The other day Porter Cable sent over a press release discussing their new PCC842L 8V Max cordless Li-ion-powered impact driver. It looks very similar to the Black & Decker 8V impact driver ($50 via Amazon) that came out a few months ago, and is similarly featured as well.
Features at a Glance
- 0-2200 RPM
- 125 in-lbs max torque
- 1/4″ hex chuck
- Battery indicator light
- Non-removal built-in Li-ion battery
- LED worklight
- $50
Who Should Buy This?
Porter Cable engineers designed the new impact driver for tradesmen who are looking for a compact and lightweight driver for smaller fastening applications.
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This is the tool for professional users who wouldn’t use the power of 12V or 18V-class cordless impacts to their full potential. It allows them to get the job done with less weight and bulk to carry around.
Who Shouldn’t Buy This?
Porter Cable has not mentioned charging time yet, but in my experience tools with built-in batteries typically charge in 4-8 hours. Sometimes an overnight charge is recommended. If you’re the kind of user that might fully drain the battery in a single workday, this isn’t the tool for you.
As you can tell from the torque specification, this tool is meant for use on smaller fasteners. If you think it will drive in large or long fasteners just because it’s an impact driver, think again.
What We Think
I’m on the fence as to whether I think this is going to be a good tool or not. On one hand, Porter Cable has produced some pretty good tools recently, and so I’m not at all worried about the driver’s quality. On the other hand, is there really a market out there for low-torque impact drivers?
One of the benefits of impact drivers is that they deliver non-reactionary torque. If a bit binds or jams, the driver won’t wrench your wrist. But at low torques, it seems this won’t make much of a difference compared to a similarly powered conventional drill/driver.
What I was really hoping for was an 8V Max tool that works with Dewalt’s 8V Max battery packs. Right now Dewalt’s 8V lineup includes their gyroscopic 2-position handle screwdriver, two new straight-handled gyro screwdrivers, and an LED flashlight.
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Mac Tools’ new cordless drills, drivers, and impact wrenches are powered by Dewalt batteries, and I was hoping that would be a precedent for what was to come.
I also wish that the new impact driver could be charged via USB cable. I am sure Porter Cable had good reason to build it with a barrel connector, probably because USB is fixed at 5V and the 8V Max battery might need to be charged at 9V or even 12V. I regularly misplace small AC chargers and have really come to appreciate the ease at which USB-compatible devices can be charged.
All that said, I think the new impact driver – or impact screwdriver as Porter Cable describes it – has potential. It will be interesting to see what tradesman, techs, and even DIYers think about it.
At $50, the new driver is reasonably inexpensive and might nicely complement larger 12V and 18V-class drills.
Coming Soon(via Amazon)
ETA: April 2014
The new driver kit will be available at Lowes, and we found an early product page for it over at Amazon.
As with other “8V Max” power tools, the nominal battery voltage is 7.2V.
LS9
125 In-lbs? That’s about 10 ft lbs. The whole point of an impact driver is to produce huge amounts of torque in a compact package. The $50 price point is nice, but for another $40-50 I can buy a 12v compact impact driver and get 7-10 times the torque and the option of removable batteries. I like the way it looks, but this thing is just too weak and inflexible to consider for me.
But its me!
Sorry, looks like a toy to me. Fixed 8V battery and low torque (as one would expect from 8V) makes for a seriously hobbled driver. At first glance, I thought this might be a good tool to send to my mother, for the light stuff she does around her house, but think I will pass, especialy at $50. I expect to see these on the markdown section rather quickly.
Robert
I’m not sure this is intended to be a low power impact driver as such. That may sound strange, but this makes sense from a different angle. If you consider the torque of this driver compared to most standard screwdrivers of similar voltages, this is substantially better. I could see the use of an impact function as a smart way to compensate for lower torque ratings that are associated with lighter and lower voltage pocket screwdrivers. While this is a low torque impact driver, it would be an exceptionally powered pocket screwdriver. The torque is far superior to something like a Skil or even an 8v DeWalt screwdriver.
From that vantage point, it’s kind of like putting a turbo charger on a 4 cylinder engine. With the exception of the obvious differences like the bit cartridge on a Skil Quick Select or similar driver, the torque on this tool would far surpass that. For $50.00, I think this would be a cheap and handy lightweight item. It would probably be a lot more capable for typical screw driving than a comparable self-contained Skil, Bosch, or similar driver. If I had lower usage demands without the need for interchangeable batteries, this would exceed the bill for a lot of typical screw driving tasks. Sight unseen, I would probably choose this before a Skil Quick Select.
