What is the difference between an impact drill and a screwdriver. Let's find out the difference between a screwdriver and a drill. How to determine what is best to choose

Honey, we urgently need an impact drill! And an impact drill!

Honey, don't you have a drill?

Yes, but they are completely different things, and I can't live without them!

In this article, we will prepare you for such a dialogue, so that during the discussion family budget you were able to prove your beloved need to buy a new power tool.

It used to be so easy! When a son flew out of his parent's nest, his father would take him to the local hardware store and say, "Boy, you need a drill!" Now, when we go into a construction hypermarket, we see dozens of power tools designed for drilling holes and tightening screws, which are even called differently.

What is the difference between a conventional drill, an impact drill driver and an impact drill? What do each of these tools do best, and what can you use them for? Let's finally get to the bottom of this!

DRILL

You know it, you love it, almost everyone has it. Over the years, drills have lost their cords and shed a couple of pounds, acquired a keyless chuck and a flashlight. In general, the usability has improved, but the functions have remained the same. Drills are affordable, reliable and great for both drilling holes and driving screws and bolts.

Drills are valued for their versatility: they can be used to make a grinder, hole saw, mixer, etc. But as versatile as they are, a cordless drill is a general purpose tool. For specialized tasks, you may need a more optimal power tool (see below).

When to Use a Conventional Drill Driver

drilling holes in wood, drywall and other soft materials
driving screws into wood, drywall and other soft materials
tightening and loosening bolts and nuts, if they are not stuck and spin well (that is, no additional force is required)

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Real life example

Let's say you need to put up a fence in your country house, build a wooden stage, a platform, or even a wheelchair ramp. To drill holes and drive screws into wood, a conventional drill will suffice.

Drills are different forms and sizes, vary in power and battery capacity. Suitable for home craftsmen small tools for 12-18 volts - light, comfortable, which can solve most tasks around the house. For a household tool, a battery of 1.5-2.0 A / h is enough, since work usually does not take much time, and there is always access to recharging. A large and powerful 20-24 volt drill driver will be more useful on a construction site. The battery capacity of a professional tool is usually above 2.0 Ah so that it can work for several hours without recharging.

HAMMER DRILL

An impact drill strongly resembles a conventional drill, so this is often confusing. So what's the difference?

Imagine that while drilling, someone hits the back of the drill with a hammer to help push the drill deeper. Only these blows are fast and furious. It may feel like you are holding a small jackhammer in your hands. For people using an impact drill for the first time, it may even look like it's some kind of broken drill.

Impact drills are great for drilling concrete, cement and brickwork. Therefore, if you work a lot with these materials, such a drill must be present in your collection. If you are more carpentry or joinery, then you do not need an impact drill. On the contrary, it can damage soft materials such as wood and drywall. True, it is usually equipped with a switch between drilling and drilling with impact.

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When to Use an Impact Drill

driving screws into wood, drywall and other soft materials (only in drill mode)
tightening or loosening bolts (only in drill mode)
drilling holes in wood, drywall and other soft materials (drill mode only)
drilling holes in concrete, cement, masonry (in impact drill mode)

Real life example

Let's go back to our wheelchair ramp. To build something you will build it with a drill, however, to mount it to concrete wall you will need an impact drill or even a hammer drill.

Also, a hammer drill is useful when installing plumbing or when you need to attach a TV to a concrete wall or hang a wall lamp.

IMPACT DRILL

This is something new on the market: not a simple screwdriver, and not an impact drill. It even looks different - a short body and a hex cartridge. So what is this thing?

Imagine wrench, securely fastened to a bolt or nut, and a hammer tapping on this key at a frequency of 50 beats per second. This is the principle of operation of an impact drill-driver. That is, in the case of an impact drill, the direction of impact is longitudinal (as if along the back of the tool body), in the case of an impact drill-driver, the direction of impact is perpendicular (as if along a wrench).

