In some jobs you have to tighten a lot of screws. You can, of course, do this manually with a screwdriver, but this requires considerable effort and takes a lot of time. To speed up the process, you need to choose a screwdriver. There are absolutely inexpensive models- household ones - which, nevertheless, greatly facilitate the installation and dismantling of screws. And some can also work in drill mode.

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.

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.

Battery or mains

Having decided on the class, you will need to decide whether you need a corded screwdriver or a cordless one. The disadvantages and advantages of both are obvious: the battery-powered one has higher mobility and the cord does not interfere with operation, but it weighs more. The network connection does not depend on the presence of battery charge, but not all construction sites have power supply. IN overall choice difficult. The decisive point may be that a cordless screwdriver with a good battery costs significantly more than a similar model operating from the mains. The difference is due to the presence of a battery - good options are not cheap.

If you decide to choose corded screwdriver, pay attention to the cable length. The longer it is, the more convenient it will be to work - you won’t have to carry a carrier either.

To choose the right cordless screwdriver, you need to pay attention to the type of battery. The duration of operation on one charge, as well as the order of storage, depend on this.

• Lithium-ion (Li-lon). Holds a charge for a long time, charges quickly, has a large number of recharges, and almost never discharges during storage. All in all, a good option, but expensive. Therefore, it is probably more common on professional models, where the duration of operation on a single charge is important. Disadvantages include fear of cold, which is important in our country.

  

• Nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH). This type batteries environmentally friendly, small in size and weight, average price. Disadvantages - they also do not like low temperatures, they have a short service life - about 3 years. But it’s easier to work with such a tool—the hand doesn’t get so tired. When storing the battery, the battery is fully charged; discharged batteries cannot be stored. During storage they are discharged, but moderately.

  

• Nickel-cadmium (Ni-CD). Main advantages - low price and a service life of 5 years (number of charges - about 3000), is not afraid of frost, that is, you can work outside in winter. Disadvantages - it takes a long time to charge (it takes twice as long as charging other types of batteries), has a “charge memory”. Charge memory is a nasty thing. If you charge a battery that is not completely discharged, the total capacity of the battery will decrease. It will become smaller by exactly the value from which the charge began. Therefore, you need to work with such a tool until the battery is completely discharged, which is not always convenient: it cannot always “tighten” the screw, you have to help with your hands or tighten it with a “fresh” battery. Store completely discharged, otherwise the capacity will decrease again.

  

  The cheapest type of battery is nickel-cadmium, but they have a “charge memory”

So, if you choose a cordless screwdriver for periodic work, a nickel-cadmium battery will do just fine. If you use it carefully, it will last a long time. If you are starting large-scale work, it is better to use other batteries - there will be less downtime, the work will move faster.

Chuck type

There are two types of screwdriver chuck: key and quick-release. The quick-release (usually has three blades) allows you to change attachments in a matter of seconds - the cartridge is turned a little by hand, the nozzle is changed, after which it is again turned a little in the opposite direction. In addition, there is another positive point: in such a holder it is fashionable to install a nozzle of any thickness. The main thing is that the shank fits into the holder.

The same operation with a key cartridge requires a special key. It is inserted into a special socket and turned until the nozzle is released. After replacement, the key turns in the opposite direction. The disadvantage is obvious: you need to have this key on hand.

According to their structure, quick-release chucks can have one or two couplings. If there are two couplings, one of them fixes the cartridge, the second – the shaft. If there is only one clutch, then there is a shaft lock button on the body.

Choosing a screwdriver based on this parameter is not difficult - usually everyone agrees on quick-clamping ones. They allow you to fix attachments large sizes, however, all other things being equal, they are a little more expensive.

Technical specifications

Once you have decided on the type of screwdriver and power supply, you need to focus on the technical specifications. They determine what screws and what material you can screw into.

Rotation speed and torque

The force with which a screwdriver can turn a screw is determined by the torque. It can be very small for household models - 10-15 Nm, or can reach 130-140 Nm for professional ones. Therefore, professional screwdrivers can easily and quickly tighten large screws and work with hard materials.

But high torque is not always necessary and not with all materials; therefore, screwdrivers provide the ability to adjust the applied force. There is a limiter for this. It is made in the form of a movable ring, which is located behind the clamping chuck.

There is a mark on the ring; by placing it opposite a certain number, you set the maximum force that the tool can develop. Once this value is reached, the cartridge will spin idle - the screw will no longer be tightened. The achievement of this value can be clearly monitored - the ratchet turns on.

