How to choose the right cordless screwdriver

What is a cordless screwdriver?

What's the difference between a cordless screwdriver and a cordless drill? Well honestly, the difference is almost none. The device generates a rotational movement with relatively low speed and high torque that can be used for both drilling and screwing.

Which cordless screwdriver to choose, what to hold and how to divide the devices?
Cordless screwdrivers are divided into two types.

Depending on how the tool is mounted on the cordless screwdrivers :

With chuck

With 1/4 "hexagon socket

Cordless screwdrivers with a 1/4 ”hexagon are usually only thin-walled devices that are mainly suitable for screwing. Although drills are produced for this clamping, but only to a limited extent. It is possible to drill printed circuit boards or pre-drill holes in wood for small screws.

Their indisputable advantage is the small size, so they fit almost everywhere.

It is very suitable for folding furniture where there are already pre-drilled holes and for screwing screws into dowels. They are used by electricians to screw sockets, switches or junction box components. They are also used for assembly of PCs and other electronics. These cordless screwdrivers are not the only ones to be equipped with stepless speed control.

Cordless screwdrivers with chuckare the others. The chuck (head) is a set of three jaws that move by rotating the ring gear and are able to clamp a tool with a cylindrical or otherwise symmetrical shank (drill bit) in the axis of rotation. It is therefore suitable for drilling or screwing, but also for grinding or mixing, follow this guide.

And also by the number of gears to:

Single speed

Two speed

3-speed (exceptionally)

Cordless Screwdrivers

Cordless Screwdrivers Two Speed

This is the most widespread standard. Each renowned brand has them in its assortment in several variants. They have a great torque (350–450 rpm) and can be used to tighten even the largest screws and bolts or to drill large diameter holes. On the other hand, all common holes can be drilled easily and smaller screws can be quickly screwed on.

Cordless screwdrivers single speed (with one fixed gear)

Typically, the transmission is selected such that the maximum idle speed is about 700 rpm. Particularly suitable for undemanding screw driving applications. Due to the transmission, they do not have a high torque, but not even a high speed. Actually, they're outdated universals.

What do battery batteries need to withstand?

Rechargeable battery consists of individual cells. In today's most common Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries, the cells are composed of three.

The voltage in each cell is 1.2 V. This gives the mysterious numbers in the device names, 3.6; 7.2; 10.8; 14.4; 18; 24.

Sometimes the voltage of a fully charged group of cells (10.8 V = 12 V; 14.4 V = 16 V; 18 V = 20 V) is stressed by marketing. However, this is an indication that really applies only to fully charged cells.

Another important indication is the battery capacity. It is given in Amperhodin (Ah), respectively. in milliamper hours (mAh). This value indicates the current the battery is capable of delivering over a period of time.

Does the cordless screwdriver have other functions?

All cordless screwdrivers, except the smallest, are now equipped with a slip clutch. That's the numbered wreath behind the chuck. The maximum torque can be set here, usually in the range of 1-5 Nm (Newtonmeter). It does not matter what the division into a wreath. You can also lock the clutch (drill symbol) and thus disable the slip clutch for drilling, for example.
Other functions of the cordless screwdrivers are for example lighting of the working place by means of LEDs or indicator of the battery charge status as well as stepless speed regulation.

Which accessories to remember?

Be sure to buy a charger. Chargers replenish energy into batteries. Depending on the capacity of the battery, it will recharge the battery in a short time for further work. Usually it takes no more than an hour. You need to take good care of batteries.