Inexpensive: You can pick up a cheap, basic 3.6-volt cordless screwdriver to take care of all those little DY jobs around the home for between $15 and $20. Sometimes you need to go for the full-size alternative.īit storage: Some electric screwdrivers have onboard bit storage, which can be handy if you’re regularly changing from one to another. However, if you’re looking at drill and saw attachments, it’s important to understand the limitations of these tools. Battery charge indicators are offered on some tools.Įxtras: It’s not uncommon to find angled heads, flexible shafts ,and other swappable extras that can extend the use of your electric screwdriver. Lights: LED lights are useful if you’re working in dark corners. Handle: Some electric screwdrivers have a handle that can be set in two or more positions for user comfort. These are particularly important on the more powerful 7.2-volt models, which produce enough torque to cause damage if you aren’t careful. Although the mechanisms differ, they can increase or decrease power, run clockwise or counterclockwise, solely by reacting to user input.Ĭlutch: A clutch is useful to prevent overtightening of screws. Push drive: The most recent development in electric screwdriver technology is push drive or gyroscopic. With some power tools, this allows you to save money by sharing batteries, but few electric screwdriver batteries are interchangeable, so you need to compare prices carefully. Models with these slide-out batteries are often sold as bare tools, meaning the battery and charger are extra. Charging times can vary from 60 minutes to several hours, so it’s an important consideration for some. You can carry on working while one screwdriver recharges. This is an advantage for the professional if you have two batteries. Many 7.2-volt models use a separate charger. While charging from a mains socket is fastest, you can also use a laptop, a port in your vehicle, or any number of alternatives. Electric screwdriver featuresīattery: The 3.6-volt screwdrivers usually have built-in battery, which is charged in place, often via a USB cable. If you’re comparing similar models, this can make a big difference. A 2,000 mAh model will outperform a 1,300 mAh model by some margin. Electric screwdrivers are often rated by milliampere-hours (mAh), and, basically, the higher the number the better. If voltage is out-and-out power, then ampere-hours indicate how long that performance can be delivered consistently. Milliampere-hours: The other consideration for both types of electric screwdriver is the ampere-hour (Ah) rating, sometimes just called amps. For heavy-duty jobs you want a 7.2-volt electric screwdriver. The 3.6-volt screwdrivers are almost always notably more compact, exactly the kind of thing you’d keep in a kitchen drawer for occasional DIY tasks. In real terms, the big difference is between 7.2-volt and 3.6-volt screwdrivers. Some manufacturers choose to quote the higher figure. Thus an 8-volt electric screwdriver actually runs at 7.2 volts nominal, and a 4-volt electric screwdriver runs at 3.6 volts. They return to the normal (nominal) voltage in fractions of a second. Let’s explain.Īll motors produce a power surge at startup - a voltage spike. Recently, there’s been some confusion with the introduction of 4-volt and 8-volt models, but they aren’t actually more powerful. Volts: There are two output options when choosing an electric screwdriver: 3.6 volt or 7.2 volt. It’s easy to use, easy to store, yet powerful enough for all those different screws you come across, whether at home or in the workplace. But an electric screwdriver is precisely that. It isn’t a small, lightweight gadget you can drop in a pocket or keep in a kitchen drawer. Some people use a cordless drill/driver for screwdriving tasks, and it’s certainly a powerful and versatile tool. Key considerations Why buy an electric screwdriver? The compact size of many electric screwdrivers means you can keep one in a drawer, glove box, or the pocket of your overalls while you work.
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