Makita BTD142 - Possibly The Best Impact Drivers For Home And Professional Use

Remodeling? Have you heard about impact drivers yet? They are getting lots of praise from inside the DIY and construction circles. If you are not one of the "insiders", you may not have heard, but the word is getting out.One of the tools that has been helping to restructure the work flow in remodeling and general construction is the Makita BTD142 Cordless Impact Driver.Cordless is not new. In fact, remodelers and many construction professionals have long favored cordless tools. Extension cords are "old school." With cordless tools, you avoid the hassle of extension cord tangles and the ever-present possibility of not having one that is long enough.The cordless drill was, and is, the tool that almost everyone has. With the improvement of battery and tool technology, there is now a cordless version for virtually every type of construction tool.But it is only recently that the impact driver has been recognized by workers as an amazing alternative to the cordless drill, especially for driving fasteners.Woodworking magazines have been featuring impact drivers for a couple of years now, but it is mostly by word of mouth and trying out someone else's impact driver that the fame is spreading. Read the user reviews at Amazon and other online stores that share user comments. So many of the comments reveal that the way the buyer found out about the tool was by borrowing a friend's or coworker's tool.In most cases, the praises are as much about the surprise as about the effectiveness. Here is a case in point:"I'm a lead carpenter for a residential remodeler. I've owned 11 cordless drills over the years (currently I have 4) and this Makita is not only the best of the bunch, by far, it may be the best power tool I own. I've had it for about a month now and I've used it everyday. "And another: "After a month of use I am extremely happy with the performance and my purchase. It does an impressive job of driving screws of all types and sizes. Significantly better than anything else I have used... "The Makita BTD142 impact driver is making its presence known because there is power in this small tool.The lithium-ion battery that comes with the tool is also now the preferred battery type. In this case, it is a compact battery.First time users are always impressed with how much power there is in such a small tool. How can such a small tool deliver such power and efficiency? Technology improvements.. nuf said.Lithium-ion batteries are replacing the older nicad batteries. The lithium-ion batteries deliver more consistently because they do not have power drain as they sit on a shelf or in the van waiting to be used like the nicads do. Even if you leave the tool idle for a month, the battery will not lose power. It will be ready to go when you are.In the case of the Makita BTD142, the battery is compact. This means half the weight because the battery is half the size of a regular battery. Less weight means less fatigue when you use the tool for extended periods of time. Be aware, however, that a half-sized battery will not run for the same time as a regular one. The good news is that the compact battery charges in only 15 minutes.With the power of this 18-volt impact driver, you can drive lag bolts, long deck screws, and just about any fastening job with ease. But many guys use their tool on cars, boats, and motorcycles. It is great for removing stubborn bolts and machine screws.Do yourself a favor and borrow a friend's impact driver. You will be pleasantly surprised.