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Impact drill driver BOSCH EasyImpact 12 0 (without battery)

4699 ₽

When to Use an Impact Drill

tightening and loosening bolts and nuts that have stuck or need to be tightened particularly well
tightening large diameter or square head bolts
driving screws into wood or metal (can also be used for drywall if slower speeds are available)
drilling holes in wood, drywall or metal

Real life example

Mechanics often use impact drills to tighten or loosen bolts on motors. It will be required when repairing almost any equipment that has a gasoline engine (lawn mowers, cultivators, snow blowers, generators). Every time you drive bolts into a piece of metal, you will need an impact drill/driver.

Also, this tool will come in handy if you need to hang shelves in a wall cabinet, sheathe the wall with drywall sheets, when assembling wooden structures where you need to screw a large number of ten-centimeter screws

WHAT TO CHOOSE: REGULAR DRILL, IMPACT DRILL OR IMPACT DRILL

If you are going to buy only one thing, it is better to choose an impact drill/driver. New bits allow them to do everything that a conventional drill can do. As a result, you miss out only on the special function of the impact drill - the ability to work with concrete and brick.

If you can afford to buy two tools and you are going to work with concrete and masonry, look for sets consisting of an impact drill and an impact drill/driver. With an impact drill, you can drill in the mode of a conventional drill, and you will also have an impact drill-driver when you need to properly tighten the bolts and nuts or unscrew the stuck ones.

If you are not going to work with concrete and brick, buy a drill and impact drill/driver set.

With this article, our site continues the whole cycle useful materials, the purpose of which will be to facilitate the choice of any product from the thousands of options offered on the market. Agree, the choice of a specific model of a device always takes a lot of time, which can be spent usefully. In today's article we will talk about the choice drill or screwdriver .

Introduction

A drill or screwdriver is an almost indispensable tool for both construction and repair work. It should be present in every household - at least in order to be able to hang a picture or a mirror on the wall. It is quite difficult for an unprepared person to choose a drill from all kinds of types and models, and that is why we talk about these difficulties in this article.

The choice of drill or screwdriver depends on three main factors. First, choose specific model you need depending on what material you will be working with - from the material of the walls in the house, the material with which you work in the workshop, and so on. Secondly, the choice depends on the scope of the tool - home / amateur or professional. Thirdly, the drill must be selected taking into account the need for special functions.

You should not overpay for a tool, some of the functions of which you will use very rarely or will not use at all. It is worth overpaying for the quality that distinguishes the models of individual well-known manufacturers- such as Bosch, Metabo, Hitachi and others. Naturally, it is worth reading online and reviews on a specific drill.

Finally, very an important factor is the power of the tool. The principle "the more the better" does not always work here - extra useless power will only make the drill more expensive and voracious in terms of energy consumption.

In the next section, we will talk about the important characteristics of drills and screwdrivers, and then we will present to your attention ten best models, which can be found and purchased in our catalog.

The main characteristics of drills and screwdrivers

Purpose

Depending on the purpose, drills are divided into wrenches, screwdrivers, conventional drills, drills, screwdrivers and mixer drills. All these names speak for themselves, but it is worth saying the main thing - quite often the power, functions and design of the drill allow it to be used for other purposes. For example, a wrench may have the ability to hammer drill and is quite suitable for making holes in a concrete wall. At the same time, however, you should not thoughtlessly load the drill with non-core work - you should monitor its overheating and take care of the components of the device.

By type, drills are divided into unstressed, impact, angle and diamond drills. The latter are used by professionals, since diamond drilling is the most The best way drilling in general. For obvious reasons, such models are very expensive compared to the rest and are rarely used at home.

Hammerless drills are used for drilling soft materials - wood, plastic, metal or plaster. They only rotate the drill without making any other effort to deepen the hole.

Impact models not only rotate the drill, but also move it back and forth very quickly, thus making it much easier to work with hard materials - brick and concrete. However, the impact function can often be turned off to work with more sensitive surfaces.

Angle drills are drills that are designed to be used in hard-to-reach places- after attaching the drill, they resemble the letter "G". Due to the complexity of such a design, they are much more expensive, but are practically indispensable, for example, in a car repair shop.

Cartridge type

The two main types of chuck are key and keyless. In most cases, you can use drills with a quick-release chuck, into which the drill can be inserted easily and quickly - just a little hand pressure is enough. But for working with very hard materials, models with a key chuck are preferred, in which the drill is clamped using a special key (that is, it can be clamped much stronger).

