I love my 5+ year old c12

[Mark]

Was using a Hilti 14.4 impact to sheath a tub surround I'm building and it ran out of juice. Grabbed the c12, clicked it into "1" low torque and it drove those decking fasteners just as well as the impact w/o the noise and driving the screw I felt like I had way more control. Related to this, I spoke with a Festool rep recently at the Woodcraft show here in Honolulu who said that one of the main reasons they don't use impacts in Europe are due to the noise. With Pozi drive screws (SPAX) or Torx, you can apply just as much torque to a fastener as an impact with more control and less noise.

My question being that impacts are more of an American "thang" versus the Festool line of drills that offer you just as much torque but more control? The new Festool impact I was told was driven by NA demand for a tool like that. I'm not that impressed with the Ti-15 as the drill/impact conversion seems kludgy not to mention making the tool way less compact.

In the end, we all just want to drive fasteners no?

 

[Alan m]

on small screws you have more control (of when it stops etc) with a normal drill but on larger screws the impact wins hands down.
i often drive drywall screws with my impact . i find it a lot easier to control the depth of the screw. my dewalt drill just drives them too far but my impact will start banging and slow down allowing me to see the screw aproach the slab.
i couldnt live without my impact but probably could without the drill (althow i would have to get hex forsner bits etc)

 

[AlexThePalex]

who said that one of the main reasons they don't use impacts in Europe are due to the noise.

Where did that fairy tale come from?

 

[Deansocial]

Depends on the application. For the big stuff i use impact everytime as the featool drill are no up to putting loads of the big screws in 1 after another. It gets too hot and either averheat protection cuts in or fails and drill breaks, i have never had my impact driver cut out

 

[Nigel]

Had a go with a c12 and I was really impressed with the control which was far superior to other drills. I was almost tempted to buy one but I'm still banging away with an impact.

It also depends on the screw head. I wouldn't dream of driving pozi-heads without an impact. Impacts and pozi were made for each other.

 

[hockey_magnet]

I have a new C15 and as mentioned the low speed torque and electronic torque control give you unmatched control when driving screws compared to anything else out there. If I have to drive a lot of large 3 or 4 inch screws, for a deck, etc.  I would choose an impact  for practically anything else, I think the C15 wins easily. IMHO of course.

 

[mastercabman]

i often drive drywall screws with my impact . i find it a lot easier to control the depth of the screw. my dewalt drill just drives them too far but my impact will start banging and slow down allowing me to see the screw aproach the slab.

impact driver for drywall? ???
Have you ever heard of a "set and forget" drill or bit?

 

[Sparktrician]

i often drive drywall screws with my impact . i find it a lot easier to control the depth of the screw. my dewalt drill just drives them too far but my impact will start banging and slow down allowing me to see the screw aproach the slab.

impact driver for drywall? ???
Have you ever heard of a "set and forget" drill or bit?

The depth control chuck on my C12 does a phenomenal job of regulating screw depth in drywall as well as wood applications when an impact driver would drive right on through the material.  I've never heard of anyone using an impact driver for drywall work due to the relative fragility of the material. 

 

[mastercabman]

i often drive drywall screws with my impact . i find it a lot easier to control the depth of the screw. my dewalt drill just drives them too far but my impact will start banging and slow down allowing me to see the screw aproach the slab.

impact driver for drywall? ???
Have you ever heard of a "set and forget" drill or bit?

The depth control chuck on my C12 does a phenomenal job of regulating screw depth in drywall as well as wood applications when an impact driver would drive right on through the material.  I've never heard of anyone using an impact driver for drywall work due to the relative fragility of the material. 

I don't have the depth control chuck for mine,but i do use those bits that has a stop collar on it for drywall.I don't do much hanging this days so that all i need.

 

[Laminator]

An impact with a bit I believe is called a "Dimpler" which is a phillips bit with a depth stop thingy on it works very well for drywall.  I used to have a dedicated drywall driver (porter cable) which was great for production work, but for non production work I would grab the impact every time. (Too bad impacts didn't exist way back then.)   I wear earplugs all day so the noise is a non issue to me.

 

[Alan m]

i hate those depth set bits. even the good ones with the collar work by caming out the head from the screw. you cant give a screw an extra turn if needed. they wear out bits for sport.
the impact is the way to go. the normal drill starts slow and gets faster as it drives (usually going too far into slab) . the impact starts fast and slows down as it gets closer to the slab. i also find that you have to put too much pressure behind  the drill to drive the screw (especially the longer ones). the impact is great as you dont need a lot of pressure  behind it.

try it and you will see.

 

[Sparktrician]

An impact with a bit I believe is called a "Dimpler" which is a phillips bit with a depth stop thingy on it works very well for drywall.  I used to have a dedicated drywall driver (porter cable) which was great for production work, but for non production work I would grab the impact every time. (Too bad impacts didn't exist way back then.)   I wear earplugs all day so the noise is a non issue to me.

I used to use a dimpler, but the really crappy Chinese-made Phillips bits kept breaking all the time.  I tried using my corded Milwaukee driver (20 years ago), but being a high-torque, 2500 rpm model, it often wrung off screws before setting them correctly.  The good news is that I seldom work with drywall any more (hate the stuff), aside from repairs and patches, so the Depth Stop chuck is just perfect.  

[smile]

 

[skids]

I wouldn't trade my panasonic LI impact driver for anything. I love the size of it, and the power is unmatched. BUt for smaller tasks it's sloppy compared to my CXS I just got. Personally, I think you need an impact, a big boy driver, and a smaller driver for tight spaces light duty. I see myself using my CXS more than my larger panasonic 15.6. It's not nearly the beast the 15.6 or the impact are, but there is a need for precision and a more refined drill.

I do like the C15 alot, if I were to have to replace my panasonic I would give it a hard look. Price would be the only obstacle considering the Panasonic is much cheaper and performs as well.

 

[Laminator]

I've been thinking lately about the c12 for a small lightweight drill.  The right angle and offset chucks looks to be extremely handy as it seems I always need to remove screws from awkward places.

I despise working with sheetrock also!

 

[Sparktrician]

I've been thinking lately about the c12 for a small lightweight drill.  The right angle and offset chucks looks to be extremely handy as it seems I always need to remove screws from awkward places.

I despise working with sheetrock also!

I suspect that you might find the CXS a better choice for small and light.  It can be had with a right angle chuck which is wonderful for working with drawer glides and the like. 

[smile]