What is an oil-impulse impact driver?
The oil-impulse impact driver utilizes oil to hydraulically drive the impact mechanism for lower noise. It has a completely different impact mechanism, similar to a vehicle clutch.
Which impulse impact driver should you buy?
Oil impulse impact drivers are best suited to tasks and workplaces where precision and low noise are more important than having maximum power. For many users, the decision on which impact driver they should buy will likely be based on the battery platform they own.
Are oil pulse impact drivers worth the noise?
After a few hours of using one it can drive you crazy. A small group of new oil pulse impact drivers have been designed to cut down on the noise by at least 50 percent, as well as reduce vibration for the operator, all while performing at the same or higher level as their standard counterparts.
How does an impact driver work?
A typical impact driver uses a spinning hammer-and-anvil mechanism to in-crease rotational torque. The more demand a fastener puts on the tool, the more torque the hammer and anvil attempt to apply by slamming together.

How do oil impulse drivers work?
An oil-pulse driver uses a different hammer-and-anvil mechanism, encased in a module containing gear oil. Rapid, pulsing movement of this fluid operates the hammer and anvil, which make contact for a longer, but slower, duration to create quieter impacts (compared to regular impact drivers).
How does a pulse driver work?
Pulse tools have an internal hydraulic clutch which detects the amount of torque the tool has delivered to each fastener. When the tool reaches a designated amount of torque, which can be adjusted based on the needs of the fastener, the clutch disengages and the tool stops.
Which impact driver is the quietest?
Quietest Hydraulic Impact Driver At $179 for the kit, the Milwaukee M12 FUEL Surge makes for a relatively powerful, but quiet impact tool. Editor's Note: Check out our Milwaukee M12 Fuel impact vs M12 Surge article to see how these tools compare.
Are impact drivers better than drills?
The impact driver is much stronger than a drill in terms of the way it can deliver that extra torque to break loose stuck bolts and screws or drive them deeper into the material.
What is oil pulse tool?
Oil Pulse tools uses quick rapid pulses that allow for much higher torque values with little to no twist on the operator's wrist reducing fatigue on the operator. Our Oil Pulse tools have a low torque range of 4 ft –lbs to a high torque range of 118 ft-lbs.
What is an advantage of pulse tools?
One of the key benefits of a pulse tool is the high power-to-weight ratio and lack of reaction forces which enables it to be easily applied, whereas using a direct driven tool would require assist arms or reaction devices.
How do I choose an impact driver?
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Impact DriverCorded vs. Cordless. ... Torque and Speed. Torque is the amount of “twisting power” an impact driver offers. ... Voltage. Voltage indicates the energy output of an impact driver. ... Brushed vs. Brushless Motor. ... Size and Weight. ... Batteries. ... Safety. ... Additional Features.More items...•
What impact driver has the most torque?
Our top pick is the DEWALT 20V Max XR Lithium-Ion Cordless Impact Wrench because it has 700 ft-lb of maximum fastening torque, 1,200 ft-lb of nut-busting torque, and a brushless motor that will extend its life.
How do I make my impact gun quieter?
10 Ways to Make Air Tools QuieterInstall Rubber Grommet on the Air Compressor Motor. ... Install a Muffler on the Compressors Intake. ... Bring the Intake Component Outside. ... Buy a Quieter Air Compressor. ... Buy Quiet Air Tools. ... Placing the Air Tool in a Soundproof Enclosure. ... Wearing Earplugs. ... Soundproof Blankets Over the Air Tools.More items...
When should you not use an impact driver?
Hardwoods. Take this one with a grain of salt, but you'll want to use caution when using an impact driver in hardwoods like oak, maple, or birch. As impact drivers generate a ton of torque, they're more likely to break the head of a screw when it's driven into these harder materials.
Is it OK to use an impact driver as a drill?
As the name suggests, these tools are built for driving but can be used to drill in a pinch. Impact drivers are for driving fasteners, not drilling holes. However, in a pinch, if you have the proper bit, you can drill a hole in light-gauge steel or softwood with a standard hex-shank drill bit.
Why do I need a drill if I have an impact driver?
Impact drivers are not designed to drill holes and they can't take all of the accessories that a cordless drill can. However, if you need to drive a lot of screws – especially screws that are either thick or long – a cordless impact driver is going to outperform a cordless drill every time.
What is a Ryobi driver?
The RYOBI® 18V ONE+™ Impact Driver delivers more innovation, features and power than ever before. The variable speed trigger assists in screw start up, allowing the unique impact mechanism to drive the longest deck screws or largest lag screws with ease by delivering more than 1,600 in lbs. of torque.
What does declined on driver pulse mean?
If a company shows you in a status of 'Declined', it means that for whatever reason they had to pass on your application at this time. It could be for any number of reasons, and doesn't mean no, it just means not right now. Keep searching!
What is an oil impulse driver?
They are intended to drive small to medium sized fasteners, like small sheet metal screws and up to 3″ decking screws. The big advantage to these tools is that they are significantly quieter than a traditional impact driver, making them better suited for use in occupied spaces and safer for the user’s hearing. Currently there are only a handful of oil impulse or hydraulic impulse drivers on the market.
Why Buy An Oil Pulse Impact Driver?
Oil pulse impact drivers offer reduced noise. Hearing loss impairs quality of life and increases the risk of injury. Every year, thousands of construction workers suffer hearing loss from excessive noise exposure on the job.
