Drills: DRC vs. PDC etc.

[Euclid]

Please excuse me if I've missed obvious explanations somewhere... but I have two queries about drills:

What is the essential difference between DRC and PDC?
I'd assumed the former to be an impact-capable device, and the latter a percussion/hammer one; but the torque rating for PDC seems to match the DRC. PDC appears (to me) to be the better bet as an all-rounder, or is it not as straightforward as that?

Other than driving large screws (and removing wheelnuts) what tasks are served well by a (radial) impact drill?

Also is it just me, or are the terms impact and percussion often used incorrectly (and confusingly), even on sites and sources that ought to know better?

and next, corded drills:

DR18/4 and PD 20/4.
The only difference I can see is that the latter has the percussion feature... but given the similarity in price would there be any point in not opting for the latter? Would the DR be a better tool if drilling and wood and metal, but not masonry/concrete, was the requirement?

Does anyone have experience of them? I haven't seen them mentioned much on the FOG?

Thanks for your wisdom - and patience - with my rather long-winded questions!

 

[Phil Beckley]

Please excuse me if I've missed obvious explanations somewhere... but I have two queries about drills:

What is the essential difference between DRC and PDC?
I'd assumed the former to be an impact-capable device, and the latter a percussion/hammer one; but the torque rating for PDC seems to match the DRC. PDC appears (to me) to be the better bet as an all-rounder, or is it not as straightforward as that?

Other than driving large screws (and removing wheelnuts) what tasks are served well by a (radial) impact drill?

Also is it just me, or are the terms impact and percussion often used incorrectly (and confusingly), even on sites and sources that ought to know better?

and next, corded drills:

DR18/4 and PD 20/4.
The only difference I can see is that the latter has the percussion feature... but given the similarity in price would there be any point in not opting for the latter? Would the DR be a better tool if drilling and wood and metal, but not masonry/concrete, was the requirement?

Does anyone have experience of them? I haven't seen them mentioned much on the FOG?

Thanks for your wisdom - and patience - with my rather long-winded questions!

Hi
Ok, to sum up the information is below
DRC - Cordless drill/driver
PDC - Cordless drill/driver but with Percussion action and is 10mm longer to allow for the percussion mechanism.
Impact and Percussion are two totally different actions. Percussion works with two serrated plates rubbing together to create the required 'hitting' action to drill into masonry.
Impact works with the 'hammer and anvil' principle there by not creating permanent torque so it is easier on the arm - torque is only created when the two parts hit together hence the noise - great for some applications and high usage in the UK from cabinet construction through to timber frame areas.
DR18 - Corded drill/driver only
PD 20 - Corded drill driver but with percussion action and top rpm of 4000 - slightly higher than the cordless version but otherwise the same machines.
I thought the corded version had been withdrawn from sale but have checked the website and it is still shown - will check if this is correct.
The PDC is great if you need a machine for harder materials and timber based applications.
Hope this helps
rg
Phil
.......hopefully some other members will chip in with better explanations of the differences between Impact and Percussion  [unsure]

 

[Euclid]

Thank you, Phil, for your speedy response.

I think I'm ok with the difference between Percussion and Impact: the former being 'impacts' in line with the axis of the drill bit, the latter delivering radial impacts (like the impact wrench typically used with a compressor in automotive work). It just seemed that the terms were often used incorrectly (i.e. swapped).