Many models of screwdrivers can operate in two modes: actually tightening the fasteners and drilling. Such models are called drill-screwdrivers, but they are now the majority. To switch to the drill mode, the switch is set to the extreme position (having first replaced the nozzle). At the same time, maximum speed is turned on, which allows you to drill even quite hard materials.

Screwdriver power

Both torque and rotation speed are a consequence of the power of the electric motor. Therefore, we must also look at this parameter. But here it is necessary to monitor three quantities at once: so that the power of the screwdriver corresponds to the speed parameters. Powerful models with good parameters can be found from many manufacturers, but such as Metabo (Metabo), Bosch (Bosch) and Makita (Makita) and other well-known prices for them are very high. There are other brands with similar characteristics, but more reasonable prices. For example, RYOBI (Riobi). The brand is still little-known, but according to reviews it is no worse than the above-mentioned famous brands. In order to be able to compare the main characteristics and price of models of approximately the same power, but different brands, let's put them in a table.

Model	Tool type	Chuck type/diameter	Maximum idle speed	Maximum torque	Number of speeds	Maximum drilling diameter wood/metal	Battery type, charging time	Battery capacity/voltage	Possibilities	Adaptations	Weight	Equipment	Price
Bosch GSR 1800-LI 1.5Ah x2 Case	hammerless drill/driver	quick-release 0.8-10 mm	1300 rpm	34 Nm	2	29 mm / 10 mm	Li-ion	1.5 Ah / 18 V		power button lock	1.4 kg		6.7 t.r. - 7.5 t.r.
Bosch GSR 18-2-LI Plus 2.0Ah x2 Case	hammerless drill/driver	quick-release 1.5-13 mm	1900 rpm	63 Nm	2	38 mm / 13 mm	Li-ion	2 Ah / 18 V	reverse, spindle lock, electronic overload protection, electronic speed control		1.49 kg	case, two batteries, charger	11 t.r. - 13.5 t.r.
Makita 6347DWDE	hammerless drill/driver	quick-release / 1.5 - 13 mm	1300 rpm	80 Nm	2	38 mm / 13 mm	Ni-Cd	2.3 Ah / 18 V			1.5 kg		13 t.r.
Makita 6347DWAE	hammerless drill/driver	quick-release / 1.5 - 13 mm	1300 rpm	80 Nm	2	38 mm / 13 mm	Ni-Cd	2 a.h / 18 V	reverse, electronic reverse, electronic speed control	bit socket, power button lock	1.5 kg	two batteries, charger, bit, case	11.3 tr. - 12 t.r.
Hitachi DS18DVF3	hammerless drill/driver	quick-release / 13 mm	1200 rpm	45 Nm	2	21 mm / 12 mm	Ni-Cd	1.4 Ah / 18 V	reverse, electronic speed control	bit socket, additional handle	2 kg	case, flashlight, set of attachments	7.6 tr. - 9.5 t.r.
Hitachi DS18DSFL	hammerless drill/driver	quick-release 2mm / 13mm	1250 rpm	41 Nm	2	38 mm / 13 mm	Li-ion	1.5 Ah / 18 V	reverse, electronic speed control	power button lock	1.7 kg		8.7 tr. - 11.6 t.r.
Metabo BS 18 10mm 1.3Ah x2 Case	hammerless drill/driver	quick-release / 1-10 mm	1600 rpm	48 Nm	2	20 mm / 10 mm	Li-ion	1.3 Ah / 18 V	reverse, spindle lock, electronic speed control	bit socket, spotlight, power button lock	1.3 kg	two batteries, charger, case	7.7 t.r. - 8.1 tr.
Metabo BS 18 Li 2012 13mm 2.0Ah x2 Case	hammerless drill/driver	quick-release / 1.5-13 mm	1600 rpm	48 Nm	2	20 mm / 10 mm	Li-ion	2 Ah / 18 V	reverse, spindle lock, electronic speed control	bit socket, spotlight, power button lock	1.5 kg	two batteries, charger, case	10.3 tr. - 10.9 tr.
RYOBI RCD18021L	hammerless drill/driver	quick-release / 1.5-13 mm	1600 rpm	45 Nm	2	38mm / 13mm	Li-Ion	1.4 Ah / 18 V	reverse, spindle lock, electronic speed control	bit socket, magnetic holder on the body, spotlight, power button lock	1.2 kg	one battery, charger, bit, bag	7.1 t.r. - 7.8t.r.
RYOBI R18DDP-0	hammerless drill/driver	quick-release / 13 mm	1600 rpm	45 Nm	2	32 mm / 13 mm		18 V	reverse, electronic reverse, spindle lock, electronic speed control	socket for fastening bits, magnetic holder on the case, locking the power button	1.81 kg	bit (without battery and charger)	2.7 t.r. - 2.9 tr.

