Choosing a screwdriver by class and type
Compact and light or powerful and heavy, percussion or shockless – which instrument should you choose? We compare the parameters and capabilities of cordless drills of different classes.
Compact class
Screwdrivers 10.8 V – ergonomic and comfortable. Some of these screwdrivers are marketed as 12-volts, but this does not change the essence. In any case, these are small and lightweight machines equipped with a compact 1.3 or 1.5 Ah battery, which is almost completely hidden in the handle, and therefore invisible. And although such models do not differ in high power, at the same time, their capabilities are by no means "childish".
Not deprived of options. As a rule, these models have a two-speed gearbox, a backlight, and a quick-release single-sleeve chuck capable of fixing shanks up to 10 mm in diameter.
A little "soft" moment. Its maximum values for screwdrivers of this class are of the order of 13-15 Nm. In any case, you can easily tighten the 6 × 80 mm self-tapping screws.
Low price – an equally important plus, although the options are different.
Choosing a screwdriver by class and type
Compact and light or powerful and heavy, percussion or shockless – which instrument should you choose? We compare the parameters and capabilities of cordless drills of different classes.
Middle class
Makita DDF441RFE
It has a powerful motor, fast chuck and reverse function. Equipped with a 3 Ah lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 14.4 V. Its torque is 70 Nm. Has an additional handle. The price of the Makita DDF441RFE varies depending on the configuration. The average is approximately twenty thousand rubles. Manufacturer’s warranty – 1 year.
Requirements for the parameters of the screwdriver
The choice of a screwdriver for an ice screw is based on the tasks facing it, namely, to work well and for a long time:
- First of all, when choosing a screwdriver, you need to pay attention to its power. It should be at least 18 V. If finances allow, it is better to opt for models with a voltage of 36 V, since the more powerful the instrument, the easier it will be able to cope with thick ice.
- The second important indicator is torque. The principle "the more the better" also works here. The minimum indicators for the correct choice are 50-70 Nm, but if there is an opportunity to acquire a more advanced model (80-90 Nm), then you should not deny yourself this pleasure. After all, the higher the torque, the easier the drilling process itself will be. Such an ice screw can handle even the driest and thickest ice.
- One of the main requirements for a screwdriver is reliability and durability. As a result, it is better to give preference to proven brands of domestic and foreign manufacturers, which have already managed to prove themselves from the best side.
- In order to avoid wringing of the brushes, an additional handle should be located on the screwdriver, thanks to which the ice screw can be held with both hands. This will protect your limbs from unnecessary injuries that can ruin the fishing experience.
Next, you have to decide what kind of battery you need so that after a few minutes your screwdriver does not turn into an unnecessary unit, uselessly dragged across the reservoir. Basically, anglers choose three types of batteries:
- Li-Ion batteries. They charge quickly, are lightweight, but do not tolerate severe frosts. However, the latest models of lithium-ion batteries are designed for use at low temperatures, but they still have to be removed and periodically hidden in the bosom;
- Nickel cadmium batteries. They are highly frost-resistant, but make the ice screw heavier;
- Nickel metal hydride battery. The most optimal battery for a screwdriver, representing a cross between the above batteries.
As practice has shown, most often anglers prefer nickel-cadmium batteries. Despite their weight, they cope with the main duty of a good ice screw – to break through any ice, regardless of severe frosts. And this, you see, is an important factor in winter fishing.
Battery capacity is not in the last place when choosing a screwdriver. It should not be less than 2.5-3 Ah in order to have time to drill several dozen holes before the battery is completely discharged.
How to choose a screwdriver for an ice screw
If on the first ice, when its thickness has not yet become too critical, it is also possible to do with an ice drill, then, when the thickness of the ice shell increases, the angler will no longer be able to do without the help of an ice screw.
And its best alternative for people who do not particularly like to carry bulky and heavy manual or motorized drills will be a regular screwdriver. But the first question that the angler faces is which screwdriver to choose for the ice screw?