Chuck diameter

The diameter of the chuck determines the size of the drill or bit that can be used with it. Before buying a drill, be sure to determine the approximate parameters of the holes that you will make, and select a specific model based on these requirements.

Power

How more powerful drill, the more durable and hard materials will succumb to it. For example, for drilling soft materials like wood, plaster and plastic, a drill with a power of up to 500 watts is enough. Concrete and brick will require a 600-800 watt impact model as a minimum. At the same time, you can drill a small hole in diameter and depth in a concrete wall with a 500-watt drill - the main thing is not to force it to work in this mode too often and for too long.

Max Torque

A large torque indicator is useful for making holes in "heavy" materials like steel - a drill with a small torque will simply stall and the drill will get stuck. Pay attention to the markings on the drill itself or its case.

Number of operating speeds

The ability to work at several speeds expands the scope of a particular drill - for example, a powerful model can be used both for drilling concrete and for tightening screws if it has the ability to change speeds. Again, check the label.

Operating modes

For different types work may require different modes of operation of the drill. As mentioned above, the most important mode is shock, when, in addition to the rotational movement of the drill, translational is also performed.

There are also chiselling modes (impact mode without rotation; such a drill can often replace a hammer drill) and pulsed. The latter rotates the drill in jerks, which can be useful, for example, for unscrewing a screw with a broken head.

Safety clutch

If you are not a professional, you will surely encounter a situation in which your drill will not cope with the task, and the drill will be blocked. In this case, the safety clutch will save her from "death". It will not allow the drill to transfer all its power to the user's hands.

Electronic overload protection

A more advanced electronic protection will independently turn off the drill motor - in this case, the clutch will not need to be replaced.

Drilling depth gauge

Is it metal or plastic rod, which is attached to the body of the drill and allows you not to make a hole longer than necessary. Very useful in any conditions.

Magnetic holder on the body

Models with such a holder are very convenient - it allows you to store all the necessary consumables nearby, such as screws and self-tapping screws.

Backlight

If the drill will be used in poorly lit places, then the presence of a backlight will help a lot - it is very important to monitor the hole during operation.

Reverse

The ability to rotate the drill in reverse side makes it easy to use any drill and as a screwdriver.

Battery operation and its type

Most drills use batteries - it is far from always possible to find an outlet nearby. The disadvantages compared to network models are obvious - limited life and additional cost of batteries.

Drills with batteries such as Ni-Cd (nickel-cadmium) are unpretentious, have a long service life and will cope with the work in the cold. Batteries of the Ni-MH type (nickel metal hydride) are not as toxic, heavy and smaller in size. Finally, Li-ion (lithium-ion) batteries last 2-3 years and do not tolerate low temperatures, but not too large and heavy, and also quite capacious.

Case included

It is best to buy a drill with a case that will serve to carry it and store it along with all the necessary drills and other accessories. The cost, if available, does not go up too much.

10 best drills and screwdrivers

Cheap and high-quality, but rather weak screwdriver for work in small volumes. Great for small jobs around the house.

Inexpensive shock model for home use, which combines the most necessary qualities: reliability, low cost and versatility.

A great and not too expensive model that will cope with most household tasks. Versatile, comfortable and multifunctional.

A professional drill mixer that can cope not only with drilling holes, but also with mixing various viscous solutions and mixtures.

Hammerless model for drilling plastic, wood and metal. For its power (2 kW) it is very convenient and has no big weight.

Expensive (which is typical for angle drills), powerful and very high quality high power model. Comfortable handle, light weight and reverse.

Compact and reliable model designed for home use. It can both drill and tighten or unscrew screws.

Inexpensive corded impact drill with low power, which is suitable for work where there is access to a power outlet. Good in apartment conditions.

Compact and handy drill with Li-ion battery (and additional battery included), very well suited for work at home.

Compact and powerful wrench drill that can also drill with impact. Suitable for a very wide range of home and repair work.