It’s worth saying a few more words about the number of operating speeds. Do not confuse with the number of rotation speeds. These are the two operating modes that are used when working with different sizes screws or drills. When working with small screws/drills, you can select a higher speed; when screwing in large screws or drilling large holes, you can select a lower speed.

Battery options

To choose the right screwdriver with batteries, in addition to the type of batteries, you need to select their operating parameters:

To choose a screwdriver for home or professional use and don’t regret it, you should definitely look at these parameters. If you have selected several models, compare them according to these characteristics, because it depends on them how long the interval between charges of the screwdriver batteries will be.

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.

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.

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.

If you decide to choose a cordless screwdriver, it would be a good idea to have a battery charge indicator. These are LEDs 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.

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.

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.

Every man who has ever tinkered at home has a screwdriver or wants to buy one. Surely, without having this tool, it will be difficult to carry out work when repairing a house, regardless of whether it is a minor or major repair, and it’s not even worth talking about building a house - without it, it’s like having no hands. Below we will figure out how to choose a screwdriver that the best way will suit your ideas. Let's look at it at the same time golden mean according to the price-quality criterion, and also look at available options On the market.

Design elements

So, let's start the story by taking a closer look at the elements that a cordless screwdriver has in its design:

• Electric motor. It activates and rotates at a certain speed, which we will discuss below.
• Planetary type gearbox. Transfers rotating force to the spindle on which the clamping chuck sits.
• Regulating coupling. Attached to the gearbox and adjusts the torque.
• Clamping chuck. Serves for fixing working attachments - the so-called bits.
• Control system. Includes tool start button and forward/reverse switch.
• Power source – battery. The cordless screwdriver is convenient to use in places where there are no outlets or where the carrying cord cannot be reached.

Now a few obvious, but necessary to mention, types of work for which it will be convenient to use this tool, influencing the choice of a screwdriver for the home:

• Screwing in and unscrewing various fasteners such as bolts, screws, screws and self-tapping screws.
• During installation work You can tighten the anchors or dowels further.
• Excellent drilling in wood, both soft and hard.
• You can also drill metal surfaces.
• If you have the appropriate attachment (tap), you will be able to cut the thread.

Avoiding errors during selection

When you need to choose a good screwdriver for your home, when you come to the store, you don’t need to immediately focus solely on the price of the tool. When deciding how to choose a good screwdriver, it is advisable to read the data sheets with the characteristics of the models you like. The passport must indicate all the main technical specifications devices. So, when studying, you need to pay attention to the rotation speed, torque, if it is a battery-powered device, then what battery it has. Based on the study of this data, you need to make a purchasing decision.

Household or professional?

Before going to the store, or on the way to it, think about what repair or construction work you need this tool. And based on your conclusions, you need to make a choice of a screwdriver according to the parameters. If you are not a keen home craftsman and you only need to take out the device a few times a month, then why should you buy a professional model, which will cost several times more. After all, you must admit that an amateur model that runs on battery will be enough for you. It will have all the necessary functions, and the household model will weigh significantly less than the professional one.

However, when you need to twist, build or assemble something almost every day, then you need to pay attention not to cheap household models, but to more expensive, but extremely powerful models for professionals. They are most often powered from the mains, and also have greater weight and size. It makes sense to buy such corded drill and screwdrivers for those who have large volumes of work with increased loads on the tool. And how to choose a network design screwdriver also needs to be studied.

Rotation speed and torque

To understand how to choose the right screwdriver, you need to study the concept of torque. It is responsible for the force with which the screwdriver will tighten the screwed fastener, or with what force it will resist the applied load. For example, the domestic version has a torque of 10-15 Newton meters. For professional models it can be up to 130 Nm, thanks to which they are able to drill even hard materials. With a similar torque, the engine shaft develops 1200-1300 rpm, and for household models this parameter is 400-500 rpm.

