Editorial StaffWhen undertaking a lot of DIY projects, you might find it hard choosing the tool to purchase, especially when picking from two tools with similarity in their name if we may say. For instance, impact driver vs impact wrench. However, confusion over the difference between impact wrench vs impact driver stems from these tools being used in two difference occupations, wood-based construction and mechanical repair.
How do you know which tool to buy? Well, you need to understand what each tool does and what they can be used for. Conversely, impact driver and impact wrench are both powerful tools and they use a similar rotating movement to create force. Moreover, they can look almost similar to each other.
In our impact wrench vs impact driver comparison, we will be looking at each tool, what there are used for, the best tool for each of them and examine their pros and cons. We are dedicated to helping you find the right tool for the task at hand. Let us begin.
The difference between impact driver vs impact wrench
1. Impact driver
An impact driver looks like a regular drill, but with much power. Impact drivers are strong enough to drill through metal, wood and even bricks. This is because of high torque, which is the force that a tool uses to turn an object.
Uses
An impact driver is an ideal tool when working with fasteners that require a driver bit like Phillips, Torx or square. It is also capable of drilling with bits that have a compatible shank. The core of the driver has teeth that enable it to mesh with the outer sleeve.
The impact driver produces strong rotational force when struck by a hammer. When the force is exerted, this triggers the driver to spin, enabling it to act as a temporary drill. Therefore, it -serves two main purposes.
First, it can be used to drive screws and fasteners into the material due to over-torquing. You can also reverse the switch and it is an ideal tool for getting out fasteners or screws. Secondly, to drill holes in hard materials using hexagonal shank drill bits.
Our best impact driver
Milwaukee 2853-20 M18 FUEL Impact Driver
Milwaukee 2653-20 M18 impact driver comes with brushless motor and delivers up to 2000 in-lbs of torque. Also, it is cordless to allow you to have more access to tight spaces. Furthermore, there is 4-mode drive control which provides greater control over output speed and power for greater versatility.
Milwaukee 2853-20 impact driver provides overload protection to prevent damage to the tool and battery during heavy applications. The big benefit is that you can change the bit easily with just one hand. This enables you to save time. It as well comes with premium rubber over-mould which provides increased comfort when in use.
This tool comes with an LED light that lights up your workspace for better visibility. The major drawback is that it doesn’t come with a battery and charger.
Pros
- Very compact and powerful
- Effective drill
- Has lightweight
Cons
- No battery and charger
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2. Impact wrench
Impact wrenches are a bit different from impact drivers. They are used to tighten or loosen bolts and nuts. In our impact driver vs impact wrench comparison, impact wrench looks a bit smaller and stubbier. However, they are more powerful.
Uses
An impact wrench is used for tightening or loosening large bolts, lug nuts and rusted or frozen fasteners. They provide a high rotational torque that no regular power driver can provide. They attains all this by an internal hammering mechanism that transmits kinetic energy onto the output shaft.
An impact wrench is usually used in automotive industries. The most common use is the removal of lug nuts when changing the car tires. Other uses include heavy equipment assembly, assembly of automobiles, large construction projects and maintenance, manufacturing machine tools just to mention a few.
Our best impact wrench
DEWALT (DCF899HB) 20V MAX XR Impact Wrench
Dewalt DCF899HB comes with a brushless motor for superior performance. It delivers up to 1,200 feet/pounds of breakaway torque. Also, it is cordless to allow you to have more access to tight spaces. Furthermore, there is a 3-speed selector switch for control which provide greater control over output speed and power for greater versatility.
Dewalt DCF899HB MAX XR impact wrench comes with a 20-second delay time on its LED light for use in areas with poor lighting. It is an ideal tool for use in construction sites. Furthermore, it has a weight that can withstand a 6 ft. drop. The major drawback is that it doesn’t come with battery and charger.
Pros
- Very powerful
- Effective impact tool
- Remove rusty nuts with ease
Cons
- No battery and charger
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The general overview of impact driver vs impact wrench
- Impact wrenches are used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts, whereas impact drivers are used for drilling long screws into metal or wood.
- In our impact driver vs impact wrench comparison, it is certain that impact drivers are more used for DIY and renovations, whereas impact wrenches are mostly used for car reparations.
- Impact wrenches have a ½ -inch square drive, whereas impact drivers have a 1/4-inch hex collet.
- We can arguably say after comparing impact wrench vs impact drive, impact wrenches are more powerful and heavier.
Conclusion
In our impact wrench vs impact driver comparison, you can see that both tools are quite different even though they have similar-sounding names. Therefore, the tool that you choose depends on which projects you have at hand. With this in mind, you will not have a hard time differentiating impact driver vs impact wrench since you know that they perform different tasks.
If you are looking forward to completing a DIY project or you are renovating, you know the tool to go for, impact driver. In case you what to change your car’s tire, then impact wrench is the ideal tool.
We believe that you now know the difference between an impact driver vs impact wrench. Don’t let the names confuse you. With that said, consider the tools that we have recommended above when shopping.
