 150 ft/lbs, whereas impact wrenches really start at 300 ft/lbs. and increase to over 1, 000 ft/lbs. in some models.

[artincorona]

I have owned an impact driver for the last couple years and didn't even know the information that you explained in this video. It totally makes sense and I wish I had known this earlier to help with those stubborn screws that I have screwed in for the last few years.

[gmjunky]

Thanks for the info. I bought a refurbished rigid tool set about 8 years ago and was kinda puzzled what to do with the impact driver. Now I use it more and more. I used to just break the lugs loose first and then run them out with it and them drive them on and then just use a torque wrench haha

[alphafez]

Best verbal and visually explained video that I've viewed. Well done sir.

[jerrodnewsome]

Usually impact driver are rated by inch lbs & impact wrenches are rated in ft lbs but you can use a impact wrench to remove smaller plugs they are very powerful

[riconaka]

This is exactly what I needed to know! Makes perfect sense!! Thank you for saving me a trip back for the store.

[Itmovesme]

this is the best demo of these two machines i have seen, and your spot on explanation of how they work was clear and precise, great job.

[robertmeyers]

Thx, good review of the differences. Hammer drill vs impact driver. I have a hammer drill and want to use it on my car. Seems the hammer action goes into the work like hammering a nail, and impact driver is like torque on a wrench. This now makes sense. I would add that an impact driver contues to work after the fastener has stopped turning, whereas the hammer drill only works when the fastener can turn. I’ve been able to use the hammer drill on screw setting, not hammer, with torque dialed up for on or off fasteners or nuts. Sad I need to buy another tool for the car but finally answers my question. Thanks and keep producing content please for us newbies :-)

[cws]

I'm a mechanic full-time we work on huge excavators to weedeaters an every thing in between anything under a lawn mower impact driver I was so impressed by dewalt I got 2 more an then got the 1/2" im very impressed but still not as good as air impact but 96% of everything the 1/2" dewalt will take care of

[etxblue]

For working on personnel vehicle，I use impact driver with 1/2 or 3/8 adapter, it works perfectly for even axel nut.

[bikersoncall]

Thank you for getting to the point, I just
went through 5 mins of bsht, in a 20 min
video with midroll ads, and learned NOTHING,
I cut my loses and move on to your video.
Thanks!

[tenzackyogi]

Impact wrench is steriod power.
Impact driver is mid-range power.

[JoeLamOfficial]

Amazing video. Literally covered everything in one concise video. Thanks!!

[BeerStens]

Thanks for actually explaining it simply without a load of confusion.

[PopExpo]

Thanks for the info. Nothing's more annoying than buying the wrong tool for the job.

[RCKSTUDIOS]

Awesome video thanks i do use my driver to work on my car any other sockets that are not completely stock and it speeds up all my work i am definitely buying this wrench

[thersofrc]

Thanks for the explanation! Great video!