If there is one tool that is changing into additional and additional of a "must have", it is the conductor impact driver. Whether or not you're employed in construction, build extensions, match kitchens, install decking, a conductor impact driver could be a key piece of kit for quickly driving even the largest screws into the toughest wood.
And the key word is "quickly". Of course, any drill/driver can drive massive screws. But as a result of the concussive blows delivered by an impression driver, you've got far more raw screw driving power.
Typically you've got around three times additional turning torsion from an impression driver than you are doing from a drill/driver. And it is the comfiest and engineering thanks to driving long, thick screws as a result of the manner the concussive action (the BPM) delivers the energy to the screw, to not your wrist joint. In this guide, we'll be gazing what Britain's favorite skilled machine company should provide within the impact driver area.
What Makita Impact Driver Should You Buy?
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We'll break this down into battery capacity to help you decide which Makita impact driver is best for you:
· 18v LXT
Thrown into the mix will be whether to go for a naked (or body-only) impact driver where you don't get a battery with the tool, but you save some cash or one that comes in a carry case with a battery and charger.
Makita 18v LXT Impact Drivers-
For those who are price conscious first, then the DTD146Z (see it here) is definitely worth a look. It represents an incremental evolution of Makita's longest running 18v impact driver and is compatible with all of the LXT battery range, namely 3Ah, 4Ah, and 5Ah.
The "Z" in the product name denotes it's a body-only version, so you'll need to have your own LXT batteries to power it, but it's certainly the cheapest in the range as a result.
Spec-wise, the 4-pole motor is housed in a body that's only 138mm long, making it perfect for confined space work, and it outputs 160Nm of torque, with 2300rpm and 3200ipm.
Next up is the 18v LXT DTD152 (see it here). This is the latest in Makita's stable of hard-working impact drivers and comes supplied in a Type 2 MacPak case with a DC18RC fast charger and two 4Ah batteries. It's also available body-only, click here.
Performance-wise, this thing is a beast, and it's all packaged up in a very small footprint, having a head length of a mere 137mm. At the front, there's twin LED lights to brighten up those dark spots where you're working, and all metal gears in the motor deliver a whopping 165Nm of torque.
The bits are turned via the variable speed trigger at up to 2900 revolutions per minute, while the screws are driven hard into the wood thanks to the 3500 impacts per minute.
The DTD152 is an impact driver for those that'll be absolutely relying on it for longer periods of time through the day to drive hundreds of screws. Imagine having this at your disposal for that plywood sub-floor laying job, for example!
So, out of the two 18v LXT impact drivers by Makita, it comes down to whether you'll be using it all day, every day, or whether you need one in your kit to partner your existing 18v LXT cordless tools. The choice is yours...
Makita 10.8v CXT Impact Driver
The Japanese company earlier this year announced a massive change to its 10.8v battery platform, moving the batteries closer to their 18v LXT big brothers. Now we have slide-in functionality and better performance, as a result, coupled with a minimum of 2Ah capacity, and Makita calls the platform CXT.
This has allowed Makita to improve the performance of their 10.8v power tools, including the newly launched impact driver.
The TD110D is available with a charger, case and two 2Ah batteries, or you can save a bit of cash and grab a body-only version, allowing you to slide on the 10.8v CXT 4Ah battery pack.
Spec-wise, this is a true performer. Size-wise, it's a little longer than the 18v LXT versions, roughly 2cm or so, however it's about 0.5kg lighter, which is a bonus. Plus, the profile of the head is narrower. And because of the improved battery technology, we've got some fantastic performance from such a compact tool.
3500 impacts per minute are going to blast the biggest of screws into the densest, thickest pieces of wood. Partner the IPM with the 110Nm of torque and the 2600 revolutions per minutes, and you'll have a very capable, but extremely lightweight tool in your hand.
What's your impact driver of choice and why do you favor it? Let us know in the comments below!
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