What is a cordless screwdriver, what is a cordless drill?

The term cordless screwdriver is often used for several types, but the individual tools differ decisively in their properties: While the cordless screwdriver is primarily used to screw in and out screws and nuts, the main task of the drill – as the name suggests – is to drill a hole. The screwdriver in turn combines the functions of the two tools; it can screw and drill – but should only be used for light drilling work in soft material. As the names already reveal, the devices are operated with a rechargeable battery independently of the mains supply and thus contribute to enormous time and power savings. Instead of turning the screws manually, the machine helps. Imagine assembling your furniture manually with a screwdriver. How long would it take you and how much strength would it take?

What to do with a cordless screwdriver/drill?

Because the devices are so versatile, they are always in use: In their own four walls but also in handicraft businesses. A cordless screwdriver helps you to assemble and disassemble furniture in your household effortlessly. Whether in the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom or garden – they are needed everywhere. Because they are so small and handy, they are perfect for places that are more difficult to reach. Even overhead work can be done more easily with the mobile battery version than with the heavier socket version. The battery models can be steel, wood and masonry. They are therefore also indispensable products in the household of every DIY enthusiast.

What should I keep in mind when buying a cordless screwdriver/drill?

There are many different battery operated screwdrivers and drills. You‘re literally spoilt for choice here. Should it be the branded screwdriver or still the discount copy? The wireless versions are primarily characterized by the fact that they are very light and handy. So make sure that you do not miss out on these two essential aspects, otherwise you will only get angry later if your tool is too heavy and big. But what kind of technical details should you pay attention to? Here comes the overview, which creates further clarity for your purchase decision:

Discounter – or brand product?

Of course, cordless screwdrivers are good and cheap to buy everywhere these days, but the fact is that even if the device looks like a bargain at first glance at a discounter, it may well not work after a short time – in this case, you can only dream of procuring individual spare parts. And if you are lucky and can get hold of the spare part, you will usually end up paying so much that the investment in the branded product would have been directly worth it. Therefore it makes sense to spend a little more money for better quality right from the start. Branded devices are designed for eternity and if something breaks again, spare parts can be procured much more easily.

Technical subtleties and the

rechargeable battery

Once you have decided on a manufacturer, the next problem comes up: Which model would you like? Here you should consider the volt number of the battery. The voltage affects the weight, because the higher the voltage, the heavier the device. If you are looking for a screwdriver for home use, twelve volts are sufficient. For a regular use at least 18 volts would be appropriate. Other important technical data you should pay attention to is the number of ampere-hours of the battery. This tells you how quickly the device discharges. Values around 2 ampere hours are recommended here. Otherwise it would make sense to buy a second battery so that you don’t have to interrupt your work just because the cordless screwdriver or drill has to charge. You can lose a lot of time this way.

What does it matter with which machine?

For cordless screwdrivers, the torque specified in Newton meters is the most important property. This is important for screwing. The higher the number of torques, the more power the cordless screwdriver has. However, if you want to purchase a drilling tool, the speed is more important than the torque. If you buy a cordless drill bit, i.e. a combination device that combines both device characteristics, the most important thing is that the device has the highest possible performance – power is needed here! You should note, however, that if you drill frequently, it is best to purchase a separate drill with a socket drive, as this has more power than the battery-operated models.

How does a cordless screwdriver/drill work?

So that the screwdriver is ready for operation, a screw bit is clamped into the drill chuck. With the small battery version, however, the screwdrivers often have no drill chuck, but only a magnetic bit holder for screw attachments. That’s why they weigh less. When the switch is pressed, the actuator detects the switch position and transmits a corresponding amount of energy from the battery to the electric motor. The electric motor now sets the head of the cordless screwdriver and thus the screw bit in motion – off you go!

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So when you buy a cordless screwdriver, you also need the right bits. Bits are similar to screwdrivers, but they consist of only one head and cannot be used by hand. They are therefore a crucial part of the tool. The bits have different profiles for the different screw heads, here there is the slot, cross, torrx and hex profile.

Since the cordless drill screwdriver combines two tools in one, it has a two-speed gearbox. A slower gear for screwing and a faster gear for drilling. Both screw attachments, the bits, can be inserted into the head, but drills of various sizes can also be clamped into the drill chuck. Drills should have an output of at least ten to 15 volts in order to get as close as possible to the power of a conventional drill.

What designs are there and what distinguishes them?

The mobile version is characterised by the fact that it can do without electricity for a longer period of time. Consequently, the battery is the heart of every screwdriver. The three most common battery types used in tools are presented below: Nickel-cadmium batteries (short: NiCd), Nickel metal hydride batteries (NiMH) and lithium ion batteries (Li-Ion).

Nickel-cadmium batteries (short: NiCd)

These batteries are still used in wireless tools, although they have been banned by law in Germany since 2009. The reason: they contain cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, which can only be disposed of separately. However, their advantage is that they are very robust when it comes to overcharging and deep discharging and have a long service life with up to 1,500 charging cycles. Even at low temperatures and sub-zero temperatures, the batteries still work without problems. Compared to the other two battery types, however, the NiCd has only half the capacity of the NiMH batteries and the difference to the lithium-ion power package is even more striking.

Nickel metal hydride batteries (NiMH)

Nickel-metal hydride batteries can be found in many electrical products, such as electric toothbrushes, older digital cameras and tools. They are cheaper than the much sought-after lithium-ion batteries, they cost about half as much, but they can suffer from the battery inertia effect, i.e. if they are never completely discharged, the performance of your electrical appliance deteriorates. This memory effect can be eliminated by completely charging and discharging the battery five times with a special charger.

Lithium-ion batteries (Li-Ion)

This is the best battery technology currently available on the market. They are smaller than their predecessors because the technology has a higher cell voltage. That’s why the batteries are smaller and lighter – even though they are just as, if not even more, powerful than other batteries. Due to this characteristic, the batteries are always used when as much power as possible meets as little space as possible for the battery. This is why they are also so advantageous for mobile tools: the batteries weigh almost nothing and DIY enthusiasts can use their tools with as little force as possible. Further advantages are that there is no memory effect which reduces battery performance, there is very little self-discharge when the battery is not used for a long time and there are no heavy metals in the cells, which is good for the environment.

advantages and disadvantages

The battery tools are characterised by their manoeuvrability: They are small, light and compact. They can thus be used perfectly in hard-to-reach places and are also suitable for longer, fatigue-free work. They are therefore often used for delicate and overhead work. A further advantage is that there are no obstructive cables in the way, which make work even more difficult. Due to their mobility, they can even be used outdoors in the garden. A cordless screwdriver allows you to work more flexibly and the higher the quality of the battery, the longer you can use your cordless screwdriver. Nowadays the batteries can be quickly recharged – often battery machines are also available directly with two batteries – so the craft of course becomes even more flexible. In addition, the battery version is often cheaper than the mains plug operated version.

A big drawback of the cordless screwdrivers, however, is that they have less power than their colleagues with mains plugs. So if you have to do heavy work or use your device very often, a tool with socket operation is better for you.

bottom line

The list of advantages and disadvantages already sums it up: In every household you should find a cordless screwdriver. They are very useful in many moments and not too expensive to buy. If you decide on a cordless screwdriver, take a little more money in your hand and pay attention to the technical details: With a good battery and brand quality you will surely have more fun with your tools. And the next move may come…

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