The torque determines the length of the fastener being screwed in and its diameter. Simply put, professional models will be able to tighten longer and thicker screws or self-tapping screws. In addition, this option can be safely used on hard materials without worrying about its breakage.

Another point that needs to be understood in order to figure out how to choose a good screwdriver is torque. It, unlike other power tools, can be adjusted. For these purposes, there is a simple device - a limiter. It is actually a ring that sits behind the chuck. By adjusting the limiter, you can achieve a certain force, after which the fastener will no longer tighten. That is, it looks like this - they tightened the hardware and the cartridge immediately stopped, with the engine rotating. With such a restriction, the sound of a ratchet is always heard. The presence of such a limiter saves the tool from many problems - breakdown of the slot of the screws, wear of the bits, as well as from excessive recessing of the fasteners into the surface being processed.

The ratchet installed on the motor coupling protects it from overload, thereby allowing the torque shaft to rotate freely. So, for example, if you set the maximum torque, then it will be enough to unscrew the tightest screw without overloading the engine. In order to turn on the simple drilling mode, the coupling must be turned to the minimum value. This removes all torque restrictions, and the tool begins to work in normal drill mode.

This, by the way, is another characteristic for figuring out which screwdriver to choose for home work. There are two operating modes: the first allows you to simply drill, and the second allows you to tighten the fasteners.

To understand which screwdriver is best to choose, you need to take into account a few more nuances. It is necessary to clarify how stably the device’s electric motor operates under load, and whether its rotation speed is maintained. An important point is also the quality of the battery, i.e. preservation of charge and residual power of the device when the power supply is dead.

Mains or battery?

Naturally, it will not be a discovery that there are 2 versions - those with a battery and those powered by the network. Network devices have a sensitive weight, but, of course, you can only work with them near sockets or use extension cords. Devices with batteries are much lighter and have a significant advantage - autonomy. Therefore, you also need to figure out how to choose a cordless screwdriver for your home.

You don’t always have to work where there are sockets for connection, which is why battery-powered models will naturally be preferable. You will probably agree that moving meters of wires behind you will not be much fun, and untangling these wires will be even less fun. Working with a network model at altitude is generally problematic, because in addition to long wires, they are also heavy. That is why we will consider battery models. In this context, it will be important to select its type.

How to choose the right battery

In order to work comfortably, and not constantly run and charge it, you need to be careful when choosing a battery. There is no particular difficulty in choosing which screwdriver for your home - you just need to take the tool as powerful as possible. A spare battery will also be useful in future work if it is included in the kit.

As for the charging time, professional models charge in about 1 hour, while household ones can last up to 7 hours. Everything will depend on the charger.

All screwdrivers use three types of batteries:

• Lithium-ion;
• Nickel-cadmium;
• Nickel-metal hybrid;

Nickel-metal hybrid batteries

Nickel-metal hybrid (Ni-MH) batteries are now gaining popularity. Almost everyone switches to them European manufacturers screwdrivers. They are light and small and do not have a memory effect. They have only two drawbacks:

• They do not like overcurrent and frost;
• The cost is still high.

However, despite this, they have 1500 recharges with a constant capacity. In order to properly store these batteries, they must be fully charged. Discharged storage is not permitted. They do not have a large memory effect, like nickel-cadmium, but are more powerful.

Nickel-cadmium batteries

These batteries are more toxic, but the number of recharges is twice as large as the previous ones. That is why the devices currently presented on construction market, mainly have power supplies based on nickel-cadmium elements. They also do not have a high price, and they are not afraid of frost. And for domestic climatic conditions, you can’t imagine anything better. However, such batteries have significant self-discharge and memory effect, which cannot add to their advantages. In order to store them, they must be completely discharged. Otherwise, you may end up with a battery with a lower capacity.

Lithium-ion batteries

Batteries of this type are not as common as the previous ones. They are even more sensitive to low temperatures, than Ni-MH, and their power is not too high. The number of recharges reaches 3000 times, they are practically not subject to self-discharge, and there is no memory effect. However, the high battery capacity is not compensated by the excessively high cost. In terms of everyday use, they are very convenient, but their cost will not please you at all.

In order to understand how to choose a cordless screwdriver for your home, you should not regret your time spent selecting a battery. After all, more than half the cost of the device is the price of the battery, and to be more precise, it is 60-70%. When choosing, compare the following characteristics available in the manufacturer’s data sheet:

• Battery capacity;
• Battery voltage;
• Whether there is self-charging or not;
• Whether there is a memory effect or not.

