If you’re not familiar with an impact driver, you should be. It’s the go-to tool for anyone who wants to work on their car or home in the garage. You can fix just about anything with one.
But how do you know which one is right for you? We’ve got some tips and tricks that will help you get your hands on the best impact driver available today.
So, what are they?
First off, you need to understand that there are two types of impact drivers out there: metal and plastic. Both are tools used to drive screws into wood (or other hard materials) but have different purposes and strengths.
Plastic impact drivers are typically lighter than metal ones, so if you need something compact and lightweight then this might be the way to go. But if you plan to use it in more rugged environments where heavy duty is required, then you may want to consider getting yourself an impact driver made from metal instead.
Metal impact drivers come in various sizes, shapes, and weights, depending on your needs. You can find one for every type of application you might encounter – from home improvement projects to automotive repairs.
When choosing between these two options, make sure you choose wisely. If you’re someone who has a regular need to drill holes at home or work on your vehicle regularly, then you’ll probably want to opt for the metal option. However, if you don’t work on your vehicle often or just need a lightweight tool, then the plastic one makes much more sense.
So, now that we know everything we need to know about impact drivers, let’s talk about how to use them properly.
1. Know Your Tools
When it comes to any job, whether it’s DIY or professional, it always pays to invest in quality tools. The same applies when working on your car or home; you can save tons of time by purchasing the best tools you can afford.
Your impact driver is no exception – you’ll want to look for one with high torque ratings as well as a long lifespan. You also want to find one that’s easy to maneuver and won’t require too much force to operate it.
Another important thing to keep in mind is the size of the head. This is the part of the impact driver that actually strikes the object being driven into. So, you want to find one that’s large enough to accommodate whatever material you need to drive into. Also, a good size head will allow you to insert it into tighter spaces without risk of scratching or damaging nearby objects.
Getting or gathering knowledge of everything is important and it is more important when the things are new to you and you don’t know anything about it. In this case you can also gather information from internet and for you the best online site is www.toolpick.co.uk/tools/impact-driver/best-impact-driver this will provide you every single information regarding the usage of drills and the various tools of it.
2. Get Familiar With Your Tool
You’ll want to get comfortable using your impact driver before moving onto bigger tasks. Start small and work your way up, focusing on driving smaller bits of fasteners into wood, metal, or even concrete. You’ll eventually learn the best ways to hold your tool and the proper amount of pressure you’ll need to apply to get the results you desire.
As you gain experience with your tool, you should start thinking about larger jobs in mind. Maybe you need to install new trim or replace light fixtures. Or maybe you need to drive a screw into plywood, which can be a bit trickier.
Before tackling those kinds of tasks, however, take a few minutes to practice on smaller tasks first. After all, you’ll end up spending hours on end working on your car or home, so it’s best to get comfortable with your tool before you tackle something more difficult.
3. Choose The Right Material
Once you’re confident in your ability to use your impact driver, you should move on to harder materials. Before doing this, though, take a moment to think about what kind of material you’d like to use. Some common examples are:
Wooden surfaces such as siding, decking, or interior trim
Metal surfaces such as doors, cabinets, appliances, and exhaust fans
Concrete surfaces such as floor tiles, countertops, and stairs
Once you decide what kind of material you’ll be drilling into, read the instructions on your impact driver carefully. Determine exactly how many pounds of torque you’ll need to turn the motor and adjust your speed accordingly. And remember that your torque rating only matters as much as the weight of the material you’re driving into.
For example, if you’re trying to drive a screw into a wooden surface, the torque you need to achieve depends on the thickness of the wood. In most cases, you’ll need to hit around 10,000 to 15,000 foot-pounds of torque to ensure a solid connection.
On the other hand, if you’re trying to drive a screw into a tile or brick wall, you’ll need to dial down your speeds and increase the torque on your driver to 30,000 to 40,000 feet per pound.
4. Drive Properly Into The Object
When you’re ready to begin working on your project, follow these steps to avoid damaging your materials.
Before starting, make sure your object is stable and secure. If you’re driving a screw into the side of a cabinet, for example, you’ll want to set the wood against the wall so it doesn’t fall over while you work.
Next, set your machine to its lowest setting. This allows you to focus only on driving the fastener into the desired area.
And finally, position your object so the hole you’re driving through is perpendicular to the surface. When you’re done, remove the tool from the hole and check for chips. If you see any, stop immediately and try again. Otherwise, move on to the next step.
Now that you know how to drive fasteners, you can move on to installing accessories, painting, repairing, or fixing any other task you’d like to perform.
