Home and Kitchen Appliances Home improvement

What Are The Different Types Of The Impact Drivers? How To Ensure Safety While Their Use?

If you’re getting ready to buy an impact driver, it’s a good idea to read up on the safety tips before pulling out your wallet. 

An impact driver is a tool that’s used to drive fasteners and install small hardware. It has a long shaft with two handles at either end. One handle is used to hold the tool steady while the other handle is pulled in order to rotate the tool. The tool spins when one handle is pulled but stops spinning when both handles are released. 

There are several different types of impact drivers including drill/driver combos, screwdrivers, and specialty tools like nailers, pliers, and crimpers. Some tools may come with batteries, others may be corded or cordless. 

A few of the most common uses for impact drivers include drilling holes in wood, driving screws into wood, installing sheet rock nails, driving staples into wood or sheet rock, removing nails from wood, installing drywall screws, and hanging shelves. 

As with any tool, there are always risks involved when using one. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can seriously injure yourself. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind if you want to get started with an impact driver. 

  • Always use the correct size bit for the job. A lot of people will purchase a bigger bit than they need because they think that’ll make them more powerful. This isn’t true – a big bit can actually cause injury if the hole doesn’t fit properly. When using a drill, you should only use a #2 or smaller bit. For screwing larger screws into wooden surfaces, choose a #3 or larger bit. 
  • Be careful not to over tighten a screw. You don’t want to strip a screw head off, so slow down as you put each screw through the wallboard. If you have to stop every couple feet to tighten the screw, you could end up taking forever. Also, never put a screw too far into the hole. You don’t want to damage the wood by driving the screw all the way into the wood. 
  • Never try to use an impact driver without wearing eye protection, earmuffs, and gloves. An impact driver can really hurt if you hit your hand with it or if you catch your thumb on it. It also makes sense to wear a dust mask if you will be working with sawdust. Don’t forget to bring along a hard hat and protective goggles to cover your eyes and face. 
  • Keep your fingers away from the moving parts on the tool. When you’re holding onto the handles, your fingers should be behind the moving parts such as the motor or gearbox. 
  • Never allow an object to fall onto the rotating part of an impact driver. This includes metal objects, glass, and even pieces of drywall. Remember that the rotating parts of the tool are made to withstand extreme force. They won’t work well if they get damaged or jammed. 
  • If you’re working on a project that requires multiple steps, use a helper. Hanging drywall, painting walls, and installing cabinets are just a few examples of jobs where having another person around can make life easier. 
  • Use plenty of lubricant. When working with an impact driver, you’ll want to use plenty of oil to reduce friction. The higher the viscosity (thickness) of the lubricant, the better. Lubricants that are thicker tend to be less slippery. Oil works great, but grease is also considered a lubricant. Grease is basically thickened oil. However, you need to make sure that you don’t use something like peanut butter because that stuff can cause serious burns. 

Do regular maintenance checks. Before you start using an impact driver, check out its condition. Is the motor functioning correctly? Does the tool have proper lubrication? Are the bits turning freely and smoothly? If you notice anything wrong with the tool before you start working with it, take it back to the store where you purchased it and ask about a warranty replacement. 

Follow safety instructions included with the tool. Many manufacturers provide installation manuals, product warnings, and safety information. These documents usually contain important information about how to operate the tool safely and avoid potential problems. 

Make sure you understand how to turn off the power source. There are many different ways to do this depending on which type of tool you’re using. In general, the power switch should be located near the handles. 

Take breaks if necessary. Even though an impact driver is designed to be used continuously, it still needs time to cool down after being used. If you have to stop frequently to loosen or tighten a screw, then you probably shouldn’t be using the tool in the first place. 

If the person will keep in mind these tips while using the impact drivers then they can get best results. There are variety of the impact drivers that are available for the people. A person can visit the official site like toolpick.co.uk/impact-driver and get the detail of the various drivers. A person can go through the options and select the best one.

Once you’ve finished reading these safety tips, you should feel much more confident about using an impact driver. Hopefully, you’ll have no trouble finding the right tool for your next project.