Dewalt gyroscopic screwdriver

[Bottlecapdigger]

Why did Dewalt stop making these, a friend showed me his and let me try it out. I really liked it and he mentioned that you can’t get them anymore. I wanted to get one myself and ya he’s right you can’t get them anywhere. BCD.

 

[liliysdad]

I’ve got one and it’s neat. That’s about it.

 

[Pexto]

I'd really like to have one. A friend of mine has one and I've used it when he brings his snowmachine to my garage to work on it. It's quite a nice tool when you're removing and replacing a lot of screws. I love the gyroscopic feature but apparently a lot of folks don't.

 

[liliysdad]

I'd really like to have one. A friend of mine has one and I've used it when he brings his snowmachine to my garage to work on it. It's quite a nice tool when you're removing and replacing a lot of screws. I love the gyroscopic feature but apparently a lot of folks don't.

I use mine every now and then. I really haven’t found many scenarios where it does anything better than a 1/4 impact driver or a drill. The gyroscopic setup is cool, but once the “neato” factor wear off, it really doesn’t add anything to the functionality.

Checking eBay sold listings, looks they are in demand and bringing very good money.

 

[scooterbum46]

I saw them at Hum Despot about three years ago, was in a hurry and thought I'd check 'em out later. Apparently they lost the blueprints or the group of children putting them together were reassigned to Apple products. Never saw them again after that Christmas season.

 

[Rinspeed]

I bought one for for one of the guys at the shop and I couldn’t stand the tool and he said the same thing. The previous generation that the handle swiveled was a great little driver, of course they discontinued it.

 

[bonneyman]

I think I have a Husky one around somewhere. Haven't used it yet.

 

[Steve_P]

I'll join the "I don't know why it was discontinued" list, but I have the first? edition with the swivel handle and love it. When I bought it, I read the reviews on Amazon saying how fantastic it was, but I still thought that there was no way it would work properly all the time; but it just does and it's fantastic. Sure, it doesn't do anything that a variable speed trigger doesn't, but there's no reverse button, and it just works; it's definitely a slick invention.

 

[ipgenie]

I got one for Christmas a few years ago, pretty handy driver. I've got several other brands and I don't get the hate for the Dewalt. It's variable speed is hard to beat with a trigger on the others. Only thing I wish is for it to be a little less chunky.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I have one of these and would like to buy another, I’m very annoyed they have been discontinued. They excel at fine work, like M2 screws into plastic RC cars. The clutch is very light and they won’t strip in those applications. Lately I’ve been using it to run a tap down the threads of brass knobs to clean them up before install. The gyro feature means I don’t have to press a different button to reverse, I can just roll my hand counter clockwise and run the tap back out. The variable speed based on the gyro action is awesome and very intuitive. I need a straight driver for installing hinge screws from a vertical position repeatedly, using a M12 2401-20 is bad ergonomically for that. I can’t really rotate the work when it’s laid out for final assembly. I would use my current dewalt, but don’t want to risk killing it if I can’t get a replacement. I haven’t seen another straight driver that is variable speed. I need something I can grab like I’m grabbing a soda can to drive screws down.

If anyone has one they want to get rid of for a reasonable price PM me.

 

[rust in the eye]

Not having heard of these I had to investigate since you didn't offer much about it.
Interesting concept.
If this is what you're after it seems available:https://www.dewalt.com/product/dcf682n1/8v-max-gyroscopic-inline-screwdriver

 

[qdvuu]

Very useful in data centers for installing/uninstalling rack mounted equipment like servers, switches, etc. The're golden for the data center crews.

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

The model were after is DCF680N2. Which can be either be switched to inline or pistol grip, has multiple torque settings and 8v removable battery. If you drill into dewalt website it says discontinued. Home Depot advertises it still but then says no longer available.

https://www.dewalt.com/product/dcf680n2/8v-max-gyroscopic-screwdriver-2-battery-kit.

 

[MichaelP]

I like mine and use it often enough to justify buying it. Naturally, one shouldn't compare it with "regular" larger cordless impact or non-impact drivers. It's from a different category of tools. But when your work benefits from using smaller type of cordless screwdrivers, it's, probably, one of the best. And to my surprise, this guy is perfectly capable of driving screws into wood when I wouldn't even consider using any of those smaller screwdrivers.

I, personally, find the gyro function very user friendly for changing speed or direction of rotation.

 

[LS1-IROC]

Not having heard of these I had to investigate since you didn't offer much about it.
Interesting concept.
If this is what you're after it seems available:https://www.dewalt.com/product/dcf682n1/8v-max-gyroscopic-inline-screwdriver

It's not, it says it ships direct from the manufacture, only they haven't made them for over a year. They were discontinued due to the battery, and them not wanting to support that line of bats anymore. I've had the first gen with the swivel handle for over 8 years and it's one of my favorite tools in my line of work. A lot of the guys that work here have them as well. They were quite popular for the folks that do a lot of screwing.

