Craftsman tools are a big go-to for a lot of people when it comes to scoring a good deal. Their tools are renowned as good “value-for-money” options, and the Craftsman CMCF800 is no different.
Is that truly the case though? If you want to learn more about the Craftsman CMCF800 impact driver, I’ve been using one myself lately and wrote this review to share my experience!
A Review For The Craftsman CMCF800 Impact Driver
Craftsman CMCF800 Specifications
Most people, including myself, like taking a look at the specs of a tool before anything else. That said; this impact driver’s specifications are as follows:
| Voltage | 20v |
| Drive Size | ¼ inches |
| Max Torque | 1,460 ft-lbs |
| Max RPM | 2800 per minute |
| Max IPM | 3200 per minute |
| Motor | Brushed |
| Tool Weight (with Battery) | Around 2.64 lbs |
| LED | Yes |
It’s lightweight, has decent max torque and RPM, as well as an LED for working in tight spots. For an impact driver of its price, there’s no doubt that the initial specs are decent.
If you’re more of a hands-on person, though, I have more to share too! I ran a bunch of tests with the tool to see how its performance was, and you can read up on the results below!
- Driving Cross Head Screws Into Wood
Crosshead screws (also called Philips screws) are some of the most common kinds of screws. Plus, wood is one of the most common things they’re driven into. So, naturally, it’s the first thing I tried.
And to absolute nobody’s shock, the Craftsman CMCF800 did a great job at driving it into the wood. There was no resistance, and the whole thing was buttery smooth thanks to its 1,460 in-lbs of torque.
The variable speed switch on the tool also makes it easy to avoid stripping the head of a cross-head screw. Precise control lets users avoid overdriving, which is neat since these screws strip easily.
- Driving Long Star Head Screws into Wood
Driving star head (Torx) screws into wood wasn’t an issue for the Craftsman CMCF800 either. Just like the Philips screw, it was able to do so easily thanks to its high torque output.
Star head screws have the perfect shape for the impact driver to apply consistent pressure without slipping off. That makes driving it through wood quick and easy, like I’m doing down here.
- Driving Hex Head Screws into Wood
Hex head screws need stability and power to drive into any surface properly. While using the CMFC800, I found that stability and power to be just perfect, making this another easy task.
I tried with a bunch of them, and the impact driver was able to drive them all easily without rounding the hex heads. Even in hardwood, it didn’t give me any trouble during operation.
See the picture above? It was another smooth go without me having to put much of my force on the tool. By now, I think you get the point that for light work on wood and similar surfaces, it’s a good impact driver.
- Driving Long Bolts Into Wood
Long bolts, especially those with a hex head or carriage style, need a lot of torque to drive them into any surface. Luckily, the CMFC800 has that torque, and didn’t struggle much with this job either.
I did have to use some of my own force to stabilize the impact driver at times, but that was nothing major. It takes some time with really long or thick bolts but still gets the job done.
It’s suitable for structural projects and should be able to handle driving long bolts into most surfaces. But, for the especially large and thick ones, I recommend predrilling a hole to make the job easier.
- Drilling Through Concrete
To end it, I tried something a little different; drilling through concrete. Even though it’s not a drill, and this isn’t exactly an intended function, I know lots of people use their impact drivers for this.
Despite a good performance so far, this is unfortunately where the CMCF800 struggles. Impact drivers like this one are designed for driving fasteners, not drilling holes into concrete.
While it did do a good job on soft concrete and was able to drill a hole easily, hard concrete is a whole other story. It’s a much stronger surface that needs a hammer drill for the job, not an impact driver.
Verdict
On a budget, as an impact driver, the Craftsman CMCF800 is quite a good tool. It can handle most types of screws on most types of surfaces with ease, making it a really good option for everyday work.
It’s also not a bad shout for regular use in light construction or maintenance. But, don’t expect it to be amazing as a drill.
While it can do a passable job when needed, I don’t recommend using it for that. If a drill is what you need, look elsewhere, because the tool’s main purpose is driving screws, and not drilling holes.
