Impact drivers are a hot item because they make driving screws almost effortless and their amazing run time means you can work all day without running out of juice. But an impact driver won’t replace your conventional cordless drill. The hex-shanked bit holders don’t accept traditional drill bits without an accessory chuck and the impacting action—which kicks in when the tool encounters sufficient resistance— makes for slow drilling in hardwood. Recently, engineers have been able to pack driving and drilling modes into a single tool.
The Bosch 26618 do-it-all has as 18-volt lithium-ion batteries for less weight and a longer run time. At 4.3-lb. the Bosch is about the same size and weight as a large 18-volt cordless drill. A simple switch on the top of the Bosch housing allows you to select between one impact mode and two drilling modes. Even though the Bosch performed well in all of our tests, I think furniture makers would be better served by a two-tool kit. The Bosch has a higher price point than comparative two-tool kits, but it performs well and its do-it-all convenience would likely make it a great tool for home remodeling and repair.

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