Please give me a hand with my choices.

I have an opportunity to pick up a "free" tool from DeWALT. Either a 1/2" 18V electric impact wrench DW059, or a 18V screwgun DC520. Which would be better and why?

I already have two 1/2" pneumatic impact wrenches which work very well and enuf hose to reach anywhere around the house without problems. I also have an 18V 1/2" hammer drill DC925. I also have a small 18V electric impact DW056 and a 3/8" pneumatic ratchet. I have never used a screwgun but they look very nice to use and I have a bunch of sheetrock to hang and a small 8x14' deck to build.

 

well, i think you already answered your own question. you already have 3 impacts, and have a bunch of sheetrock to hand, and a deck to build, so the screwgun is a must have.

 

That 3/8" Impact will make a mess out of that sheetrock!

 

The screwgun will be much handier. I am thoroughly unimpressed with DeWalt's plug-in electric impacts, so I'd pass on the cordless version.

 

Unfortunately, I use my screw gun far more than my impact wrench. Hence my vote.

 

Thanks guys, so far it is 5:1 for the screwgun.

 

Hands down...get the screwgun. I borrowed my uncle's milwaukee to help with a deck for a buddy, and it did an excellent job!

 

another vote for screw gun.

 

I went with the impact cause I'm not seeing how that "screwgun" is much different from a cordless drill.

I've used this "screw gun" for all sorts of deck, drywall, and subfloor projects and its BADASS http://www.shop.com/op/~Senco_1R0004...9?sourceid=298

 

A screwgun is pretty much a cordless drill, except they often have a clutch so you don't strip the screwhead with the driving bit. Some drills have this feature as well however.

For larger projects, multiple screwguns are great. One with a drill bit, one with a screw bit (usually phillips for decking and drywall), and another with a dremel sheetrock cutting bit. Good for zipping out outlet holes if you're not into using a small hand saw.

 

As I understand it the screwgun has a automatic clutch that sets the depth of the head so you can drive full bore without stopping or worrying about not getting the screw deep enuf or too deep.

With a regular cordless drill it is a guessing game and if you stop too short sometimes the screw is next to impossible to get turning again without stripping it or busting off the head. If you drive too deep sometimes the head busts off or strips out anyway.

 

There are screw-guns for flooring/decking that do depth control. There are similar, but different ones that are for dry-wall. These are special-purpose.

I vote for a cordless drill that has two mechanical speeds, vari-speed trigger, switch-reverse, AND the clutch that is adjustable from drill (no slip) to small screws. (Avoids breaking those small or cheap screws.)

I use my little ten-year-old 9.6 volt DeWalt ALL THE TIME. More than any other single tool. I am sometimes jealous of the big guys, but when you are drilling/driving on a ladder at arm's length, the little guy is a lot easier to handle.

 

I only have the aforementioned choices.

I already have an 18V 1/2" hammer drill DeWALT #DC925 with torque control and 3 speeds.

I have an old 12V cordless drill with two speeds and torque control but the batteries are shot and they cost $90 each for new ones. I have thought about getting new sub-C cells for them and reworking them but I have not got a Round Tuit yet.

 

A few years back, I bought a new pair of metal-hydride (I think) batteries from an eBay store for a much more reasonable price than the horrible retail prices. I also have considering "building my own". These old light-weights are worth re-juvenating, in my opinion.

Sorry not to have understood your limited selection. I recently borrowed a friend's depth stop driver and it was not satisfactory for driving sub-floor screws as it was designed for soft-wood decking and would not work properly for my application. because of this I'd change my vote for the impact, because it would be useful for quick jobs where dragging a hose around would be a pain (outside the shop or when away from home).

 

This is the screwgun in question:
http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/to...productID=9194

This is the impact:
http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/to...productID=6347