Electric screwdiver

Teddy Lop · Sep 8, 2024

Anyone use one? Been diagnosed with (mild) carpol tunnel so looking to de-strain as much as one can.

I've sometimes used an impact driver for repeat actions such as unwind and sometimes partly assemble consumer units (milwaukee have a gentle finger-tight setting on them) but figure the right tool would be better and always to hand, but theres some price variance - I like wiha but does it justify the price when you can buy a ck for £40?

Looked up some online reviews but from my sample they appear to be all pillocks cosplaying rufty tradesmen with no idea what they should be focussing on.

pirate · Sep 8, 2024

I use a Bosch one, I think iy's designated "GO-2". I find it's less unweildy than using the drill-driver, slips into a long pocket on my work trousers, and is great for repetitive jobs like faceplate screws. It has adjustable torque settings, and it can be set to start up by pushing it into the screw slot, however I prefer the normal push switch which it has as well. It's powerful enough for many jobs so it's a winner for me.
I don't use any kind of electric driver on those shiny chrome or nickel sockets and switches...
My DeWalt impact driver has a soft-start setting, but I just find the Bosch more user-friendly for fiddly jobs.

mickegh · Sep 8, 2024

I wouldn't cheap out in your specific case
I'd be looking for a high quality tool

timhoward · Sep 8, 2024

I've had a couple of these for 3 years. They don't come with a flat blade.
They have as much oomph as a fart in a windmill which makes them perfect for faceplate screws.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brifit-Precision-Electric-Screwdriver-Rechargeable/dp/B0C81FL2M3

Teddy Lop · Sep 8, 2024

mickegh said:
I wouldn't cheap out in your specific case
I'd be looking for a high quality tool

I'm happy to go high quality, high cost merits assessment of it's attributes over the cheaper options though. Which is difficult when you can't exactly try them all out, and even if you could the benefits of the better kit often make themselves apparent with repeated usage, as do the downsides of the lesser stuff.

mainline · Sep 8, 2024

Teddy Lop said:
I'm happy to go high quality, high cost merits assessment of it's attributes over the cheaper options though. Which is difficult when you can't exactly try them all out, and even if you could the benefits of the better kit often make themselves apparent with repeated usage, as do the downsides of the lesser stuff.

I have two Bosch goes, although I do prefer the older one without the push button, but both I rate highly.

7029 dave · Sep 8, 2024

I dont use any mech aids when it comes to screwdrivers.
IMO impact drivers are a NO NO especially on CU's

LukeD · Sep 8, 2024

7029 dave said:
I dont use any mech aids when it comes to screwdrivers.
IMO impact drivers are a NO NO especially on CU's

Exactly ...especially as its only a few rotations per Breaker
!

mainline · Sep 8, 2024

7029 dave said:
I dont use any mech aids when it comes to screwdrivers.
IMO impact drivers are a NO NO especially on CU's

The Bosch 2 go aren't impact drivers.

SparkySy · Sep 8, 2024

I use the CK one and a Batavia from Amazon.
They are both good in their own ways, imo the buttons to operate the CK one are in the wrong place for comfort but it has 1-6 torque settings which is useful.

Electric Screwdriver with Torque Adjustment | CK (T4930)

The other one has no settings but is much less bulky and more comfortable to use than the CK.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Batavia-Compact-Grip-Screwdriver-Li-ion/dp/B079P497KC/ref=asc_df_B079P497KC/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7580976684886317236&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006524&hvtargid=pla-2281435176618&psc=1&mcid=f6e740ef78de3048821a379116f49605&hvocijid=7580976684886317236-B079P497KC-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=1

Both last well between charges and I use them both for different applications.
Wouldn't be without them now!

Teddy Lop · Sep 21, 2024

Stalled on this. There's a features v. feel tradeoff.

Quite fussy about the ergonomics of a tool that'll get so much use, and drawn more to the handle size/feel like the wiha/beta/facom type, a lot of others as stated have awkward controls or are a bit big and cumbersome, but feel multi/adjustable torque should be a feature, especially as they lack softstart/variable speed?

How do those of you who use the tool get on?

If cheaper priced stuff like ck, hikoki etc can why can't they? Torque limiting can be very compact.

Closest I suppose is the speed e 2 with dual torque settings but then I'm tied into their slimvario bit range, while its better to be using the orange kit for much of what we do do it isn't necessary all the time and I'd rather keep extensive regular hex bits for all the fancy hex/torx etc when popping ovens apart rather than duplicate everything with wihas £££££ bits, or for using sacrificial bits to undo some old woodscrews or working on some chewed up "it didnt really fit when it was new" wylex or whatever

LukeD · Sep 21, 2024

I tried the CK one last week for a whole day . £41 with a pack of bits . I would prefer it to have a torch and the buttons felt awkward to use . But it performed well . would I buy it ..... ? maybe not

LukeD · Sep 21, 2024

I would prefer to pay more and have a VDE version

Teddy Lop · Sep 21, 2024

Anyway I gave in and bought the hikoki. Bit bigger than I was looking for but a lot of tool for the money. Maybe should have bought the red M4 variant to match the other stuff but for £60 this looks stonking value