Impact driver

24 products

An impact driver is an powertool for driving screws. It can drive larger screws in a more controlled way than a regular drill driver or power screwderiver by using a hammering mechanism.

Hammering mechanism

The hammering mechanism has three basic parts: a hammer, spring and anvil. When the machine encounters enough resistance the rotational energy is used to compress the spring.

Once the spring is compressed beyond a certain point the tension becomes high enough it will release and the attched hammer will turn a fraction of a rotation at very high speed and hit the anvil which is attached to the driving axle.

The impact focusses the energy of multiple rotations into one strike that turns the screw a fraction of a rotation but with much more force.

Safety

Because the force is applied in small doses there is much less chance kickback, that is why impact drivers rarely have a side handle.

There is also much less chance of stripping a screw, this is useful for Philips and pozidriv type screws where this can occur.

Dangers of using an impact drivers are mostly ti the eardrums from the loud noises of the hammering and to the eyes if a bit breaks and is ejected at high speed.

Differences from impact wrench

An impact driver works the same as an impact wrench, but an impact wrench has a square drive for attaching sockets and is usually intended for bolts rather than screws.