{"id":1674,"date":"2022-01-16T16:34:02","date_gmt":"2022-01-16T21:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/?p=1674"},"modified":"2022-04-01T16:25:54","modified_gmt":"2022-04-01T20:25:54","slug":"when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/","title":{"rendered":"When Not to Use an Impact Driver?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Impact drivers are one of the most useful tools to be developed in the past 100 years, but they aren\u2019t perfect for every job. Sometimes a regular old drill\/driver is the better choice, and other times you\u2019re better off reaching for a handheld screwdriver \u2013 like when you need to complete delicate work.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Impact drivers are incredibly useful tools when it comes to driving screws \u2013 offering powerful rotational bursts that can drive through tough, thick materials with relative ease. As they don\u2019t have variable speed settings, they create a large amount of torque, which means impact drivers can actually be too powerful for situations requiring a soft touch.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll break down some of the common situations where reaching for an impact driver can get you in trouble \u2013 and provide some superior alternatives for getting the job done.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_61 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Jump To:<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-65adac3b2463e\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-65adac3b2463e\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/#When_Not_to_Use_an_Impact_Driver\" title=\"When Not to Use an Impact Driver?\">When Not to Use an Impact Driver?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/#Drilling_Holes\" title=\"Drilling Holes\">Drilling Holes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/#Pocket_Holes\" title=\"Pocket Holes \">Pocket Holes <\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/#Delicate_Woodworking\" title=\"Delicate Woodworking \">Delicate Woodworking <\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/#Standard_Bits\" title=\"Standard Bits\">Standard Bits<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/#Hardwoods\" title=\"Hardwoods \">Hardwoods <\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/#Quiet\" title=\"Quiet\">Quiet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_Not_to_Use_an_Impact_Driver\"><\/span><strong>When Not to Use an Impact Driver?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>An impact driver is ideal when you need to drive large screws and fasteners into a variety of materials without the need for pre-drilling. In fact, most impact drivers can even drive large <a href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-lag-bolts-screws\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lag bolts and screws<\/a> into pressure-treated wood without pre-drilling pilot holes \u2013 a task that would be impossible with a standard drill.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1682\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1682\" style=\"width: 790px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1682 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/impact-drill.jpg?resize=800%2C533&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"impact drill \" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/impact-drill.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/impact-drill.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/impact-drill.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1682\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Impact drivers are highly capable at driving all kinds of fasteners, but they&#8217;re not perfect and come with their own set of drawbacks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Impact drivers are a relatively new tool when compared to the standard cordless drill, and have really taken off with the advancements in lithium-ion batteries.<\/p>\n<p>That said, many of us who grew up using cordless drills\/drivers for all of our drilling and driving needs suddenly found ourselves with a tool that blows the standard drill out of the water when it comes to driving screws and fasteners.<\/p>\n<p><strong>So when should I avoid reaching for an impact driver?<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Drilling_Holes\"><\/span><strong>Drilling Holes<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While impact drivers can be used for drilling holes, they aren\u2019t the ideal tool for this task.<\/p>\n<p>Drilling clean holes require a constant speed and torque throughout the process to achieve a good result. While <a href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/can-you-use-an-impact-driver-as-a-drill\/\">impact drivers are capable of drilling<\/a>, they generate powerful torque in short bursts that are jumpy and far from smooth.<\/p>\n<p>Impact drivers also don\u2019t use the same bits as regular drill\/drivers. Impact bits require specially engineered hex-shaped bits that are designed to withstand the additional torque.<\/p>\n<p>That means you won\u2019t be able to use your standard drill bits inside your impact driver. Not only won\u2019t they fit in the quick-change clamp, but they\u2019d be far more likely to snap and break from the additional torque.<\/p>\n<p>The good news is that if you\u2019ve got an impact driver on hand, most likely you also have a standard drill\/driver as well. The two tools are highly complementary to one another and are frequently sold together as a two-tool bundle.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pocket_Holes\"><\/span><strong>Pocket Holes <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Another area where you\u2019ll want to avoid using an impact driver is when you\u2019re working with pocket holes. As impact drivers are powerful, it\u2019s easy to over-drive a pocket screw causing the screw to pop out the other side of the connecting board even if you\u2019re being careful.