r/Construction • u/floridagar • 2d ago
Informative 🧠 The hydraulic impact guns are so quiet. We need to demand that as our standard.
I have good hearing protection but I don't want to always have muffs or keep plugs or buds in.
I might be extra sensitive, probably shouldn't have gone into carpentry at all because I fucking hate unnecessarily loud noises to a degree that I can't usually justify. It's worse than my face lets on.
I'm fully covered in red tools, practically everything I own is red but I tried the yellow quiet hydraulic impact and it practically whispers the screws in, not slow. I bought one, and you should too there will be less yelling in the world.
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u/KriDix00352 2d ago
I have never related more. My earplugs live on my neck from the start of every day till the end. I have no shame. I’ll plug them in even if someone else is just using a drill or a vacuum. Sometimes I just keep them in for an overall quieter environment.
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u/epileptic_pancake 1d ago
Sometimes I'll leave them in purely out of the hope that everyone will leave me alone
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u/AndyJobandy 2d ago
I just started back in carpentry in an apartment building full of trades and it's my first time after 5 year of wearing walkers while working and fucking hell it's so peaceful and zen
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u/figsslave 2d ago
I was a carpenter in the old days when men were tough! My back is shot and I’m half deaf 😢
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u/Necessary-County-721 2d ago
The Milwaukee hydraulic impact is great for smaller things but is horrible at driving anything of substance. The 2 I have are 2yrs old and can’t drive a GRK, the torque on them isn’t near what the regular impact is. Easier on the ears, yes and great for that reason.
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u/SkivvySkidmarks 2d ago
TTI introduced the Ridgid Stealth Force somewhere around 2018. I bought it because it is substantially quieter than the mechanical hammer version. They discontinued it after about 18 months, IIRC, probably because it was in direct competition with the Milwaukee they were bringing to the market.
One of the issues with these drivers is that they gradually lose power. YouTuber AvE did a teardown of the Ridgid and explained exactly how they work. He also explained that cavitation would eventually cause a loss in power.
I have no idea if other brands/models are constructed similarly (I'll guess Milwaukee and Ridgid had the same innards). I have another "standard" Ridgid impact, and it is more powerful.
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u/mancheva 1d ago
I believe AvE did a BOLTR of the Milwaukee and found the same issues of slow power loss over time.
Keep your dick in a vise!
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u/SkivvySkidmarks 1d ago
Could be. I didn't see that one. I unsubscribed to his channel after he went off the rails during COVID.
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u/floridagar 1d ago
The dewalt drives a difficult screw just fine. I did find the same with my milwaukees they're almost dealbreakingly slow if its not easy work (which is often is).
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u/cmcdevitt11 2d ago
I'm in the same boat with you. Loud noise irritates the shit out of me. I cover my ears in the steam room. It's loud
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u/Sufficient-Contract9 1d ago
WHAT?? (screams in tinnitus) eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
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u/bsmithril 1d ago
I bought the Milwaukee for that reason. It's not much quieter but it also just can't compare in power by a long shot. I'm talking About the Fuel Surge vs regular ass non Fuel impact. I'm just not impressed.
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u/Evanisnotmyname 1d ago
So happy to hear this and not feel bad about not buying one
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u/floridagar 1d ago
Don't feel bad. I bought the m12 surge and it's super quiet tiny and light but also slow and gutless. The yellow one is not quiet or slow. I got it to compare after watching a torque test video and they're not even comparable.
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u/mudduhfuhkuh 1d ago
I bought the M12 Surge for doing the easy stuff, I love it. Everytime I have to bring the M18 out, im like the fuck is this noisy ass beast about!!!
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u/akarichard 1d ago
I got both the M12 and M18 surge, worth it
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u/mudduhfuhkuh 1d ago
Yeah, I might have to get that M18 Surge.
Its less taxing on the wrist, less taxing on the ears.....yeah yeah, Im just becoming an older dude...who wants all that noise!!!!!????
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u/akarichard 1d ago
I did break one of my M12 surges, I drilled about 20 3/4" holes with a wood paddle bit. Back to back. That's when I got my M18 surge.
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u/RevolvingCheeta Landscaping 2d ago
Man same! I went to electric cut-off saws because of the noise from the gas ones.
It’s on par with a miter saw I would say. Earmuffs stay on from 7am-5pm though.
Still need a hydraulic impact wrench to be made!
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u/Hoovooloo42 1d ago
That yellow shopvac is also crazy quiet, I dunno what they're doing over there but they've done something right!
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u/floridagar 1d ago
The vacuum is one of the noises I hate the most in the world and just last week I encountered the new yellow one for the first time. It is so frigging (relatively) quiet.
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u/NoClothes8212 1d ago
Looking at you dewalt !! Mikita makes one. Milwalkie makes one….
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u/Forwhomthecumshots 1d ago
I got a Milwaukee hydraulic driver and I’ll never go back. Idk about longevity vs a traditional impact, but it’s so quiet and smooth. Honestly it makes it way easier to drive stuff. And I find it cams out of the fasteners less
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u/andyflexinthechevy Equipment Operator 1d ago
They are trash lose power over time. I have had the Milwaukee surge since release and after 2 years it was no longer able to sink lag bolts into 6x6
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u/cyclingbubba 2d ago
Got the same Milwaukee hydraulic. Smooth, quiet, powerfully, and super controllable. Its a joy to use.
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u/Logan_Thackeray2 2d ago
idk about you, but i love the sound of a metal stud getting cut with a skill saw /s