I don’t mean to toot my horn, but I’ve been doing all the minor renovations at my home all by myself.
Growing up, I’d seen my mother do the same, and that’s where I’ve learned all the tips and tricks. Back then, none of the tools fascinated me. But recently, the loosened lug nuts of my van got me into DIY repairs.
Soon afterward, I got some tools from my mother to tighten the lug nuts of my van. With those tools, I went ahead with all the quick-fix tasks and minor repairs. But, since they were pretty old, they did not deliver the best results.
Therefore, I decided to buy some new tools for my DIY repairs. Having little experience with power tools, I went with my mother to buy the correct power tools to ease my DIY tasks. Only then did I realize how challenging it is for newbies like me to choose the right tools.
I decided to put together a guide on the most searched topic - impact driver vs. impact wrench. Howdy! I’m Stacy Smith, and today I’ve designed a guide on power tools for all the newbies out there!
Let’s dive into the deets.
Impact Driver vs. Impact Wrench
Before getting into the details of the two tools, let me give you a brief introduction to the two power tools.
Impact Driver
Although an impact driver may seem to be a basic drill, it has a lot more power and can be used for a variety of tasks. Whether you want to drill through metals, wood, or even bricks, the power of an impact driver is enough to cut through any material.
Because they drive screws fast, I use them for almost all my DIY projects. What you’ll love about these impact drivers is that they are pretty compact and make for a storage-friendly tool. As such, after use, you can tuck them away in any cabinet of your garage, just like I do.
This tool is perfect if you’re a hobbyist carpenter or love to build DIY cabinets for your home. To be honest, they are also great for removing corroded screws. As such, they are highly versatile. All in all, this tool is a better bet for all carpenters, hobbyists, and DIY enthusiasts.
- BRUSHLESS MOTOR delivers 1825 in-lbs of torque and 3400 RPM to drive large diameter screws
- COMPLETE TOUGH FASTENING APPLICATIONS on the jobsite with 30% more torque
- PRO-LEVEL CONTROL and precision with variable speed trigger and 3-speed setting
- Brushless motor for efficient performance and runtime
- 1500 in-lbs of torque delivering the power you need to get a majority of applications done.
- LED light with 20 second delay after
Impact Wrench
If you’ve ever been to a car repair shop, you must have seen car mechanics using high-powered tools to change tires. These high-powered tools are known as impact wrenches.
They are a must-have tool for all the mechanics and workshop owners out there. Because they make tire-changing an easy-to-do task, my husband keeps this in his garage tool chest. You can use these high-powered tools to tighten or remove the loose rivets, screws, and tack.
They are highly powerful and work pretty quickly, especially the pneumatic variants, and this is why they are highly popular among construction workers. But, they aren’t suitable for home renovation tasks because of their high torque.
So, if you’re looking for a power tool for your workshop, this is an excellent option.
- COMPLETE A WIDE VARIETY OF FASTENING APPLICATIONS with 1030 ft-lbs of max fastening torque and 1400 ft-lbs of max breakaway torque.
- INCREASE USER CONTROL IN A VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS with 4-mode speed settings and variable speed trigge
- DESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT OVERTIGHTENING AND FASTENER RUN-OFF with Precision Wrench control.
- 👍 QUALITY SERVICE - We provide replacement instead of maintenance, to ensure your experience.
- 🛠️ 1000N.M TRUE PERFORMANCE BEAST! - The most outstanding feature of JEXUGK electric impact wrench is its peak torque of 1000N.m! Removing tire screws can be done in just 1 second, which is a powerful force, strong torque equivalent to 10 adults exerting force at the same time, 1/2 Impact Wrench can efficiently perform heavy equipment maintenance,, major construction projects, agricultural machinery, remove truck tires/rusty nuts/bolts/scaffolding also! in seconds.
- 🛠️ 2 X 21V 4.0AH LITHIUM BATTERY AND 1-2 HOURS QUICK CHARGE - Battery powered impact wrenches are equipped with 4.0Ah batteries and passed a rigorous 1000 charge cycle test to ensure its durability and longevity, the most important issue with battery impact wrenches is the battery power, which can extend the working time by more than 50% compared to other 2.0Ah batteries. This is no need to worry about running out of power at all, the fast charger greatly reduces the battery charging time and speeds up your work efficiency.
Impact Driver vs. Impact Wrench: Comparison
By now, you have an idea about these tools and their uses. So, you’re prepared to dive into the features of the impact drivers and impact wrenches to pick one between the two. Move on and take a look.
1. Torque Output
While impact drivers produce torque between 1500 - 1800 lbs., the impact wrenches produce high torque of 2200 lbs. Not only this, but there are some impact wrenches whose torque goes as high as 22000 lbs. Therefore, the impact wrench is a clear winner in terms of torque output.
However, the tool that you choose depends on the nature of your task. If you’re looking for DIY repairs and renovations, you don’t need a tool with high torque output. Considering that, I’d recommend you go for impact drivers. Meanwhile, all heavy-duty tasks require high torque, so impact wrenches are, any day, the best bet.
2. Versatility
Speaking from experience, I found that impact drivers are more versatile than impact wrenches because they come with a case featuring a variety of extensions and bits. To be honest, this has really helped me deal with rivets of a variety of shapes and sizes. Using this will also save you the cost of a new driver.
As for impact wrenches, they are compatible with only one or two wrench socket sizes. Therefore, I’d suggest you go for impact drivers because of their versatility.
3. Ease Of Use
As a DIYer, I prefer easy-to-use tools, and so while using the two tools, I found the impact wrench to be more user-friendly than its counterpart. They are pretty comfortable and allow you to work with ease against impact drivers, which require a hammer.
Having said that, if you’re a newbie searching for a comfortable, easy-to-use tool, I’d suggest you go for the impact wrench.
4. Durability
Both the impact driver and impact wrench are highly durable tools. However, because of the sturdy construction, the impact wrench slightly edges out the impact driver.
Although the impact wrench is somewhat costlier than the impact driver, I’d suggest you stop pinching pennies and go for an impact wrench to ensure their long-lasting support in all your DIY projects.
Final Words
With that, I’ve reached the end of my guide. Hopefully, you’ll be able to pick the correct power tool for all your tasks.
To sum it up, I’d say the impact driver is excellent for all your DIY repairs and renovations, while the impact wrench is, any day, a better bet for all your heavy-duty garage and construction tasks.
But, before I wrap up, I would give you a final piece of advice. Before picking between the two tools, you must keep in mind the nature of your task. Also, follow safety measures to prevent any mishap.
That being said, I shall take your leave. Do let me know which one would you go for all your DIY projects.
See you next time. Until then, take care!