Work operations with fasteners can be put on a par with the most common tasks that are solved in construction and household repair activities. The screwdriver in this case occupies a basic place as the simplest and most affordable tool for twisting and unscrewing hardware. But its design was recently revised and complicated in order to increase operational efficiency. Today, a rechargeable screwdriver dominates in this niche, which, from the category of a purely professional tool, quickly captured the scope of the household.
Design features
Externally, the standard model resembles a compact construction gun with a convenient grip and a cartridge for working nozzles. Moreover, the design form factors can be different - for example, in the form of a rod or with a handle located in the center. But the most popular performance is still considered the pistol design as the most ergonomic. Moreover, the developers are experimenting with the functionality of the handle, allowing you to change its position in certain ranges of displacement along the body due to the rotating unit. This makes it possible to perform operations in hard-to-reach places from different positions. Inside, the device of a cordless screwdriver can be represented by a combination of an engine and a reducer passing into a cartridge. The operator begins to rotate the nozzle by pressing the trigger hook on the handle. As you can see, the principle of operation is quite simple, although the power potential can fundamentally change the capabilities of the tool.
Differences from a drill / driver
The basic task partially corresponds to the functionality of no less popular drills today, which is supported by the operating modes of screwdrivers. Of course, in the case of screwdrivers, the drilling function immediately disappears, but the difference lies not only in this. It would seem that if it is possible to purchase two devices in one tool with different, but popular work operations, then why choose a narrow-cut screwdriver that is cut down in capabilities? Advantages over a drill / driver are in an optimized design, eliminated from the cam fastening mechanism, in particular. It can be said that a cordless screwdriver focuses on more precise and even specialized tasks, which is caused by wider possibilities for adjusting the torque. And this is not to mention the compact lightweight design (weight not more than 1 kg), which allows for a long time to perform small operations on weight. For comparison, working with a 2-3-pound drill / screwdriver after 15-20 minutes in the mode of performing serial twists with centering the nozzle will lead to hand fatigue.
Additional functionality
Depending on the nature of the tool, a different set of additional features may be required. The most useful include the following functions:
- Adjusting ring. With it, the operator can stepwise set the optimum tightening torque. This feature is useful if the choice of a cordless screwdriver is oriented to a universal model for working with self-tapping screws, screws and screws of various formats. The regulation of the tightening force increases the reliability of the fastening and prevents the head of the hardware from breaking.
- Spindle lock In essence, this function is the manual mode of operation of a screwdriver. The drive mechanism is locked, which allows you to use the tool without an engine. Also, this mode can be useful when changing equipment without the risk of accidentally starting torsion.
- Reverse (reverse) stroke. The rotation of the nozzle in the opposite direction is usually involved in working with old or large-format fasteners.
- Backlight As a rule, this is a small LED bulb in the design of a screwdriver, thanks to which the user can highlight the working area without the use of separate flashlights.
Key Performance
Indicators of the number of revolutions and torque are the main things to consider when evaluating the operational potential of a screwdriver with the requirements for targeted operations. To begin with, it is worth noting that in manual mode the master, on average, exerts a force corresponding to a torque of 4-5 Nm. This potential is enough to work with screws with a diameter of 6-7 mm, which must be screwed into dry wood. The maximum power moment of a standard cordless screwdriver is 20-25 Nm. As for the number of revolutions, this value can vary from 150 to 2500 rpm. Work with fasteners of popular formats usually fits in the range of 400-500 rpm. Moreover, as practice shows, not even the limiting values are important, but the possibility of regulating the moment and number of revolutions. This will make it possible to adjust the tool for fasteners with different parameters.
Battery specifications
The battery is a compact battery that can be removable or non-removable. Typically, the battery integrates into the handle. Manufacturers mainly use two types of batteries - LI-ION and NI-CD. More often - the first, lithium-ion. It is precisely as a feeding element for a small-sized tool that they are advantageous in their modest size and in the absence of the effect of arbitrary discharge, which, for example, is caused by a nickel-cadmium cordless screwdriver. Characteristics of capacity and voltage are as follows: 1.5-2 A * h and 3.6-7.2 V. It is important to take into account another nuance that affects the configuration. The charge of one battery can last for a working session lasting from 30-45 minutes to 3-4 hours. Therefore, in the full-day operation mode, it will not be superfluous to provide for an extended set of delivery, in which an additional battery is attached.
