In an article I wrote several years ago about impact driver torque, I resolutely decided that the trend of increasingly higher impact driver torque was overkill. Now wiser (and older), I’ve changed my mind.
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Why I Thought High-Torque Impact Drivers Went Too Far
My rationale for rejecting high-torque impact drivers was simple. In our testing, models with 1700 in-lbs of torque or more were breaking socket adapters left and right on metal fastening tests.
If you were hoping to use your impact wrench to tighten or loosen medium to large nuts and bolts, you’d quickly have a pile of adapters that added up to the cost of buying a compact impact wrench, even if the impact driver had enough power to do the job.
Sure, you can always step down to a lower power mode or use one of the assist modes, but what’s the point of having high torque if you can’t use it?
Frankly, it was too narrow a focus.
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Why I Now Prefer High-Torque Impact Drivers
Those impressions were made based on hard-stop testing. However, there are applications beyond basic screwdriving that made me think twice. In particular, large structural fasteners like RSS screws or lag bolts used to fasten wood don’t have a hard stop that snaps adapters as easily. However, their size makes them tough to drive, and that can be a challenge for impact drivers with only mid-range torque.
At the same time, those fasteners don’t necessarily need the torque of a mid-torque impact wrench to make progress. In fact, an impact tool with a higher impact rate can potentially drive those fasteners faster than one with higher torque. But it has to have high enough torque in the first place.
That’s where the high-torque impact driver comes into play.
Case Study
Consider a scenario where you’re driving a 1/4-inch RSS screw, and you have three impact drivers to choose from. Model A has 1700 in-lbs of torque, Model B has 2000 in-lbs, and Model C has 2500 in-lbs. Which one is going to have the easiest time?
Model C, of course. Since it hits harder, it’s able to turn the screw further with each strike and doesn’t have to work as hard to keep it moving. But would an impact wrench with 500 ft-lbs (6000 in-lbs) of torque be better?
Probably not. Impact drivers typically have a higher impact rate than impact wrenches. Since this application isn’t pushing the limits of our high-torque impact driver, it will likely drive the screw faster than that much stronger impact wrench because its impact rate is so much higher. Plus, it’s much smaller and lighter, making it an easier tool to use.
The Bottom Line
When you choose an impact driver with high torque, you’re getting more bang for your buck. You can drive larger fasteners in wood fastening applications, while multiple speeds and advanced modes help you manage metal fastening applications. While the need for a socket adapter still limits how much torque you can use in hard-stop scenarios, that versatility can keep you from needing to drag along an impact wrench for soft-stop jobs and doesn’t handicap an efficient workflow.
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