Conclusion

We hope that this article helped you deal with the difficult task of choosing. drill or screwdriver. The next article will talk about

Minor home repairs, nailing shelves, and installing pictures all require drilling, screwing, or untwisting. To do this work independently and quickly, you need suitable tool. For everyday needs, having a lot of different tools is impractical, but there should definitely be one thing. It remains to make a purchase decision: or?

The difference between a drill and a screwdriver

Tools with the same success drill, screw screws, punch holes in concrete planes, stone, brick. But the existing differences in their mechanisms do not allow turning a blind eye to the features of the first and second home assistants. Take at least a ratchet screwdriver, which is deprived of a drill. The add-on allows you to adjust the force with which screws, screws and self-tapping screws are screwed in. Comfortable? And how!

It is not easy to understand which is better, a drill or a screwdriver. It is worth starting from what this or that tool is needed for. Corded drills and screwdrivers are faster, have more power, weight and drill diameter in different materials. Yes, they are more efficient in work, but they are definitely not more convenient than a light tool weighing 1.2 kg.

For greater practicality in work without network connection use cordless tools. If you take and compare them with drills, they will be more popular, cheaper and more common. Their "weak point" is power. The network drill, judging by the impressive indicator of this parameter, works much more efficiently.

So what to choose: a drill or a screwdriver?

1. How often do you plan to work with the instrument? Lightweight electric screwdrivers have much less powerful engines with lower voltage than most cordless drills. Therefore, they may not cope with the task if they screw long screws with a gap into hardwoods. 18 and 20 volt cordless drills will cope with almost any screwing task. Even a cheap drill has more power and endurance than a corded screwdriver. Because this toolkit is suitable for working with the hardest building materials. Drilling in walls, installation of complex structures in places with electricity - all this can be done with a drill.

Advice: A screwdriver that has less RPM is much better controlled. Therefore, if we are talking about irregular small work, then it is better to choose a screwdriver. It is also more suitable if the work consists solely in screwing self-tapping screws, screws and screws.

2. Work in places without electricity. To make a couple of holes, it is better to use a cordless screwdriver than a similar type of power drill. For example, one that is powered by a battery is more convenient and cheaper - it does not make sense to buy an expensive cordless drill for domestic use.

3. The level of comfort at work. The power of cordless drills is increased by the extra weight. Some professional cordless drills weigh up to 3 kg, making them tedious to use for long periods of time. Less powerful ones are lighter, but even they cannot compete in lightness with electric screwdrivers, which weigh less than a pound. If the large weight and the presence of a wire at the drill interfere with work, then it is better to purchase a cordless screwdriver. He productively works with wood, plastic, metal, accurately screws fasteners.

Universal

In order not to think about the choice for a long time, make a "knight's move". The universal tool combines the functionality of both assistants, expanding the range and increasing the efficiency of work. In appearance, it looks more like a screwdriver, but it is necessary to turn on the jamming mode of the drill connection on the ratchet - and a drill appears in front of you. If you purchase an impact attachment, it will perform even more tasks.

According to the power source, drills are divided into mains-operated and battery-powered.

Price difference

Cost also plays a big role in choosing the perfect tool for the home. Drills are not only practical and powerful, but also quite budgetary. Especially best option you can choose from a household assortment. Their initial cost is quite within the power of each owner.

Advice: Mains-powered tools are not so convenient to use (more weight, wires), but they quickly cope with wood, metal and concrete work.

A feature of screwdrivers is work with self-tapping screws, screws and screws. They are not very suitable for drilling. Cordless models are easy to use, but their power is enough for short and simple work. The price of such a tool is three times cheaper than its decent quality.

For small amounts of work, it is better to purchase a screwdriver. If the house is repaired and you often need to make holes in different materials, along the way to work with fasteners, then a drill is better. In favor of this tool is its low cost with normal characteristics - everything you need for domestic purposes.

Advice: Any tool can be made better with special tools.

To decide what to buy - a drill or a screwdriver - answer the questions:

1. What kind of work are you going to do (needed or you can get by with something simpler). How harder task, the more powerful the tool is needed: a screwdriver is suitable for screwing, and a drill is suitable for drilling in concrete.

2. How often do you plan to use the tool (often or occasionally). For minor, infrequent work with screws and holes, a screwdriver can be used, but for regular work, a more powerful tool is needed. Long-term work with hard materials under the force of an impact drill and a universal drill-driver.

