Useless Tool: Cordless driver (non variable speed)

[uart]

I recently bought a really cheapo cordless screwdriver because it came with over 100 bits of various types and the price was worth it for the bits alone. But seriously, trying to use a non variable speed driver on actual screws (flat, phillips etc) is a pretty **** experience.

I've gotten too used to nice variable speed drills where you can finely control the torque get the screws moving without spinning the heads out. Even though this cheap thing is pathetically low power I still chew out the heads of the screws (and the bits) when the stupid thing goes from zero to max the instant you pull the trigger.

I'm sure I've used non variable speed stuff in the distant past, once upon a time I think most of the low end stuff was like this. But I've been too spoilt lately with good variable speed stuff and cant hack this **** anymore. I think I'll just use it for a nut spinner, not enough torque for actually tightening or breaking anything free, but fine for saving the finger work of spinning them on.

Does anyone else own one of the useless items? What, if anything, do you use it for?

BTW. Ignore the horrid scummy looking bit adapter in the pic, that's another story.

 

[steven083008]

A buddy of mine has a Makita Impact screw driver that is not variable speed. It took him some time to get used to it, but he really likes it now. He has stated that he would have preferred the Hitachi variable speed version though. Point being, not all expensive screw drivers are variable speed. I certainly wouldn't own one that wasn't though.

 

[uart]

A buddy of mine has a Makita Impact screw driver that is not variable speed. It took him some time to get used to it, but he really likes it now. He has stated that he would have preferred the Hitachi variable speed version though. Point being, not all expensive screw drivers are variable speed. I certainly wouldn't own one that wasn't though.

Yeah I guess it depends on what you're using it to drive. Stuff that locks in tight like torx and hex head is fine, but plain old screws like flat or phillips head are a real PITA. When I picked it up I knew it would be pretty useless (because it's only 2.4 volts and pretty weak) but I thought I'd be able to use it for driving into easy/soft stuff. ATM I'm often using my one good drill for both drilling pilots and then driving screws, which is a bit of a nuisance with swapping bits in and out. I was kinda hoping that on easy jobs I'd be able to just use the drill as a drill and drive the screws with this thing, but I've given up on that idea now.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

i"m sorry i have to completely disagree with you i have the small snap on gun and find none of these problems you mention

 

[uart]

i"m sorry i have to completely disagree with you i have the small snap on gun and find none of these problems you mention

Cool I was hoping someone would disagree, but how about sharing some tips on how to use it. What's your technique on normal screws? (eg flat or phillips)

 

[Marshall2u]

I bought one some years back (actually a drill, not a screwdriver) as a back up (because it was cheap). Didn't realize when I bought it that is wasn't variable speed. Used it once, didn't like, haven't used it since.

 

[uart]

I bought one some years back (actually a drill, not a screwdriver) as a back up (because it was cheap). Didn't realize when I bought it that is wasn't variable speed. Used it once, didn't like, haven't used it since.

Yeah, my very first cordless tool years ago was a 7.2 volt Ryobi non variable speed drill. At least it had a torque control clutch (even though it was only about 5 stage) that helped. This cheap thing I bought has got nothing (other than it's built in limited amount of torque to begin with).

Funny thing is I remember being able to use that old Ryobi as a driver more easily than this new little one. I seem to remember the old Ryobi had a large keyless chuck and I think I used to actually "control" the speed at start up by riding my hand on the chuck. Hard hands and a relatively weak drill, that was my speed control, LOL.

 

[Danglerb]

Two speeds, stop and go, what more ya want?

I've used a Milwaukee screw shooter a lot, and you set the clutch and just go. Really not sure what good these little ones are.

 

[Andy Griffith]

The year was 1988 I believe...

I had one of these skil cordless screwdrivers. I don't recall it having a clutch nor being variable speed, but it was quite handy, and it lasted for many years before the battery finally gave out. I used it for driving outlet/switch mounting screws, and face plate screws. You ever buy one of those 8x10 metal garden shed kits? They come with a bunch of metal panels and what seems like 2000 small screws (10/24) and nuts to bolt it together. That little cordless screwdriver more than paid for itself on that one job alone.

Variable speed would have been nice I suppose, but it turns at a slow enough rpm that it was pretty easily controlled.

 

[Drew_flux]

Super cheap's finest tool by the look of it.
Bunnings has inline screw driver impacts like the pic above, on special. Saw them at boxing day sale.

 

[uart]

Super cheap's finest tool by the look of it.

No even better than that, it's from an Aldi supermarket.

But it was only $20 and came with a whole **** load of bits of all types, which was what I really bought it for.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

1 make sure you are firmly seated in the fastener 2 apply consistant even pressure and 3 set the clutch to the appropriate setting

 

[NJHandyGuy]

me personally i feel the bits make all the difference anyway

 

[Outlander]

The year was 1988 I believe...

I had one of these skil cordless screwdrivers.

Exactly like my dad's ..... and he gave me one as well! Still sits there in my basement workshop at home and still keeps working after all these years.

