There are times when corded tools are the best option, especially when you need unlimited power to finish a lot of tasks throughout the day. For that, the Makita 6952 2.3 Amp Corded Impact Driver is a powerful tool that can help you out.
I reviewed this impact driver below to let you know about its pros and cons, as well as specifications for you to decide whether to buy it or not.
Makita 6952 2.3 Amp Corded Impact Driver
As a corded impact driver, the Makita 6952 is built for deck projects, plumbing, electrical work, and similar DIY and repair jobs around the house. It has a decent balance of weight and power.
Specifications
Bearing a 2.3-amp motor, this impact driver has a max torque of 1,062 inch-pounds. It also features a variable speed trigger of up to 3,200 RPM of speed and 3,100 BPM of impact. With a total length of 9 inches, the compact unit weighs 2.9 pounds.
Quality
This impact driver is backed by a 1-year warranty. To keep it durable, it is made with a cast aluminum gear housing that can withstand job site abuse or even simple home and garage usage.
Usability
Among the usability features that I like in this impact driver is the ergonomic handle that’s easy to grip with gloves or if you have sweaty hands. This will help to reduce user fatigue in the long run. I also like that the reverse switch is conveniently located near the trigger for effortless one-handed operation.
For easy maintenance, it has externally-accessible brushes when they need to be replaced. What’s more, changing bits will be a breeze due to the 1/4-inch hex bit shank design.
Should You Buy the Makita 6952 Corded Impact Driver?
You will find the Makita 6952 useful if your main forte is simple household repairs and renovation, such as plumbing, electrical installations, deck building, and the like. While it doesn’t have as much torque as other impact drivers, it offers unlimited power on demand.
Nonetheless, if you are still unsure about the decision, go through the below list of the pros and cons of the tool.
Pros of the Makita 6952
Let’s start with the positives.
It has a high no-load speed.
At 3,200 RPM, this corded impact driver is considerably high-speed as compared to cordless units. The most common impact drivers out there have about 2,700 to 3,200 RPM of speed so this makes it at the top of the standards.
Most of the time, it pays to have a higher speed for an impact driver, especially if you want to finish your job quickly or have difficult or stubborn materials to work with. Take note that the speed in RPM is different from the impact in BPM, which is typically higher in value than an impact driver’s speed.
A plus point that I like about this corded impact driver is that it has a variable speed trigger. This will be helpful if you want to work with different kinds of materials and want to avoid ruining them due to excessive speed. As well, you don’t want to waste time or overwork your motor, so it pays to have a high no-load speed coupled with a durable motor at the same time.
It allows for easy one-handed operation.
Thanks to the strategic location of the reverse switch near the trigger, it allows for easy one-handed usage when your hands are full.
It’s convenient and user-friendly design such as the trigger and the reverse button, will help you complete your tasks quickly, especially when your hands are full. Whether you’re handling the impact driver underneath the car or going up a ladder, a one-handed operation is the most likely scenario, and having features that allow you to do that will help in terms of convenience and safety.
The impact driver is not that heavy.
At 2.9 pounds, the impact driver is on the lighter side. Having a lightweight tool like this one will help to decrease or even prevent user fatigue during overhead projects.
It’s made with impact-resistant aluminum housing.
The durability of the aluminum housing makes the impact driver resistant to job site abuse and accidental drops.
Cons of the Makita 6952
Even though the Makita 6952 is a great tool, there are a few cons worth noting as well.
The motor isn’t brushless.
If you are looking for a brushless motor, unfortunately, this is not the corded impact driver for you.
The torque is not that strong.
With only 1,062 inch-pounds of max torque, it is not exactly as powerful as the other impact drivers of a similar class.
What Are the Alternatives to the Makita 6952?
If you didn’t find the Makita 6952 ideal for your needs, there are many alternatives I’d suggest:
The Milwaukee M18 2850-20 is a decent choice if you prefer a brushless motor instead of traditional carbon brushes. It also bears a similar compact design and has up to 3,200 RPM of speed, which is similar to the Makita tool I mentioned above. Moreover, this Milwaukee impact driver has a higher max torque of 1,600 inch-pounds. This would be a great alternative if you want to add more power.
Also made with a 1/4-inch hex shank for easy bit changes, the Ryobi P237 has a three-speed gearbox that has up to 3,200 BPM of impact. It has a convenient LED lighting system for illuminating your work area, as well as a magnetic bit holder for bits and fasteners to help you when working in precarious positions where a tool holder is unreachable.
Made with a slightly higher torque of 1,240 inch-pounds (just 200 above the Makita impact driver I mentioned), the Metabo HTP WH18DDX has a speed of up to 3,200 and up to 4,000 BPM of impact. This makes it quite powerful and at par with the Makita 6932 impact driver. Since it only measures 5.3 inches, it is compact while the 1.8-pound base weight makes it comfortable to handle (it also only weighs 2.6 pounds with a 1.5-Ah battery, which is still lightweight).
Finally, you might also want to check out my article listing the best impact drivers on the market overall as well as the best ones made by Makita.
Summary
In the long run, the Makita 6952 is a corded impact driver that will help you out in most home DIY repairs. The housing is built just right to remain durable job after job, and it has a good weight. Although the impact driver is not as high in torque as others of its class, it will do the job for basic tasks. I hope that you found this review helpful!