All torque but what action?

kellys_eye · Post by **kellys_eye** » Thu Jun 03, 2021 9:17 pm

Ha.

Battery drills. They are (basically) rated according to their torque - usually given in Newton-meters - with the cheaper ones being sub-40Nm and top end well over 100Nm.

But what's adequate? I know that if my current battery drill isn't up to the torque I get the corded version out but I've never had much opportunity to compare good/bad torque jobbies and I want a battery version to cover both needs.

A typical no-name (£40-ish) can deliver 30Nm, an Einhell (£100-ish) does 60Nm and top end brushless Makita (£320

) bangs out 120Nm.

Now I don't want my arm ripped off at the elbow when stalling a drill so the Makita is out - never mind the cost! and some no-names I've used couldn't twist wool into a thread - they are all 18V BTW - but what torque have 'you' found to be more than adequate for everyday drill use? i.e. mostly <10mm steel drilling, max 25mm wood drilling and 4" - 5" pozi's into 4"x2"???

Reliability and battery life don't count in this case (I'll just buy the batteries I feel I need to cover the usage and this isn't for 24/7 use, just your keen DIYer) so rather than argue competing names, what would be a reasonable expectation for torque to cover these needs?

Armed with a torque requirement I can go searching for whatever then fits the finances and see what deals they do on batteries etc.

PS - I don't wear Wranglers or Levi's or Adidas - it's 'jeans' or 'trainers', they're all the same to me - just so you know what you're dealing with

Rorschach · Post by **Rorschach** » Fri Jun 04, 2021 6:29 am

If you need torque, get an impact, they are noisy, and a little bit slower than a drill/driver but they are much easier on your wrist/arm. I have hurt myself quite badly with a powerful driver "snatching", never have that trouble with an impact though.

fin · Post by **fin** » Fri Jun 04, 2021 7:56 am

ive got 3 dewalt drills and an impacter. the impact gun stays in my van nearly always. so does the brushless drill. i use the 2 older brushed drills mostly. although the chuck is starting to go on one of them now

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Jun 04, 2021 9:02 am

I have never had an impact and as I have said on here before I got fed up junking Dewalts when the batteries gave out and the battery replacements were more than a new drill. My latest is an Erbauer that cost £65 in 2017 and has 2 Li-ion batteries. It has done all I need in a range of tasks since I have had it. Anything heavy I get my corded SDS out which can be a faff with extension leads if I need it outside, but that is not often.

DWD

Chippo1 · Post by **Chippo1** » Fri Jun 04, 2021 9:39 am

I use a Makita 18v lith ion combo dril and impact driver all the time , rarely now get my Bosch SDS corded out. Frankly the Makita has more torque than the Bosch but obviously not the power to drill through concrete in hammer mode due to the different type of action that an SDS has.

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Fri Jun 04, 2021 10:21 am

Impact drivers do have a lot of torque: I fitted some Oak posts in an old place down on Poole seafront, the posts were 8" X 8" X 8' 0" and had an 8" X 4" X 4'0" plate on top - the plate was screwed to the beam the posts were supporting - a couple of the posts had nowt to sit on at ground level, (was built later), we manoeuvred them close and then a 12v impact driver lifted the whole lot up into place when a screw was put in.

My more recent battery drills have been 18v, but I never struggled with a 12v or 14v for normal carpentry.

kellys_eye · Post by **kellys_eye** » Fri Jun 04, 2021 10:36 am

I appreciate what an impact driver can do and already have three of them but have never had recourse to use them for drilling and/or screwdrivering. Similarly I understand the battery issue - bandit manufacturers making batteries the new 'print cartridges' of the tool world - so won't go for the big name (i.e. expensive) versions.

The issue of batteries seems to be the worst part. Drills can be had (pretty good quality) for around £50.00 but you pay double that for a single battery and charger!!! Fcukers!

Anyone want to sell a decent drill/charger???

Job and Knock · Post by **Job and Knock** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 5:30 pm

Here's one for you - my impact driver is rated at 170Nm (enough to shear the head of a 6 x 120mm screw off ifI get careless), whilst my hydraulic impact driver is rated at just 40Nm. The hydraulic impact driver is almost as good as the hammer impact.for tightenimg, but is far quieter and easier in the wrists, if a tad flower. My main combi is rated at 115Nm. But it is heavy and will.wtip itself out of your hands if it catches. All are Makita 18 volt LXT. Which do you think is best?

The answer, for home use, is none of them. I have a 12 volt Milwaukee brushless combi with swappable chucks which knocks them all onto a cocked hat for small size and convenience

oz0707 · Post by **oz0707** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 5:43 pm

I hated impacts when they first came out with the noise. I rarely use a normal drill anymore. Use the impact for near enough everything and it somehow knows not to impact when using drill or spade bits unless pushing them to far. I've got makita dtd 154 z was the best in their range at the time but few years old now. Still use original batteries after 3 1/2 years of heavy trade use.

I think your standard impact best j&k?

Job and Knock · Post by **Job and Knock** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 7:49 pm

I have a DTD171 which replaced an 8 (?) year old BTD145. It"s very light and small, but ki actually prefer the little Milwaukee M12QFID 12 volt oil oil impact driver - slightly smaller, lighter but fat, fat quieter. That convinced me that the DTS141 would be worth having, hence my latest impact purchase

kellys_eye · Post by **kellys_eye** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:53 pm

I eventually went for the Erbhauer range. Mid-range stuff but a world of difference from the Aldi crap (although their batteries are great). Started a 'collection' of Erbhauer now - getting the circular saw and jigsaw next week.

Funnily enough I'll not get the Erbhauer angle grinder as the Aldi one I have is actually pretty damned good! All I need now is a converter to use Aldi batteries on Erbhauer gear!

ericmark · Post by **ericmark** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:24 pm

I can't use an impact drill in right hand, and not that good with left, so in the main I leave it to some one else now. But clutches are important, specally with core drills, and it is not the torque of the drill but the torque you can hold.

Impact is the way with screws, but not with metal twist drills, I have never used a mag mount battery drill, and where you need large holes you want cutting oil and control so in the main that means mag mount.