Is The Cordless Drill Becoming Obsolete?

For most pros we stick to using the impact to drive screws and the drill to drill holes. You don't have to switch bits as often and you will be carrying around both anyways. Also the impact can drill small holes fast but once your drilling through multiple layers of material or heavy duty stuff the impact will be slower than the drill.

Love my impact. We made a place at the table for it for family dinner night.

I use a drill for drilling and a driver for driving, sounds crazy but I'm pretty sure that's why they almost always come paired together. If I'm in my shop or if weather and location permits it, I still use a corded drill for drilling. If you are drilling all day, especially through stubborn wood the corded drill just gives that smooth constant power.

Don't forget about using mixing paddles in the drill chuck. Epoxy coater here and I have used cordless drills for the past 6 years and 99.99% of the time was mixing gallons in a bucket, and is a crucial tool for the job although almost never using it for fasteners or drilling. Also wire wheels in the drill for cleaning/prepping areas.

Not for aircraft mechanics, we use drills for taking out and installing hundreds of screws that hold panels on, the clutch on the drill is a nessesity to avoid over torquing screws.

Nope, drilling will never be obsolete. You will always need that chuck for various drill bits, reamers, etc..
The impact driver is simply a different animal. Made for fastening and mechanical. I have been using both for decades. The impact is a great tool with lots of use, but it's not a replacement for a drill. Just looks similar.

I completely understand and agree with your whole take on impact driver vs a standard drill. Both have their own uses but for the work I do as a home remodeler/ repair guy, I use my impact driver 85% of the time.

I switched to impact then back to regular drill. Mainly because Of the noise of the impact but also a drill is faster driving screws

As I take on more projects, I find myself reaching for a corded drill more often. Mixing cement/mortar/paint, planting bulbs or tubes with 2 in auger, drilling though steel or other metal, etc

I have an electric mini drill for around the house. I love it because it never over tightens. It’s small and goes into a drawer. Obviously nothing one is going to use for a heavy job but love it for replacing screens, putting up hurricane shutters, replacing electrical plates or putting together any kit furniture or anything that could be stripped. The one I have has storage for bits and bends straight if needed.

My cordless drill is still my go to for drilling. I do a lot of drill/countersink and then grab the impact to drive the screws. Someone below also pointed out, you can't drill metal or tile with the impact.

Yeah I rarely use my portable drill over the portable impact driver. If it’s something that specifically needs a lot of sustained torque, like a six inch hole saw bit drilling hardwood or MDF, I need a corded drill or drill press anyway. The cordless drill is worse than the cordless impact driver at flexibility and worse than the corded drill at power.

He's right about the impact being the workhorse, by a BIG margin. But you still need a drill (hammer drill) once in a while and the difference in price to get a KIT with both is so small when looked at over years of ownership, it's a no brainer for me. You just need BOTH in the end

I do some low voltage cableing and computer work so for me all three drills are still used. The clutch on a standard drill is perfect for not over torqueing delicate things. The hammer drill is awesome for when you need to drill into metal or masonry to mount something and the impact driver is just amazing for everything else.

I started using impact drivers last year when I bought a drill/driver kit and highly recommend using the impact driver.

When impact drivers first came out I thought they were just another "gimmick" tool. I now use mine daily.

As someone who works with both daily I can't remember the last time I used my impact for anything other than driving screws.
My drill does all the drilling because it's faster.
For DIY though sure you could probably get away with just using an impact for the majority of jobs, you can even get a mini paddle whisk that can handle a 10kg mix of plaster, use it to mix grout, tile adhesive, mortar, paint, the lot

I’m going to be honest, many years ago after purchasing my home and needed my own tools. I thought the impact was already the replacement for the drill since it also had drill bits. I didn’t know an impact was never really meant for drilling but I used it anyway with no issues for almost 12 years! 😆 to this day that same Makita is still going strong as well as the batteries! I will be upgrading to a surge style now that you’ve let me know there’s a quieter option!

As pro contractors we like the convenience of the impact but we always keep a backup chuck drill in our toolbox for many reasons - much better centering when drilling precision is needed (especially drilling into metal), essential for fastening jobs needing precise torque control, and in case the hex shank fails, the chuck can still grab on to the round part. I sometimes also contract at a care home, definitely can't use the impact there because of the noise.

Drill- Packedge in typical box, came with a tool bag (added bonus), two batteries, one charger, drill, and driver. Two words "plenty of Torque" ruclips.net/user/postUgkxW1vOBRCMrgTCDEijzpVzDWsgI-Jm2iQv well I guess that's three. Nice upgrade from current setup. Has belt clips, I don't think I will be using those. Driver and drill were bigger than what I expected but it is an upgrade from the current setup. For the money I would say that this is a great setup for Professionals and DIY/Weekend warriors.