The battery is a removable element. Structurally, it is made of a certain number of batteries combined in one housing. All of them are held together using plates. The voltage of the output sources is summed and can be 10, 12, 14.4, 18 or 24 volts. It is this parameter that will determine the duration of continuous operation, as well as the power of the screwdriver.

The capacity will depend on what elements the battery consists of. It will also determine the number of recharges, as well as the duration of operation. It must be borne in mind that over time the capacity will decrease.

Now a few words about the charge memory effect - this is the battery’s ability to lose total capacity when it is not discharged, and then fully charged. In other words, it should be completely discharged before charging. When a charged battery sits idle, it will still lose its charge. Therefore, if you plan to store a nickel-cadmium battery, it must be completely discharged.

Let's give one more tip regarding batteries. Don't just look at the device's output voltage. You also need to pay attention to the ratio of current strength to operating time.

Types of cartridges

To figure out which is better to buy a screwdriver for household use needs to be studied clamping element. Chucks for fixing parts can be of 2 types - key and quick-release. The key type requires a special toothed key for clamping. And if a quick-release chuck is installed, then everything is simpler - the clamping occurs simply by pulling it by hand.

In turn, cartridges that are clamped with a key can have either one or two clutches. When one clutch is used, there is a mechanism to lock the shaft while changing attachments. When there are two clutches, there is no locking, and the cartridge is held by one of the clutches. The second one will clamp the cartridge.

Reverse stroke

The reverse stroke is usually called reverse. Typically, it uses an electronic motor pole switch. For greatest convenience The reverse switch button is installed near the start button. The switch has 2 positions, forward and backward, respectively. In the middle position the device will be locked. This is done in order to temporarily take the tool out of operation.

Design and ergonomics

When thinking about how to choose a screwdriver for your home, you don’t need to limit yourself to just studying information on websites. After all, after all, you will need to work with the tool, so you should hold it in your hands, check how the buttons are pressed, how they switch. It is worth feeling the center of gravity, which should be located in the area of ​​the handle. With a similar center of gravity, the hand will get less tired during work. Behind the chuck there must be a torque regulator, which we already discussed above.

A small screwdriver is useful, for example, when you need to assemble furniture

A classic model containing all the basic functions.

Screwdriver configurations can also vary. Choosing an inexpensive screwdriver is not difficult. Ideal option There will be availability of not only the tool itself, but also the necessary attachments. This will allow you to save your time on searching necessary elements, and save your money, because... In any case, they will be more expensive at retail.

Conclusion

After looking at all the necessary parameters in this article, write down the most optimal ones that will suit your needs, and feel free to go to the stores to find out which company is better.

For household tools optimal parameters may be the following:

• Torque is from 10 Newton meters;
• Rotation speed 400-500 rpm;
• Two modes of operation – drilling and screwing;
• Reverse the device;
• Availability of battery;
• Battery type – nickel-metal hybrid or nickel-cadmium;
• Output voltage from 10 to 14.4 Volts;
• The amp/hour value will be, the higher the better. So, for example, when two batteries you like have the same voltage, and one has a higher ampere/hour value, then it is better to take it.

For greater clarity, you can study videos in which you can understand which one to choose and look at a kind of rating of currently available models.

Every person at least once in his life has dealt with such a tool as a screwdriver. Everyone has ever twisted bolts, screws or self-tapping screws.

Sometimes, if a screw needed to be tightened in hard surface or there were a lot of these screws, such tightening became quite difficult. To facilitate such “swirling” processes, it was created special device- screwdriver. We'll talk about how to choose a good screwdriver for your home in this article.

Screwdriver (screwdriver)

Special electric manual tool, designed for tightening as well as unscrewing self-tapping screws, screws and other fastening screws, is its main function.

Some electric Drills can also perform the functions of a screwdriver, but for them this function is not the main one. A drill can be used for such purposes from time to time and for small volumes of work, but in all other cases it is better to use a screwdriver.

The main technical characteristics of screwdrivers, which determine their capabilities, are as follows:

1. Maximum torque.

By physical definition torque moment is the magnitude of the rotational force on a body. That is, this is the force with which the working element of the tool rotates. The diameter and length of the screws that you can tighten, as well as the hardness of the material with which you can work, depend on the torque.

Torque is measured in newton meters. In household screwdrivers, the average torque ranges from 10 to 30 N/m. This is enough to cope with most necessary tasks. A professional screwdriver can have a torque of 100 N/m or more.

