They vary in price, use, weight, appearance and method of operation. In summary, impact drills and hammer drills vary considerably. Sometimes, though, a hammer drill would be necessary for the tough drilling involved. If expense is a factor, it should be noted that a hammer drill is more expensive than an impact driver. More recent hammer drills may have lithium ion batteries for more power. The cordless types of drills can be just as powerful as the corded drills. This should be charging while the other is in use. However, a buyer should get a second battery pack along with the cordless tool. There is never a cord in the way while the user is working. They can be used anywhere and thus are less restricting. Usually an impact driver doesn't have an adjustable clutch to prevent too much power for a small job.Ī buyer should think about purchasing a cordless hammer or impact drill instead of a corded tool.

Then a special mechanism kicks in and provides more force. It can seem like a cordless screw driver unless more power is needed. It has an adjustable clutch so that too much force is not applied.Īn impact driver goes in a rotary fashion. A hammer drill vibrates in a back and forth motion. When a person uses it, it feels like a hammer hitting very fast as it drives into the hard material. The hammer drill uses more pressure than an impact drill. The hammer drill and impact driver differ in manner of operation. It has a drill chuck which can take different types of bits and sizes. The hammer drill is heavy and large, like a small jackhammer. It may hold an adapter into which bits may be attached. It has a hexagonal socket in place of a chuck. The impact drill (driver) is shorter and stubbier. In appearance, the two drills differ dramatically. An impact driver should not be used for woodworking since extra power may kick in at any time when needed by the fastener being employed, and damage the item being handled. It can drive nails through sheetrock if needed, and it can be used in any situation that requires a regular drill. In contrast, an impact driver is used mainly for driving in fasteners like screws and nails. Some hammer drills do have a feature which allows the user to turn it back into a regular drill. A hammer drill can and usually should be used for drilling into a hard surface like brick or concrete, i.e., masonry. First, the two types of drills differ in purpose.

Hammer drill vs impact drill vs drill