A screwdriver is probably the most useful tool for the home. At least it comes in handy much more often than sanders or jigsaws. Choosing a decent machine is not easy, but we will not let you get lost in the sea of parameters and characteristics and will tell you how to choose the right screwdriver.
- What types of screwdrivers are there?
- Torque
- Power types
- Screwdriver battery voltage
- Battery capacity
- Battery type
- Types of cartridges
- The best screwdriver manufacturers
What types of screwdrivers are there?
Ordinary screwdriver
An average power tool in all respects, designed for tightening fasteners and, to a lesser extent, for drilling. It is usually equipped with a jaw chuck in which bits or drills can be fixed. Screwdrivers can be powered by mains or batteries and have different characteristics, but more on that below.
Electric screwdriver
The simplest and least powerful type of screwdriver. It is battery powered and has minimal functionality. As a rule, electric screwdrivers do not have a pulse mode, a speed switch, or even a jaw chuck - the bits are secured in a ¼” hex socket. However, there are adapters for other attachments.
Electric impact wrench
The ultimate purpose of this device is to replace a wrench in the same way that a screwdriver replaces a regular screwdriver. Usually the seat here is a tetrahedral rod designed for installing nut heads. Typically, impact wrenches can operate in a pulse mode, which allows you to unscrew even rusted and stuck bolts and nuts.
Drill/driver
The most powerful, heaviest, complex and, as a rule, expensive device in its class. This tool is capable of not only tightening a couple of screws, but also drilling concrete or, say, brick. Drill drivers operate at multiple speeds so you can choose between fastener handling and drilling modes. They are equipped with jaw chucks, a speed controller, reverse and impact mechanism.
A drill/driver with a hammer drill function can not only rotate the drill, but also deliver blows at the same time. This makes it much easier to make holes in hard materials, but such tools are also more expensive.
Household or professional
As you know, professional screwdrivers are more expensive, but this is no coincidence. They are made with a large margin of safety, for which higher quality and more expensive materials are used. In addition, they have more power, which makes it possible to screw in longer screws and/or work with tougher materials.
The difference between a professional and household screwdriver in resource
To decide whether you need a household or professional screwdriver, assess the amount of work that will need to be done. If you are starting construction or major renovations, you probably need a professional or semi-professional model. If you need a tool periodically to unscrew/tighten something from time to time, a household tool is more than enough. With such work, the professional tool resource simply will not be in demand. So choosing a screwdriver based on this criterion is not very difficult.
Torque
This parameter is measured in newton meters (Nm). It shows how much force the tool is capable of: how thick the screw is and how deep the device can screw. Most screwdrivers have a torque in the range of 10-50 Nm, although it can be higher.
There are different types of torque (soft, hard, maximum, long-lasting), and manufacturers do not always indicate a specific one, so you can only focus on this parameter in conjunction with other characteristics.
Power types
Most household screwdrivers run on electricity. Hydraulic and pneumatic tools require specific power and are almost never found outside the professional sphere.
Electric screwdrivers can be battery-powered or mains-powered.
Corded screwdrivers operate, as you might guess, from an electrical network. If you have an outlet at hand, this is much more convenient than batteries that always run out, but when there is no electricity, problems begin: either the wire is too short, or the lights are turned off.
Cordless screwdrivers are convenient because they are not tied to an outlet. They can be used where there is no electricity: in the country or in a house under construction. True, they are heavier and more expensive than their network counterparts. In addition, there are a couple of points that must be taken into account when choosing a cordless screwdriver.
Battery type
In screwdrivers, as in other electronics, there are three types of batteries:
- nickel-cadmium;
- nickel metal hydride;
- lithium-ion.
Nickel-cadmium batteries are the oldest, most reliable and inexpensive. They are not afraid of low temperatures and complete discharge. At the same time, nickel-cadmium batteries are far from today's ideas about environmental friendliness. So much so that in some countries they are banned from use altogether. Plus they are quite heavy. But their main problem is the memory effect. That is, if you do not fully discharge the battery and put it on charge, the battery will, as it were, remember this charge level and in the future will not be discharged to the end, but to this point.
Nickel-metal hydride batteries are more modern: they are less toxic, do not suffer from the memory effect and can withstand one and a half times more charge-discharge cycles than their nickel-cadmium ancestors. At the same time, such batteries cannot be used in cold weather; they discharge faster, take longer to charge, do not tolerate complete discharge well, and are more expensive. In general, we can say that they are more capricious than their analogues.
Lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly common today. They are not familiar with the memory effect, do not lose charge at rest, charge quickly, and from any stage of discharge - without loss of capacity, are non-toxic, compact and last a long time. True, they need to be handled carefully: lithium-ion batteries can explode from impacts, and break from overcharging or complete discharge. They run out quickly in the cold and are quite expensive.