Screwdrivers with high torque can be used for driving screws into very hard materials and even for drilling as drills. Very important characteristic A good screwdriver is the ability to adjust the torque, which allows you to twist different screws with different forces.

Hand-held household screwdriver2. Rotational speed.

The rotation speed indicates the number of revolutions of the working nozzle per unit of time. This indicator helps determine how fast you can unscrew or tighten something.

It should be noted that for normal operation with screws and with self-tapping screws, a speed of 450-550 rpm or even less is quite sufficient. If a screwdriver is used for drilling, then this requires a speed of 1000 rpm. These are relatively small rotation speeds; for example, in an angle grinder, the rotation speed can reach 11,000 rpm.

The rotation speed, as well as the torque, can be adjusted using a special screwdriver speed controller, the presence of which is also a positively necessary factor.

3. Battery characteristics.

If the screwdriver is not used for work electrical network(corded screwdriver), and the internal battery is a cordless screwdriver. From characteristics battery The duration of operation of the tool and many of its other parameters will depend. When purchasing a screwdriver, you should pay attention to the type, capacity and voltage of the battery.

There are the following main types of screwdriver batteries: lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries. Most household models of screwdrivers are equipped with nickel-cadmium batteries. Such batteries They have a limited number of charging and discharging modes and the so-called “memory effect”, so they need to be fully charged and discharged too.

More expensive tools have lithium-ion batteries that do not have a “memory effect” and can be recharged without waiting for complete discharge. Nickel-metal hydride batteries for screwdrivers are no longer considered relevant.

Battery capacity screwdriver measured in amperes/hours. The time during which the tool can work without recharging depends on the capacity. The larger this capacity, the better. On average, for household use you can take screwdrivers with a battery capacity of 1.2 A/hour.

Battery voltage screwdriver defines electrical power, and, accordingly, work productivity. Measured voltage in Volts. A more powerful screwdriver makes the job easier.

When choosing a household screwdriver, focus on a battery voltage of 12-14 V.

When buying a cordless screwdriver, also pay attention to the presence of a charger in the kit. Charger for a screwdriver battery it works in a similar way to chargers for mobile phones.

4. Type of cartridge.

Like a drill, screwdrivers can have keyless or keyless chucks. Because in screwdrivers loads differ from the loads in a drill, then optimal choice for them there will be a quick-release chuck, which allows you to quickly change attachments.

5. Additional features.

Additional features that help make using a hand screwdriver more convenient and efficient include the following:

Presence of reverse. Reverse is rotation cartridge in the opposite direction. The reverse function can even be considered basic, since it is thanks to it that it is possible to unscrew something;

Spindle lock. The lock makes it easier to change screwdriver attachments in the chuck;

Backlight. With the help of little flashlight screwdriver can illuminate work surface, such a screwdriver with a flashlight can be used in unlit rooms or in conditions of poor visibility on the street.

Some screwdriver manufacturers add a special case to the kit, in which it is very convenient to carry and store the tool, as well as a special holster. Therefore, when choosing a screwdriver, look for the presence of such a suitcase, a holster for screwdriver will also be an additional plus. I hope these tips will help you learn how to choose the best screwdriver.

Repair is a permanent condition, and a screwdriver will be a good and necessary assistant. There are also almost everyday matters in which help modern technology will come in handy. For example, how often do you tighten or remove screws? I think quite often. Buy a screwdriver, you will do it even more often, but faster, easier and with better quality.

And if you want to attach decorations and paintings to the wall yourself or its elements (shelves, whatnots), it will not be easy without a screwdriver. Try, for example, without precise (down to the millimeter) drawings to assemble and fit the parts of a multi-level bookcase, folding sofa, while alternately tightening and unscrewing the screws, transferring them to a new place. Of course, as they say, measure seven times... But the help of a convenient tool will not hurt you in any case. And there will be no damaged screws or additional calluses.

In other words, screwdrivers are designed for tightening screws and self-tapping screws without preliminary preparation holes. They allow you to save energy, quickly and easily perform labor-intensive tasks. handmade, improve its quality. - This is one of the three important tasks of a man. And, having built it, equip it with beautiful and comfortable furniture, decorate with paintings and fence with an attractive picket fence. A screwdriver will be your reliable assistant in everything.

