When carrying out homework, any owner often faces the need to tighten nuts, tighten screws or assemble furniture. Of course, all this can be done manually. However, modern manufacturers offer a special tool to facilitate this work. To a large extent, a screwdriver will simplify and speed up the twisting process.
Application area
Direct purpose of a screwdriver:
- Unscrewing and twisting of various fasteners (bolts, screws, screws , etc.);
- drilling the necessary holes in brick, metal and wood.
There is also a popular use of this tool. So, a screwdriver is used for:
- mixing paints and building mixtures;
- drilling holes in ice during fishing in winter.
Today, a screwdriver is widely used by owners of apartments and private houses when performing various construction works. Professional craftsmen also use this tool for assembling furniture, as well as for attaching drywall and various parts.
The design of the screwdriver allows its use in the most inaccessible places. But at the same time, the battery pack is the most popular among the masters. It makes it possible to work where there is no electric network.
Anyone who at least once picked up a screwdriver will no longer reach for a screwdriver. An electric tool will become a welcome assistant in many construction issues. In favor of buying a screwdriver says ease of use, as well as constant readiness for use due to the built-in battery.
Types of models
How to choose a screwdriver for the house with the existing variety of manufacturers and the tools they offer? First of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of models available on the consumer market.
All screwdrivers are divided into household and professional. The assignment of a tool to a particular group is made according to the size of the cartridge, power of the nutrient element, equipment, price, as well as the presence of additional functions.
main parameters
When watching popular TV shows about repairs, many of us probably paid attention to how craftsmen using a screwdriver, in a matter of minutes, perform such volumes of work that you need to do with a regular screwdriver for hours. It is not surprising that after this a significant number of viewers think about buying this electric tool.
How to choose a screwdriver for the house so that it does not deceive your expectations? To do this, you need to familiarize yourself with the main characteristics of the tool. And it is recommended to start with the engine. Any electric tool has a certain power, on which the performance of the device depends. And what about autonomous devices? In them, power is related to the capacity of the battery.
If you do not know how to choose a good screwdriver, then start to get acquainted with the model precisely from the engine. What should it be like? Experts positively characterize valve- type motors without manifold brushes. They are virtually silent, maintenance-free and have high performance.
Experts recommend familiarizing yourself with such a parameter as the frequency with which the rotation of the working nodes of the tool occurs. From this characteristic, you can find out about the purpose of the screwdriver. With a small gear ratio of the gearbox , a high speed of rotation of the cartridge is ensured. This feature of the tool will be needed for drilling small holes in diameter.
Combined screwdriver
Many owners prefer to have a tool in the house that performs various functions. As such, a cordless drill / driver can be purchased. How to choose a model that will allow you to easily perform all the tasks facing its owner?
As for professionals, they focus on an expensive high-class tool. Home craftsmen choose ordinary models that have an affordable price. If the purpose of your purchase is a cordless drill / driver, how to choose the tool you need for your work? For beginners, this is not an easy task. First of all, you need to get some knowledge about the power characteristics of the tool and its other subtleties.
When choosing this wonderful assistant, keep in mind that a drill driver is characterized by the presence of an option that allows you to use the tool with two speeds. So, with minimal effort, the rotation of the cartridge is slower. A stronger press causes an increase in the number of revolutions.
For more gentle handling of screws, the tool may have a clutch that adjusts the torque. With a full screw in, it begins to slip. This is a very convenient option that helps keep the drill in working condition, as well as a replaceable nozzle.
When choosing a drill / driver, carefully read the passport data. Experts recommend paying attention to the weight of the tool, which is indicated with the battery. Small-sized and lightweight drill / drivers will not have such a supply of energy and power as heavier ones.
Tool selection by battery type
How to choose an electric screwdriver for this element, because battery capacities have different values? This question should not cause special difficulties. With a larger battery capacity, the power of the unit itself will certainly increase. The batteries in screwdrivers can be either nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride, as well as lithium-ion.
If you do not know how to choose a cordless screwdriver for the home, then use the advice of specialists and look for a model equipped with a spare battery. The cost of such an additional accessory will certainly pay off. This becomes clear when viewing prices for new batteries, which make up fifty percent of the cost of the screwdriver. The most convenient models of this unit can work with two types of elements (metal hydride and nickel-cadmium). This version of the tool is very convenient.
Lithium ion batteries
How to choose a cordless screwdriver for home so that it is reliable in operation? For this, it is important to pay attention to the type of battery built into it.
Today, lithium-ion cells are widely used. They are equipped with not only screwdrivers, but also many other tools, as well as portable devices. Such batteries are designed for three thousand charge-discharge cycles. The battery is able to quickly charge, while it has a fairly low weight.
