What is an Impact Driver Used For?

An impact driver is a small handheld tool that uses a hammer-like action with a variable speed motor used for driving fasteners into wood or drywall. It has a tiny bit on the end of the shaft called a “driver”. The driver, when pushed into the surface, gives the tool leverage to accelerate and deliver a powerful blow.

Impact drivers are very useful for many DIY projects, driving small screws, washers, hex nuts, and they can save you a lot of time. They’re not meant for use in driving large or heavy items like bolts or screws.

What is Impact Driver?

An impact driver is a type of power tool which uses a spinning bit to drive screws or drill holes. These tools are powered by electric motors, and hence, the name “impact driver”. They are also called “sledgehammers” due to their high-pitched sounds.

Impact drivers are also known as “sledgehammer drills” because of their powerful impact when operated. They are very useful in removing stubborn screws or bolts or driving rivets or other fasteners.

Why are they used? Impact drivers are typically used when you want to apply some force—such as hitting a nail into concrete—from a short distance away. One example of an impact driver is a hammer drill, which uses the impact of the drill bit to drive fasteners.

READ MORE: Impact Driver vs Hammer Drill

There are different types of impact drivers, and they are classified based on their method of operation. The three main categories are pneumatic (using compressed air), electric (using a motor), and rotary (using a spinning hammer-like mechanism).

Impact drivers are available in many different sizes, from 1/2 inch to 3 inches, and come in many different types of metals, including steel, iron, brass, and even titanium. It can be found at most well-stocked hardware stores.

Common uses of an impact driver

An impact driver is a versatile tool that is used for many different purposes. It’s commonly used in construction to drive fasteners into wooden beams, metal plates, and various other types of materials. In power tools, it is used to drive sockets into the wood, and various other types of materials. Impact drivers are also used in hobbyist projects to drive nuts, bolts, and screws into various types of materials. And finally, in a medical setting, an impact driver is used to tap or “tap out” abnormal heart rhythms and arrhythmia.

How to use an impact driver?

The wide list of impact drivers uses

The impact driver is used to drive a variety of fasteners, including screws, nails, and sometimes, rivets. This tool is a great alternative to using a regular hammer to drive those types of fasteners because it has a very quick trigger action and delivers an extremely powerful blow. An impact driver is different from a sledgehammer or other types of hammers in that it produces only a very short period (about 1/10th of a second) of continuous pounding on the striking surface. Hence, it is not appropriate for driving heavy objects like concrete or metal. Here is the wide list of impact drivers uses:

In construction, an impact driver is a tool used to break up hard concrete or other kinds of road surfaces.
In agriculture, an impact driver is a tool used to drive metal-tipped “pensile” harrow points into the ground to open up the soil.
In the mining industry, impact drivers are used to breaking up compacted dirt and rock.
In the plumbing industry, an impact driver is a tool that is used to break up hard-set sewage pipes.
In the glass industry, an impact driver is a tool used to break up cement and other hard surfaces.
In carpentry, an impact driver is a tool used to break up knots and other tough areas in wood.
In the sign industry, an impact driver is a tool used to make the steel letters on a signpost or board more pliable.
In the glass blowing industry, an impact driver is a tool that is used to “soften” the end of the rod that holds the glass fiber bundle, so that it can be gripped by a vacuum collet to pull the glass out of the mold.
Impact drivers are used in conjunction with socket sets to remove staples and other small fasteners that have become frozen in place due to corrosion or age.
Impact drivers are designed to withstand harsh conditions, so they can be used in situations where conventional drivers would freeze up.
Impact drivers are also used in commercial settings as a less expensive alternative to a power driver.
Impact drivers are great for removing staples that have been frozen into clothing or other hard-to-reach materials.
Impact drivers can also be used to remove staples that have been frozen into wood, metal, or other non-porous surfaces.
Impact drivers can be used to remove staples that have been partially frozen into place, allowing you to extract them without pulling all of the stapled material loose.
Impact drivers are also handy for extracting coins, paper clips, bobby pins, and even paper clips!
Impact drivers are used to removing rust and paint peeling from automobiles.
They are also used to test the depth of wells.
Impact drivers are often attached to front-end loaders.
Impact drivers are commonly used by highway workers to remove small stones and gravel from roadways.
They can also be used by homeowners to drive staples or drive screws into hardwood floors.
Impact drivers can be used to break up hard frozen ground in preparation for building a foundation.
Impact drivers are also sometimes used on animal bones when training dogs or horses.
Impact drivers can be used by arborists as a substitute for a chain saw to cut down trees.
Impact drivers can be attached to lawnmowers to break up compacted soil before planting.
Impact drivers are also used to break up hardened asphalt on parking lots.

How does an impact driver work?

An impact driver is basically a very powerful drill that uses a hammer-like mechanism to drive a fastener into the surface you are working on. They are also handy for driving bolts or other types of larger fasteners.

An impact driver works by converting rotary motion into high-velocity, high-pressure bursts of energy. The fasteners are usually attached to the other end of a long handle or shaft, which is held by the operator. Impact drivers are designed to be lightweight and easy to use, and most models come with an LED display to show the current status of the battery. Some models even have a low battery indicator as well. This allows you to know when the battery needs to be changed and prevents you from getting a surprise when the tool stops working unexpectedly.

When not to use an impact driver?

Impact drivers are great for driving metal nuts and bolts, but they can seriously damage plastic, rubber, and other soft-covered parts. Here’s when you shouldn’t use an impact driver:

When you encounter a stubborn nail that refuses to cooperate, try tapping it with a rubber mallet or the side of a heavy object like a hammer.
Don’t use an impact driver to tighten a nut and bolt that was already loose.
Don’t drive a long screw into a board with an impact driver; instead, use a socket wrench or regular wrench to do the job.
Don’t use an impact driver as a hammer; instead, use the blunt end of the tool to tap a nail or screw into place.
Impact drivers are for driving in nails and screws. Don’t use one to whack a pencil into your thumb or pry up a cabinet handle.
Don’t use it to tap a screw into a place that was already tight.
Don’t use it to drive a bolt into concrete.
Don’t use it to pry up the flooring.
Don’t use it to beat down a door to force entry.
Don’t use it to “shimmy” a panel back into place if you have the real tool for the job (your hands).

Read what homedepot.com had to say about impact driver vs drill?

9 Important safety precautions using an impact driver

Wear gloves to protect your hands.
Never approach or move an impact driver with a shaky hand.
Keep your eye on the target (and hold onto the handle!) until the job is done.
Protect your ears: An impact driver can hurt (and even kill) if you accidentally drive it into them.
Remove all metal objects (including keys, change, car tags, etc.) from your clothing before working with an impact driver.
Store your tools and equipment in a safe place. Impact drivers are surprisingly dangerous when they’re not properly secured.
Always unplug your toolset before putting them away.
Impact drivers are for home use only. Do not buy an impact driver if all you need to do is drive a nail or screw.
Don’t hit yourself or others with an impact driver.

Final Words

Impact drivers are designed to give you added leverage when driving screws or similar fasteners. They’re very useful when you need to quickly install things like anchors, bolts, screws, and sheet metal. Impact drivers are great for driving screws, nails, or similar types of fasteners into wooden, metal, or other surfaces. But if your job requires you to drive screws into metal or non-wooden surfaces, you should invest in a screw gun instead.

Impact drivers can be found in tool chests in the most well-stocked home improvement and automotive supply stores.

What is an Impact Driver Used For?

What is Impact Driver?