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A lineman’s drill is easily one of the most important tools that help them make a living. Drilling hole after hole, 5 days a week, years on end. It really takes a special drill to keep up with fiber optic linework. Impact drills are quickly becoming more and more popular on lineman crews across the states. These drills are put through a lot of work on a daily basis- today I drilled about 15 holes. Give these 5 impact drills a look and see if one strikes your fancy. Below are 5 of the best impact drills for fiber optic lineman.
Best Overall: Milwaukee M18 7/16 High Torque One-Key
The boss of all the hosses. This thing eats through poles like it is it’s job 😉. A few co workers were my introduction to this impact drill and when I used it, I was amazed.
The power this thing has is just unmatched. Not even new green poles slow this guy down, not even a smidge. If you’re really looking for something that will last, is built for our work specifically, and has the power to get through any pole without any fuss- this is the drill for you.
The Milwaukee M18 has a quick-lock chuck that allows for easy and convenient bit changes. This allows the lineman to drill the hole in the pole and then easily change out the bit for the socket that tightens down square nuts and 3 bolt clamps. This means much less time cranking on your bell wrench. This drill also fits very comfortably in your hands, even with gloves on.
It weighs in at 5.85 pounds, making it one of the lighter impact drills on the list. It also has the highest torque capacity at 750 foot pounds, in comparison to other’s 500. This one is a bit more pricey, but you know you’re getting one of the best impact drills available today when you purchase the Milwaukee M18.
Best Budget: DeWalt 20v MAX XR 7/16 Impact Drill With Quick Release Chuck
Work all day on a budget. That’s what you get when you grab this Dewalt impact drill. Much like the Milwaukee M18 above, this one also has a quick release chuck for easy bit changing. However, this DeWalt drill cost about half as much!
I’ve been using DeWalt drills on this job for years and can speak to the reliability of the brand and their drills. When I found out DeWalt had an impact drill I quickly got intrigued, especially for that price.
It weighs in at 6.35 pounds and has a nice ring that is convenient for hanging it in the bucket or attaching to your climbing belt. Also, It is rated for 500 foot pounds of torque (more than enough). This drill comes with a 3 year limited warranty.
This DeWalt impact drill is a great option if you’re looking to save some money, already use DeWalt batteries, or just need something that is going to get the job done without spending a bunch of money. It’s definitely an upgrade from the DeWalt 3 speed hammer drill.
Best Runner-Up: Makita 18v LXT 7/16 Hex Impact Wrench
Many lineman claim this is their favorite impact drill and it probably is. The Makita has built a strong reputation for itself for it’s reliability, power, and good battery life. A ton of lineman use this drill and it’s the most common drill that gets purchased by companies that put in big orders.
As far as torque, this bad boy sits in between the Milwaukee and the previous mentioned DeWalt- 590 foot pounds. Also like the previous drills this Makita has a ring for easy placement within the bucket or climbing belt. This drill weighs in at a whopping 7.84 pounds, making it the heaviest drill on the list (no battery included).
This Makita definitely packs a punch and can get through whatever pole you want. However the lack of a quick release chuck, heavy weight, and lesser torque maximum ability…puts the Makita a bit below the M18 Milwaukee.
Best Under $230: DeWalt Flexbolt 20v Max Hammerdrill
The most affordable option on the list- the 3 speed 20v XR DeWalt Hammerdrill. I’ve used this quite a bit for the past year and it will get right through MOST poles. But it doesn’t have the power these impact drills do. So it WILL struggle on new poles if it doesn’t have a full battery and a relatively new drill bit.
But honestly, I’m very happy with this drill for lineman work. I’ve drilled hundreds of poles with it. However, it can get caught on knots and if you don’t have a good grip on it (especially metal poles) it can be a wrist twister. So I recommend using it with a side handle. One hand on the drill and the other hand on the side handle.
The Flexbolt Hammerdrill weighs 3.5 pounds- the lightest on the list. That’s a nice bonus, but drill weight isn’t everything. As far as torque/maximum power- we’re talking watts here…300 watts of power. Not near the power as the impact drills, but as I mentioned earlier- it does a good job on most poles.
If you’re looking for the most affordable drill that will get the job done or just a good ol backup, this is a great option.
Honorable Mention: Klein 7/16 Impact Wrench (Uses DeWalt batteries)
This Klein impact drill is very similar to the Dewalt impact we discussed earlier. It even shares the same batteries- yep Klein uses Dewalt 20v batteries. It weighs the exact same- 6.3 pounds, 500 pounds of torque, and it’s a great budget option if you’re new to impact drills.
Equipped with the quick release so you are able to upgrade your arsenal of attachments- you can slap that 3 in 1 socket in there. One downfall is the warranty- only 1 year.
Tons of lineman rave about this drill’s performance, saying it’s on par with the Milwaukee and Makita. Honestly, for nearly half the price it is a great option when trying to decide what new impact drill to purchase.
Final Words
When trying to decide on which impact drill to use day in, day out, the choice is tough, but no matter the decision they are all great options and will be able to drill through poles for your frames. Some do it better than others, some do it for a more affordable price.
If you enjoyed this impact drill article check out the hardhat article A Lineman’s First Impression: The Hard Hat.