A really powerful cordless drill is extremely useful and faster than an impact for drilling. I see plenty of people talk about the top-end drills being too large and heavy, but I would much rather have the power on hand. I use the made in japan Makita driver and the XPH14 drill. Not having to switch to a corded drill to make a bunch of holes fast is really nice.

I’m so glad it works for you on your projects but as for me I’ll continue to use the right tool for the job. The only thing I’ve joked about for years is that as they keep increasing the battery voltage we will soon be able to just plug them into an outlet.

As others have said, I like having both, use the drill to do any pilot holes and then have the driver at hand with the driver bit, makes for less switching.

Working as a electrician doing alot of commercial offices cordless drill is still a must for step bits and hole saws

The awesome part of all these bit’s being manufactured for impact drivers have been awesome for bit and brace fans. No long have to look for ancient drill bits. These work great in my Braces.

I'm always amazed by my impact. I was changing mower blades on my zero turn the other day and I couldn't loosen the blade bolts with a socket... Even when I engaged the 800 lb gorilla. I looked around for my breaker bar and couldn't find it so I grabbed my impact with very little hope. Took all of two seconds per bolt to spin those off.

This video missed almost ALL of the reasons I love impacts. There's the lightning fast bit changes with NO SLIPPING from failing to fully tighten the chuck, the short neck making it easy to get into small spaces, the impacts easily hammering drill bits through tough materials (knots, metal spurs, etc) where a drill just gets snagged and stuck, driving even damaged phillips screws instead of camm'ing it out, NEVER burning out a motor because your drill bit got stuck, and much more. Never twisting-off your wrist is one of the big benefits, too.
Got my first cordless impact driver a decade ago and haven't wanted to touch a drill since. I knew it was exactly the improvement over a drill that I wanted the moment I saw one, and only the noise issue has ever given me a moment's pause. To ensure I wouldn't also need a drill, I immediately purchased a chuck that fits the impact (for the rare round drill bits I still need--or twisting wiring harnesses together), bought a few full sets of (impact) drill bits (NOT the soft, dull and off-kilter Harbor Freight junk!), and a couple extensions (rigid and flexible/swivel).

I've trashed to many things with my impact driver. That's why I still need my cordless drill.

I did the switch recently from drill to compact impact driver. I'm into Ryobi 18v platform. I got a nice set of Milwaukee hex shank drill bits. It's so quick changing bits. The tool is light and compact. I also have a hammer drill for concrete. But most jobs (wood & metal) I use my compact impact driver.

Another tip: To drill a fast hole in drywall to use the 3/16 blue plastic anchors in, use your phillips #2 bit. It works fine. Perhaps it might even be able to work as a countersink bit on soft wood.

I install a lot of grab bars in old people's showers (Florida). Can't go through tile with an impact. Also for drilling through metal, you'll wreck your bits

I was doing 2 acres of privacy fence with my wife, and she absolutely loved the Ryobi impact compared to the drill we had at the time. So, I got her a new DeWalt Atomic since she was nodding yes to spending the money at the time. I use it for everything now.

I have both an impact and a traditional drill, but if I could afford only one, it would definitely be the drill. Because you have to have 1/4" bits for anything you want to use an impact for, it's versatility is severely limited (and costly).

If you have fine digit control with an impact, the torque setting on a drill driver isn't really necessary.

Hell yea! Journeyman Electrician here. Compact size and wont break your FN wrist if it catches something. 90% of time way to go. Only time I use a drill any more is for "real" drilling such as through something sturdier than a 2x4 or, the quick attachment on the impact chuck wont take the particular bit I need. I got a old Dewalt I carry around in my walk around tool bag. Good for 90 % of what I need and small/light enough to not be a bother. If I need a real drill, I have one, I'll walk back to the truck and get it. But it's not often.

First great video. You had a lot of great information in it and I appreciate the time it must have taken. I went through a phase where i only went to impacts for a lot of what I did. And while all the pros you stated are correct, it doesn't come without cons as well. Noise being one of my main reasons I avoid them at time. I often times go to a cordless screwdriver like a 12v from Dewalt or Milwaukee because it combines some of the benefits of both. The more I use them, I realize they are a true dynamic duo and while there is a lot of overlap, neither one replaces the other.

I love Milwaukee stuff. Expensive for a DIYer, but they seem to put a little more attention to detail in their products and innovate a bit more quality of life features than the other brands you can easily find in stores.