How quiet is a Makita impact driver?
The defining feature of these oil pulse impact drivers is how quiet it is compared to impact tools. Makita averaged 90.5 dB across all three tests. RIDGID was 90.9 and Milwaukee was 94.7 dB.
What is impact driver?
A common use for impact drivers is to drive fasteners into construction grade lumber. We simulated this condition by driving six (6) 3” GRK construction screws into two layers of spruce 2 x 6 lumber. We attached the two pieces together and clamped the assembly to a solid workbench. We drove six (6) of the GRK screws into the surface and timed the results. In addition, we placed our decibel meter to within 12 inches of the work area and recorded the peak sound energy.
How does an impact driver work?
Regular impact drivers create their force through a spinning anvil and hammer mechanism. The hammer mechanism compresses a spring, when released, the energy drives the hammer down while simultaneously twisting it. This concussive force is what makes an impact driver a go-to tool for fast fastener installation. The loud chattering noise that they make, is created by the metal to metal parts slamming against each other. This type of mechanism also creates vibration.
What size impact driver for small to medium sized screws?
Research shows that 90% of impact driver fastening in most trades is for screws and small to medium lags – 6 to 8 inches long. Users who perform hard joint fastening like lug nuts or 6” Victaulic flanges on water pipe and sprinkler assemblies, would be better served with an impact wrench.
First Impressions
Even though the Makita Oil-Impulse Impact Driver weighs slightly less than the XDT09 Impact Driver, it is longer by 11/16″. Other than the “Soft Impact” printed on the side, you really can’t tell a difference between the driver styles. Even slapping a battery in the slot and turning it on doesn’t make that much of an impression.
Makita Oil-Impulse Impact Driver Performance and Noise Testing
If you saw our best cordless drill article, prepare yourself for an equally epic rundown of current 18V impact drivers in the coming days. With that on the horizon, I decided to use Makita’s XDT09 Impact Driver and the new Makita XST01 Oil-Impulse to make a run through several different tests based on real-world applications.
What To Make of the Results
Don’t assume that Makita’s Oil-Impulse is a direct impact driver replacement at the top of the performance charts – that’s not what it was designed to be. This tool is optimized for screw driving in ways that might not be obvious.
What is oil-pulse driver?
An oil-pulse driver uses a different hammer-and-anvil mechanism, encased in a module containing gear oil. Rapid, pulsing movement of this fluid operates the hammer and anvil, which make contact for a longer, but slower, duration to create quieter impacts (compared to regular impact drivers). And manufacturers tell us this "cushioned-impact" system helps prolong tool life.
How many speed settings does the Makita oil impulse have?
Makita's Oil Impulse driver has four speed settings, a battery-charge gauge, and an on/off switch for the LED, all electronically operated.
What is impact driver?
A typical impact driver uses a spinning hammer-and-anvil mechanism to in-crease rotational torque. (See illustration below .) The more demand a fastener puts on the tool, the more torque the hammer and anvil attempt to apply by slamming together. It's this metal-on-metal action that creates the loud noise and vibration.
How much less noise does an oil pump make?
The oil-pulse drivers consistently created 5–8 fewer decibels of noise in our testing, compared to the traditional impact. That's a noise level one-half to one-quarter that of traditional drivers. Compound that noise reduction over a day or more, and you'll greatly appreciate these new tools.
Can impact drivers drive screws?
I f you've ever used an impact driver to drive screws, you have an appreciation for its tremendous torque, typically 3–4 times more than a comparable drill/driver. Impacters tend to be lighter and smaller than drill/drivers—more reasons to love them. But their loud clattering noise can drive you crazy, especially when working in tight surroundings, such as when hanging wall cabinets or installing a countertop onto a base cabinet. But now there's a quieter alternative: oil-pulse impact drivers.
Do oil impulse drivers vibrate?
In addition, oil-impulse drivers vibrate noticeably less than traditional impacts. Even after driving a few dozen fasteners, we experienced none of the hand and arm tingling that normally results from using a traditional impact driver. The Ridgid driver, like the others, did not show excessive vibration, but under heavy load tended to wobble significantly.
Makita Oil-Impulse vs Ridgid Stealth Force: Design
When you look at the way these tools are being advertised, it gives you an idea of what the product managers were hoping to accomplish. Ridgid boasts up to 50% reduced noise and 50% faster driving speeds. Makita, on the other hand, is claiming up 30% reduced noise.
Makita Oil-Impulse vs Ridgid Stealth Force: Performance
Real-world performance is where the rubber meets the road and these tools depart in completely different directions.
Final Thoughts
The Makita oil-impulse driver is a screw driving specialist that drops the noise level down significantly. It has both outstanding ergonomics and a softer impact you can feel while driving. It’s not meant to replace your 18V impact driver – it’s your go-to screwdriver when you need to keep the noise down around offices, apartments, and schools.
How fast is the Stealth Force Impact Driver?
At three pounds without battery, the Ridgid is the heaviest of the tools, but it spins at max speed of 2400 rpm. The kit includes the tool, two batteries, and a charger for $179.
How much is a Ryobi pulse driver?
The least expensive of the group, the Ryobi Quiet Strike pulse driver is $99 for the tool only, and a great addition to your Ryobi One+ collection. This tool is sufficient for light duty jobs around the house, but you wouldn't want to use it for building a deck.
How much is a Milwaukee tool surge?
It's $149 for tool only, and $249 for the kit.
