What is the torque of an electric screwdriver?
If you are familiar with the characteristics of any electric screwdriver, you will certainly come across a parameter such as the torque, which is measured in newton-meters (Nm). Not everyone remembers what this means from high school physics class. And in this article I will try to explain what is the torque of an electric screwdriver.
In simple terms, the torque of an electric screwdriver means the maximum force it can transmit to the screw or self-drilling screw. It is clear that the higher the torque, the higher the force.
What it All Affects? How big, for example, a self-tapping screw or screw in length and diameter you can screw into a particular material. And besides, if you take two electric screwdrivers with different torques and do the same job with them, the mechanism of the electric screwdriver with the higher torque will wear out less. So we can say that the amount of torque also affects the tool’s life.
What is a newton??
If you write “Newton” with a capital letter, it is the name of the scientist in whose honor the unit of measurement by which force is measured is named.
And when we’re talking about a unit of measurement, “newton” is spelled with a lowercase letter and denoted as “H”.
As a unit of measure, scientifically speaking, 1 N is the force which changes the speed of a body of 1 kg in one second by 1 m/s in the direction of the force.
To make a 1 kg body move and increase its speed by 1 m/s every second, you have to apply a force of 1 N to it.
I still don’t understand it? Then take an object with a mass of 100 g in your hand. This is the force of gravity that pulls this object to the ground and would be about one newton. Why roughly? Because the force of gravity is slightly different at different points on the Earth, and the standard of one newton would be the force of gravity of a body weighing 102 g at sea level on the surface of the Earth at latitude 40 degrees.
For beginners
So, let’s start with the simplest case. inexperienced users. Screwdrivers have such a thing as a torque control. It looks like the scale around the front of the electric screwdriver that’s right behind the chuck. It has numbers on it from 1 to 10, 15, 20 or more. different models have different numbers. and the last position on it is labeled as a drill. If you rotate this knob and set it against a special mark so that one of the numbers is next to it, then when you reach a certain torque, the chuck will not rotate further, but will start to snap. If you put it in the “drill” position, then the electric screwdriver will try to spin as hard as its motor power allows.
But it is necessary to notice that at two-speed wrenches even in “drilling” position, if the torque reaches a certain value, then the protective system works, which simply switches off current supply. But an electric screwdriver will also try to twist at the first speed “to the bitter end”.
And a beginner can start drilling or screwing screws, for example, when the torque control is on one of the numbers, or the electric screwdriver is on the second speed (and it is actually recommended to drill on it).
But the bit can get jammed too much and when you release it in the usual way (reverse, hold the chuck and press the start button) either the torque limiter or the safety system can trip.
Therefore, in such a situation, just put the electric screwdriver on first speed and set the torque control to the “drill” position. On single-speed models, just set the torque control to the “drill” position. And then, again, we unscrew in the standard way.
How to work with the bits
There are different chucks in electric screwdrivers. Let’s see how to change the bit in all screwdriver types.
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quick-release chuck. There are single and double clutch. It is installed most of the time. To unclip the jaws and remove the old bit, turn the front sleeve counterclockwise. Insert the new bit and screw the socket back on;
Chuck with socket
Chisel change in hex chuck
How to use the bits
There are different chucks for electric screwdrivers. Let’s look at how to change the chuck in all types.
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quick-action chuck. Available as single clutch and double clutch. Is most often installed. To unclench the cams and remove the old bit, rotate the front coupling counterclockwise. Insert a new bit and screw the socket back on;
Duh muff chuck
Changing a bit in a hexagonal chuck
Chuck removal: Makita electric screwdriver
Makita brand electric tools are generally equipped with a threaded mount with an auxiliary lock by means of a left-hand threaded screw.
- Unscrew the locking screw (clockwise).
- Activate the spindle stop button.
- Wrap a thick cloth around the chuck and squeeze in a vice.
- Clench the hexagon in the cams.
- By hitting the free surface of the chuck with a hammer, the chuck is rotated and then removed from the shaft.
WAY to use an electric screwdriver
In this video I came up with some unusual ways that you can make a drill, these are ideas for life. What.
You need a different rotation speed for different diameter screws.
- If the screw diameter is 6 mm, the torque while screwing in is 10 Nm. For structurally soft or stiff materials, the frequency will be 25 Nm.
- If the screw diameter is 7 mm, the torque for hard materials is 27 Nm, and 11 Nm for soft materials.
- If the maximum screw diameter is 8 mm, the torque is 30 Nm.
What this ratio shows? You can determine how much torque is possible for a particular working screw diameter. The right choice not only makes work more efficient, but also increases quality, reliability, durability of the equipment. The operation will be much faster and the operator will spend less effort.
High wattage on corded equipment has little effect on the work process, and battery packs run down quickly. That’s why it is necessary to have spare batteries and a possibility to charge the already loaded ones. Usually for professional tools manufacturers provide spare batteries, but for simpler models at least one battery will have to buy separately. When choosing an electric screwdriver, it is necessary to consider the presence of another function. reverse rotation. It is necessary in the case when the drill is stuck in the material. This kind of reverse is usually electronic, to control it, you should use a two-position switch, which is located near the start button.
