PDC versus standard impact drivers

[HDClown]

The current gen of cordless drills are getting pretty close the control and enough torque to compare to impacts, but they aren't there just yet.  Besides, a drill that can tear bolts off your car could tear your hands off too... [scared]       

Something I've noticed when driving screws with an impact vs. a regular drill is that there is a higher likelihood to split the wood with a drill vs. an impact, when you don't do any kind of pre-drilling.

 

[leakyroof]

[member=10952]leakyroof[/member]  Remember with the basic set you'll have to buy the right angle attachment separately.  The PDC uses a different right angle and depth stop chuck than the smaller Festool drills.  I wouldn't be without the right angle chuck.

  Thanks, good to know. I hadn't looked into it yet, but things would have to be different via the chucks, wouldn't they.... [embarassed]

 

[leakyroof]

What's the difference?

One specific question I have: I see that a high-end impact driver such as the Dewalt 886 has 1,500 inch pounds or 169 newton meters. That seems MUCH more powerful than the PDC 18. If I need to drive monster lag screws or torque the bolts off the wheels of my car, it looks like I might need much more power than the PDC provides. Am I right about this?

What I really want is a drill driver that has the ability to do delicate work AND rip bolts off car wheels.

  The big advantage an impact has is its ability to have great torque for driving but you don't feel it in your hands/wrists.

In a nut shell, PDC, quieter, more versatile.  Impact, little to no torque in the hands/wrists but much louder     

  The 'reactionless' part that you get from an impact is my favorite part about them. That's why I'm curious about the PDC and peoples's usage of them to drive things in as compared to an impact. There are so many times in my line of work that I need to hold an assembly or a part still while using another hand to run an impact. I could not imagine working alone and having to hold a PDC with both hands to run it and then lose that one free hand to hold the work piece I'm working on.  This has been a really interesting thread.  8)