<\/p>\n<p>Over tightening a pocket screw can also cause the pocket hole itself to snap or break in half, leading to a lot of wasted time and effort.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re generally better off reaching for a standard drill\/driver on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.popularmechanics.com\/home\/tools\/how-to\/g2661\/how-to-adjust-a-drill-driver\/#:~:text=To%20adjust%20your%20clutch%2C%20align,motor%20or%20overdriving%20the%20screw.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">low speed\/torque setting<\/a> when driving these delicate fasteners.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Delicate_Woodworking\"><\/span><strong>Delicate Woodworking <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1678\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1678\" style=\"width: 390px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1678 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/driving-short-screws-with-impact-drill.jpg?resize=400%2C483&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"driving screws with impact driver\" width=\"400\" height=\"483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/driving-short-screws-with-impact-drill.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/driving-short-screws-with-impact-drill.jpg?resize=248%2C300&amp;ssl=1 248w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1678\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Driving short delicate fasteners can be hazardous with an impact driver. A standard drill\/driver is often the better option.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Similar to the above example, when you\u2019re using smaller decorative and hobby screws you\u2019ll want to avoid reaching for the impact driver.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to over-tighten shorter screws with an impact driver which can lead to cracking the wood surface or even snapping the head off your fastener leaving you with an unsightly embedded screw.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, reach for a standard cordless drill for delicate woodworking fasteners \u2013 as this will give you a greater degree of control over driving speed and power.<\/p>\n<p><em>Another thing to consider if you\u2019re going to be doing a lot of delicate woodworking and finish work is using a smaller 12V impact driver. These smaller units are much better suited to handle smaller fasteners and are less likely to over-tighten shorter screws.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Standard_Bits\"><\/span><strong>Standard Bits<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Another situation where you\u2019ll want to avoid reaching for an impact driver is if you need to use a specific standard bit. Impact drivers require special hex-shaped bits, so standard bits often won\u2019t fit inside their quick-change bit holders.<\/p>\n<p>If you put a standard bit with a hex end in an impact driver, don\u2019t be surprised if it snaps in half from the powerful torque.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hardwoods\"><\/span><strong>Hardwoods <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Take this one with a grain of salt, but you\u2019ll want to use caution when using an impact driver in hardwoods like oak, maple, or birch. As impact drivers generate a ton of torque, they\u2019re more likely to break the head of a screw when it\u2019s driven into these harder materials.<\/p>\n<p>That doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t use an impact driver when driving fasteners into hardwoods, but you\u2019ll want to be particularly careful with them when the screw head reaches the wood surface \u2013 as this is when break-off is most likely to occur.<\/p>\n<p>Softwoods are a little more forgiving as the wood has a little more \u2018give\u2019 to it, so over-tightening is less likely to lead to a broken-off screw head.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quiet\"><\/span><strong>Quiet<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This one might surprise you, but impact drivers are actually pretty loud. The short powerful rotational bursts of force generated by impact drivers make a lot of noise, and decibel-wise are closer to a <a href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-a-hammer-drill\/\">hammer drill<\/a> than a standard drill\/driver.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re working somewhere where you can\u2019t afford to make a lot of noise, then you may need to reach for a standard drill instead of your impact driver. Regular drills don\u2019t create the short powerful bursts of torque that impact drivers do, so they can be used to fasten a large number of screws relatively quietly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Impact drivers are one of the most useful tools to be developed in the past 100 years, but they aren\u2019t perfect for every job. Sometimes a regular old drill\/driver is the better choice, and other times you\u2019re better off reaching for a handheld screwdriver \u2013 like when you need to complete delicate work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1677,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,7],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>When Not to Use an Impact Driver? - Home Improvement Scout<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The impact driver is an incredibly useful tool when it comes to driving screws \u2013 offering powerful rotational bursts that can drive through tough, thick materials with relative ease. As they don\u2019t have variable speed settings, they create a large amount of torque, which means impact drivers can actually be too powerful for situations requiring a soft touch.