Battle of the Drill vs Impact Driver. What’s best for the job?

If you’re thinking drill vs impact driver you may have never even known that the two tools above are completely different. When you’re just getting started out in DIY work there’s what feels like thousands of tools to learn about and take into consideration. Now you want to know which is best for you? The truth is these two tools despite their similarities serve vastly different purposes.

What is an impact driver?

An impact driver is a tool that uses a combination of a rotating anvil turning a fastener into position and an internal hammer mechanism to drive the screw further. This works by utilizing an internal hammer and spring that upon each revolution builds up torque and then releases the energy into the anvil causing an “impact” in the direction you are driving. The impact driver delivers these hammering actions thousands of times per minute allowing you to drive large fasteners into the hardest of materials.

Pros and Cons of an impact driver

Pros

• Compact size: impact drivers pack a lot of power in a small package making it possible to get into tight to reach places.
• Power: Will be able to drive larger fasteners faster than a drill.
• Quick change bits: Nearly all impact drivers utilize the same 1/4″ shank bits. The quick change anvils allow for rapid changing of different bits.

Cons

• Sound level: An impact driver makes a lot of noise as it hammers screws into submission.
• Delicate tasks: While most have a variable speed trigger it can be difficult not to overdrive screws, strip out holes or even sheer heads off of screws.
• Limited to 1/4″ hex bits

What is a drill?

The drill much like an impact driver uses an electric motor to turn the chuck allowing you to turn in a fastener or bore a hole. Where the drill differs in how it does this is using a set of gears mated to a clutch. The chuck of most drills can accept a bit anywhere from 1/64″ all the way up to a 1/2″ shank giving you a vast majority of sizes at your disposal. The drill offers more of a steady and controllable application of power. This power distribution is more tailored to drilling holes or turning smaller screws with finesse that the impact driver cannot.

Pros and Cons of a drill

Pros

• Variable power: With the use of a variable speed trigger, and the internal clutch you have the ability to limit power especially useful when screwing small objects or turn it up and bore large holes.
• Versatility: While the impact offers rapid swapping of only 1/4 inch bits the drill chuck is capable of handling most all drill bits and 1/4 inch hex bits.

Cons

• Larger size: The mechanisms inside a drill cause the body to be larger meaning you may be unable to fit it into tight spaces.
• No impact mechanism: While some drills may offer a hammer mode the way it works is different than an impact driver and you may find the drill unable to drive large fasteners into hard substrates.

Drill Vs Impact Driver

In the debate of drill vs. impact driver, it turns out its less of a battle and more of a question of what job is at hand? The drill, equipped with an internal clutch, showcases finesse by offering precision and the ability to bore large holes with ease. On the other side, the compact impact driver packs a punch with greater torque, effortlessly driving larger fasteners at a rapid pace. It’s a matter of choosing the right tool for the job — finesse for delicate tasks or raw power for swift and efficient fastening.

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