3. What will be the working conditions (whether there will be access to power sources). Drills and screwdrivers are cordless and mains. If you work on a site without electricity, then you need a cordless tool. It is important to remember that drills and screwdrivers from the network are much more powerful.

As you can see, making a choice turned out to be not so difficult - the main thing is to ask the right questions and give clear answers to them! This video review will further help you assess the situation.

Externally, a drill and a screwdriver are not much different. But this is at first glance. When there is a need for a tool that can tighten screws, drill holes, cut metal, grind different surfaces, then the question arises: buy a screwdriver or a drill?

Description of the screwdriver

A screwdriver is a pistol-shaped hand-held power tool for tightening / loosening screws, self-tapping screws, screws and other threaded hardware with slotted and hexagonal heads. It is used in everyday life and in production for the installation / dismantling of furniture, fences, roofs (roofs). In the presence of special equipment, surfaces are polished and holes are drilled. Powered by mains or battery - some versions (pneumatic) operate on compressed air. The device as a whole consists of a housing, a mounting unit, mechanical and electrical parts, as well as adjustment and protection systems. Main structural elements:

plastic or metal case with a rubberized handle;
rotating electric (pneumatic) motor;
planetary gear: creates a transmission from the motor to the spindle with a chuck;
adjusting clutch adjacent to the gearbox;
clamp chuck for fixing nozzles;
electronic control unit with start button and reverse switch;
battery: present only in the models of the same name.

Previously, a bit with a 6-sided shank is inserted into the cartridge and fixed; the clutch sets the tightening torque (there are from 8 to 25 positions); a cordless screwdriver, unlike a cordless one, is connected to a power outlet. When the start button is pressed, the engine starts, which, through the planetary gearbox, begins to rotate the spindle with the chuck and bit - the stronger the force, the higher the speed. After tightening the self-tapping screw, the resistance to rotation increases, as a result, the ratchet slips, and the transmission stops. When the hardware is unscrewed, the reverse is turned on - the equipment starts to work counterclockwise.

Drill Description

A drill is a manual electric machine in the form of a pistol. Designed for making holes in wood, metal (steel), plastic, brick and (reinforced concrete) concrete. It is used in construction and repair - at the industrial and domestic level as preliminary installation work. Modern devices, in addition to performing direct functions, “perform” work grinder, grinder, mixer, network or cordless screwdriver. Unit design:

plastic (or aluminum) case with rubberized handle and additional handle;
commutator motor with stator, rotor, armature and brushes;
quick-clamping chuck that fixes the nozzle (drill);
start button: fixedly snaps into place during prolonged operation;
speed controller: adjustable depending on the material being processed;
cord with a plug for connecting to the mains;
metal rod limiter: controls the depth of drilling;
LED work area lighting.

Drilling begins with setting the depth gauge and adjusting the speed: the harder the workpiece, the lower the speed should be. The handle is captured and the “start” button is pressed: the direction of the equipment must be along the axis of the hole in perspective. Through the spindle, the rotation is transmitted to the gearbox, as a result, the drill pierces into the beam, corner, reinforced concrete foundation. The work is carried out technically carefully, since, for example, a Bosch drill or an Interskol drill develops a speed of ≈ 1300 rpm - plus / minus, depending on the model.

Types of drills and screwdrivers

Variety of screwdrivers

Tools for mounting / dismantling self-tapping screws are different - depending on various criteria, they are divided into types.

The mains screwdriver has a cord with a plug, connects to a socket (220 V), does not depend on the operating time. It is lightweight, relatively inexpensive and can be used for a long time. But it is useless when the electrical network is not available.
Cordless screwdriver runs on batteries, easy to use, not "tied" to mains electricity. But it weighs more and costs more than the previous analogue. Requires periodic charging.
Household models are relatively cheap, but have low power and poor equipment. Rarely used; work requires long breaks.
Professional versions are more powerful - they are able to work the whole shift without stopping. They are equipped with wear-resistant parts, they are more expensive.

