PSA: That hardware store guy told me to use an impact driver for cabinet hinges and I ruined 3 doors

Stopped by Lowe's in Phoenix last month for some small cabinet hinges. Guy in the aisle said an impact driver would work fine instead of a regular drill. I snapped two screws clean off in one door and stripped the heads on another before I gave up. Ended up using a hand screwdriver and it took 15 minutes per door but everything lined up perfect. My buddy who does trim work says impact drivers are only for big stuff like framing, not tiny cabinet hardware. Who else has been given straight up bad advice by a store employee that cost you time or money?

2 comments

2 Comments

thomas_johnson3517d ago

Lowe's in Mesa told me the same thing last year for drawer pulls. I stripped three screws before I figured out what was happening. The impact driver just hammers too hard for small stuff like that. I went back and told the guy what happened and he just shrugged and said "it works for some people." Now I keep a regular drill in the garage just for cabinet work and it takes me maybe five minutes per hinge. Sorry you had to learn that the hard way too, it's frustrating when you trust someone and it costs you money.

roberts.diana17d ago

Dang, same thing happened to me with some cabinet hinges last month.