I appreciated Marc Forget’s article, “Job Site Physical Fitness,” in the July/August issue. Taking care of our bodies should be as important as putting our tools under cover when it starts raining. I believe that care includes not only exercising and resting, but also choosing tools that are gentler and easier to use. Switching to a lightweight, cordless circular saw from my old 13-pound plug-in beast, for instance, was a massive improvement. Replacing my impact driver was another.
Most carpenters are familiar with modern impact drivers. But many carpenters don’t know that there’s a quieter, gentler version, the oil-impulse driver. Several years ago, I was suffering from tennis elbow due to the repetitive strain of my work, including, I believe, using an impact driver to install floors. I did various kinds of physical therapy, then I discovered oil-impulse drivers. I bought one made by Makita, model XST01Z, and I credit it with rescuing my carpentry career.
Benefits
Rich Kramer
The author reports that the XST01Z 18-volt oil-impulse driver performs as well as the standard impact drivers most carpenters are more familiar with. He also found it quieter and easier on his body, thanks to its low transfer of energy to the operator’s wrist when in use, regardless of speed setting.
The Makita has made a tremendous difference as I work through a day. My arm does not hurt after a day of driving screws because the tool doesn’t pass the impact or vibration to my hand, and my ears get a break from the loud noise of a traditional impact driver.
Another benefit of the Makita driver is that it has three speed settings for driving screws, from delicate small screws to heavy ledger bolt fasteners. I use level 2 power for just about all my work. But if I need a super-boost for a 12-inch TimberLok, I can notch up to level 3 and get all the power I need.
For power, I use a 3-amp-hour battery, which lasts the whole day for me. If the battery runs down, that’s a sign to pack up and go home! With the 3-Ah battery, the tool is well-balanced in my hand. The built-in light has an independent on/off switch for lighting the work area and can stay on even after the trigger is released.
Be careful when researching this tool online, since a web search might bring up just a couple of sites with oil-impulse drivers and a number of others with traditional impact drivers. The price is now about $240 (bare tool) for the Makita XST01Z. Compared with taking time off for physical therapy, the price is worth it.makitatools.com
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