Cordless screwdriver

The best corded T-shaped screwdrivers

These tools are close to professional models in their characteristics and craftsmen often use them in places where a lot of mobility is not required. They are often versatile devices, making them a good choice for home use.

Impact driver Makita TD0101F

Due to the presence of a pulse mode of operation, the device is capable of delivering a torque of up to 100 Nm, with an engine power of 230 watts and a total weight of the screwdriver of 990 grams. The engine develops up to 3600 rpm, with the ability to adjust their number. The 6.35mm chuck accepts bits with hex shanks.

+ Pros of Makita TD0101F

1. Lightweight and robust.
2. High power, plus a pulse mode with a frequency of blows of 3200 / min, allows you to break off and unscrew even "complex" screws and rusted nuts.
3. High quality double insulated mains wire.
4. Good illumination of the working area.
5. Automatic switching from twisting to blow - if the screw "goes" with great effort, then the pulse mode is turned on.

- Cons of Makita TD0101F

1. There is no motor brake and no screwing depth limiter - a common drawback of all impact screwdrivers. It is necessary to closely monitor the twisting process.
2. Small wire length.
3. When switching to impact mode, it starts to make a lot of noise.
4. There is no forced shutdown of the pulse mode.
5. Heats up with long-term work with large screws.

Drill driver Sturm SOFT TOUCH ID2145P

The manufacturer is positioned as a universal device for working with wood and metal. 450 watts of motor power delivers 35 Nm of torque for driving screws and drilling 20 mm holes in wood and 10 mm in metal. Depending on the included mode, the rotation speed can be adjusted in the ranges 0-400 / 0-1500 rpm. Keyless chuck is designed for drills with shanks 0.8-10 mm.

+ Pros of Sturm SOFT TOUCH ID2145P

1. A long cord - 4 meters in most cases is enough for comfortable work.
2. The spindle lock is a useful feature for large-handed craftsmen.
3. Light weight and calculated center of gravity - the load goes not on the fingers, but on the whole hand.
4. Two modes allow you not to "aim" too much by adjusting the speed when working with different metals.
5. Simplicity and reliability of the design.

- Cons of Sturm SOFT TOUCH ID2145P

1. There is no illumination of the working area.
2. If a person has thumbs, then it is inconvenient to change bits and drills.
3. If a long drill is installed in the chuck, then its slight beating at the end is noticeable.

No. 8. Ergonomics

All those who think about the question of how to choose a screwdriver absolutely definitely want to get the most convenient tool for their money. This is logical to the point of banality. That is why it is better to buy a screwdriver after you personally hold it in your hands and make sure that the tool is easy to use, all the buttons are located where necessary and are easy to press.

The grip can be pistol grip or slightly forward. The last option is the most balanced in the center of gravity, and the hand will not get too tired even with prolonged work. It is great if the handle is rubberized - the likelihood that the device will fall out of your hands is sharply reduced.

Separately, it is worth noting the angle screwdrivers with a flat body and a chuck located at a right angle. This is a tool for carpentry professionals, and such a device is unlikely to be needed at home and on a construction site.

What is the best battery for a screwdriver

Since this material deals specifically with cordless screwdrivers, before proceeding with the comparison and reviews of the tool, it is necessary to clarify what types of batteries are, what positive and negative sides they have and which one is preferable.

Varieties of batteries

Nickel-cadmium (NiCd). The largest dimensions, which is not always convenient for reasons of compactness, have batteries called nickel-cadmium and designated "NiCd". They are quite cheap and work like a clock - without failures, both at high temperatures and at subzero temperatures. You can charge them an impressive number of times. But the memory effect present here can serve as an unkind service, in order to avoid which such a battery is sent for storage completely discharged, to zero. Charging is also carried out only when the battery is completely drained.

The memory effect is the loss of battery capacity and, as a consequence, its shorter use between recharges. If you do not wait until the battery is completely discharged, it is recharged again, it "remembers" that it was not completely used up and in the future it will not give all the energy, but only the amount that reaches this limit. You have to constantly monitor the battery charge level. Owners of the tool with such batteries often ignore this moment, as a result, part of the capacity is gradually lost.

Nickel metal hydride (NiMH). Batteries, called nickel metal hydride batteries, are labeled with the letters “NiMH”. They are 100 percent environmentally friendly and weigh very little. Another significant advantage is their ability to work long enough without requiring recharging. The memory effect of these batteries is present, but not as pronounced as in the previous type. Alas - they also have a significant disadvantage. This is the inability to withstand frost. Even when it's only minus two degrees outside, such a battery starts to discharge on its own. Do not store the screwdriver in a garage without heating or in a car trunk. For storage, this type of battery also needs to be charged.

Lithium-ion (Li-Ion). The third type of battery is lithium-ion. Labeled "Li-Ion". They appeared later than everyone else - in 1991, in mass production, becoming the brainchild of the Japanese corporation Sony. They are distinguished by the absolute absence of memory effect, high capacity and long-term retention of the charge. They weigh forty percent less than the analogs described above. They can be charged in any state - at any charge level. Such batteries are often put on professional models, especially on screwdrivers combined with a drill.

Basic concepts

1. What does the capacity of the storage battery indicate? The capacity, the unit of which is called the ampere hour (A / h), determines how long the tool can run without recharging. Accordingly, a distinction is made between household tools (with a capacity of 1.3 to 2 A / h) and professional ones with a capacity exceeding 2 A / h.

2. Charging speed. It is important when you need to get work done quickly. For a household, not too expensive instrument, this characteristic varies from 2 to 12 hours. But professional models can be charged in an hour or even half an hour. Typically, these tools have lithium batteries and a pulse charger.

