New Drill Drivers and Impact Wrenches

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

As part of The Home Depot Prospective Program I get to test out some amazing new tools that are coming out. Today I got to test out a bunch or drills and impact wrenches.

The ones I am most excited about are from DeWALT’s Atomic line. These are 20 volt cordless tools and the kit comes with everything you need to get started.

The Combo Kit includes 1 cordless Drill/Driver, 1 cordless Impact Driver, two 20-Volt MAX 2.0 AH Lithium Ion Batteries, 1 charger and a carrying bag.

These tools are super small, lightweight, yet crazy powerful. The Impact Driver is only 5.1” front to back but it has a high performance brushless motor that delivers 1700 in./lbs. of torque which is more than adequate to get the job done.

The Drill/ Driver is only 6.3” from front to back and it is super lightweight at only 2.4 lbs. It has a 1/2” ratcheting chuck that grips the bits really tight so they don’t slip out.

I love that these drivers are so lightweight because it causes less fatigue while I am working. The best part about them being small, is the ability to fit into tight spaces, no more need for that right angle attachment!

And it’s nice that everything fits in the carrying bag so you can easily take the whole kit with you wherever you need to go.

Regardless of what you are using for a driver you cant beat the Ryobi bits.

This 70 piece kit is just under $20 and has most of the bits that any casual DIY’er will ever need.

These bits are impact rated so they are perfect for your impact driver.

Besides for the price and quality, the best thing about this set is how easy it is to take the bits out. Each section tilts up to be completely vertical so you can easily select which bit you want and then easily put it away!

Now onto the Impact Wrenches…. I don’t typically have a use for impact wrenches in my day to day life as a woodworker, but they are really handy to have around! Whether it’s changing out your flat tire or assembling the kids new basketball hoop, power tools just make the job easier.

The first impact wrench I tried is the RIDGID OCTANE 18V 4-Mode Impact Wrench.

This tool is cordless and will work with all RIDGID 18V batteries, it has a brushless motor and a 1/2 in. friction ring anvil which is compatible with popular impact-rated sockets.

Because this tool has a brushless motor, it delivers up to 50% more runtime and power. That also means the motor will just last longer in general.

There are 4 modes on this impact wrench, one of which is pretty cool, auto mode. When set in auto mode, the impact wrench immediately shuts the tool down when it begins to impact. This would be perfect in situations where you don’t want to over tighten the material.

This tool comes in at $129 without the battery or charger so I would only suggest purchasing this if you are already on the RIDGID platform.

A less expensive option is the RYOBI 18V 3/8 Impact Wrench.

This tool also does not come with a battery or charger but it is only $79. There are a few differences between the 2 models though.

First off, this Impact Wrench has a 3/8” square anvil as opposed to 1/2”, but it also comes with a hog ring to change sockets easily.

The Ryobi Impact Wrench is still pretty powerful, it produces 150 ft.lb. of torque and up to 3,400 impacts per minute, so it can handle any heavy duty situation.

This Impact Wrench only has 3 speeds as opposed to the 4 speeds the Ridgid has. Having 3 speeds gives you great control to select the correct speed for the application you are using it for, but it is lacking the Auto mode that would shut down when it starts to impact to avoid over tightening.

While that is a great feature for the Ridgid, it is totally not necessary for a casual DIY’er.

If that latter description is you, I would suggest the Ryobi over the Ridgid since it is less expensive, yet can still handle the toughest situations.

Hopefully this helps you out in selecting which driver or impact wrench is right for you.

The Atomic line from Dewalt is the perfect combo of strength and size when it comes to drilling or driving. When it comes to the impact wrenches, you just need to decide how you will use the tool, do you need the ability for the tool to know when to stop on it’s own, or you do want to save a few bucks to have a few less features, yet still have a ton of power? Either way, you can’t go wrong.

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Worth of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.