Great video. One caution to add: don’t use an impact on machine screws or threaded inserts. They will cross thread and you will have a bad day.

I love the quick bit changing that an impact driver gives you. So much quicker and easier than a drill chuck.

I recently started using my impact after my drill chuck seized up and started having issues. I found the experience so much better that I’ve also been using it more and more

I find your videos to be highly informative and well produced. You convey the right amount of information without being overly verbose. I learn something each and every time and am glad to benefit from your experience.
Glad to have subscribed.

Good video...but I'll keepe cordless drills as I have often noticed using a drill bit set with hex ends to fit my nice impact driver wobble a bit too much. Sometimes if it's a precise hole that's needed. Impact drill bits don't cut it. Thx for letting me share and keep making great vids 😺👍😎

As an electrician (actually a coop student) me and my peers use the impact driver way more when working. I just want to note it’s not the diy people it’s just about everyone I imagine.

Tapping threads with an impact saves taps over using a drill. When using a drill as the tap bites it twists the drill and snaps the tap. A impact gives a straightforward force and drives the tap with out snapping the tap. As a master electrician I have tapped for over a decade with an impact, it’s awesome.

I have everything as a professional contractor. I purchased a impact driver drill chuck and it is a great feature!

Those impact bits seem like a solution to a problem that only exists if you use the wrong tool, in this case an impact for drilling.

pro tip: Replace your impact driver with the Ridgid 3/8 subcompact impact wrench and a 1/4 hex holder. Additionally, get a 1/4 drive, 1/4 hex socket holder. It works much better than the regular impact driver and you can drive sockets also. In fact, I've had times where I needed to drive construction screws but needed an extension. Socket extensions were just the thing.

You should check out the Milwaukee Screwdriver (2402-20) and the Installation Drill/Driver (2505-20). The screwdriver is like the impact and drill had a baby. It's got the 1/4" bit holder of an impact, with the adjustable clutch of a drill. With no impact, it's quiet, light and perfect for electric/mechanic work. The instillation drill/driver has a interchangeable head, you can have a hex bit holder or drill clutch. It also has a right angle and offset adapter for tight spaces.
Note: Dewalt and Bosch (and probably others) have similar to the Milwaukee screwdriver, and maybe the insulation drill/drive. I recommend Milwaukee because you already have the batteries.

I rarely use my drills anymore. Drill bit construction has gotten so advanced, and the prevalence of impact-rated drill bits, means that for most applications on the job site I can use my impact to drill holes

I bought an impact driver because it was on sale at a good price but didn't know what I had so never used it. I'm getting it out now. Thanks.

The drill is better for drilling and fasteners, its been proven many times, only plus to impact is lightweight and lower power usage

I've found myself in a very similar situation. I got an impact drill because the regular drill often came up short on power. Not only is it more convenient due to size and weight, but I was surprised to find myself using it more and more, even for jobs a drill would do just fine, because the drill may some times be too little, but the impact drill is rarely too much, which I thought would be the case. Depends on the type of work but surprisingly impact drills can be used for a lot more than just lug nuts and heavy duty work.

As a pro who uses impacts daily... I only really find myself reaching for my drill when it comes to hole saws and mixing mud and cement. Most drill bits sized holes I just use one of my impacts, unless its a long extension space bit or something because an impact will snap those off.

I had been planning on picking up a Cordless Drill, then had decided on an impact driver; but had been worried about the sheer amount of noise it makes. I had never heard of a _Pulse Driver._ This looks like a game changer, and I would have been pretty upset to learn about it _after_ I had to buy Gen 2 AirPod Pros with better noise cancellation to manage hearing that impact driver sound all day. Thank you.

I worked in a sheet metal shop for a while and the impact driver was used for all our heavy tapping as well as driving nuts and bolts with a 3/8 adapter into sockets. Way better than any drill💪

I was thinking the same thing for a while, that I'd rather just use my impact for everything. I went on like this for a few months during a large project, and didn't even realize that I was actually getting annoyed with how the impact was driving some crews in situations where I needed to be a little more delicate or careful. I "tried" my normal drill again, and it made everything so much easier. I'm not the one to explain what the reasons actually are, because I don't know for sure, but I'm back to using my regular drill in most drilling and driving situations unless an impact drill is *actually* needed.

This is an incredibly helpful tool video. Nobody has as many drills, drivers, or even experience as you do. I admit to not having appreciated my impact driver enough, but will not most certainly change my tune! Also, I was not aware of the advanced features of some of the newer drivers. Phenomenal video, bro! You have a gift for crystal clear explanations and demonstrations. Thanks!
PS: In many years of using youtube, I had never subscribed to anyone's channel. --- But I subscribed to this one!!!

