mikEXpat said:
Do you think an impact driver is useful for conversion builds? Maybe it's good to have for mechanical repairs like rusted bolts or screws?
Not really. The impact driver does spin considerably faster than my drill. I have some wrist issues from using a drill for driving long screws for non van related work, when I should have had a impact driver.
Setting the clutch is not as good as the impact, and the impact needs the special quick release on drill bits/drivers whereas a drill can grab either.
The impact has a shorter head allowing one to get it in tighter places. I tend to bust it out on things which need more speed or if the bit is bound to get stuck and try and damage my wrist further. Stepped drill bits I prefer in the impact either in wood or metal. Impacts are noisy, and when this is a consideration I use the drill, wrist be damned.
Are the tools you are asking about just for the conversion itself, when away from grid/AC power. or just for anything/job, just to have?
I had been wanting a PSW inverter, the Makita charger gave me a good excuse to get one, and now it is rare I use the 800watt MSW at all as it is less efficient and noisier. Actually it is rare I use either inverter. What surprised me was the makita charger listed 250 watts. In reality the current can reach almost this much, but it is not continuous, cycling up that high and tapering to a 1/3 that about 3 times every 5 seconds. A 6 to 23 amp load for upto 12 minutes as the makita claims 15 minute charge times with new batteries.
My most recent power tool purchase was a Ridgid Jig saw. Small size and not a huge amp draw so it can run on my 400 watt PSW inverter. Good control for precise cutting, better than other jigsaws I've owned whose blade likes to kink and cut on an angle not intended, no matter how careful.
I really like having the bucket head vaccuum cleaner/ mini shop vac. So dang useful and compact. I use it on a 3 gallon bucket instead of a 5.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Head-5-gal-Wet-Dry-Vacuum-BH0100/202017218
Mine got taken apart and some fine tuning done. One gasket was not very well installed allowing some suction to bypass the hose, and i removed the 'tip over' safety valve as i am not likely to be sucking up liquids with it, and I hate it when they tip over and one has to turn them off, and back on. A good 22$ spent either way, and I can run it off of my 400 watt inverter too. Vaccumming the van interior is so much better than sweeping, or using a blower. The buckethead can also be used as a blower. Lowes sells a Shop vac brand bucket head type vaccum which is more powerful for about the same price, but this would have been more than my 400 watt inverter could power, and it is a bit taller.
One other thing I absolutely love and wish i had bought sooner was a router speed control.
http://www.amazon.com/MLCS-9400-Standard-Router-Control/dp/B001JHQ3G8
I use it on my angle grinder, belt sander, jigsaw, buckethead vaccuum, router, leaf blower, box fans. not only for just slowing down the tool, but also to decrease noise and amp draw when those are considerations. I've a little wood shop right now in a decrepit shed, butted up against a property line and I don't like making noise much after dark and the router speed controller allows me to use the belt sander or vacuum as slower speeds at night and much lower noise levels, allowing me to keep my night owl habits to some degree.
Also it could allow me to use some higher tools on the inverter at slower speeds so as to not exceed the inverter rating as I only have 800 watts inverter max and do not plan on a high wattage.
Tools with a soft start feature might not work properly with a RSC.