TOP 10 best manufacturers of screwdrivers which brand is better
Manufacturer. One of the main criteria when choosing both a professional and a household screwdriver. And if the buyer is already wondering which company a screwdriver to choose, he is looking for tools from only the most reputable companies. Companies distinguished not only by a wide range of products, but also by high customer ratings.
Among the manufacturers of screwdrivers, we have identified 10 that show excellent results, both in construction and in home fastening work. Here you will find information about each of them.
Bosch screwdrivers
Multifunctionality, reliability and quality tested by more than one generation. What makes Bosch tools the market leader. Having been producing construction and household appliances for over 100 years, they do not lose their grip and are constantly improving their numerous assortment. Bosch screwdrivers are no exception.
Professionals highly appreciate the products of the German company, highlighting a number of qualities:
1.Durable motor with high speed and torque;
2. Light weight and compact body, helping to work at height;
3. Selection of modes of rotation speeds.
The screwdrivers of the German company are universal, capable of working both with wood and with drywall and plastic. Individual devices such as the GSB 14.4 V-LI Plus or GSB 10.8-2-LI have the power to cut holes in metal and stone. If we talk about nutrition. Among the devices it is not difficult to find both mains screwdrivers and those that run on batteries.
If you want to distinguish between devices for household and industrial use. You can easily distinguish them by their color. Household tools are green when professional appliances are blue. Although Bosch tools remain among the most expensive on the market, the difference in price is more than offset by high quality standards and ease of use.
In addition to the basic device, customers receive a selection of different bits and tips to fit all the screws they need. Therefore, whatever the task of fastening is not faced by the master. Bosch devices help you cope with it.
Sparky screwdrivers
The fourth position in the list is occupied by Sparky Bulgarian screwdrivers. An experienced craftsman will distinguish them from afar thanks to the inherent red and black colors of the company’s models and an ergonomic shape that makes it possible to work in the most inaccessible places.
Despite the low prices, Bulgarian screwdrivers are not inferior to German and Japanese competitors in terms of safety and quality standards. Experienced craftsmen highlight a number of design features that make fastening work an order of magnitude easier and more comfortable:
1.Possibility without tool replacement of the nozzle thanks to the keyless chuck;
2. Light weight, ergonomic design and compact size, increasing the range of applicability of the device;
3. The ability to adjust the torque, an order of magnitude higher than the accuracy of work;
4. LED illumination, giving work in low light conditions;
5.Reliable motor and two-speed synchronized transmission, helping to achieve trouble-free operation in the most challenging areas.
Sparky Bulgarian drills and screwdrivers are capable of handling a wide range of materials. Among the models, the buyer will find both simpler models used for wood and drywall, and impact models for stone and metal (such as BUR2 18 Li and BVR 63 E HD).
Among the range of models, you can easily find both network and battery models. If you want fast discharging batteries not to limit the operating time, the devices use a pair of lithium-ion batteries at once. When one battery is dead. It should be put on charge, quickly replaced with a second one. The device is equipped with energy indicators, so a discharged battery will not be a surprise to the master. So the work with the screwdriver will be continuous.
Dewalt screwdrivers
The American company Dewalt remains one of the best brands of screwdrivers, combining compliance with high safety standards, ease of use and versatility. Compact units equipped with a powerful motor help to achieve the required torque values without high vibrations and time losses.
Another positive quality is the presence of lithium-ion batteries. They not only allow to develop the required rotation speed, but also, thanks to the double-sided fan, do not need to be recharged too often. Dewalt screwdrivers have several operating modes, which allows the craftsman to choose his own speed for each type of fastening work.
In addition to multitasking and high power, the devices of this company stand out for their compliance with high requirements for safety and ease of use. This is what they say:
1.LED illumination, allowing you to work in dim and hard-to-reach places;
2. An automatically locking keyless chuck that allows quick and effortless change of attachments;
3.Rubberized handle, which makes working with the tool much easier.