You really need both.
For example with wood, i use the drill to predill holes, and then i grab the impact and drive screws.
About the kickback, you can drill with the clutch, to protect your wrist.
You need a light drill, like the DCD796 or its sucessor, the DCD805.
I have both the DCD796 and the DCD999, but the DCD999 is too heavy for everyday use.
Check out the DCD805.

for home use i use a 12v mini bosch drill it works great and are even lighter then the impactdriver tho

Very nice to have both. I drill with the drill, drive with the driver. Makes a huge difference, especially while driving.

Agreed! I have a Bosch 12 volt impact driver that I use more than anything else, and I have plenty of other options I could reach for. Great little compact tool!

Countersink bits, reamers and hole saws all need a real drill. Drilling through steel with an impact usually doesn't go so well. Drilling through multiple layers or chasing holes usually works better with a real drill rather than an impact which can punch a hole next to the one you were trying to chase.

Surprised you didn't mention the add on chucks that fit into a Impact driver to handle bits without a hex shaft. Great video and channel. Thanks

I recently bought the Mikita set. The new black model with the 2.5 Ah. batteries. This is small light weight and Powerfull. The drill is used for drilling pilot holes and many other things, while the impact drives so many different screws. There is So many new fasteners coming out with different materials that making these power tools a complement to the tools needed.

I’m a GC and my guys still use a drill for drilling, the only exception is if we need the compact size of the impact in tight spaces. Also, I would like my guys to keep their hearing.

The problem with impact drivers, is that they weaken over time. I used one for a whole project with self tapping metal screws which was also very loud and noisy. After that it was much much weaker. I went back to the drill (way less noise) and it didn't become weaker at all after a huge project. And I enjoy way less noise.

impact are for newbies

Impact driver is never designed to drill... Lol.. that's where a drill comes in. If you use a impact driver to drill, you might as well use a drill bit and a hammer 😂😂

I like how your splash screen drew me in, like clickbait. Except, no clickbait here. Nice informative video! I knew little about impact drivers. Thank you.

Ah that B&D example is so spot on it hurts.
My old man lost the chuck for his B&D corded drill once and took an hour to find it, learned his lesson and tapped it to the power cable so it never got lost again. Lol

Click Bait!!!!!!!!!

You took me to school.
I received an impact driver and the drill set for Christmas and I was unsure about my impact unit.
Thank you for educating me, so I had to subscribe, Continued success.

The one thing I don't like about impact drivers is the slop in the hex bits. I'm not sure if that is intentional or just a reflection of bad design and poor manufacturing tolerances. But it hurts my work flow and keeps my love for a stable, secure drill chuck alive.

working for the cable company we have to drill through telephone poles with a auger bit. we used to use a regular dewalt drill but recently every lineman qt the company has switched to a big klein tools battery powered impact gun. it makes a huge difference in time and effort.

After watching RUclips woodworking videos for years, I was amazed just now to find a new one that fits neatly into my top five for thoroughness, usefulness, and honesty. Something about this one seemed to make it worth my time. Then I scanned the background and learned why I was feeling this way. Bravo! Thanks for confirming the still, small thought I was having.

I’ve been using Makita tools and especially Impact Drivers since the LXT Platform was released, the first impact saw hard daily use for more than 10 years and only replaced it when the bearings started squealing after it fell about 2 feet and landed on the bit damaging the bearings. Currently I’m using Makita’s XDT16 impact and it’s great.
Try a better brand than Rigid and you’ll immediately see the difference.

I got a Makita driver/drill/bag kit for less than the driver alone, it's a crazy package discount so why not?

I have and use both. My impact driver is great, but not for low torque screws or drilling in certain materials. Corded drills are great, but I often work where no power is available. The time to drill 4 holes for a mount, means I don't waste time on long extension cords. Like everything, it depends on your application.

A cordless hammer drill is still a must have IMO. The clutch is great for tightening things that don't need full power to roughly the same tightness without having to feather the trigger and guess. The hammer function is also very useful for a lot of projects where you need to drill concrete but a larger rotary hammer is overkill.

I'm a directv tech, and I'll use my impact to drill some small holes, but definitely when it comes to drilling through a wall to run a line, I'm gonna use my hammer drill. Not only is it better for the task, my 18" bit doesn't have a hex chuck on it

I just bought a Dewalt 1/4" impact driver and it has become my favorite tool along with my Philips screwdriver, hammer and vice grips. I have 3 nice drills, 2 cordless and a Dewalt 1/2" corded one. However, the impact driver is a godsend. I have even used it for removing lug nuts on my cars after loosening them with a wrench, saving my wrist (I torque them with a torque wrench so I only need them to spin the lugs off and on).