To choose a specific battery type, be guided by operating conditions. For the home, the most universal solution will most likely be a nickel-cadmium battery, and for professional use - a lithium-ion battery.
Additional functions
As usual, these functions are not mandatory, but they significantly increase ease of use. Some, if they raise the price, do not raise it significantly, while others raise it quite significantly. To choose the most inexpensive screwdriver, you can get by with the minimum - reverse and the presence of illumination of the work area. The rest, of course, are useful, but are more suitable for professionals.
Some additional features are very useful
Reverse or reverse
The presence of this option allows you to unscrew a screw or drill stuck in the material. The direction of rotation changes when the polarity of the power supply changes, which is done through a special button. It is usually installed near the trigger lever.
Examples of the location of the reverse button in a screwdriver
Most often, the button for switching the direction of travel has three positions: on average, the tool is blocked. This increases safety: if you accidentally touch the lever, the screwdriver will simply stop, rather than immediately start rotating in the opposite direction.
Work area lighting
A very convenient option that does not greatly affect the price of the screwdriver is illumination of the work area. With good lighting it is much easier to control the instrument.
Illumination of the work area is a useful additional function of a screwdriver
An LED is built into the handle or body of the tool near the chuck, which lights up when the start button is pressed. If you want to choose a screwdriver that is convenient to work with, make sure that the work area is illuminated.
Battery indicator
If you decide to choose a cordless screwdriver, it would be a good idea to have a battery charge indicator. These are LEDs of different colors - green, yellow, red, which are located on the body. If the light is green, the charge is full; if it is red, the charge is almost empty.
Battery indicator
The location of the indicator depends on the company, but is usually located on the thickening of the handle, in the same place as the backlight LED, or in the upper part of the case.
Automatic feeding of screws
Such screwdrivers are also called shop screwdrivers. This option is useful for professionals, especially those who work with drywall, where fasteners must be installed in small increments. Self-tapping screws are attached to a special tape, tucked into guides, and automatically fed into the holder.
Screwdrivers with automatic fastener feed
This option can be implemented in two ways: there are store-bought screwdrivers (pictured on the left) and there are attachments for a regular screwdriver. For home use, the second option is preferable, since the tool can work as a drill or in reverse. A shop screwdriver is highly specialized equipment for professional use.
Types of cartridges
A chuck is a part of a screwdriver that is designed to hold bits, drills and other attachments. Cartridges can be of several types.
The key chuck perfectly holds the bit or drill, which definitely won’t go anywhere without the key. The key, in fact, is the problem: without it, you can neither install nor remove the nozzle, and the process is not quick. Lost the key - work stopped. Reliable, but slow and inconvenient.
The quick-release chuck allows you to install attachments without a key. This is much faster and more convenient, but the reliability of fixing the drill directly depends on the effort applied. Over time, the cams will begin to wear down, and round drills will begin to turn because of this. This problem can only be solved by replacing the cartridge with a new one.
The self-clamping chuck secures the attachment independently, without the use of force - you just need to turn the coupling.
The bit chuck is designed exclusively for bits, is not suitable for drills and is not universal at all.
The best screwdriver manufacturers
There are many manufacturers of screwdrivers. But among them there are several companies whose products can be trusted almost without reservation.
Bosch is a well-known German brand under which household appliances, electronics and power tools have been produced for almost a century and a half. Known for its high-quality and reliable products, albeit quite expensive. Bosch tools are differentiated by color: green housing means a home model, blue – a professional one.
Makita is a popular Japanese company. Their products are distinguished by ergonomic shapes and compact sizes - this applies to both professional screwdrivers and simpler home models.
Dewalt is a manufacturer from the USA. Screwdrivers under this brand are distinguished by high power, reliability and safety in use. The company does not skimp on LED lighting, rubberized handles and self-clamping chucks, even in its not the most expensive models.
Black&Decker are another American. Among manufacturers of high-quality power tools, this company produces probably the most inexpensive products. That, however, does not prevent them from making decent instruments.
Huyndai , a specialized division of the Japanese auto giant, entered the market relatively recently, but has already established itself as a first-class product. It produces both home and professional models: under the Home and Expert brands, respectively.
Interskol is a Russian manufacturer that is in no way inferior to foreign competitors in terms of the quality, convenience and functionality of its tools. Prices, in turn, are very affordable.
Zubr is another company from Russia whose screwdrivers have a good price-quality ratio.
Home appliances are produced under the “Master” brand, “Pro” tools are intended for professional use, and “Expert” tools are intended for specialized, narrow-profile work.
What to look for when purchasing
Many people are interested in what type of screwdriver is needed so that it combines price and functionality. There are some basic parameters of a good screwdriver that allow you to make a definite choice in favor of one tool or another.
Battery or power cord
Cordless screwdrivers are more mobile . If there is a large volume of work, high power is needed - you cannot do without battery models. Such tools can drill concrete and brick walls and tighten long fasteners. They are universal and can perform several operations.