 

[uart]

3. set the clutch to the appropriate setting

And there lies the problem, this one is so lame that it doesn't even have a clutch.

Oh well, I've found it's good for spinning nuts on/off, that's all I think I'll use it for now. I just rotated the tires on both cars, 8 tires by 5 studs per tire, so it saved me quite a lot of finger twiddling. Obviously I still had to use a wheel brace to break them free and to torque them up.

 

[Drew_flux]

No even better than that, it's from an Aldi supermarket.

But it was only $20 came with a whole **** load of bits of all types, which was what I really bought it for.

Aldi comes up with some gems once in a while. I hope you bought the led under bonet work light while you were there.
Also are you the UART from newcastle with the dog avatar on "PC" ?

 

[uart]

Aldi comes up with some gems once in a while. I hope you bought the led under bonet work light while you were there.
Also are you the UART from newcastle with the dog avatar on "PC" ?

Yep that's me, and that's my dog.

 

[Sick Puppy]

I can certainly empathise with ya... I finally managed to get a Bosch IXO this year - been wanting one for years, couldn't face paying the $100 for it. Picked up a mint used one for $30, came with two extra heads, and I picked up two more to go with it. I now have a right angle head, offset head, adjustable torque and at some point, even a corkscrew attachment! I've used the first two, which made the total purchase worth it.

But I do wish it had adjustable speeds - stop and go is a PITA, and like you, I have ruined a few screws because of it. It has a bigger brother with an adjustable torque for screwing or drilling, and I have used it extensively - even put the adapter you have in your pic with a Koken socket for a lightweight impact gun lol

But the little gun is awesome, if only because it looks like a phaser!

 

[Larwyn]

I have used a Milwaukee non variable speed screwdriver to run in many thousands of screws when building and installing control panels for electrical sub stations. The screws were generally started with a holding screwdriver and when a terminal block was filled the cordless was used to bottom the screws out. That little red screwdriver saved me many hours of work.

 

[MattPersman]

I usually find its the bits or the screws themselves that are junk when you just tear them right up variable speed or infinite speed. the last set of blinds I was installing I was using a junk set of HF bits but the screws were junk, I got some brand name screws and they went right in even with junk bits.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I have used a Milwaukee non variable speed screwdriver to run in many thousands of screws when building and installing control panels for electrical sub stations. The screws were generally started with a holding screwdriver and when a terminal block was filled the cordless was used to bottom the screws out. That little red screwdriver saved me many hours of work.

Yeah, now that looks good, especially with the adjustable grip. They didn't have the pistol grip drivers back when I was using the Skil but the nice thing about the straight driver is you could loosen your grip just a bit and let the driver roll in your palm when it got right up to the point of tightening. Otherwise known as the 'Palm Clutch' I believe.

I received the Bosch impact drivers 41 and 21 (pocket driver) for Christmas because I was tired of using my big arsed dewalt 18v mega drill/driver for tight access jobs. It was just too big and bulky for those applications, and the big fat battery pack hanging off the end of the handle was a detriment.

I have not had a chance to play with the Bosch drivers yet and to be honest the smaller of the two drivers was bigger than I hopped it would be. I don't know if the 21 can be dialed back enough to drive switch-plate screws or receptacles without cracking the switch-plate when it tightens down. If not, then I am going to get one these small drivers for those types of applications. Not all my applications involve driving 3" deck screws into treated lumber, or busting loose frozen fasteners, etc.

 

[Larwyn]

The little Milwaukee's clutch will adjust down to tighten the switch plates without damage. Amazon has them for just over $80 right now, back when I was using them I never got one for less than $125.

 

[uart]

Yeah, now that looks good, especially with the adjustable grip. They didn't have the pistol grip drivers back when I was using the Skil but the nice thing about the straight driver is you could loosen your grip just a bit and let the driver roll in your palm when it got right up to the point of tightening. Otherwise known as the 'Palm Clutch' I believe.

Now that's a good idea Andy. On the one I've got the handle also rotates to either pistol grip or straight. I think I'll give that "Palm Clutch" idea a try.

 

[uart]

Just bumping this old thread to say that the real reason why this tool was so useless was due to the lack of a torque clutch, not due to the lack of variable speed. I realized this when I tried out another cheap little driver today. Again just a (fairly slow) single speed, but this time with a decent six setting clutch. It worked just fine for me.

Sorry about the confusion. Somehow I was recollecting about how **** was my experience using this driver (lots of cam outs an scuffed up bits) and I incorrectly attributed it to its single speed nature instead of it's lack of a clutch.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have an old B&D electric screwdriver. It is single speed. The best feature about it is that it is geared way down so that it is slow and has a fair amount of torque. Great for running nuts with a 1/4" adapter.

 

[Zeke]

My right angle Makita driver/drill is single speed and I get along with it just fine. Most of the time I'm all on or all off anyway. My first cordless was a 7.2 v Makita drill. I installed door hardware at the time and it was perfect. Light weight and powerful enough for the work. Wish I still had it.