Differences Between Standard Drills and Impact Drills

• Impact drills supply as much as three times more torque to the task at hand than standard drills. While standard drills supply torque using a direct drive mechanism, impact drills apply torque rotationally. Within an impact drill's gearing arrangement, a complicated mechanism pulsates the chuck forward in the neighborhood of 800 times per second. This motion occurs in one of two ways; impact drills either have a switch to set the drill in impact mode, as opposed to standard mode, or measure resistance internally and switch to impact mode automatically. Since these drills convert torque directly to the drill bit or the drive, users do not have to apply any extra force --- and thus feel little or no kickback from the drill.
  
  

Cordless Vs. Corded

• A corded drill will probably cost less than a comparable cordless drill, and it should provide ample power for heavy jobs. Good corded drills can last for several decades, and they won't require you to recharge any batteries.
  
  Cordless drills work well in tight or difficult places such as inside or cabinets, or from the top of a ladder. Manufacturers keep pushing the envelope of cordless power, so the power gap between the two continues to narrow. Batteries continue to become increasingly lighter, deliver more power, last longer between charges and recharge more quickly. Cordless users should keep at least one extra battery to charge while using the other battery. Also, prepare for sticker shock if you want to buy a cordless drill.
  
  

Benefits/Advantages of Impact Drills

• Only masonry drilling requires the impact drill function. Thus, the average Joe Homeowner should purchase an impact drill with a switch that allows both standard and impact drilling. The wide variety of bits available for impact drills make them a preferred type of driver driver for bolts and screws. Impact drills are ideal for projects as low key as hanging a picture or as big as installing a subfloor. Many impact drills have an auxiliary handle to provide greater control and more precision when drilling at an angle or when loosening or tightening a fastener.
  
  

Disadvantages of Impact Drills

• The effortless way in which impact drills and drivers work also makes it easier to drive screws too deep and strip them out. A standard drill or driver has a different "feel," which takes a little getting used to. Some people find the hammering sound annoying. Impact drills cost more than standard drills.