Among the model range of the company, the buyer will find both cordless screwdrivers for more complex areas, and networked. While most models work with soft materials such as wood and plastic, there are impact models that work with metal and stone. The most popular among them. DCF815D2 and DCF895M2. The models’ high power open frame motors help to achieve sufficient speed for numerous types of home and professional fastening applications.
Sparky screwdrivers
The fourth position in the list is occupied by Sparky Bulgarian screwdrivers. An experienced craftsman will distinguish them from afar thanks to the inherent red and black colors of the company’s models and an ergonomic shape that makes it possible to work in the most inaccessible places.
Despite the low prices, Bulgarian screwdrivers are not inferior to German and Japanese competitors in terms of safety and quality standards. Experienced craftsmen highlight a number of design features that make fastening work an order of magnitude easier and more comfortable:
1.Possibility without tool replacement of the nozzle thanks to the keyless chuck;
2. Light weight, ergonomic design and compact size, increasing the range of applicability of the device;
3. The ability to adjust the torque, an order of magnitude higher than the accuracy of work;
4. LED illumination, giving work in low light conditions;
5.Reliable motor and two-speed synchronized transmission, helping to achieve trouble-free operation in the most challenging areas.
Sparky Bulgarian drills and screwdrivers are capable of handling a wide range of materials. Among the models, the buyer will find both simpler models used for wood and drywall, and impact models for stone and metal (such as BUR2 18 Li and BVR 63 E HD).
Among the range of models, you can easily find both network and battery models. If you want fast discharging batteries not to limit the operating time, the devices use a pair of lithium-ion batteries at once. When one battery is dead. It should be put on charge, quickly replaced with a second one. The device is equipped with energy indicators, so a discharged battery will not be a surprise to the master. So the work with the screwdriver will be continuous.
Makita screwdrivers
Second on the list is Makita, a Japanese company that has been making professional construction tools for 60 years. The range of the company includes both cordless and cordless Makita screwdrivers, coping with tasks such as:
1. Tightening screws, self-tapping screws and nuts into wooden structures;
2. Drilling holes in wooden surfaces;
3. Installation of plasterboard structures.
In addition to the standard models, those who make the Makita screwdriver offer a range of devices equipped with an impact function. If the idle speed of the shockless device reaches 2300 rpm, the impact drivers reach speeds of up to 3200 rpm. With this strength, the tool works well even on stone and iron surfaces.
With their small size and ergonomic appearance, the company’s screwdrivers operate at high power, reaching high values of torque and working speed. The result is a perceptible vibration that even the ergonomic handle does not completely contain. Despite this, the company’s devices remain one of the most convenient on the market thanks to the rubberized handles and LED backlighting.
The Achilles’ heel of Makita devices is a weak battery that needs frequent recharging. Experienced craftsmen advise buying the best network models (such as FS4000 or FS2700), as for a modest surcharge, they significantly reduce time costs. However, if a screwdriver is needed not for professional purposes, but for home fastening work. It is not that important.
Pros and cons of an impact screwdriver
If you tried to drill concrete with an ordinary screwdriver, then you probably know how long, time consuming and thankless it is. An impact screwdriver easily copes with such a task, gives an advantage in working with brick and masonry, but still its effectiveness is far from the capabilities of a full-size impact drill and, moreover, a hammer drill. But in tightening screws and screws "with an interference" impact screwdriver has no equal.
In addition, the tool makes it relatively easy to unscrew fasteners with a damaged cross or partially erased edges. Do not forget that with long-term continuous operation, the percussion instrument does not load the wrist as much as the unstressed one.
However, the impact design can create a number of inconveniences:
- The pusher mechanism is subject to rapid wear, which is especially evident in inexpensive models.
- With the transition to the shock mode, the operating speed decreases significantly, while the noise level, on the contrary, increases.