Separation of devices is also according to the features of use. You can buy a screwdriver at the same time with a cable and a battery. Versions available for hexagon shank drills and grinding attachments. Modifications with shock function and pneumatic drive are offered.

Variety of drills

Modern drills are equipped not only with standard drills: Pobedite tips, diamond crowns and other types of equipment are used as a cutting edge. Any bits are fixed in 2 ways: self-clamping and with a key.

Self-clamping tools are equipped with a chuck that fixes the drill in a few movements. For most jobs, this design simplifies operation and speeds up the task.
The second option for fastening the drill is carried out using a key: on its one end there is a disk with teeth, on the other - a T-shaped handle. This version of the design is rarely used - only in outdated large-sized models for processing material that is characterized by high hardness.

Modern drills use additional options. Impact and pulse is used for deep "drilling" of concrete. When working in mines, models with a pneumatic principle of operation are used. Versions are also used: drills, screws, diamond drilling, angle, mixers.

Options for selecting screwdrivers and drills

Screwdriver Specifications

A screwdriver is selected according to the type and technical characteristics. At household appliances torque is up to 16 Nm, for professional devices - up to 130 Nm; rotation speed, respectively, reaches 600 rpm and 1300 rpm. The screwdriver battery is characterized by the following parameters: nickel-cadmium - resource up to 1 thousand cycles of "charging / discharging"; lithium-ion do not have a memory factor - it is recharged at any time; nickel-metal-hybrid has 5 hundred charges - does not function in frost. When choosing, attention is also paid to the type of cartridge: it can be cam (key) and quick-clamp - 1- and 2-sleeve.

Drill Specifications

A classic example of a drill is the Bosch GSB 13 RE model. It has a power of 0.6 kW, speed control. Equipped with a keyless chuck, a wheel for adjusting the speed, a switch for operating modes. An electronic control system is available, there is a holder for standard equipment. To avoid damage to the mechanics and to unscrew the screws, a reverse is provided - the switch is conveniently located at a finger's distance of the "working" hand. Drills metal (diameter 1 cm), brick (Ø 1.3 cm), wood (Ø 2.5 cm).

Differences between a drill and a screwdriver

Conclusions from the above information.

The direct purpose of the screwdriver: installation / dismantling of threaded hardware: screws, self-tapping screws, screws, as well as bolts and nuts of small sizes. Related functions available to modern devices are grinding and making holes. The efficiency of work for an indirect purpose is inferior to specialized tools. Distinctive characteristic: the accented possibility of adjustment of force of the moment. Thanks to this option, the tool tightens the hardware to the stop without sacrificing quality: the screw in its head only deepens flush with the work surface.
The drill is designed for making holes: in wood, metal, concrete, plastic. Unlike a screwdriver, the main indicator is the rotation speed, the optimal value of which determines the effectiveness of the result. The drill can perform and additional functions(with certain equipment): grind different surfaces and cut metal, wood, plastic. It is also possible for the tool to tighten screws, but this work requires skill and experience. Otherwise, it is impossible to avoid punching hardware, breaking slots, jamming the tip.

The conclusion is obvious. Professionals need to buy different tools. At the household level, for occasional use, you can do the same or, more appropriately, purchase a drill/driver.

Choosing an instrument is not an easy task. It is necessary to fit into the budget, choose a copy that is good in terms of characteristics and not make a mistake in choosing a manufacturer. In this article, we'll talk about how to choose a screwdriver, what they are, which one is better.

The first thing you need to decide when choosing a screwdriver is whether you need a household tool or a professional one. The difference between them is significant. First of all, the working resource is different. Professional models are made of more durable and expensive materials. They can serve for several years even with constant use in production. Household models serve several times less, but also cost several times less.

You need to choose the class of screwdriver - household or professional

If you need a screwdriver "to be" - for various chores around the house or in the country, an inexpensive household model will suffice. They usually have a one-year warranty, but can last quite a long time. If a major repair is planned or construction begins, there will be more than enough work for a screwdriver. Then a professional or semi-professional model will come in handy. But some owners decide it's better to buy two household tools than one professional. In general, how to choose a screwdriver for this parameter is up to you.