What’s the best torque?
An electric screwdriver is a tool that is needed for various kinds of work. It is not only construction, but also many home repair works, such as assembling furniture, installing communications. In order to choose the right one, it is necessary to pay attention to the torque on which the comfort and quality of work depends. For example, you don’t need a very powerful tool for furniture assembly. If you plan to install a room divider, then it is necessary to take more professional equipment, which will perfectly cope with the task.
Drills and screwdrivers are used for mixing building mixtures, you only need to buy a construction mixer attachment.
The torque of such tools must be sufficient to be able to mix even the most viscous mixtures and mortars, to ensure their homogeneity, high quality.
Special attachments are used for mixing concrete and other viscous mixtures.
If you want to use nozzles for mortars, the torque should be sufficient to cope with not only low viscosity mixtures, but also high. The choice of model depends on the planned work. If an electric screwdriver is required to be used for mixing liquid mixtures, the torque may not be too high. if you want to work with viscous materials, you should prefer professional devices with a high rotational speed.
The equipment, which will be used for a variety of works, should have a speed regulator. Then the torque can be changed depending on what kind of work needs to be done. when selecting an electric screwdriver, it is necessary to ensure that the safety catch for the control button works all the time and not only at the maximum torque. In the first case, the tool can be used for any work with the most convenient conditions. The torque value can be changed. Buy models with manual or electronic control are recommended. They have a special step-down transformer that works well with liquid mixtures when the voltage is lowered.
What’s the best torque?
An electric screwdriver is a tool that is needed for various kinds of work. It is not only construction, but also many home repair works, such as assembling furniture, installing communications. To choose the right equipment, you should pay attention to the torque, on which the comfort and quality of work depends. For example, too powerful tools are not needed for furniture assembly. If you plan to install a room divider, then it is necessary to take more professional equipment, which will perfectly cope with the task.
Drills and screwdrivers are used for mixing construction mixtures, you only need to buy a construction mixer attachment.
The torque of such tools must be sufficient to be able to mix even the most viscous mixtures and mortars, to ensure their homogeneity, high quality.
Special attachments are used for mixing concrete and other viscous mixtures.
If you need to use nozzles for mortars, the torque must be sufficient to cope with mixtures not only of weak viscosity, but also of high. The choice of model depends on the work to be done. If you want to use an electric screwdriver for mixing with liquid mixtures, the torque may not be too high. If you want to work with viscous mixtures, you should prefer professional devices, the speed of which is high.
The equipment that will be used for a variety of jobs should have a speed regulator. Then the torque can be changed depending on what kind of work needs to be done. When choosing an electric screwdriver it is necessary to see that the stop for the control button works always, not only at the maximum force. In the first case, the tool can be used for any job with the most convenient conditions. The torque value can be adjusted. It is recommended to buy models that have manual or electronic control. They have a special step-down transformer that works great with liquid compounds when the voltage is lowered.
What to do when you need to work with viscous mixtures?
It is not uncommon to use an electric screwdriver with an impact function for mixing viscous mixtures. For this purpose, you should choose equipment with high power, because ordinary household already with the assigned work can not cope, the effort will not be enough. The torque of this device should be high, t.е. Professional equipment should be purchased. It is possible to use mechanical built-in gearboxes, they make it possible to use the equipment even at 1st speed. It is necessary to provide a cooling system, it is important to prevent overheating of the motor.
If an electric screwdriver will be used for assembling shelves or installing an ordinary curtain rod, then high power is not needed, the torque will not matter much. If the equipment is purchased for frequent use, and the work will need to be performed in a variety, related to the preparation of mortars, it is necessary to choose from semi-professional and professional tools. They will provide all the required conditions of quality work.
Choosing an electric screwdriver at home, it is necessary to pay attention to its many parameters. You should decide right away if you need a professional tool or a powerful household tool. After that, you should familiarize yourself with the proposed set of functions, technical characteristics, among which the important place belongs to the torque.
This article is intended for those people, who have very little knowledge in the use of construction tools.We think that quite a large number of people begin their acquaintance with construction tools by buying them, and then begin to figure out how to work with these tools. over, probably among the readers of this article will be teenagers or women who have no idea what an electric screwdriver is and what you can do with it. So for them we decided to write this article.
For a start in general words let’s talk about what an electric screwdriver is. First of all they can be divided into two big classes: cordless and corded tools. The effectiveness of these tools depends directly on the brand of tool, but cordless tools do not depend on the availability of a socket and length of wire.
For the home handyman it is best to choose a cordless tool. it is more convenient and practical. With it and we will start.
Usually, cordless screwdrivers are sold in a case that includes a pair of batteries and a battery charger in addition to the tool itself. When buying it is best to check immediately in the store completeness of the tool and its performance. It is necessary to understand that an electric screwdriver comes from the factory uncharged, so when you bring it home, it is necessary first of all to charge the batteries with the battery charger.
