Drills, screw guns, and impact drivers are common handheld power tools used by both beginners and professionals. Distinguishing between the three of them can be very confusing because they have a similar appearance, but each serves a different purpose. To make sure your job is done perfectly and effectively, it’s necessary to know the differences clearly.
In this post, we will explain to you the basic information about each of the three of them, including how they work and their advantages & disadvantages. Then you'll know which tool to use to do your job in different situations. In this way, you can save time, reduce frustration, and avoid damaging materials.
Tips: In this article, we mainly focus on the cordless versions of the three tools.
How Does a Drill Work?
The drill is a versatile power tool, also known as a drill driver. It rotates continuously and generates torque for screwing. Torque is the twisting force applied by the tool to the fastener. The higher the torque, the more power is used when unscrewing a hard screw or bolt, while the lower the torque, the more control is provided for fine work.
It has a chuck to hold various drill bits of different sizes and shapes for drilling holes. There are two types of chucks: keyed chucks and keyless chucks. The keyed chucks are ideal for heavy-duty work, while the keyless chucks are more convenient and faster, allowing them to switch between different tasks. Nowadays, most cordless drills use a keyless chuck.
Pros & Cons of a Drill
Advantages
- Ideal for drilling precise holes in every materials and turning screws.
- Variable speed and torque to prevent over-tightening of screws.
- Compatible with all shapes and sizes of drill bits, from round to hexagonal.
- Available in both cordless and corded models.
Disadvantages
- Limited torque for heavy-duty tasks and large-diameter, long screws, especially when working with hard woods.
- Less powerful for handling large fasteners or tough materials.
- Lack of an impact device, making it ineffective for stuck or hard-to-tighten screws.
- A little bulky and heavy, making it unsuitable for use in tight spaces.
How Does a Screw Gun Work?
A screw gun, or a electric screwdriver, is especially designed for driving screws into various materials. Similar to a drill, it has a chuck, actually a collet, which is used to hold the screws and drill bits in place. However, the screw gun is poor at drilling holes. It only accepts 1/4-inch hexagonal bits.
The main purpose of a screw gun is to quickly and accurately drive screws to a set depth. It is usually equipped with a steady nose and a precision clutch, which makes it suitable for high-precision as well as high-volume screwing applications: installing drywall, laying floors, installing wall panels, etc.
Also Read: Wrench vs Screwdriver: What's the Difference?
Pros & Cons of a Screw Gun
Advantages
- The lightweight design enables easy operation, and the compact size is ideal for working in tight spaces.
- It’s more effortless, faster, and has more torque than a manual screwdriver.
- The high accuracy is perfect for delicate projects without damaging the material.
Disadvantages
- Low torque and not enough power for heavy-duty work.
- It is particularly suitable for driving screws, not a general purpose tool.
How Does an Impact Driver Work?
The impact driver is a tool designed for high-torque screwing and specializes in driving long screws and hexagonal bolts (expansion bolts) into hard materials. Its core advantage is the added instantaneous burst of impact to the continuous rotation. It only accepts 1/4-inch hexagonal bits.
Unlike a drill, the impact driver is smaller and lighter, making the job easier. It is powered by a hammering mechanism rather than electricity, which makes it a very small drain on batteries, enabling you to work with it longer. The impact driver doesn’t have a clutch, so please be careful not to screw in too deeply when working with fine materials.
Pros & Cons of an Impact Driver
Advantages
- High torque to drive hard-to-tighten screws and bolts.
- Highly powerful and ideal for working on tough materials as well as heavy-duty tasks.
- The lightweight and compact construction makes it possible to work in tight spaces.
- The impact transfers rotational force effectively, making the operation less laborious and reducing kickback.
Disadvantages
- Low precision due to the lack of a clutch for setting precision depth.
- It’s noisy, and you need ear protection.
- Limited versatility, primarily used for driving screws and nuts, not drilling holes.
When to Use a Drill vs Screw Gun vs Impact Driver?
When you are choosing the right tool for your project, we hope you understand the differences between drill vs screw gun vs impact driver. In this section, you can get some useful information. Based on it, pick one tool that suits your task.
1. Applications
- Drill: Making precise holes with different shapes and sizes of bits, and driving relatively small screws.
- Screw gun: Driving screws with accuracy and delicacy. It is good at assembling furniture or hanging window treatments.
- Impact driver: Driving fasteners like screws and bots quickly with its impact power.
2. Chuck & Clutch
- Drill: It has a chuck, allowing you to use both round-shank and hex bits, which makes it more flexible for various tasks. And the adjustable clutch lets you control the torque to prevent materials and screws from damaging and stripping.
- Screw gun: It has a collet that only accepts 1/4-inch hex shank bits.
- Impact driver: It has a collet that only accepts 1/4-inch hex shank bits. The impact driver has no clutch.
3. Torque and Speed
- Drill: It has a high speed to generate more rotational force. But the low torque limits it from handling heavy-duty tasks such as driving too large and long screws.
- Screw gun: Low torque and slow speed.
- Impact driver: High torque to work with heavy tasks efficiently and fast.
4. Versatility
- Drill: Obviously, it is the most versatile tool, as it not only accepts round-shank and hex bits for hole making, but also it can drive screws and fasteners.
- Screw gun: A screw gun is professional at driving and removing screws into different materials.
- Impact driver: An impact driver can drive large and long screws or fasteners fast by delivering torque in quick bursts.
5. Size and Weight
- Drill: The speed setting and the torque setting make a drill a little bulky and heavy.
- Screw gun: Smaller and lighter than a drill, making it more effortless to work in hard-to-reach places.
- Impact driver: Because the impact driver has no clutch, it is more compact than a drill.
6. Noise Level
- Drill: It's quiet while you're using it and doesn't make noise that affects others or yourself.
- Screw gun: Like the drill, it doesn't create much noise while working.
- Impact driver: It makes a sharp noise due to its burst of impact. When using it, you need ear protection.
FAQ About Drill vs Screw Gun vs Impact Driver
#1. Should I use a drill or impact driver for screws?
You can use a drill or impact driver for screws. However, please note that a drill carries the danger of kickback and it is only suitable for drilling and driving smaller screws. Between the two, the impact driver is a better option because of its high torque.
#2. What is the difference between a drill and a screw gun?
They are two similar tools, both can drill holes and drive screws. But, a drill is better for making holes, while a screw gun is specifically designed for driving screws. The screw gun has a nose and the drill has a chuck.
