So, of course I want one, but do I need one? Given there are some black Friday deals about I'm contemplating buying one.
I've got 1/4" sockets, hex, torq etc. for tinkering with small shit.
I've got 1/2" std, deep, hex, star, torq etc for heavier duty stuff plus a 1/2" breaker bar and air rattle gun.
I've got two cheap cordless drill/drivers for screws, and household DIY drilling and a small pillar drill plus an old Dewalt cordless drill for metal fabrication.
The other options, given it isn't going to get that much use, is one of the Chinese clones. I've watched a few youtube videos where they unbox and compare against known brands and while (as expected) they aren't that good, they are cheap and functional.
Point to note, the screwfix £50 jobs are drivers (i.e. 1/4” hex) rather than wrenches (1/2” square) so you’d need to factor in the appropriate adaptor and typically lower torque capacity.
Having said that, I really like my Ryobi impact driver when building shit as it really smashes in the screws.
I’ve toyed with getting a 1/2” impact wrench but discounted it based on the amount it would be used (minimally) but if my impact driver died, I’d buy another immediately!
I also have a Ryobi impact driver which is great for screws and I do use it foe nuts and bolts on the bike, but the initial undo or final tighten is still done with a spanner or hand pulled socket. It can manage small bolts M6 somtimes othertimes it just sits there making a noise and not turning. I have got a Ryobi wrench on my watch list, about £79 is the cheapest at the moment. If there is a deal around £50 I may get one but currently I'm looking to get a band saw so it may have to wait.
I use a cordless impact screwdriver a LOT but they're still noisy bastard things.
When I first got one I wasn't sure I'd use it much but it's out the van most days and the drill/driver I have and thought I used all the time, not so much.
I've never once used a cordless impact wrench yet but could see them being good for loosening stuff.
I generally try to avoid being on too many battery platforms so where possible I'd get the tool that fits with other tools I own.
Mind, saying that I'm still on three 18 volt platforms, Festool cos their HKC saw pisses all over pretty much everything else, De-Walt because of the first fix nailgun and Hitachi just because I started out with them and still have some.
Right, cheers guys. Appears to be no need for me to get one. I've got a 1/4" adaptor that I can use with the lighter of the drill/drivers for use with the sockets and the windy gun is man enough for anything else. More money for beer, or something else...
derek badger wrote: ↑Fri Nov 27, 2020 7:42 am
Right, cheers guys. Appears to be no need for me to get one. I've got a 1/4" adaptor that I can use with the lighter of the drill/drivers for use with the sockets and the windy gun is man enough for anything else. More money for beer, or something else...
Whoa, whoa whoa.
Need? NEED??
Want is the only criteria needed for buying tools!
derek badger wrote: ↑Fri Nov 27, 2020 7:42 am
Right, cheers guys. Appears to be no need for me to get one. I've got a 1/4" adaptor that I can use with the lighter of the drill/drivers for use with the sockets and the windy gun is man enough for anything else. More money for beer, or something else...
Whoa, whoa whoa.
Need? NEED??
Want is the only criteria needed for buying tools!
It appears most big Ducati owners ... big as in CC single sided bikes not big as in Funners (but he has one too) all have one for getting the 55mm hex socket off the back wheel. The joys of a factory torque setting of over 210-230nm depending on the model.
I just about manage with a 2 foot breaker bar and a 5 foot scaffold pole over it so apparently i NEED one ..... just for that
I have to say that I was convinced of the benefits of the 1/4 hex ones after I used a mates one to drive 6mm roofing screws. straight through the steel sheet and into the joists. M6 and M8 hex head wood screws are pretty straightforward as well, sure as hell a lot faster than a ratchet, and none of my drills have the low speed torque to drive that sort of fastener. IMO, and based on industry experience the main benefit of power drivers is when you have a lot of fasteners to do, like a car oil pan or head. Some of the industrial stuff borders on magic. I had a tour of the Atlas Copco faciility in Brum a couple of years ago and the gear they were demo-ing then was phenomenal, smart tooling that could tell if you had missed/cross threaded/gone twice on a fastener, told you when to change sockets and highlighted which one to take from the rack (and told you if you picked the wrong one)automatically changed torque setting to suit a job. Probably a little OTT for home use tho, and they wouldn't give me any samples either
