Panasonic has come out with a new cordless multi impact and drill driver that combines three tools in one. The new impact and drill driver, model EY7549X, is sold as a bare tool and is designed to work with Panasonic’s 14.4V Li-ion or Li-Ni battery packs.
A dual mode switching design allows for quick changes from impact mode, for driving screws and fasteners, to drill mode, for conventional drilling and more precise driving with a 21 stage adjustable clutch.
Advertisement
The keyless chuck can be removed quickly with one touch.
Features
One tool can fit the place of three – a 2-speed variable speed drill, 1/4″ hex quick change impact driver, and 1/2″ square drive impact wrench.
- One-touch keyless chuck release
- Quick-toggle impact and drill selection switch
- Up to 1327 in-lbs torque (impact mode)
- 0-2300 rpm, 0-3200 ipm (impact mode)
- Up to 230 in-lbs (drill mode)
- 60-380/180-1200 rpm (drill mode)
- Weighs 4.5 lbs with battery
- Drills up to 120 1-3/16″ holes in standard 2″x4″ material with single battery charge
- Installs 450 5/32″ x 1/2″ self-drilling screws on single charge in impact mode
- Cushioned grip
- Variable speed trigger
- Built-in LED worklight with automatic shut-off timer
- Rated to IP56 waterproof and dustproof standards
- Works with Panasonic’s new 4.2Ah 14.4V Lithium-Nickel battery pack for extended runtime
MSRP: $283
First Impression
My first instinct is to look at the voltage and remark about how 14.4V seems so last decade. But to be fair, that seems perfect for a tool like this, as it keeps size down a little. Panasonic does offer a couple of dual voltage tools that can work with 14.4V or 18V batteries, but this isn’t one of them.
Looking at how much the tool weighs when equipped with different chucks, it becomes obvious how the tool works. It weighs 4.07 lbs with the 1/2″ square drive, 4.30 lbs with the quick change chuck, and 4.52 lbs with the included 1/2″ keyless chuck. So, the standard configuration is as shown above, onto which the included 1/4″ hex and 1/2″ keyless chucks can be attached.
This works a little differently than Bosch’s upcoming Core hybrid impact driver and wrench, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Advertisement
I do have concerns about how long this tool is with a keyless chuck added to the front of the as-shown configuration. In drill-mode, the tool doesn’t delivery particularly high torque levels.
If this cordless multi impact driver was in my tool bag, I would probably only use it as an impact driver, impact wrench, and cordless screwdriver. The drilling ability might come in handy at times, but I’m not yet convinced.
Panasonic put together a compact all-in-one drill, screwdriver, impact driver, and impact wrench, and the design looks sound. While curious and maybe even a little hesitant about the practicality of the cordless drill driver with a keyless drill chuck, I am overall quite impressed with what Panasonic managed to do. Maybe the 14.4V form factor is not quite ready for obsolescence in the USA after all.
Hang Fire
So where is Bosch CORE already? It’s been a year. Everyone else is going to eat their lunch.
Stuart
I’m told that there might be some related announcements in mid-November.
Hang Fire
Announcements are fine, but shipping product before Christmas puts money on the bottom line. Consumers are really not going to hold off on Christmas tool purchases because of an announcement.
Stuart
Professional brushless power tools can hardly be considered consumer products.
Hang Fire
I’m not sure what you consider “consumer”. If HD and Lowe’s stock it in store I’d call it “consumer” even if it says “pro” on the label. Are CORE products going to be special order only like 36V stuff?
Stuart
What I mean is that Bosch is not going to rush products to market with the Christmas shopping season in mind. Yes, pro tool sales go up this time of year, but not as much as more consumer-focused brands such as Ryobi and Black & Decker. The new tools will have product cycles of several years, which means that one lost holiday season will have little impact in the long run. It’s not like the new tools would be immediately discounted anyways, meaning that sales would not necessarily be higher than for other parts of the year.
Bosch, as well as other pro-tool brands, don’t see themselves as catering to “consumers” or “DIYers” They are very, very insistent on this.
You can buy jack hammers at Home Depot and presumably Lowes as well; that doesn’t mean these are consumer products.
