Installation work on the construction site and at home is inextricably linked with the operations of twisting hardware and drilling. Such measures are required when installing equipment, finishing materials, laying communications, etc. In solving such problems, special power tools are used - a screwdriver and a drill. What is the difference between the two? Despite working with different nozzles, there are not so many differences, but they are. In many ways, the difference is due to structural features and functional content.
General information about the screwdriver
This type of power tool is designed to unscrew and tighten screws, bolts and self-tapping screws. The main operational feature of a screwdriver can be called an automatic rotation stop at the moment when the maximum resistance is reached. That is, when the hardware is twisted to the limit. What is the difference between a screwdriver and a drill in terms of attachment design? In this case, a bit is used, with which the tool interacts with the screw by capturing its groove like a screwdriver. To work effectively with such a tool, it is necessary to select the correct rotation speed from the very beginning. Standard screwdriver models offer 2-3 speeds to choose from. The first supports a small number of revolutions, but with high torque. This is the optimal mode for working with fasteners. Higher speeds of rotation are intended for additional tasks or work with non-standard screws.
Drill Overview
A variety of power tools, also popular and in demand on the construction market, whose main task is drilling holes. In this case, drills of various formats are used as nozzles. Like screwdrivers, drills are provided with means of automatic control of the working process with the possibility of stopping it, but with a different operating principle. For example, even lower price models have a blocker in their design. Drilling often goes into the "wedge" when working with solid-state bases. If there are such risks, then it is advisable to use a drill with a reverse (reverse), which, if necessary, will allow you to remove the drill with minimal labor costs. By the way, multi-position models thanks to the regulators allow you to configure the device specifically to work with a particular material. The same torque is specially adapted to the drilling of metal, wood, plastic and even concrete.
Characteristics of screwdrivers
The power of the electric motor is the main indicator of the working potential of this tool. Household models have a power of 300-400 watts, and for professional devices, this figure exceeds 1200 watts. In cordless versions, power is expressed in volts - for example, a Hammer ACD141B modification screwdriver is provided with a 14.4 V power unit, and the maximum value for a high-performance tool of this type reaches 42 V.
Torque is also important in terms of hardware options. It is expressed in rotational speed (Nm) and can reach 1235 Nm (model Makita 6980 FDWAE). It is worth emphasizing, what is the difference between a screwdriver and a drill in this indicator? In this case, the number of revolutions represents the ultimate tightening torque. It can also be adjusted depending on the size of the screw. For drills, emphasis is placed on the diameter of the hole, although the frequency ranges are on average equal.
Drill Features
With regard to drills, it is important to take into account the speed of rotation of the cartridge. This is the number of revolutions that the spindle makes around its axis. In the middle segment, most models provide speeds of 4600 rpm - this value allows you to make standard openings for laying communications in everyday life. However, to create large-format holes, one cannot do without a shock function with a vibrational pulse. For example, if a shockless network drill allows you to make holes up to 11-13 mm in solid-state bases, then the vibration effect increases the diameter to 16-18 mm, even in a household class. The power potential as a whole corresponds to the performance of screwdrivers - 250-350 watts. In the selection, the emphasis is directly on the size of the planned hole. The higher the power, the more opportunities for installation operations.
Functional support
Modern screwdrivers are equipped with the ability to adjust the torque, backlight, pulse mode and engine brake. What is the difference between a screwdriver and a drill in terms of functional set? Many protective options and structural mechanisms are similar due to the general principle of creating torque, but for drills, the presence of a reverse stroke is more important, since the likelihood of jamming of the nozzle increases. The premium versions also support continuous drilling, which may be required when working with problematic materials. In this case, you will not need to constantly hold your finger on the start button.
Tool Power System
Both screwdrivers and electric drills today are represented by models with different types of power supply. Traditionally, the instrument of both categories works from a conventional outlet - these are light and compact devices, but they are dependent on access to a power source. Moreover, for a shock-free network drill, compactness and lightness are fundamentally important, since the degree of pressure from the user is small.
The presence of the battery pack eliminates the need to connect the device to a power outlet, but increases the weight and dimensions of the tool. As a rule, rechargeable batteries based on lithium-ion or nickel-cadmium cells are used as a source. On average, cordless drills and screwdrivers can work autonomously for 45-60 minutes. For ease of use, many manufacturers include a spare power supply that can be used to charge the main battery.
Features of a drill / driver
The popularity of multifunctional devices combining the functions of drilling and twisting hardware is also growing. If the considered tools with one of these functions are designed for serial operation in one mode, then the drill / driver is optimally suited to the universal master, whose activity is associated with various technical operations. It is important to keep in mind that the design of the multifunctional device is heavier, more complex and almost always involves battery power, which ultimately affects the reduction of maneuverability. As for the expansion of functionality, for example, the Makita DF457DWE drill / driver is provided with a two-speed gearbox, thanks to which it is possible to fine-tune the torque for different drilling and twisting operations (a choice of 16 steps). To this it is worth adding the presence of a quick-clamping cartridge that allows you to quickly change nozzles.
Equipment and supplies
For a full-fledged workflow, bits for hardware of a suitable format and drill bits for holes will be required. As a rule, the tools of both groups are already supplied with sets of equipment as standard. What is the difference between a screwdriver and a drill in terms of additional support? It is important to consider personal protective equipment and opportunities for dust extraction when it comes to the use of a drill. The fact is that drilling in concrete structures is accompanied by the release of large volumes of building mud. In this case, shock models have a special branch pipe for connecting an industrial vacuum cleaner, which sucks the outgoing dust directly during drilling. It will also not be amiss to prepare protective equipment - glasses, construction headphones, gloves and a respirator.
Conclusion
Drills and screwdrivers are indispensable helpers in the household of those who periodically perform construction or repair work. Moreover, this may be not only operations related to drilling and fasteners. Thanks to the nozzles, both tools are also capable of cleaning and polishing surfaces. In terms of price, the difference between them is small. The average performance Hammer ACD142 screwdriver for 14.4 V with two batteries is available for 4 thousand rubles. About the same cost is a drill corresponding in power. Again, it is worth emphasizing that the differences between the two categories of power tools are increasingly blurring against the backdrop of the emergence of multifunctional models. They fulfill the tasks of an extended spectrum, supporting the impact function with the chiselling of solid structures. This feature brings drill drivers to the punch segment.