I use both my VSR drill and my impact/vsr drill. The impact function with a torque stick is spectacular for installing lug nuts.

I have been on the impact driver game for years now but I purchased the DeWalt 3 speed model recently and it’s a game changer. No more snapping the heads off of fasteners because I accidentally hit the trigger just a bit too hard. The first speed is perfect for putting small screws in wood without having to worry about stripping the wood out and the second is great for pretty much anything else. Then there’s the third speed , that’s what you go to when you need to break loose the lug nuts on the old tractor that have not been broken loose since 1973 !!!!! Seriously though I only use the third speed when I’m being really reckless with something because it’s VERY STRONG for a quarter inch impact.

milwaukee gen3. I try to insert makita IMPACT DRIVER BITS PH2 can't be locked
but gen2 can locked. it is damaged or not?

For my remodeling business and my part time at home mechanics business, an impact and drill are both important for so many different uses. For mechanics no doubt the drill is the winner, for remodeling the impact, but both are equally important to my livelihoods.

I have the same for Ridgid tools, the 2 larger and 2 smaller drill/driver. I love the new sub compact driver, and the new smaller drill seems to actually have more power than the full size at times.
The only thing lost in the small version is no hammer, so I still break out the large drill often to drill mason.
I still find myself using the drill/driver often simply to reduce bit changes on the driver. The phillips driver bit for the most part has a permanent home, but then again that is a big advantage not quite mentioned directly is that changing bits on the driver is so much faster and easier.
I am not sure if I have messed up my larger drill, or its by design but I have to set a bit many times to get it straight.

I have Bosh twins. I use the drill for drilling the holes and the impact driver for the screws. This works great.

I'm an electrician and my Impact is my go to for everything under 1" hole saws.

Your video's are AWESOME!!!!! Thank You for your honest opinions as I'm a senior DIY on a typical tight budget and depend on folks like you for an honest review on products and projects before I spend our money!!!! Please don't stop doing these videos and you have my subscription!

For my projects now I set out two impact drivers and two drills. I keep finding such a variety of fasteners, Phillips, torx, square and even a few slotted. Even putting things together I wind up using the full range of fasteners according to what is available. I just keep reaching for a different unit instead of constantly changing bits. I still have to change out when needing an extra long, extra short or just plain weird. If I’m working away from the shop I’ll just take the drill, extra batteries , Dewalt bit set, Irwin set, Cheep set with weird bits, extra long security torx set, long phillis bits and long square bit. Everything is put together with a hodgepoge of fasteners. The days when all you needed was a slotted and a philleps are long gone.

I almost exclusively use my impact driver, even to drill small holes in soft material, or my SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Drill, it also has an anti-kickback function that regular drills don't.

I have owned DeWalt corded and cordless tools most of my life. 20v is my choice. I've noticed myself doing the same thing as the original poster over the last couple of years. Then I bought my wife a DeWalt 12v impact because I saw an HVAC tech at work using one and checked it out. Now I've started using it because it's smaller and gets into tight places easier.😎

I too am a HUGE fan of my 1/4" impact driver! However, I find that I am going through my batteries far faster than my dedicated drill. SO I now use them in combination - drill only for drilling holes and the impact driver for...you guessed it driving screws/fasteners.

Tools have come a long way and so has the information on RUclips for people to learn on DIY projects .

A technique I started using to avoid jerking my wrist when I’m drilling downward with a drill is holding it in my left hand with the handle against my body. Since the drill kicks in a clockwise direction, my body will stop it since the handle is jerking toward me instead of away.

For sure tools are becoming more user friendly, also more costly.
I'm a remodeling contractor, and the tiny tools are so much easier to carry in your tool pouch than the old 20 lb battery drills of past. And the brushless ones are even smaller. For running outlets and switches they're a godsend. Cabinet work as well. And with the long extensions, you can get into any panel without getting the tool in it. And there are so many to choose from in most financial cases. 30 to 300 range of cost. Thanks for the video

The best part of the impacter is it loudly lets everyone around you know you're working

Not a very adept do it yourselfer here. I didn’t even really know the difference between an impact driver and a drill. But today I was using my impact driver to move the striker plate on my front door, which was not fitting properly. It worked beautifully, and don’t I feel smart after watching your video!
😃

I've been using an impact driver most of the time since around 2008...
For both driving and drilling larger holes with a spade or speedbore.
For normal drilling with a traditional drill bit, that's when I use my drill.

My m18 surge driver is by far my favorite power tool I’ve ever used, I grab it 90% of the time