impact driver

Makita LCT307W 12V Cordless Combo Kit Review

Makita LCT307W 12V Cordless Combo Kit Review

The Makita LCT307W 12V Cordless Combo Kit contains some very light and compact tools. Compared with typical competing portable drills, the included FD01W measures only 6 inches from hex chuck to back – and the DT01W Impact Driver is nearly the same. This really makes these Makita tools much more accessible to tight spaces. On both tools, the built-in LED light illuminates with just a touch of the trigger and proved to be very bright and helpful. Under our test conditions where we intentionally worked in tight (and thus dark) quarters, both the Makita Driver-Drill and Impact Driver were great tools.

Porter Cable PC18ID 18V Lithium Impact Driver Review

Porter Cable PC18ID 18V Lithium Impact Driver Review

Impact drivers are the new drill. While we don’t recommend them for actual drilling – not into hardwood, at least – the Impact Driver has become the go-to tool for most homeowners looking to reduce fatigue and stress when driving screws. The tools, like Porter Cable’s PC18ID 18V Impact Driver, are extremely compact as well – allowing for more maneuverability than many drills with standard chucks. At just under $80, it also presents itself as an incredible value – especially if you’re already in possession of the lithium-ion batteries and charger required to power this tool.

DeWALT DCK211S2 12V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Kit Review

DeWalt DCK211S2 12V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Kit Review

The DeWALT DCK211S2 12V MAX Cordless Li-Ion Drill/Driver and Impact Driver Kit seems pretty good, but they are a long time in coming and we were eager to see if these new 12V tools were worth the wait. These new tools come at a time when some other manufactures are already coming out with their second generation 12V tools. Having owned a construction company that had a lot of DeWalt tools on our job sites, a certain amount of brand loyalty had us holding out for these and we were excited to dive in and see how these new offerings from DeWalt sized up.

Porter-Cable PCL212IDC-2 12V Max Cordless Compact 2-Tool Kit Review

Porter-Cable PCL212IDC-2 12V Max Cordless Compact 2-Tool Kit Review

If you’re looking for a compact yet powerful and versatile impact driver and drill/driver, the Porter-Cable PCL212IDC-2 12V Max Lithium Cordless Compact 2-Tool Kit is all you need. It is a small, powerful, and handy kit that can tackle almost any project that requires drilling, driving, or the need for being able to work in a cramped area. With 950in-lbs of driving torque, the impact driver can tackle almost any job. The drill/driver with a 3/8″ chuck, variable 2 speed transmission, and a clutch with 20 positions, will have you covered for all your drilling needs.

Makita 12V Lithium-Ion Combo Kit LCT208W Preview

Makita 12V Lithium-Ion Combo Kit LCT208W Preview

Makita just released its contribution to the 12V world with its 12V max Lithium-Ion Cordless 2-Piece Combo Kit, model LCT208W. The new combo kit features a tiny but versatile new 3-3/8″ Circular Saw with a range of cutting capabilities, paired with a powerful and compact 3/8″ Driver-Drill. The new LCT208W is the first of what seems to be a growing line of 12V max cordless solutions that deliver pro power and pro speed in a fairly compact size.

Bosch PS41-2A 12V Lithium-Ion Impact Driver Review

Bosch PS41-2A 12V Impact Driver Review

The first generation of Bosch’s 12V line of tools was impressive, but the fact that just about three years later they released a third generation impact driver means that they are coming after the market with a vengeance. The case in point would be the brand new PS41-2A Impact Driver. For this review I was able to solicit the second-gen PS40-2A from a friend and therefore face off the newer model against its predecessor. The results definitely proved that the new impact driver didn’t just get smaller, it got more powerful – as the revised specs indicate.