Workflow Instruction
The key to the quality of the operation will be a minimum level of noise and vibration. The reduction of these effects should be taken care of in advance by preparing gloves and cleaning the work surface from other objects. It is recommended to start the operation with a fully charged battery and not blunt nozzles. Work should begin at a maximum at medium speed, which minimizes the likelihood of a breakdown of the head of the fastener. Overdoing with pressure is not recommended. The force should correspond to the rigidity of the fit hardware. After completion of the working steps, the cordless screwdriver is disassembled and cleaned. The instructions note that it is advisable to wipe the surface of the case with a cloth dampened with soap, but without the use of chloride solvents or other aggressive chemicals. Special attention during the inspection is given to sealing the motor, the state of the winding and the quality of the electrical connections.
Battery Instruction Manual
Most of the modern batteries used support automatic protective functions. These are systems that turn off the device during severe overloads and overheating. You cannot continue working with a cordless screwdriver after an automatic shutdown has been triggered. A pause of about 15-20 minutes should be maintained so that the power filling returns to normal.
Only charge the battery pack with the appropriate voltage settings. For example, a device is connected to a regular 220 V outlet through a complete adapter. A special indicator informs about the current state of charge in modern instrument models. Now it is worth considering specific models of cordless screwdrivers. The overview below will help you choose the best option from different segments.
Household models
Intensive repair operations, small assembly of household appliances and installation of electricians can be effectively performed using the Ryobi CSD4107BG. The kit provides a wide set of bits for different tasks, and the QuickChange cartridge provides a quick change of nozzles. Domestic cordless screwdriver "Interskol OA-3.6F" refers to the initial level and costs only 900 rubles. For this amount, the user can rely on flexibility when working in confined and low-light conditions - such operations are facilitated by a transformable handle and LED-backlight. But, the household segment is represented not only by manufacturers of low-cost power tools. The giant on the construction equipment market represented by Bosch also offers an interesting small-caliber model. This is a compact and lightweight modification of the GSR MX2DRIVE, provided with protection against deep discharge, supporting the ability to integrate bits of different formats and simply featuring high quality German assembly.
Professional models
It is recommended to perform furniture assembly, installation of building structures and equipment with a powerful tool with a reliable elemental base. These models include the Einhell BT-SD 3.6 / 1 with a lithium-ion battery. In picking the creators have provided a flashlight and holster under the belt. For long-term operations with a high load, the Zubr Transformer-M apparatus is designed. In terms of price and performance, this is the best cordless screwdriver in the professional segment. So, at a price of 2.5 thousand rubles. the model is equipped with a two-speed gearbox that changes the position of the handle and the battery with a voltage of 7.2 V. In terms of functionality, Hitachi DB3DL2 attracts attention. In addition to the LED flashlight, this screwdriver has a nozzle lock, and the kit provides an additional battery and a plastic case.
What else to consider in choosing?
Ergonomics of the device will be of considerable importance in the process of performing working manipulations. In this regard, one should take into account not only the implementation of the design in form, but also the presence of rubberized pads that increase the tenacity of the hand grip. Also, experienced users recommend calculating the working pace taking into account the diversion to replenish battery energy. A powerful charger for a cordless screwdriver takes 1-2 hours to fill. However, with a large battery capacity, this process can take up to 10 hours. In the second case, even having a spare battery will not exclude downtime.
Conclusion
Most of the simple one-time tasks for fasteners can be implemented with an ordinary screwdriver without the hassle of connecting and looking for suitable nozzles. In what cases is a power driven tool suitable? This does not have to be responsible work with large-format self-tapping screws and screws. Such a choice should rather be made if frequent operations with serial twisting are planned. Even the Interskol OA-3.6F cordless screwdriver, modest in its capabilities, demonstrates a significant saving in effort and time in comparison with traditional screwdrivers. It is suitable for fixing cladding panels, repairing small appliances, as well as for the safe installation of electrical equipment at home. Of course, in continuous production only high-performance models will provide high-quality fasteners. For such purposes, premium modifications can be purchased from Einhell, Hitachi and Bosch.