Wrench, screwdriver, screwdriver, drill driver ... which is better

Considering models of screwdrivers, you will definitely come across wrenches, screwdrivers and drills. How they differ and which is better to choose - these are two questions that many people have. The main difference is in the purpose of the tool:

As is clear from the description, for construction or household work there is a choice between a screwdriver and a drill driver. The second modification is a universal tool that has two modes of operation - drilling and tightening self-tapping screws. It's good for occasional use. That is, if large-scale work is not expected, but the farm needs (or wants) a tool, this is an excellent choice. But if you are building overhaul, it is better to take a separate drill and screwdriver. As practice has shown, with prolonged loads, they do their job better than combined devices.

If you need a drill driver, in addition to the parameters important for a screwdriver, you need to pay attention to the parameters for a drill:

What materials can it be used for drilling? There are universal ones that can work with wood, concrete and metal. They are distinguished by high power and high price. There are only for working with wood and concrete.
Maximum drilling diameter for each material. Usually in softer materials (wood) the hole diameter is larger, in concrete and metal it is smaller. But there are exceptions.

For domestic use more often they advise a drill driver without drilling in metal. This feature is available for powerful units that have high cost. You don't have to drill metal very often, so this power is often excessive. Yes, and for drilling metal it is better to have a drill after all.

AC power or batteries

Screwdrivers come in two types - mains-powered and battery-powered. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of a corded screwdriver is that it works as long as there is voltage in the network. The second positive point is that it is cheaper than similar tools on batteries. But the biggest plus of corded screwdrivers is that they can be idle as much as necessary without compromising performance. Cordless tools require regular “training” during periods of extended inactivity. Batteries need to be discharged and recharged periodically. Otherwise, they may not wake up.

There are also disadvantages - the power cord restricts freedom of movement and sometimes interferes quite a lot. The second drawback is that 220 volts is far from being available everywhere, but at construction sites this is generally a rarity. The question of how to choose a screwdriver that works from the network is practically not worth it. All you need to pay attention to is the length of the power cord. The longer it is, the more convenient it is - there is no need to use a carrier as well. The rest of the choice lies in the selection of technical parameters.

Cordless screwdrivers also have their pros and cons. Plus - greater mobility and independence from the availability of power. Minus - higher price, more weight and the need to recharge the batteries. That is, the dependence on the power supply still exists, but not so sharply.

If desired, you can have a second set of batteries (many companies immediately complete their tools with two batteries). This will ensure virtually uninterrupted operation. Despite the inconvenience of charging and extra weight, most decide to purchase a cordless screwdriver. And when they talk about how to choose a screwdriver, they mean a battery-powered tool. If you have come to this opinion, you need to understand the types of power elements.

Selection by battery type

Batteries for screwdrivers are different types. And the cost of the tool largely depends on the type of batteries. What's even more interesting is that a new set of batteries costs almost as much as a tool with this power supply included. Therefore, the rules for the operation of batteries should be taken carefully.

Types of battery for screwdrivers

Briefly consider the types of AB, their advantages, disadvantages and features.

Most of the tools on the market are equipped with nickel-cadmium batteries. They are optimal in terms of price / quality ratio. In expensive models of the professional category are lithium-ion cells. How to choose a screwdriver? Pay attention to the type of battery, as the rules for recharging and storing bookmarks depend on their type.

Battery parameters

When choosing a cordless screwdriver, be sure to pay attention to the parameters of the power source. The duration of work on a single charge and some other points depend on them. Here's what to look for first:

Also pay attention to whether batteries are included with the battery and their number. Usually two pieces come with the tool, but there are only screwdrivers without AB. Before choosing a screwdriver with a battery, decide on the type of battery, its parameters.

Cartridge type

There are two types of chucks in screwdrivers - with a key and quick-clamping. The second option is more convenient, since the bits are released and clamped by turning the cartridge, without additional devices. In this case, the tool is held with the left hand, the cartridge is rotated with the right. There are two types of keyless chucks - with one or two clutches. The second clutch serves to block the shaft - so that you can change the nozzle. If there is only one clutch, there is a button on the body to block the shaft, with which the shaft is fixed. In this case, before starting to replace the nozzle, press the shaft lock button, while holding it, replace it. We release the button, you can work.