After that we put one of the batteries in the tool and it is almost ready for work. For the work we still need to insert one more element into the chuck. the necessary bit or drill. You can buy a set of bits and drills in the store or you can buy them separately, the same goes for drills.
modern screwdrivers, except maybe the low-powered models have a function of drilling and drilling with impact, so with their help you can also drill holes in metal and wood, as well as concrete and brick.
Before using an electric screwdriver, you should check the integrity of the tool. There should be no mechanical damage such as dents and cracks on the body and batteries. The tool should not be used with this type of damage.
Drilling metal and wood with an electric screwdriver
In order to make a hole in metal or wood it is necessary to put the appropriate drill into the chuck. For wood, a metal drill bit will also work if necessary. After that it is necessary to set the desired mode. drilling. It is done with the swivel part of the tool just behind the chuck of the electric screwdriver. On the marking on the body of the electric screwdriver, find the drill bit and align the rotary part (arrow) with it. In doing so, the electric screwdriver switches to electric drill mode. This mode should be used with care. The fact is that the tool disables the so-called ratchet (protection of the motor from excessive force on the shaft). If the drill bit jams, the motor may burn out.
Then position the drill against the drill bit and press the start button. During drilling, it is important to keep the electric screwdriver perpendicular to the drilling axis. Drill bit misalignment, especially in hard material, can cause the drill bit to break off. Drill harder materials at low speed and softer materials like wood at high speed. By the way, if your electric screwdriver has a button for switching speeds (usually two speeds), it is better to drill at the second speed. During drilling, you control the amount of pressure by yourself. Unfortunately it is difficult to explain in words, so you can determine this parameter in practice.
Drilling in concrete and stone with an electric screwdriver
For drilling holes in concrete and stone we need a special drill bit with a pobedite tip. Usually everyone uses a drill diameter of 6 mm, which fits most plastic dowels for screws. It is not necessary to take a thicker drill bit. just power of an electric screwdriver is not designed for it. we need a geared drill bit.
Before drilling, set the electric screwdriver to drilling with breakage, as described above. To do this, align the arrow with the drill bit or drill and hammer (depending on the brand of tool). Hold the tool perpendicular to the drilling axis as in the previous case. It is not necessary to press the tool very hard while drilling, though it should be enough to gradually deepen the drill. Periodically loosen the pressure and even take the drill out of the hole to remove the products of drilling (dust).
Tightening screws, self-tapping screws and bolts with an electric screwdriver
And finally we got to the main purpose of screwdrivers. screwing screws (which is why its name follows). On every electric screwdriver (on the turning part) there is a circle with a number: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.д. They indicate the tightening torque in newton. The thicker and harder the screw or screwdriver, and the harder the material in which it is screwed into, the higher the number should be. A twisting force of 12. 14 N is usually sufficient to drive e.g. roofing screws into metal.
Possible problems
The chuck of an electric screwdriver is still the most vulnerable part of it, because of the constant manipulation needed to change the working tool. This basic disadvantage is caused by the logic of the chuck’s existence. There is no way to avoid periodical changes of the chuck in an intensive application of an electric screwdriver. The assembly is under constant stress during tool operation, which is difficult to combine with the mobility of its individual parts.
It is very easy to spot screwdriver malfunctions. the first symptom is the constant rotation of the drill bit, first at small diameters and then at larger diameters. The bits can jump out over time during operation. In some cases, the alignment is violated and the drill actively “beats”, this phenomenon is not only unpleasant, but also quite dangerous, because it becomes the cause of breaking the drill. Fragments of the screwdriver at high speed can cause serious injury.
A screwdriver bit that is not clamped properly can cause excessive material waste due to unintentional spoilage and can also cause injury when tightening a screwdriver. When selecting a new chuck to replace a worn chuck, pay attention to the factory marking.
After a long time of use, its traces are often difficult to recognize, then it is necessary to determine the type of chuck and method of its fastening by eye.
What is torque on an electric screwdriver?
The key to effective drilling (or screwdriving) is to apply the required torque at maximum speed The torque is the force the electric screwdriver or drill creates to turn an object (it can be a drill bit or a bit), not the speed at which the drill bit will turn.
A cordless model is better for occasional household chores. Torque The higher the torque, the more effectively the electric screwdriver works with tough materials (brick, stone, concrete). For home care applications, 10-15Nm torque is enough, but a professional model needs 40Nm torque.
What does torque mean??
Torque, in fact, reflects the power that will be available at “incomplete” engine speed, but simply by pressing the gas when overtaking And the more power, the more energy can be applied to the machine, the better the acceleration dynamics. And the maximum power primarily affects the maximum speed of the machine.
Almost all models have electronic regulation of engine speed from zero to maximum, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but is usually in the range of 1000-3000 rpm. RPM can also have several stages of adjustment and is 200. 500 rpm.
How to choose a cordless electric screwdriver Advice from the experts?
Second and third speeds are typically used for drilling, because they have a higher rotation speed and lower torque value. There is a special switch for speed setting, the type and location of which change depending on the tool model.