 

[rust in the eye]

It's not, it says it ships direct from the manufacture, only they haven't made them for over a year. They were discontinued due to the battery, and them not wanting to support that line of bats anymore. I've had the first gen with the swivel handle for over 8 years and it's one of my favorite tools in my line of work. A lot of the guys that work here have them as well. They were quite popular for the folks that do a lot of screwing.

 

[liliysdad]

When I saw that they had been discontinued, I checked eBay and found they were selling for crazy prices.

I had mine listed and sold for about 8 times more than I paid for it within 48 hours.

 

[JBH]

My most used power tool and it’s not even close. (Swivel version.) Also have had the smaller B&D Gyro for even longer, but rarely use since getting the Dewalt.

 

[BroncoAZ]

Deleted.

 

[BroncoAZ]

While pursuing Amazon looking for some junky straight screwdriver to try I came across a new offering from Bosch. No gyro option, but a quality manufacturer, USB C charging, mechanical clutch, and what appears to be a large button I can fat finger in a coke can like grip to activate it. Apparently there is also a push to drive mode where it goes when you press down. I’ll know in a couple days how it works.

There is an operational video on the Bosch link. The way the guy is grabbing the driver and driving screws down is exactly my use case.

GSD4V-35 New Products | Bosch Professional

GSD4V-35

www.boschtools.com

BOSCH GSD4V-35 4V Max USB-C Rechargeable Screwdriver - Compact Design, Dual Activation, Universal Bit Locker, 8 Torque Settings, LED Worklight - Amazon.com

BOSCH GSD4V-35 4V Max USB-C Rechargeable Screwdriver - Compact Design, Dual Activation, Universal Bit Locker, 8 Torque Settings, LED Worklight - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[MichaelP]

Unfortunately, it's missing a few major features of Dewalt Gyro screwdriver:
1. No option to convert it from straight to pistol grip
2. No variable speed
3. No switchless change of direction of rotation
4. No replaceable battery (=useless till you recharge it, and no luck when the internal battery, finally, dies)

 

[BroncoAZ]

Unfortunately, it's missing a few major features of Dewalt Gyro screwdriver:
1. No option to convert it from straight to pistol grip
2. No variable speed
3. No switchless change of direction of rotation
4. No replaceable battery (=useless till you recharge it, and no luck when the internal battery, finally, dies)

1. I’ve had the Dewalt for 9 years and always use it straight. I’ll use one of my three Milwaukee 2401-20 if I need a pistol grip. I specifically need a straight driver for my production work ergonomics, my wrist was bugging me after assembling 14 units with nine vertical screws using a pistol grip driver. I have a pair of larger vertical screws for the shoulder strap that will still require the Milwaukee, but I can easily roll the workpiece to make it more ergonomic.
2. Agreed, but it has a clutch and will work fine for this. I’m installing the same nine screws repeatedly for about an hour at a time.
3. This application is only installing screws to a specific torque, never removing them. I do have to run a 10-24 tap in the brass knobs before assembly, the Dewalt gyro is amazing for that. I also run a 3/8-16 tap through about 1/2” of maple, the Dewalt isn’t powerful enough for that so I use the Milwaukee screwdriver and hit the reverse button on each hole.
4.Agreed. I’m usually doing parts in batches of 10, I think it will make it through 90 #6 3/4” screws into pre drilled maple on a single charge. I could modify my workflow if I need to charge it sooner. I thought about buying the 4 year extended warranty for $9, but at the end of the day I can take it apart and replace the probably 18650 or 21700 cell when it dies or just toss it any buy another.

I’m trying to work up to 50+ units per month as a side hustle, probably 75-80 hours of labor. $70 isn’t going to break me if the tool generally serves my needs and reduces ergonomic concerns. I could just use the Dewalt that I have until it eventually dies, but since I can’t replace it I’d rather save it for working on RC cars which is why I purchased it in the first place.

 

[MichaelP]

I understand that Bosch may suit your particular needs very well. But since the thread was about Dewalt Gyro, I felt that it made sense to highlight the differences.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I understand that Bosch may suit your particular needs very well. But since the thread was about Dewalt Gyro, I felt that it makes sense to highlight the differences.

Understood and appreciated. I think many of us are looking for the next tool and you made excellent points. I was trying to be through in why I think it’s suitable for my specific task, not meaning to come off as combative. My apologies if that’s how it read.

 

[BroncoAZ]

The Bosch driver arrived today, I threw together a quick and lame video. I’m not at all monetized as this is my 15th video in like 10 years.

 

[labjockey]

I saw them at Hum Despot about three years ago, was in a hurry and thought I'd check 'em out later. Apparently they lost the blueprints or the group of children putting them together were reassigned to Apple products. Never saw them again after that Christmas season.

This is hilarious.