There are two types of keyless chucks - single-sleeve and double-sleeve.

An additional plus of the keyless chuck is that you can install a nozzle with a shank of any diameter into it. The main thing is that it fits into the holder. Therefore, when choosing a screwdriver, we pay attention to such a parameter as the diameter of the cartridge. It determines the maximum nozzle diameter that can be installed.

Key cartridges require a special key. It is inserted into the hole in the cartridge, turning in one direction or the other, the bit or drill is released or clamped. Such a tool costs a little less, since its design is a little simpler.

Choice of options

To fully answer the question "how to choose a screwdriver", you need to tell about technical specifications. The parameters of the batteries and the cartridge have already been discussed, there are some technical characteristics that you need to pay attention to.

Torque

IN technical specifications there is a line "Maximum torque". This is an indicator that shows how much force the tool can develop. It is measured in Nm (Newton per meter). For a household (amateur) tool or for a “clean” screwdriver, it is enough that the maximum torque is 10-15 Nm. For professional and versatile (with drilling function), it needs to be larger - to quickly and confidently do the right job even on tough materials or screw in powerful screws.

Number of steps

For different materials and different screws require different torque. It is changed using a special switch that allows you to change it from the minimum (1 Nm) to the maximum. The number of steps may vary. The more of them, the more accurately you can choose the required effort. This is not so important for corded screwdrivers, but it is important for cordless ones - with more significant loads, the batteries discharge faster. Therefore, it is important to choose the optimal mode.

To track when the drill has reached the set torque, at the moment this parameter is exceeded, the cartridge scrolls idle, making clicks. This mechanism protects the tool from overheating and is popularly called the "ratchet". A useful feature that prolongs the life of the screwdriver.

Torque Selection

How to choose a screwdriver by torque? If you buy a tool for a certain type of work, you can focus on the diameter of the screws that will have to be tightened. This parameter is also in the technical specifications, but there is such a dependence:

These parameters will also come in handy during operation - it will be possible to immediately set the required values, only slightly adjusting the value for a specific case. So, when working with drywall, a smaller value is required - so as not to overtighten the screws and not to break through the cardboard. You will have to select the torque depending on the type of wood - screws go into spruce with more effort than into pine.

Spindle speed or speed

The torque must be provided by sufficient spindle speed. For working with soft materials such as wood, the normal speed is 400-500 rpm, for working with concrete or metal, a faster rotation is needed - 1200-1300 rpm is a normal indicator.

So when choosing a screwdriver, look not only at the torque, but also at the spindle speed. They must be consistent. Only then will it be convenient to work with the tool in different modes.

Number of speeds

There are screwdrivers that can work at two speeds. Basically, these are professional and semi-professional models. Speeds are switched depending on the density of the material being worked with. You can try different speeds and with screws of different sizes.

The presence of two speeds - useful for professional models

Speed selection saves battery power. As a result, the tool lasts longer on a single charge. For household models, this is not the most necessary option, but it's nice to have it.

Additional options and convenience

And the last thing they pay attention to when deciding which screwdriver to choose is the convenience of work. Definitely worth paying attention to how comfortable the tool "lies" in the hand. You often have to work for several hours in a row, and if the hand gets tired quickly, it becomes a torment. For greater comfort, rubber pads are made on the handle. They significantly increase the comfort of use. There are other options that make the job easier.

The presence of a reverse

Almost all modern screwdrivers have reverse or reverse. It allows you to quickly unscrew the screw or pull out the drill stuck in the material. The reverse stroke is activated using a special button, which is located not far from the trigger.

To prevent the tool from immediately changing direction (it is possible to accidentally press the reverse button), many models, for safety reasons, have an intermediate mode. After switching, the shaft stops, and only then it starts in the opposite direction.

Tape feeding of screws

This option is needed only in production, where a screwdriver is constantly used. Fasteners are installed in special plastic tapes (it is sold that way). This tape automatically feeds the next screw to the nozzle after the previous one is screwed in.

Screwdriver with belt feed screws

This option saves a lot of time, but the price of such a tool is high. For home use, this “bells and whistles” is not the best way to spend money.