Choosing a Bosch impact driver for screw driving

[geojay]

I do a moderate amount of DIY, have a single Bosch 19v drill and find myself spending a lot of time changing between drill bits and screw driving bits. From other threads on here, I can see that an impact drive is a great tool for screw driving so I'm going to get myself an 18v Bosch impact driver. I can see that they have a choice of three at https://www.bosch-diy.com/gb/en/power-tools/drills-and-screw-drivers/impact-drivers-impact-wrenches but am not sure how to choose between them. I can see that the 'tool holder' is one of the differences, which type am I likely to need? I can see that the torque also varies, is that going to be very important for my purposes?

Thanks in anticipation...

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

The middle one will work with both 1/2" sockets and normal screwdriver impact bits by using the adapter so unless you do a bit of car maintenance I wouldn't bother with that one. Then that leaves the other two and the more expensive one has more torque, for the sake of £15 I would get that one.

 

[mrrusty]

The middle one will work with both 1/2" sockets and normal screwdriver impact bits by using the adapter so unless you do a bit of car maintenance

No, go for the one with the 1/2" drive as well. Many specialist screws use torx heads, and many torx bits, for strength, use 1/2" drives. e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/spax-tx-...ated-timber-screws-6mm-x-180mm-100-pack/856cf You can get torx bits that fit normal hex drives, but they can be a bit weedy.

If you intend to do DIY for many years, you are probably better biting the bullet and buying in to the pro kit e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-gd...brushless-cordless-impact-driver-wrench/674cy You'll have forgotten the price a very long time before you wear it out. Once you have a decent set of pro batteries, you can then just buy bare tools from then on.

 

[HayMaker]

I've got one with a 1/2 inch drive and it's handy but too aggressive for anything other than large wood screws. it's an impact wrench at heart. the one with the hex holder will probably be better for screws as the percussive action is more gentle. at least that's the case with the DeWalt ones

 

[mrrusty]

I've got one with a 1/2 inch drive and it's handy but too aggressive for anything other than large wood screws. it's an impact wrench at heart. the one with the hex holder will probably be better for screws as the percussive action is more gentle. at least that's the case with the DeWalt ones

Most (all?) impact drivers designed for construction rather than mechanics, with a 1/2" drive can also take the 1/4" hex as well. On the bosch pro linked to the torque is adjustable from gentle to fierce. The 1/4" bits get put up the middle of the 1/2" hex and are released by the red collar, the 1/2" bits go straight over the drive end. That's why it is good to go with pro kit. Mine gets used for everything from little 15mm screws in doors to driving 120mm coach screws in to hard timber. All I can say, is buy the best you can afford...

Looking a bit deeper mine is an earlier model of this https://www.bosch-professional.com/gb/en/products/gdx-18v-210-c-06019J0200 with 3 levels of torque adjustment

 

[foxhole]

Maybe get yourself a flip bit for woodworking.

KWB Bit Holder Quick Flip 1-4 Zb

Order the KWB Bit Holder Quick Flip 1-4 Zb at Toolsidee. In stock! delivery 1-2 working days. Toolsidee: For all your professional tools.

toolsidee.co.uk

 

[geojay]

Maybe get yourself a flip bit for woodworking.

KWB Bit Holder Quick Flip 1-4 Zb

Order the KWB Bit Holder Quick Flip 1-4 Zb at Toolsidee. In stock! delivery 1-2 working days. Toolsidee: For all your professional tools.

toolsidee.co.uk

If that could take a combined countersink / drill, it would be perfect! Thanks for alerting me to a new tool

 

[geojay]

My follow-on question is what screwdriving bits to buy. A selection would be good but 90% of the time I'd be using PZ2.

I currently mainly use https://www.bosch-diy.com/gb/en/p/34-piece-x-line-classic-drill-bit-and-screwdriver-bit-set-2763466 plus a box of decent PZ2 bits but assume I'll need something designed for use for impact drivers?

Is https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-1-4-hex-shank-mixed-screwdriver-bit-set-32-pieces/6810t suitable? It's listed under impact drivers but the description says "Suitable for Power Screwdrivers with Impact Mode" which doesn't sound quite right. Otherwise, is it a case of choosing anything else from https://www.screwfix.com/c/tools/im...=bosch&screwdrivertiptype=mixed&sort_by=price ?

Thanks for the hand-holding here!

 

[opps]

My follow-on question is what screwdriving bits to buy. A selection would be good but 90% of the time I'd be using PZ2.

I currently mainly use https://www.bosch-diy.com/gb/en/p/34-piece-x-line-classic-drill-bit-and-screwdriver-bit-set-2763466 plus a box of decent PZ2 bits but assume I'll need something designed for use for impact drivers?

Is https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-1-4-hex-shank-mixed-screwdriver-bit-set-32-pieces/6810t suitable? It's listed under impact drivers but the description says "Suitable for Power Screwdrivers with Impact Mode" which doesn't sound quite right. Otherwise, is it a case of choosing anything else from https://www.screwfix.com/c/tools/im...=bosch&screwdrivertiptype=mixed&sort_by=price ?

Thanks for the hand-holding here!

In the Q/A section, the Bosch rep confirms that they are suitable with impact drivers.

I only have a 12v Metabo impact driver, I seldom use it and use regular bits. They have been fine thus far, but yeah, there is the risk of the regular bits shattering.

 

[mrrusty]

My follow-on question is what screwdriving bits to buy. A selection would be good but 90% of the time I'd be using PZ2.

Just about all tips you buy in a merchants are suitable for impacts. Mostly I use the ones that go in the magnetic bit holders, and I buy these usually https://www.cwberry.com/bosch-2608522187-pz2-x-25mm-extra-hard-screwdriver-bits-box-of-25. (or an unbranded equivalent in boxes of 25)

The sets are handy, but I only ever seem to use PZ2 , occasionally PZ1 and 3, occasionally PH2 and a couple of torx sizes, so most in the sets never get used.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I use Wera 50mm impact PZ2 bits for about 98% of the time then a DeWalt impact mixed set for everything else. I went through a few different makes before settling on the Wera bits, which are quite expensive.

I have to disagree with previous comments that ordinary bits are suitable for impact drivers, I found regular bits got chewed up in no time when I first got an impact driver. Perhaps that's why some people buy packs of 25 regulars and I buy singular bits.

 

[Koolpc]

I use a hammer and a screwdriver as my impact driver.

 

[opps]

I use Wera 50mm impact PZ2 bits for about 98% of the time then a DeWalt impact mixed set for everything else. I went through a few different makes before settling on the Wera bits, which are quite expensive.

I have to disagree with previous comments that ordinary bits are suitable for impact drivers, I found regular bits got chewed up in no time when I first got an impact driver. Perhaps that's why some people buy packs of 25 regulars and I buy singular bits.

I wasn't advocating using regular bits day in, day out.. I was simply saying that I use my 12v so infrequently that I haven't bothered purchasing dedicated bits. I normally only use my impact to loosen stubborn screws. It was part of a drill/screwdriver plus impact combo. I had owned the impact for 2 or 3 years before ever using it. One day I had to unscrew some wooden fence posts from a brick wall. I tried hand screwdrivers and an 18v drill driver. Neither would budge the screws, the impact worked perfectly.