caveat: i had a few minutes of buyers remorse when i first used it as it is QUITE loud.. make no mistake when this is working your house is 'under construction'.. however you do get quite used to it, it's definiately worse as a bystander.

I would rate it 4 1/2 stars for the one major problem: non standard chuck... argh on panasonic.. why why why? the solution to fix it is to put a slug of 1/4 hex cut off an old bit shank into the chuck or perhaps a couple #4 hex nuts (if that's what is 1/4"). .makes for easier removal if necessary... anyhow they did it so the double-headed bit that comes with fits nicer but makes NORMAL quick bits jam... and i have yet to find any bits whatsover including from panasonic that match the groove for the double headed quick bit that comes with.

The charger that comes with is awesome because it works up to 18V batts... i can bring one charger and all my tools someplace and can charge my drill, my impact or my saw no need for 3 chargers.

Until the torque load gets high enough it operates just like a drill, so small bits and small screws work great just like your drill and pretty much silent.

I'm thrilled with the driver it's possibly my favorite tool.. too bad it needs a hack to fix it, but with the fix it's flawless.

12 of 13 found the following review helpful:

great first generation  Jan 22, 2005
By ibuyer
I've used this impact screwdriver for a year and a half daily. So it's tough enough. It drives big screws like butter. Amazing! It drives Phillips as nicely as Robertson without stripping, also amazing. It is very short, so it easily fits between joists. The NiMh batteries are better than NiCd: they carry more power for their weight, are less finicky about charging technique, stay charged longer when unused, and charge rapidly.

cons: Bits always get stuck in the hex chuck, requiring Visegrips to get them out. But I generally use a guide sleeve. Phillips bits sometimes shatter. Robertson bits sometimes jump out of the screwhead since virtually no force is needed to drive the screw. It is single-speed, so you have to be careful as the head sinks into the wood or sheetrock. Also, it's very very loud, requiring hearing protection.

My other impact screwdriver is a Makita. That version has external ports for the motor brushes, and a built-in worklight. But it's hex chuck jams just the same.

11 of 13 found the following review helpful:

Excellent Screw Driver  Jan 05, 2005
By Serge Kavetsky "Mr. Fix-it"
I guess everyone has already echoed my thoughts about this great product. Yes, it does drive large screws into hard wood, without stripping the heads or breaking the screws. It requires a lot less effort, so you don't get as tired at the end of the day. And yes it will be your most favorite tool of all.

There are however some shortcomings that should be mentioned. First, it works best with a full battery. By the time the battery is half discharged, it will no longer drive large screws. The work around to this problem is to invest in a couple of Panasonic 12V 3.5Ah NiMH Batteries. These babies provide plenty of long lasting power. The other is the bit holder. The bits get stuck inside and are difficult to remove. The work around is to get a MagZilla Mag Bit Holder from www.mcfeelys.com for $10 and leave it in permanently. This bit holder will accept any kind of 1/4 bit you insert into it (short or long etc.) and hold it securely, yet releases it easily. With a setup like this, you have a tool that is truly rated at five stars.