What Do You Use an Impact Driver For

An impact driver is used for driving screws, bolts and other fasteners into tough materials quickly and efficiently. It is a high-torque power tool designed to handle heavy-duty fastening tasks that would be difficult or time-consuming with a standard drill. Thanks to its compact size and powerful concussive action, an impact driver is ideal for repetitive or high-resistance fixings in construction, carpentry, roofing and joinery.

How Impact Drivers Work

Unlike a regular drill, which applies constant rotational force, an impact driver delivers short, rapid bursts of torque using a hammer-and-anvil mechanism. This allows it to drive long screws into timber, tighten bolts into metal and tackle fixings that might cause a drill to stall or cam out. It is not typically used for drilling holes, though it can handle some light drilling tasks with the correct hex-shank bits.

Common On-Site Applications

Impact drivers are a staple tool on construction sites and in workshops. They are commonly used to drive long wood screws into hardwood or structural timber, secure decking boards or fencing panels, fix plasterboard to stud walls with drywall screws and install sheet materials like OSB or plywood. They are also used to drive coach bolts and lag screws in framing or roofing and to attach self-drilling screws into steel or aluminium. Their high torque makes them particularly useful when working with dense materials, long fixings or in locations where pre-drilling is impractical. Because the force is applied rotationally rather than linearly, impact drivers reduce the risk of stripping screw heads and offer greater control with less effort.

Who Uses Impact Drivers

Joiners and carpenters use impact drivers for framing, cabinet assembly, fixing panels and studwork. Roofers use them for driving screws into rafters or purlins. Electricians use them for mounting fixings into structural materials. Plumbers and heating engineers rely on them for securing brackets or fittings to walls or joists. General builders use them for decking, fencing, cladding and boarding. Shopfitters and dryliners find them invaluable for fast, repetitive screw fixing.

What Impact Drivers Are Not For

Although very powerful, an impact driver is not suitable for everything. It is not the best tool for precision drilling into timber, masonry or tiles. It is not ideal for tasks that require adjustable torque control, or for using round-shank drill bits or hole saws. It is also not recommended for driving small screws into soft materials where overdriving is a risk. In these situations, a drill driver or combi drill is usually the better option. Most tradespeople carry both tools and use each one for its specific strengths.

Conclusion

An impact driver is used for fast, efficient screwdriving and fastening, especially when working with tough materials or long fixings. It delivers high torque in short bursts, making it a key tool for carpenters, roofers, builders and other trades. While it is not suited to precise drilling or delicate tasks, it excels in heavy-duty, repetitive work where speed, power and reliability are needed.