3. Battery voltage. The battery voltage can range from 3 to 36 volts. In this case, the torque for the 14.4 V model and the 12 V model may be the same. In turn, the torque determines the power of the screwdriver and you might think that buying a tool with a high voltage is not advisable. In fact, a 14.4 V battery is able to maintain the maximum power of the tool for a longer period and, as a result, is able to work for a longer time, until the moment when the drop in battery charge begins to reduce the power of the screwdriver.

Comparison of different types of rechargeable batteries:

Popular brands of screwdrivers

One of the manufacturers of screwdrivers is the German company Bosch, which produces a wide range of products of various configurations. So, a universal model from this manufacturer called Festool C15 contains in its kit a special adapter for hexagonal bits.

In addition, it provides a place for the installation of a keyless chuck of a special design, and in the kit there is a special geared nozzle that allows screws to be screwed in at right angles.

Another familiar to most users, Makita (a Bosch subsidiary) is the undisputed leader in the ranking of manufacturers of tools in this class. It is distinguished by a wide range of models, which includes not only cheap products, but also expensive professional samples.

Screwdrivers from the well-known company AEG can hardly be called cheap, but they fully pay off with the capabilities inherent in them. In turn, the DeWalt brand models are distinguished by high-tech innovations and promising developments. Hilti tool kits are multifunctional examples of this class with a price that many find unreasonably high (despite the attractive guarantees).

Inexpensive and well-known models widely represented on the market by such foreign companies as Hitachi, Sparky, and Skil are in great demand among the ordinary consumer. Among Russian manufacturers of amateur and professional screwdrivers, the companies "Interskol", "Zubr" and "Caliber" stand out.

It should be noted that when operating screwdrivers, certain difficulties may arise with spare parts that are in demand when repairing a product.

This circumstance should be taken into account when trying to self-repair a previously purchased screwdriver

What is this tool?

Engine device

Common models of cordless screwdrivers are designed with collector electric motors.

The current in them is switched through the armature winding thanks to the carbon brushes.

And brushless screwdrivers work with brushless electric motors that do not have brushes.

The functions that the brushes performed in conventional screwdrivers are transferred to the electronic control unit in these models. It is capable of switching the current to the stator winding, not the rotor. There are no coils on the anchor. To exclude the possibility of sliding contacts, the magnetic field in it is generated using permanent magnets. In stator windings, the required moment for current supply is created using rotor position sensors. They, in turn, work according to the Hall effect principle.

The pulses from the rotor position sensors are received by the microprocessor together with a signal that regulates the spinning speed. After the end of processing, electrical pulses are generated with precise width settings (PWM signal). The resulting combination of pulses is transmitted to the inverters (current amplifiers). Their outputs are connected to the stator winding. In accordance with the information received, the inverters create a current in the stator coils. The resulting pulses create an alternating magnetic field. When it interacts with the constant rotor field, the armature begins to twist.

The principle of operation and the difference from the brush:

Brand advantages

The real benefits of the Hilti brand can be seen in customer reviews. The average rating for screwdrivers is 4.5-4.6. Several positive aspects are noted.

• Many models are equipped with protective mechanisms. In addition to overheating shutdown, which is common with all brands of tools, automatic power cut-off is also triggered during overloads. This protects the battery and the device itself, increasing its lifespan.
• Long period of operation.Hilti devices significantly exceed domestic products in terms of their service life, even with high wear and tear, they work for more than one year. This is an ideal tool for those who are not very well versed in all the nuances of caring about screwdrivers. Even with constant critical loads, the device will continue to operate.

Possibility to change the carbon brush of the motor for the screwdriver

This significantly increases the service life of the product, which is important, because most of the high-quality models cost more than 20 thousand rubles.
Lifetime warranty. During the entire service life, the owner can change tool parts free of charge

The nuance is that the services of the service center are free only for the first 2 years, and then you will have to pay for the work of specialists, although spare parts will remain free of charge.

However, one should not rush to purchase a product of this brand. First, you should study the negative aspects of screwdrivers.

Additional functions

As usual, these functions are optional, but they greatly improve the usability. Some even raise the price, it is not at all significant, and some are quite noticeable. To choose the most inexpensive screwdriver, you can get by with a minimum - reverse and the presence of illumination of the place of work. The rest are useful, of course, but 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 a drill stuck in the material. The change in the direction of rotation occurs when the polarity of the power supply is changed, which is carried out through a special button. It is usually installed near the trigger.

Examples of the location of the backstop button in a screwdriver

Most often, the button for switching the direction of travel has three positions: on average, the tool is locked. This increases safety: if you accidentally hit the lever, the screwdriver will simply stop and not immediately start rotating in the opposite direction.

Illumination of the working area

A very convenient option that does not really affect the price of a screwdriver - work place lighting... In good lighting conditions, it is much easier to control the instrument.

Work area lighting is a useful additional feature of the screwdriver

An LED is built into the handle or the 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, see that there is a backlight for the place of work.

Battery indicator

If you decide to opt for a cordless screwdriver, it would be nice to have a battery indicator. These are LEDs of different colors - green, yellow, red, which are located on the body. If it is green, the charge is full, if it is red, it is almost discharged.

Battery indicator

The location of the indicator depends on the company, but it 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 self-tapping screws

Such screwdrivers are also called shop screws. This option is useful for professionals, especially those who work with drywall, where fasteners need to be installed in small increments. Self-tapping screws are mounted on a special tape, tucked into the guides, and automatically fed to the holder.

Screwdrivers with automatic fastener feed

This option can be implemented in two ways: there are exactly shop screwdrivers (in the photo on the left) and there are nozzles 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 a highly specialized equipment for professional use.