Design and principle of operation of a screwdriver

The principle of operation of a screwdriver is the same as that of a drill, but there is a difference - a torque limiter. Directly behind the chuck, the screwdriver has an adjustment ring that allows you to set the required torque: as soon as the screw is tightened, the chuck stops. although the engine continues to run. This prevents the slot on the screw from breaking off, “sinking” into the depth of the surface and wear on the screwdriver bit. The number of adjustment steps usually ranges from 5-7 to 22, and if the screwdriver can work as a drill, then there is also a special provision - “without limitation”, i.e. all the torque is transmitted to the drill. It is the stopper that determines how accurately you screw the screw and whether its head will remain on the surface.

This tool will help you secure many small but necessary interior details; it simply never tires.

What about the drill?

What kind of screwdriver do you need for your home?

Like all tools, screwdrivers can be professional or amateur. As has already been written many times, professional ones are designed for long-term, without interruptions, permanent job and have a greater resource, are made from more expensive materials and, naturally, are more expensive. And amateur tools require less work, a smaller resource and a lower price.

Family contract - modern screwdrivers will be obedient and useful even in graceful female hands

Often people are on the hunt for a tool with a serviceable motor to extend its life. But in a good amateur screwdriver, even with a maintenance-free motor, the service life is at least 150 hours clean work, and there are tools that have a service life of 1500 hours. How much it will be in thousands of tightened screws is not difficult to calculate. There are corded screwdrivers, these are professional and very powerful tools. But cordless screwdrivers are more often found on sale, and these are the tools that are offered for home users.

Furniture assembly is the main use of screwdrivers. No matter how many screws there are, you will tighten them quickly and efficiently

What's good about a cordless screwdriver?

It is safer and more mobile (the wire does not get in the way, and you can easily work, for example, on a ladder). A cordless screwdriver is indispensable in the country and just on the street. , more ergonomic, lighter, which means that when working with it, you will get much less tired.

Which screwdriver battery is better?

Theoretically, a nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery is better. For environmental reasons, the whole of Europe is switching to such batteries, since nickel-cadmium batteries (Ni-Cd) contain cadmium, which is considered an allergen. But our choice is still limited, and Ni-Cd batteries are the most common. By the way, they have their pros and cons. Ni-MH batteries have smaller dimensions, but are less able to withstand high currents, and it is better not to use a tool with a Ni-Cd battery in conditions negative temperatures. Finally, Ni-MH batteries have larger capacity, but also at a higher price.

An important point is the battery capacity. The larger it is, the longer it will not need to be charged. Many models often have two batteries: you use one and charge the other. With this configuration, the difference of 0.5 Ah may not be noticed.

And the main disadvantage of household models compared to professional ones is that charging usually takes 1-2 hours, and few models can boast of a half-hour charge.

Due to their size, very small household models are very convenient when working in corners and other hard-to-reach places

Screwdriver torque and speed

We have already talked about the limiter, but now we will clarify what numerical parameters you should look at when choosing a screwdriver. For screwdrivers, the torque is most often limited at 5-10 Nm. This is enough to tighten the most “serious” screws, and the engine does not suffer from overloads. Impressive numbers in front of the letters Nm (there are models up to 30 Nm) are useful when screwing screws into hard materials, such as steel, hardwood - beech, hornbeam, oak, and also when using a screwdriver as a drill - for drilling holes large diameter. But do not forget that the maximum drilling diameter of screwdrivers is still limited, therefore the drilling function is only auxiliary.

In general, screwdrivers with high torque can be called universal: they are equally convenient for tightening screws and drilling any materials. Less “strong” screwdrivers are best used only for assembly work.

Much more important is how the engine performs under load, whether it holds speed well and whether it produces enough power when the battery is discharged. True, this can only be determined experimentally. Another serious indicator is maximum speed. To tighten screws, 500 rpm is enough, but for drilling you need 1200-1300 rpm. An even higher rotation speed is needed only for specific tasks.

By the way, modern models are equipped with a powerful cooling system with increased air flow, which protects the tool from overheating at low speeds.

Powerful models of screwdrivers can handle a large volume of work, for example, installing the roof of a house or ceiling parts

Choosing a screwdriver and proper care of it

When choosing models, it is necessary to compare their main specifications: rated power, speed idle move, maximum diameter of screws, maximum drilling diameter in steel and wood, torque, weight - assessing all this from the standpoint of practical necessity. And of course, the decision to choose a specific screwdriver model should be influenced by the quality of the tools, the level of service and maintenance time, the price/performance ratio of power tools and spare parts.