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"When Not to Use an Impact Driver? - Home Improvement Scout\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The impact driver is an incredibly useful tool when it comes to driving screws \u2013 offering powerful rotational bursts that can drive through tough, thick materials with relative ease. As they don\u2019t have variable speed settings, they create a large amount of torque, which means impact drivers can actually be too powerful for situations requiring a soft touch.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Home Improvement Scout\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-01-16T21:34:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-04-01T20:25:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-drill.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"880\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"604\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Denis Gardner\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Denis Gardner\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Denis Gardner\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/#\/schema\/person\/a83f2c6b10f97bd361a10c350fb7edb5\"},\"headline\":\"When Not to Use an Impact Driver?\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-01-16T21:34:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-04-01T20:25:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/\"},\"wordCount\":1047,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Tools\",\"Workshop\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/\",\"name\":\"When Not to Use an Impact Driver? - Home Improvement Scout\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-01-16T21:34:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-04-01T20:25:54+00:00\",\"description\":\"The impact driver is an incredibly useful tool when it comes to driving screws \u2013 offering powerful rotational bursts that can drive through tough, thick materials with relative ease. 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As they don\u2019t have variable speed settings, they create a large amount of torque, which means impact drivers can actually be too powerful for situations requiring a soft touch.","og_url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/","og_site_name":"Home Improvement Scout","article_published_time":"2022-01-16T21:34:02+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-04-01T20:25:54+00:00","og_image":[{"width":880,"height":604,"url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-drill.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Denis Gardner","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Denis Gardner","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/"},"author":{"name":"Denis Gardner","@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/#\/schema\/person\/a83f2c6b10f97bd361a10c350fb7edb5"},"headline":"When Not to Use an Impact Driver?","datePublished":"2022-01-16T21:34:02+00:00","dateModified":"2022-04-01T20:25:54+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/"},"wordCount":1047,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Tools","Workshop"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/","url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-driver\/","name":"When Not to Use an Impact Driver? - Home Improvement Scout","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2022-01-16T21:34:02+00:00","dateModified":"2022-04-01T20:25:54+00:00","description":"The impact driver is an incredibly useful tool when it comes to driving screws \u2013 offering powerful rotational bursts that can drive through tough, thick materials with relative ease. 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Made Easy","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/#organization","name":"Home Improvement Scout","url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/cropped-logo_medium_resolution-1.png?fit=1094%2C146&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/cropped-logo_medium_resolution-1.png?fit=1094%2C146&ssl=1","width":1094,"height":146,"caption":"Home Improvement Scout"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/#\/schema\/person\/a83f2c6b10f97bd361a10c350fb7edb5","name":"Denis Gardner","description":"I've loved tinkering and fixing things for as long as I can remember. So, naturally, I gravitated towards DIY and home improvement when I bought my first home. Nowadays you can find me writing about my passions or messing around with my newest tool!","sameAs":["https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com"],"url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/author\/denis\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/when-not-to-use-an-impact-drill.jpg?fit=880%2C604&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1684,"url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/can-you-use-an-impact-driver-as-a-drill\/","url_meta":{"origin":1674,"position":0},"title":"Can You Use an Impact Driver as a Drill?","author":"Denis Gardner","date":"January 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Impact drivers are an incredibly useful tool when it comes to driving fasteners of all shapes and sizes, but they're not exactly known for their drilling prowess. The question often comes up when you're faced with a hole that needs drilling and only an impact driver within reach - can\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Tools&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Tools","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/category\/tools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"dewalt impact driver and wood