Hey everyone! I'm considering buying my very first power tool and I'm leaning towards the M18 Fuel 1/4" impact driver. My plan is to use it around the house as I get more handy, plus I need something that can help me with car maintenance, particularly with socket adapters. I've been working on my cars for a bit now, mainly relying on hand tools. My concern is that one of my cars has lug nuts torqued to 140 lb/ft, and I've heard the M12 model wouldn't be able to handle them. While I understand different tools are better for different jobs, I'm hoping for a versatile tool that can handle most DIY tasks for now. What do you all think? Is the M18 impact driver the right choice for a beginner like me? Any tips or feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
3 Answers
I think you're making a mistake assuming that the impact driver is the one-size-fits-all solution. The M18 impact driver might not cut it for lug nuts, which often require a lot of torque. I'd recommend looking into an M12 stubby wrench or a decent breaker bar for larger tasks since the impact driver may really struggle. You can still start with it for everything else though!
I think you'll be fine with the M18 for general DIY stuff. It has good torque and can handle most home tasks pretty well. Plus, if you get a newer Forge battery, you'll have a solid setup to work with. Just remember that impact drivers today are way more powerful than they used to be, so it might surprise you! But if you ever need to tackle bigger jobs, you can always grab an impact wrench later.
Having a good battery is key! And it's good to have a plan for future tool upgrades. Just dive in and start learning!
You might want to reconsider just relying on an impact driver for lug nuts. An impact driver is different from an impact wrench, and while it can do some tasks, it won't always have the power needed for those lug nuts, especially if they're rusty or torqued down really tight. If you're looking for versatility, it could work for most home tasks, but I’d suggest getting a dedicated impact wrench for the car stuff, maybe a 1/2'' drive for those lug nuts instead! Just my two cents!
Totally agree! I'd keep a dedicated wrench for the heavier jobs. Make sure you have the right tools for the job, it'll save you headaches!
Thanks for the heads up! I'll look into having both, starting with the impact driver for basic tasks is probably a good plan.