Tool One: Impact Drivers

Impact Drivers are the tool of the future for homeowners. Construction workers have know about them for years but there are finally good affordable impact drivers available for you. They are lightweight, easy to use and have all the features you need for screw driving and drilling tasks around the home.

You may not know it yet, but you need one of these tools.

One of the best features of impact drivers is they don’t twist out of your hands like a drill/driver has a tendency to do.  You can drive a phillips head screw and it won’t strip the head when the wood gets tough.  They are strong enough to do all the driving tasks around your home and will drill faster than your drill.

As the clear leader in cordless battery development for the homeowner, Craftsman continues to demonstrate commitment to innovation as they introduce the next generation of impact driver technology.  The new Craftsman Compact Right Angle Impact Driver is the tool for 2010.

Here is Craftsman’s video explaining the new Right Angle Impact Driver.

Here is my video review. Caution, it’s pretty long.

Buy Here: Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0 Volt Right Angle Impact Driver From Sears.  Have it shipped to your home or pick up at your nearest Sears

If you don’t want a Craftsman NEXTEC this Christmas take a look at the Hitachi.  This is the lightest Impact Driver I have seen.  There is a matching drill available.  The battery only fits the drill and impact. The NEXTEC battery in the Craftsman fits nine different tools.

Buy Here: Hitachi 10.8V Lithium Ion Micro Impact Driver

If you are looking for an impact driver that fits your C3 batteries here it is: Buy Here: Craftsman 17080 19.2-volt C3 Cordless Impact Driver Bare Tool Have it shipped to your home or pick up at your nearest Sears (If you use your Shop Your Ways Reward Card during the checkout process, you don’t need to keep your receipt)

DeWalt just came out with a 12 volt compact line.  It includes a drill, impact, and light You can see the new impact here.

Buy Here: DeWalt 12-volt Lithium Impact Driver

Professionals will like this impact from Hitachi.

Buy Here: Hitachi 18V 1.5Ah Lithium Ion Compact Pro Impact Driver

Impact Bits:

You need 1/4 inch hex shank bits to use in your impact driver.  The Craftsman NEXTEC Compact Right Angle Impact Driver includes a few bits in the package, but you will need more.

Buy Here: Hitachi 37 Piece Impact Drill and Drive Set

Buy Here: Titan 48 pc. Quick Disconnect Bit Set

Buy Here: Craftsman 83 pc. Insert Bit Set