So in essence, as the impact driver spins, it also has a blow which makes this great for tougher applications that need more torque. Manufacturers have tried to dampen or lower the noise by using internal hydraulics but you can always tell an impact driver by the noise. This punching motion or downward motion is metal on metal and that is why impact drivers can be extremely loud. These bursts happen incredibly quickly, can be around 4,000 Blows Per Minute (BPM). An impact driver senses when more power is needed and delivers quick rotary bursts which produce more torque in these applications. However, an impact driver has a unique feature that a drill doesn’t. What is an Impact Driver and How Does it Work?Īn impact driver has a rotational force which means it spins, like a drill. So let’s jump in and see what exactly is an impact driver what makes an impact driver an impact driver. So if you don’t already, hopefully after this you will know and understand they are different tools, and will no longer get them confused. I hope to provide some clarity because there is a lot of confusion around this group of tools, and I often hear people calling an impact driver an impact wrench. Take a look at our piece – Drill vs Impact Driver – What is the Difference? Moreover, a drill is much different than the impact family of tools. While an impact driver, impact wrench, and impact ratchet are all based on the same concept and basically the same in how they work, they are used for different applications. Today we are only talking about an impact driver. Before we jump in and learn about the impact driver, we do have to cover some tool-world basics so we are all on the same page.Ī drill is different from an impact driver which is different from an impact wrench which is different from an impact ratchet. By the end of this, you will know the ins and outs of what an impact driver is, how it works, the pros and cons, and if you need one in your tool arsenal.

What is an impact driver and do you need one? Today we are going to go over what an impact driver is and what makes them different from other tools.

Impact drill vs drill driver