The construction market now has enough wide choose drills and screwdrivers from various manufacturers. The differences between models from different companies are manifested mainly in the ease and convenience of working with them, the availability additional functions and configurations.

And in conclusion, it is worth adding the following: like any power tool, screwdrivers require careful handling, the right conditions storage and operation (dry place, no direct sunlight, temperature Range from 10 to 25°C). Leaving a screwdriver idle for a long time, especially when discharged, is harmful to its battery, so periodically give it at least some work. Alternatively, disconnect the battery during storage. And batteries with a “memory effect” will have to be “dried” before use, that is, the charging/discharging cycle will have to be repeated several times.

Very often on forums people wonder what power they should choose a screwdriver in order to easily drive self-tapping screws or screws of such and such a diameter and length? Or, in other words, what torque should a screwdriver have in Nm for certain tasks?

People get different answers to these questions. Most often, there are offers from “all-knowing specialists” to buy expensive semi-professional 18-volt models. Like, they can definitely do anything. But is it worth paying twice as much if it suddenly turns out that younger 10-14 volt models are also good? And if there is a difference, what is it?

We will try to briefly talk about the theory and move on to practice.

Theory

Looking at the table, you might think that any of the commercially available screwdrivers will be suitable for 5x90 self-tapping screws. But this is not entirely true, as discussed in the practical part of the material.

Let's summarize the theory:

1. we do not know from what “ceiling” the figures for the torque characteristics of screwdrivers specified by the manufacturer are taken;
2. Captain Obvious also suggests that the material used has a noticeable impact on the entire process, as well as the parameters of the screws.

Practice

For practical exercises we took three different screwdrivers and two different types screws/screws and we will screw them into dry pine beams, simultaneously recording the success of the operation and the time spent.

Here are the names of screwdriver models and their brief technical characteristics:

It’s no coincidence that two “old guys” (Bosch and DeFort) ended up here. These low-power models will immediately make it clear how correct the entire theory stated above was, and whether absolutely any screwdriver is enough to successfully work with 5x90 mm self-tapping screws and the like. And the average Hitachi will simply complement our picture and play the role of some kind of modern instrument.

Regarding the screws, we did not waste time and took a thin black 4.8 x 127 mm and, for completeness, a powerful white 6 x 150 mm for testing. To screw the latter into a pine beam, presumably, a maximum torque of about 11 Nm is required.

So, as a summary, we invite you to watch a short video in which we captured the entire process.

A thin self-tapping screw (4.8 x 127 mm) turned out to be a feasible task for all screwdrivers, without exception, although it was clear that it was not so easy for Bosch. The time taken by the screwdrivers was: 5.3 seconds for DeFort, 7 seconds for Bosch and 2.9 seconds for Hitachi. We did not set the task of accurately comparing time and repeatability; only the final result was important to us. That's why we made only one take for each of the models.

The white “strong guy” was no longer too tough for everyone. As in the previous case, DeFort started very vigorously, but the last centimeter did not submit to him.

Bosch, although it solved the problem, the smell of burnt windings made it clear that such loads are strictly contraindicated for this tool.

Well, for the powerful Hitachi, both self-tapping screws are like toys. Here's what the stopwatch showed: 13.3 seconds for DeFort (missed 1 cm), 20.7 seconds for Bosch and 4.3 seconds for Hitachi. In addition, we note that during the test Hitachi worked at the second speed, where the torque was at least a third lower than the maximum stated in the characteristics.

We have one more thing for the practical part important note: our test involved screwdrivers of older models (Hitachi does not count), which do not have an overload protection system. Majority modern models They have such a system, so they won’t let you abuse the tool like you can see in the video with a Bosch screwdriver. This also means that the security system will not allow such a screw to be screwed in completely the first time. You will have to turn on the tool several more times until the protection is triggered again (usually 1-2 seconds) until the screw is tightened. But in order not to abuse the tool like this, of course, you need to buy a screwdriver with a certain power reserve!

conclusions

As for the optimal power (torque) for working with 6 x 150 mm screws, in our opinion, it is in the region of 20-30 Nm. It can also be said unequivocally that home handyman, who has never seen 6 x 150 screws, there is no point in spending money on “monsters” with a torque of 40 Nm or more. Well, maybe only you will be attracted to them O greater battery capacity in watt-hours (due to higher voltage and more “cans”) or some other features.