The main disadvantages of these modern batteries include their short shelf life (3 years) and high cost. In addition, in order to get the most out of it, this element should be used without long interruptions.
In this regard, experts advise those who find it difficult to answer the question: "How to choose the cordless screwdriver?" - acquire a tool with lithium-ion cells for professional work. It is also recommended not to discharge or charge the battery completely. This will significantly shorten the life of the item. Charging should be in the range of 15 to 90 percent.
Nickel Cadmium Batteries
Power tools have been equipped with this type of battery for a long time. And this applies not only to screwdrivers. Such batteries are designed for one and a half thousand charge-discharge cycles. For those who do not know which screwdriver to choose for work, experts advise models with nickel-cadmium batteries. Such a tool will function without problems at temperatures up to minus fifteen degrees. In addition, the manufacturer guarantees uninterrupted battery operation for five years. The buyer will also be pleased with the low cost of such models.
However, the nickel-cadmium battery has some disadvantages. They should be taken into account if you are faced with the following question: “How to choose a cordless screwdriver for home?” Among these negative aspects are the rather lengthy (about an hour) charging process and the heavy weight of the nickel-cadmium element.
If you bought a screwdriver with this type of battery, then, according to the recommendations of specialists, you will need to fully charge and discharge it. This will allow the element having a memory to charge, not to reduce its life. Special conditions will need to be observed when storing such a battery. It must be kept in a charged state.
Ni-MH batteries
These batteries are inherently an average variant, located between the two above. If you are faced with the question of how to choose a cordless screwdriver for your home, you need to consider a tool with this type of element.
Nickel-metal hydride batteries can perform about a thousand charge-discharge cycles. There are other positive aspects. These include minimal self-discharge and lack of memory to charge. The disadvantage of such a battery lies in its significant weight, as well as inability to withstand temperature extremes and high voltage.
If you have chosen a screwdriver with this type of battery, then before use it should be completely discharged, and then fully charged. These actions will extend the life of the element.
Today, the most popular screwdrivers with a nickel-metal hydride battery. This type is most often found in instruments manufactured in Europe. This type of battery is widely used due to its environmental friendliness.
With which battery to choose a screwdriver, you decide. Evaluate the pros and cons of each type of battery before buying and decide on the right model.
Capacitance and voltage of an element
How to choose a screwdriver so that it is as effective as possible? To do this, you should familiarize yourself with its characteristics such as battery capacity. At higher values of this indicator, the instrument will be able to perform the largest amount of work during one charge-discharge cycle.
Equally important is the cell voltage, measured in volts. If you do not know how to choose a good screwdriver, then listen to the opinions of specialists. Choose a model with a high voltage value for homework. This will be a fairly powerful tool.
Torque and Speed Indicators
How to choose an electric screwdriver, who will become the main assistant for his master? Pay attention to the presence of a coupling to lock the tool at high loads. This is the so-called maximum torque that works at 5-10 Nm. The option does not interfere with the tightening of tight anchors and creates conditions for the safety of the engine with increasing loads. This threshold value will allow working with steel and concrete, as well as making a large diameter hole.
Those screwdrivers that have high torque values are estimated by experts as universal. Without any problems, this tool will allow you to work with self-tapping screws, as well as drill hard materials.
When choosing a model, you need to pay attention not only to the torque. It is also necessary to evaluate the engine at high load and how well it is able to maintain speed.
When choosing a screwdriver, many amateur beginners make the same mistake, looking for a model with the highest speed. But do not chase the maximum values of these indicators. Five hundred rpm is enough for screwing in the screws, and one thousand three hundred for drilling. A high tool speed is only needed when working with the hardest material.
Experts recommend purchasing such models of screwdrivers in which the engine speed can be adjusted. When buying, it is important to pay attention to the presence of a return option. It will allow you to easily get a stuck drill or a tightly screwed screw.
Tool manufacturers
A potential buyer certainly asks the following question: “Which company to choose a cordless screwdriver?” And this is not surprising. As with the purchase of any device, a lot depends on its manufacturer.
Good simple screwdrivers for homework are available from Bosch, Hammer and Hitachi. Which company to choose a screwdriver if you are interested in a professional model? Good units pleases its customers with Dewalt. This tool has a favorable ratio of quality and price.
However, it is worth considering the fact that brand awareness almost doubles the cost of production. For those who are not ready to allocate a significant amount for the purchase of a screwdriver, experts recommend paying attention to less popular, but well-established companies. This, for example, Makita.