Dewalt Impact Driver Specs

• Dewalt is a power tool company that has made a variety of different tools since 1924. The company makes a number of different impact drivers, also known as impact wrenches, that are designed for work in different capacities from light home use to heavy duty industrial work. These drivers have many similar specifications, even though many parts range in size and strength.

Drive

• The drive determines the size of the wrench bit that can be fitted to the impact driver and also determines, to a large extent, in what capacity the tool will be used. The DC823B, for example, has a 3/8-inch square drive, which is midsized and often used in domestic and light industrial capacities. The DC823B also has a hog ring, which is a small snap connect system to help keep the bit locked to the drive. The DC845KA, by contrast, has a 1/4-inch drive with a hex shank quick release. This drive is smaller and is used for lighter domestic duties. The DC800 KL has a 1/2-inch drive size and can handle heavy duty industrial jobs without breaking or stripping the drive or socket.

Torque

• Related to drive size is the maximum amount of torque an impact driver is capable of. The amount of torque is how much force can be exerted by the machine before stripping or breaking the drive or socket. For lighter duty Dewalt impact drivers, such as the DC845KA, the maximum amount of torque is 96 lbs. Mid-range Dewalt drivers like the DC823B can stand up to 125 lbs. while the heavy duty DC800KL can stand up to 325 lbs.

Power

• Dewalt impact drivers require different levels of power according to their tasks. Smaller drive domestic models such as the DCF813S2 have a 12 V power source while the mid-range DC823B requires an 18 V battery. The DC800 KL uses a large 36 V battery to power its drive.

Impacts per Minute

• The impacts per minute (ipm) indicate how fast the impact driver can operate under ideal conditions. With Dewalt impact drivers, speed is sometimes sacrificed for power as is the case with the DC800KL, which delivers blows at up to 2,500 ipm while the lighter duty DC845KA can operate at 2,700 ipm. The DC823B also produces up to 2,700 ipm.