- An impact driver cannot be equipped with such useful accessories as a cam chuck (almost always hexagons are used) and a torque limiting clutch.
Impact or non-impact screwdriver: what to choose and in which case
The main feature that favorably distinguishes a screwdriver from a drill is its compactness and the ability to work independently. A few years ago, the operating time of the device without recharging was relatively short, but today, after the appearance of more capacious and energy-efficient batteries, manufacturers were able to significantly increase the mobility of screwdrivers and provide them with new functions. One of them is the percussion mechanism. Which is better – an impact or non-impact screwdriver, and what criteria should be used to choose this tool.
Features of a shockless design
It is known that the simpler the design, the more reliable it is. Due to the absence of constant alternating loads, the chucks and rotors of shockless screwdrivers are less susceptible to wear. Add to this the relatively low cost, small dimensions and weight, longer operating time without recharging – and we get a number of obvious advantages over a percussion instrument. So, if the main task of the device is to work with wood and soft brick, screwing and unscrewing serviceable fasteners under light loads, then preference should be given to a non-impact screwdriver.
Problems will arise when the owner of the tool has to face difficult tasks. The main drawback of a hammerless tool is its almost complete uselessness in drilling hard inelastic surfaces, such as concrete or stone. When working with damaged or hard-wired fasteners, there is a high risk of damage to them – the working head will simply rotate in the crosspiece or on the hexagon without doing any useful work.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Impact Tools
For many buyers who are faced with the choice of which drill or wrench to choose, the question arises as to how the impact driver is superior to the impactless model.
- The increased torque allows the technician to apply significantly less effort when working with the tool, without pressing on the body itself. For most models, the values of this indicator are in the range from 80 to 250 N / m.
- The possibility of using not only for self-tapping screws, but also for working with nuts. With the free running of the product, the screwdriver works in the standard mode, when resistance occurs and the nut runs smoothly along the thread, the mode automatically switches to the impact mode.
- Since there is no need to apply excessive force to tighten the bolts and screws, the caps will not deform. The power of the tool is also sufficient for the reverse action – unscrewing the parts that have changed their original shape or rusted;
- The ease of use also helps to relieve stress on the user’s hand and wrist.
The limitations and disadvantages of impact-producing screwdrivers include a decrease in the screwing speed during impact mode, since the tool’s actions are concentrated on the turning moment and on the quality of work. Also, only hexagonal chucks can be used. The degree of twisting must be controlled independently, since there is no limiting clutch. There is also an increased noise level when working at high speed.
Differences between a traditional drill and an impact type screwdriver
Before many craftsmen who choose tools for home use or for work, the question arises, what is the difference between the not yet well-known impact-type screwdriver and the usual standard electric drill. With a similar appearance, the main difference is the principle of operation:
- In the first case, the tool has an impact mechanism, which drives the drill, while increasing the torque;
- A standard electric drill is based on a two-stage gearbox.
This distinction is beginning to show itself, giving an advantage to the percussion type tool when working on hard and particularly difficult surfaces. When the drill senses resistance, it sends out a series of powerful and quick blows that multiply the torque and make it much easier to tighten the fastener.
It is also worth distinguishing between an impact screwdriver and a drill. With the same principle of operation, they have a different direction of impact. For a drill, this is longitudinal, and for a screwdriver, it is perpendicular to the direction of rotation. The process of action of the tool is most clearly represented as small blows with a wrench while tightening the nut.
Impact screwdriver or impactless which is better
In the arsenal of each owner there is a tool that allows you to tighten or unscrew a screw, a self-tapping screw, to make minor home repairs, assemble furniture, drill a wall for a new picture. Automatic electric drills greatly simplify the process, allowing you to drill almost any surface without much effort and unnecessary debris.
Now on the market there is a huge selection of tools from different manufacturers, models, wired and mobile, for various surfaces and with different operating principles. According to experts, among the colossal variety of drills, the most productive, convenient, versatile and multifunctional is the impact driver.