Collection: Drills & Wrenches

Drills and drivers are the most-used power tools in most sheds, and the differences between them matter. A drill driver bores holes and drives screws; an impact driver delivers rotational hammering for long screws; an impact wrench loosens tight nuts and bolts. They look similar but do different jobs. Work out which jobs you actually do, since one tool rarely covers everything well.

Drill, impact driver or impact wrench?

Three similar-looking tools with distinct purposes:

• Drill driver: a keyless chuck taking round and hex bits, with a clutch to control screw depth. The general-purpose choice for holes and screws.
• Impact driver: adds rotational hammering for driving long screws and fasteners without stalling or camming out. Takes hex bits only.
• Impact wrench (rattle gun): far more torque with a square drive for sockets, built for wheel nuts and tight bolts.
• Hammer drill: adds forward hammering to drill into masonry and concrete.

What is torque and how much do you need?

Torque is rotational force, usually quoted in newton metres, and it determines what a tool can drive or undo. For general drilling and screwing, a moderate figure is plenty and more torque mostly adds weight and cost. For driving long structural screws, an impact driver's higher torque prevents stalling. For wheel nuts, an impact wrench needs substantially more again, and it's worth checking the figure against your vehicle's wheel nut torque specification. Note that undoing a seized nut takes far more torque than tightening it, so allow margin.

How do you use these tools safely?

The main hazard with high-torque tools is the tool twisting in your hands if the bit binds, which can wrench your wrist or throw the tool. Hold the tool firmly with both hands where a side handle is provided, and be ready for it to kick. Use the clutch on a drill driver to stop over-driving screws. Wear eye protection, since bits break and debris flies. Avoid gloves and loose sleeves near the chuck, which can catch and wrap. When retorquing wheel nuts, finish with a torque wrench rather than an impact wrench, since impact tools over-tighten easily.

Common questions

Do I need a drill and an impact driver?
They do different jobs — a drill bores holes and controls screw depth with a clutch; an impact driver drives long screws without stalling. Many people own both, often as a combo kit.

What is an impact wrench for?
High-torque work with sockets, mainly wheel nuts and tight bolts. It's far more powerful than an impact driver and uses a square drive rather than hex bits.

Can I tighten wheel nuts with an impact wrench?
Use it to remove them, but finish tightening with a torque wrench to your vehicle's specification. Impact wrenches over-tighten easily, which can damage studs and warp discs.

What is a hammer drill for?
Drilling into masonry, brick and concrete. It adds a forward hammering action to the rotation, which a standard drill lacks and which is needed to penetrate hard materials.

Can I pay for drills with Afterpay?
Yes. You can split it with Afterpay, Zip, Klarna or PayPal Pay in 4. Our drills and wrenches start from $40, which is four fortnightly payments of $10.

Complete your workshop

Drills work with the rest of your kit. Add power tools, sanders, and an air compressor.

A $40 cordless drill splits into four fortnightly payments of $10.0 with Afterpay, and Zip, Klarna and PayPal Pay in 4 do the same. Every order ships from our Australian warehouse, dispatched within 1–2 business days, with a 12-month warranty and 30 days to return it. We're a family-run Australian store, going since 2016, rated 4.66 out of 5 across 5,363 reviews.