Steven B
So what is the deal with Panasonic? That impact driver costs more than the brushless DeWalt and Milwaukee offerings. Nothing about any tool I’ve ever seen from Panasonic looks interesting or special. I’ve never seen one “in the wild.” I have never even heard of someone who knows someone who owns one let alone likes one.
Why do they bother? Are their tools much cheaper in other countries or something? Are Milwaukee/Bosch/DeWalt’s much more expensive overseas or in Japan? Am I missing something? In the technology sphere (my industry), if your offerings are very clearly inferior to your competitors, you usually quickly go out of business.
Stuart
I wish I could answer that, but the truth is I just don’t know. Some of these new Panasonic tools actually look to be engineered with some neat innovations, such as the new impact wrench’s twin hammer impact mechanism. That, and they’re waterproof and dustproof, which makes them better options in factories and very demanding environments.
Take their ToughBook for example. Why would someone pay $2800 for a Panasonic 10″ touch screen convertible laptop when they can buy any number for other products for less? Because it fulfills a need that other products cannot – extreme protection against impacts and environmental factors.
Hang Fire
I think part of this is the Japanese mindset. I’ve seen them make automobile models and other major items that have very small market share and yet keep on making them. Perhaps they sell enough within their keiritsu that it doesn’t matter.
To me the 14.4V is a caution but the power head length is a show stopper. Automobiles are so tight nowadays only the shortest impact wrenches are useful to me, and a drill/driver plus bit that doesn’t fit comfortably between studs is useless.
Sergey
You are missing something. Check out the IP65 rating. That Panasonic is indestructible and I know guys in the road construction industry who swear by these impacts. They survive rain, dirt, concrete dust, sand, you name it. You can throw it into a ditch full of water, fish it out and continue working like nothing happened. Try that with a Dewalt. Also, they have better real life torque, battery life and features than anything from Dewalt, Milwaukee and Makita. That’s why Panasonic tools cost so much.
David K
They are not inferior but quite the opposite. I’ve had my Panasonics for over 5 years now. The original batteries are still going strong and that is one area where they’ve got the others beat. Each time I see them tested they outperform the competitors handedly. When I bought mine they were the only ones with a brushless motor and sophisticated battery management, which is probably why my original batteries still outlast those of the people around me. I’ve flirted with the idea of switching to a deeper line but nothing comes close ergonomically So that’s why I was looking up this model. I have the previous multi impact but I like the new keyless chuck integration on this one. Their Standard impact driver is my preference for long days but for going out to small jobs I like the multi impact in case you need a drill but don’t want two motors to pack in. Also, it’s great for roofing screws, start with the impact mode, finish it with the clutch. And 14.4 is a great size, they perform as well as any 18 or 19.2 I’ve ever used.
LORDDiESEL
One thing Panasonic doesn’t think about, is the fact that users also like aesthetically pleasing tools. I hope it’s design is well balanced, but it looks like shit.
James Staggs
I’ve owned every brand of impact and drill from dewalt, makita and bosch. I’ve had the Panasonic 14.4v impact and drill for about 4 years and they are the best drills and impacts I’ve ever used. I use them every day for remodel construction. I use auger bits, drive lags and completely abuse them on a daily basis. The batteries last twice as long as most brands. Don’t knock’em until you try them. If they we’re in home depot or lowes and people could actually test them you would see them alot more often.
LORDDiESEL
I’ve used them before and have been impressed. The problem is, there is no support for them. No big box has them. A couple smaller shops here have them, but if you have a problem, they want you to deal with panasonic directly. So you have to make contact, pay money out to mail it. Play the waiting game and pick your nose.
If i have a problem with dewalt or milwaukee here. I take it in to my lumber store, tell them it’s boned. They hand me a loner tool and say they will call me when it’s ready.
Jason
You hit the nail on the head. I hear great things about the Panasonic drills and impact’s the lack of retailers than carry the brand hurts them so much and they don’t do any marketing either. I think Hitachi is pretty bad at marketing their cordless power tools too. I don’t see many reviews for the cordless tools and they are buried at Lowes. Hitachi has one thing going for them is they do have a good reputation on air nailers.
kw
Worth the money. Got a 14.4v for 5 years you name it it’s done it battery performs exceptionally well.its a solid performer and a quality tool