SKIL PWR CORE 20 Brushless 20-Volt 1/4" Hex Impact Driver ID573902
Quick Takes
2700 RPM no-load speed
1800 in. lbs. max torque
LED light to illuminate work area
20-Volt PWR CORE lithium-ion battery
Variable speed selection
Brushless Motor
PWR ASSIST USB charging port built into the 2.0 Ah battery (included)
Two speeds plus Control Mode
Real Talk
The SKIL PWR CORE 20 Brushless 20-Volt 1/4" Hex Impact Driver is marketed towards DIYers and prosumers, yet feels and performs like a Pro-grade tool.
Let me start off by saying that the SKIL 20-Volt brushless impact driver trades a little bit of speed for added torque, through testing done by the folks at protoolreviews.com this impact was shown to have upwards of 2,000 in. lbs. of torque while fastening hardened nuts, yet only produced roughly 300 RPM under load. Several other impact drivers have made the trade-off of speed for added torque as well, and this shouldn’t come as much of a shock when the aim with impacts is fastening power. The overall power that the SKIL impact driver packs can easily keep up with Pro-grade models, which leaves me feeling comfortable using it for the tougher jobs that impacts are typically used for.
As for weight and size, the SKIL impact driver is on par with most other prosumer/DIY brands, coming in at 2.5 lbs. bare (3.5 lbs. with battery included). Measuring in at 8” tall and 5.7'“ long, it’s larger than some of the more compact Pro-grade impacts, yet fits comfortably among it’s direct competitors.
A really great feature on this SKIL impact driver is the Control Mode. When using Control mode, the impact driver will start off with lower RPMs and increase them automatically when it senses the load increasing. This allows for much better control as you are driving your fastener and effectively eliminates cross-threading and screw cam-outs.
The included PWR JUMP charger warrants it’s own discussion. SKIL has developed their chargers to include a jump start, meaning that after only 5 minutes of charging (the included 2.0 Ah battery) you’ll have enough juice to drive in 100 more screws. Once the battery has received the jump start charge, the first of the (4) LED indicators on the battery itself will light up, letting you know you’re ready to get that last bit of work knocked out. The PWR JUMP charger can also fully charge a 2.0 Ah battery in 30 minutes, 50 minutes for a 4.0 Ah or 60 minutes for a 5.0 Ah.
Additional Features
Push-button startup
Zero engine emissions
Low maintenance
Battery level gauges are visible through the battery doors
Pricing
As of writing this, you can pick up the kit with the impact driver, a PWR JUMP charger and (1) 2.0 Ah battery included for $149.99.
What’s Missing
One-handed bit insertion. Unlike most pro-grade impact drivers you cannot simply push a bit into the SKIL impact driver’s collet, you will need two-hands in order to pull the ring outward and then insert your bit.
LED light halo from the 12-Volt models. While this impact driver does have an LED located above the battery, I would’ve liked to have seen the LED light halo make the cut.
Final Takeaways
The SKIL PWR CORE 20 Brushless 20-Volt 1/4" Hex Impact Driver is an excellent tool within it’s market class. The DIY/prosumer tools are a clear step up in both performance and build quality from homeowner level DIY tools. When you factor in the 5-year warranty on the tool, and 2-year warranty on the batteries and chargers, the SKIL PWR CORE 20 tool line-up comes in as an excellent choice.
This impact driver definitely feels more Pro-grade than DIY and seems to have the build quality to match it, all while hitting shelves at a lower price than Craftsman. If you are looking for a battery platform to use at home or in a home shop, this impact driver is a solid choice.