Some high torque cordless models can be used as an ice auger for ice fishing.
Units operating from the network are distinguished by a constant source of energy. All you need to do is connect the screwdriver to the electrical network. Operation is limited only by the length of the cord. The power of such tools is low, although there are also strong options.
Power and battery capacity
Users often ask the question: what power does a screwdriver have and how to determine this?
The average power of network tools is 500 W. Rechargeable batteries have a different classification. The batteries produce from 9 to 14 volts . The voltage of professional wired units reaches 800 W , while that of wireless ones varies from 18 to 24 volts .
Battery capacity starts from 1.5 Ah . This figure is found in screwdrivers for home use. For serious and expensive instruments, the capacity starts from 2 Ah to 6 Ah .
We cannot ignore the topic of what speeds a screwdriver has. For small household chores, a device of 400-500 rpm . Professional models are available with speeds from 1100 to 1500 rpm . Here you can answer the question at what speed to drill with a screwdriver. The 1st speed mode with a parameter of 1500 rpm .
Torque
The best torque for a screwdriver is not a specific value. It all depends on the nature of the work. Some people need a tool that can drill through ice, while others just need to drive a screw into drywall.
For minor home repairs, you can purchase a screwdriver with a torque of 9 to 23 Nm . For a medium range of activities, a tool with a force from 27 to 65 Nm . A professional environment will require the presence of a more powerful unit with a torque of 90 Nm and above . You can add a definition of what kind of cartridge the screwdriver should have. A popular option is the keyless chuck .
No one knows exactly how much torque a screwdriver needs to perform a particular task. Everyone decides for themselves what criteria to use when choosing a tool.
Brushless or brushed
The most common motor in a screwdriver is considered to be a brushed version . It is also called collector. The brushes play the leading role here - they remove excess current. At the same time, this is also a disadvantage. Sparks occur during operation, so this tool cannot be used in fire hazardous areas. A plus is the cheap price tag.
Brushless motors are more advanced in terms of functionality:
- Long service life.
- The tool works without sparks. Can be used in explosive areas.
- High efficiency.
- The rpm remains the same, even when the chuck is loaded.
- The rotation speed has a wide range.
The disadvantage of such engines is their high cost. But for professionals these tools will be optimal.
Purpose of use
A screwdriver is a first-class replacement for a screwdriver. Due to its functionality, the unit is capable of performing many tasks:
- work related to the installation of metal structures;
- drilling various elements - doors, walls, metal, furniture;
- installation of additional fasteners (anchor, dowel).
Functions and options that make the screwdriver easier to use
Depending on the model of the instrument, some auxiliary functions are included:
- LED lights.
- Additional handle.
- Drilling mode.
- Fixing the start button.
- Hooks and clips for attaching to a belt.
Company manufacturer
To know what parameters to choose a screwdriver for, you can study what some power tool companies offer.
Interskol
A Russian brand that has taken a significant place in the construction market. User reviews are positive, low percentage of returns to stores. There are factories for the production of screwdrivers in China. Tools from Interskol are powerful, reliable and durable. The product line offers both expensive options and affordable ones.
Metabo
German screwdrivers have long been popular among amateurs and professionals. Metabo units are unpretentious, simple in design and maintenance. Professionals value the German brand for its quality, proven over the years, functionality and performance of the tool in extreme conditions.
Makita
Screwdrivers from the Japanese concern Makita occupy the top line in the ranking of construction tools. Makita production sites can be found in any European country. All products have a certificate. At each stage of the working process, the produced tool undergoes a thorough check.
Popular questions
Which screwdriver should you choose, 14 or 18 volts? The battery voltage may indirectly indicate the power of the screwdriver, although there are low-voltage batteries with high power, and not very powerful high-voltage models. So keep in mind that higher voltage means more weight and more price, but not always more power. In general, for home use, a tool with a 12-14 volt battery is quite sufficient; 18 is already quite a lot.
Impact wrench or screwdriver, which should you choose? It all depends on what tasks you face. A wrench is a special case of a screwdriver, a specialized device designed to work with nuts and bolts. It usually does not have a jaw chuck or speed selector, but does have a square nut and bolt socket mount and a tangential impact mode. Screwdrivers can be very different, but often they are much more universal devices: with a clamping jaw chuck, several operating speeds, and sometimes with the functions of a drill or hammer drill.
Why do you need a screwdriver?
Initially, choose what function this device will perform in your home or work:
- For screwing or unscrewing a variety of fasteners;
- More powerful tightening of a dowel or anchor, insertion of a self-tapping screw, etc.;
- Drilling in soft or hard material;
- Thread cutting;
- Mixing construction mixtures.
Based on the above tasks, study the most relevant technical characteristics and differences of screwdrivers specifically for your needs.