chips","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/can-you-use-an-impact-driver-as-a-drill.jpg?fit=880%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/can-you-use-an-impact-driver-as-a-drill.jpg?fit=880%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/can-you-use-an-impact-driver-as-a-drill.jpg?fit=880%2C496&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/can-you-use-an-impact-driver-as-a-drill.jpg?fit=880%2C496&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2561,"url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-tighten-bolts-and-nuts\/","url_meta":{"origin":1674,"position":1},"title":"How to Tighten Bolts and Nuts","author":"Denis Gardner","date":"September 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Nuts and bolts are some of the most common fastener types used in all sorts of mechanical applications. They\u2019re used to hold two or more objects together, with the nut on one end and the bolt on the other, and the fastened material sandwiched in between. Learning how to tighten\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Tools&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Tools","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/category\/tools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"nut and bolt","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/nut-and-bolt.jpg?fit=880%2C582&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/nut-and-bolt.jpg?fit=880%2C582&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/nut-and-bolt.jpg?fit=880%2C582&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/nut-and-bolt.jpg?fit=880%2C582&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1503,"url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/craftsman-vs-milwaukee\/","url_meta":{"origin":1674,"position":2},"title":"Craftsman vs Milwaukee: How Do They Stack Up?","author":"Denis Gardner","date":"December 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"When it comes to quality tool brands, two of the most recognizable are Craftsman and Milwaukee. Whether you\u2019re a DIYer who only picks up your tools on an occasional weekend, or a professional who uses your tools on a daily basis, choosing the right brand is key. Both of these\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Tools&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Tools","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/category\/tools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Milwaukee vs craftsman tools","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/milwaukee-vs-craftsman-tools.jpg?fit=880%2C589&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/milwaukee-vs-craftsman-tools.jpg?fit=880%2C589&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/milwaukee-vs-craftsman-tools.jpg?fit=880%2C589&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/milwaukee-vs-craftsman-tools.jpg?fit=880%2C589&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1272,"url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/dewalt-vs-black-and-decker\/","url_meta":{"origin":1674,"position":3},"title":"Dewalt vs Black and Decker: How do they Compare?","author":"Denis Gardner","date":"November 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Two of the most recognizable names in the power tool market are DeWalt and Black & Decker. If you\u2019ve spent any time in a hardware store or on a jobsite then you may already have some idea of how the DeWalt stacks up vs Black and Decker. I\u2019ll break down\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Tools&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Tools","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/category\/tools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"dewalt tool lineup","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/dewalt-vs-black-and-decker.jpg?fit=880%2C589&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/dewalt-vs-black-and-decker.jpg?fit=880%2C589&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/dewalt-vs-black-and-decker.jpg?fit=880%2C589&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/dewalt-vs-black-and-decker.jpg?fit=880%2C589&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2658,"url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/is-kobalt-a-good-tool-brand\/","url_meta":{"origin":1674,"position":4},"title":"Is Kobalt a Good Tool Brand?","author":"Denis Gardner","date":"September 26, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This debate pops up all the time in online forums and among DIYers, and due to Kobalt\u2019s low prices is not all that surprising. Whether or not Kobalt is actually a good tool brand is the subject of some debate, so let\u2019s take a closer look at this tool brand.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Tools&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Tools","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/category\/tools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"is kobalt a good tool brand","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kobalt-tools.jpeg?fit=880%2C465&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kobalt-tools.jpeg?fit=880%2C465&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kobalt-tools.jpeg?fit=880%2C465&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kobalt-tools.jpeg?fit=880%2C465&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1541,"url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/hackzall-vs-sawzall\/","url_meta":{"origin":1674,"position":5},"title":"Hackzall vs Sawzall: Which is the Better Reciprocating Saw?","author":"Denis Gardner","date":"December 19, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"If you\u2019re wondering what the differences between a Hackzall vs a Sawzall are then you\u2019ve come to the right place. These two tools both trace their roots back to the humble demolition workhorse known as the reciprocating saw. 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