Larson
Really liked the size and idea! Power is a letdown though. With 12v topping the 1,000 in lbs I’d think they could do at least 500.
Jason
This would be extremely useful for hvac service techs. Every service call requires the removal of at least 4 and sometimes as much as 12-16 5/16 and 1/4 screws, the fastener of choice for condensers and most furnaces/air handlers. Sometimes the condensing units are placed too close to the home and a standard 18v or nut driver do not fit, this could come in handy in those cases as well.
At $50 I don’t see it overtaking the 12v driver any time soon though.
Jerry
I was thinking HVAC or sheet metal techs as well. If you have used a high powered impact on those little sheet metal screws often associated with ductwork, or the little screws they often use to secure access covers, you would want a reduced power tool. No torque reaction for screws that need a bit of convincing to break loose (10 ft lb may not seem like much, but the torque reaction to that much torque in a one handed tool repeatedly while in an awkward position would get tiresome) combined with a limited peak torque (a high powered impact would too easily strip those small screws) and extended bit life from not being subjected to such intense hammering forces all add up to what seems like a very nice niche tool. I know some will lament it needs more power, but reduced power impacts have their place. I know mechanics who use impact drivers in instances where their air impact wrench risks twisting off small fasteners. This would be just another step down from that. If PC made a mistake with this tool, it might be not having removable battery packs. This may not be an issue, if the battery recharges in an hour or less (plug it in over lunch to recharge) or if it has sufficient charge to last the day, but no one will be happy with a cordless tool that runs down in the middle of the day, and takes 4+ hours to charge.
Thinking about the charging, i wonder if a charger that plugs into a cigarette lighter in a viechle would be a good idea for a tool like this?
Stuart
What I’m thinking is that 1) the cost of a replaceable battery system would have been too high, and 2) there is the potential for Dewalt to come out with an 8V Max impact driver of their own.
1) Porter Cable does not have an 8V Max platform. Even if they took the Dewalt battery and charger and slapped Porter Cable branding and colors onto them, there would be added parts costs and production setup costs.
At $50, the driver will have strong appeal with certain users. At $80 or more, that appeal all but vanishes.
2) There is room in Dewalt’s 8V Max lineup for a similar tool. If such a tool design is adapted and released, having distinction between a Porter Cable tool with built-in battery and a Dewalt tool with removable battery would be better than if both tools were similar in design and price.
Jerry
Makes sense. I guess it depends on what niche The parent company wants each brand to take. I can see them wanting DW to be the premium tool, and maybe are testing the waters on the popularity of a sub compact Impact driver with reduced power output.
joe
I’m waiting for dewalt to come out with brushless 12vmax drill/impact/screw drivers. Those things would be really small in size compared to them right now since from looking at their old brushed vs their new brushless, their lengths have been reduce dramatically.
Just look at the new DCD720 18V brushless drill VS the DCD710 12V with a can brushed motor. The 18V body is shorter than the 12V max’s.
If I measure them:
18V 71/8”
12V 71/2”
If I compare length on my DCF815 12V max impact VS my brushless DCF895 18V impact:
18V 51/8”
12V 61/8”
My screwdriver DCF610 12V measures 61/4”.
I believe the cause of the length for the 12V max line is due to the caned motor. Although they still feel tiny in the hand due to being skinny, with a brushless motor, they would be even smaller.
joe
Typo, DCD720 should be DCD790
joe
To emphasize a little further 🙂 the caned motor terminals alone ads 1/2” of length.
Take a look at the guts of the DCD710
http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/power-tool-forum/index.php?/topic/2563-a-look-inside-the-dewalt-dcd710-12v-lithium-ion-drilldriver/
cody Robertson
Hey Stuart I just saw at Lowes that Kobalt has a new 12 volt max line power tools. And their new 40 volt lawn and garden tools are already available at the store.
Stuart
Thanks, I’ll check it out!
Richard Allen
I have this drill driver and has never let me down in my shop. I do wood crafts and assemble a lot of my crafts with wood screws which this drill does easily. Just now, after 3 years, I am having trouble with the trigger on it. I contacted Lowes to see if I could replace it with a new one, since I have a extended warranty on it and they tell me they no longer carry it? But can send it to be repaired. That’s what I am doing and hope they can fix it because I love it . Best small cordless screwdriver/drill driver I have ever had!
freon
Richard,
Let me know how it goes with the repair…i bought mine in 2014 and use the hell out of it in my hvac work! Its really great for its size and weight…also fits in one of my tool bag pockets!…its gone out now after 5+ years