Cordless Impacts, New Fad?

[coffeegod]

So I watch a lot of the DIY and Reno shows, can't seem to get enough of them... especially Holmes on Homes (Canadian Show but I've learned a lot) Seems to be everyone is using impact's for almost everything now vs. your regular 3/8 or 1/2 drill. Even all their framing is screwed together instead of being nailed... maybe they just all suck at actually hitting the nails with a hammer!

What is everyone finding so much better than your normal drill, I don't have one myself so I can't test the benefits myself.

[Fischer]

Been using them for better than 4 years. Nothing compares to the driving force and ease of extracating screws. They don't strip the heads out on phillips or square drive like non impacts, and will drive bigger and longer fasteners. A 12 volt impact will out perform an 18v non, as far as driving force and wieght. My first use of them was installing 1/4 x 3 " lag screws for seimic water heater restraints through 1/2" rock and then into framing with the 12v makita, and it readily outperformed the 18v by a 2 to 1 factor.

Nails will never be replaced, but for many applications they don't come close to nails.

I'm using 12v, 14.4v and 18v nicad and 18v li-ion. I'll take the 18v li-ion as first choice, and the 12v as second.

[Mr Fixit eh]

Much more driving force and very little cam-out with an impact driver. I LOVE mine. You could rent one for a day, or if you have the Ryobi One Plus system, you can purchase one for 99$.

[coffeegod]

I could use a GOOD cordless set all together, I'm convinced.. I'll have to add it to my wish list that is already a mile long! :redface: