Can a wrench be used as a screwdriver? How to choose the right screwdriver? Additional options and convenience

In a greater twisting force with at the same time less pressure on the tool by the operator.

Many people often ask themselves what are the advantages and differences between an impact screwdriver (wrench) and a conventional one, and who needs this tool and why? And here it is important not to confuse an impact drill with an impact screwdriver, which is sometimes more correctly called a wrench. An impact screwdriver or wrench has a tangential impact (in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation), i.e. the force for tightening screws or nuts is not applied continuously, but with a high-frequency series of small blows, as if you put an open-end wrench on the nut and began to tap on it with a hammer. The total applied force is calculated as the sum of the forces of these impacts per unit time.

Proceeding from this, one can immediately emphasize the advantages and disadvantages of tools of this class.

Advantages of impact screwdrivers (nutrunners)

1. High torque! For most cordless models, the torque range is between 80 and 250 Nm!
2. Convenient for tightening nuts. At light loads, the tool works in shockless mode with continuous force (quickly tightens the nut along the free thread), and when the resistance increases, it switches to shock mode (tightening with a high torque).
3. There is no need to apply a large pressing force to the tool when tightening screws and self-tapping screws, thereby saving the hats from “licking”. Also, with its help, you can unscrew those screws and self-tapping screws, the caps of which have already begun to ride up.
4. Reduces torsional stress on the operator's wrist.

Disadvantages of impact screwdrivers (nutrunners)

1. Low drilling speed when switching to impact mode.
2. The inapplicability of cam chucks (only hexagons) with rare exceptions.
3. The inapplicability of the torque limiting clutch, which is why the tightening process has to be controlled independently all the time, which is not always convenient at a high speed of rotation of the tool shaft.
4. Increased noise in shock mode.

And in order to more clearly present the difference between an impact screwdriver (wrench) and a conventional one, we will summarize their main technical characteristics in one table:

At the word drill, we remember the neighbor with an unkind word and his long repair. But when faced with minor household problems, we go to him for the treasured device. Having settled our problems, every time we are going to buy a drill for the house, so that an indispensable assistant is always at hand. We suggest not to postpone correct solution for an indefinite period and proceed with the selection of the device. It remains only to understand its types and decide what is better to choose: a screwdriver, a drill or a wrench?

What is a drill for?

The device is designed to perform work related to drilling various materials: wood, metal, glass, plastic. In other words, if you need to hang a picture, a shelf, a cornice, then an electric drill will come to your rescue. In turn, it can become a more functional device, since it is divided into the following types:

1. Impact drill. Its main difference lies in the fact that it has an eccentric, which during operation adds some impact moment to the drill. If you need to make a hole in concrete or brick wall then an impact drill is your choice.

2. Drill mixer. It can be called a highly specialized device that can be useful on construction sites for cooking concrete solutions or other mixtures. As a rule, they rarely stop their choice on it, it is much better to choose an impact drill with different nozzles.

3. Drill driver. It differs from a conventional device in that it can wrap screws. Due to the small weight of the device, the drill is mainly used for household work.

4. Drill with a puncher. The universal device can be used not only for drilling, but also when it is necessary to chisel walls. Comparing it with an impact drill is not entirely correct, since this tool has an electro-pneumatic mechanism that makes it a powerful and reliable device.

To choose the right drill, it is not enough to know its types. Next, we will consider the classification of tools according to their cost and functionality.

Which drill is better to choose?

When buying tools, you should know that they are divided into 3 types:

Economy class. They don't stand out big power, but will cope well with small jobs. The instruments of Asian firms or little-known European manufacturers are mainly represented.

budget models. Among the manufacturers stand out firms Interskol, Zubr. Drills are distinguished by good performance and reliability.

professional models. They are powerful, practical and will last for many years. Most famous brands is Makita, DeWalt, AEG.

Deciding which brand of drill to choose based on individual requests. Most best option for home tasks - these are budget models. If you need a tool for repair and construction works, then it is better to trust Makita.

What is the difference between a drill, screwdriver and wrench?

Knowing what a drill is, you can understand the purpose of other tools. A screwdriver and a wrench are a tool that looks like a "pistol" that has a comfortable handle for gripping. The main task of such devices is the screwing or turning of self-tapping screws, screws, nuts, screws. You can use them for drilling, but it is not recommended, because they do not have the necessary power.

If you need to choose a screwdriver for the home, then you can stop at the usual budget model. If it is necessary to carry out work related to drilling, especially metal, then even a professional screwdriver will not help here, so it is better to buy a drill.

There is still folk ways application of the device. Fishermen use an ice drill during winter fishing. Another of its uses is the mixing of various mixtures or paints. Choose good tool pretty easy if you clearly understand what you need it for.

Which tool is better cordless or electric?

The power supply of the device is one of important points with any choice of technology. There are the following types of tools:

1. Electric drill. In this case, it becomes clear that for the operation of a screwdriver or drill, it is necessary to connect to a power outlet. Such a tool is convenient to use at home, but it is not suitable for outdoor work. When choosing it, you should pay attention to the length of the wire, its insulation and attachment to the drill. It must be reliable so that the cord does not break during the operation of the tool.

2. Cordless screwdriver. They mainly pay attention to the battery capacity, the larger it is, the longer the drill can work continuously. It should be borne in mind that it is advisable to buy a screwdriver for the home with a small weight, and a more powerful battery increases the weight of the device. There are the following types of batteries:

NiCd. The advantages include low cost and resistance to frost. If you need a screwdriver for work that requires the immediate inclusion of the tool, then this type will not work. Because the battery needs to be discharged and then full cycle charge.

NiMH. Such a battery also requires a complete charge and discharge cycle. Among the advantages noted light weight and good battery capacity.

Li-Ion. Cordless screwdriver with this battery is the most good option. The tool can be charged at any time, it does not have a lot of weight. True, it does not withstand frost well and is not cheap.

A good option is the purchase of a device with two batteries. While one is in operation, the second is in reserve.

There are also pneumatic devices that are used less often, since they are necessary for professional activities. For example, a pneumatic wrench is indispensable tool for work at a service station or tire fitting. To build a pneumatic line, it is necessary to have a separate compressor that can simultaneously serve several wrenches through a special hose.

How to choose the right wrench, screwdriver and drill?

The operation of tools is determined not only by the type of food, but by the characteristics that affect its operation:

1. Power. For home use enough to buy a screwdriver electric power from 500 to 700 watts. Since the higher this indicator, the higher the cost, dimensions and motor of the device.

2. Type of cartridge. The most popular is the quick release. It is clamped with a spring and tightened by hand. The next view is the key cartridge, which must be clamped with a special key, which creates some inconvenience in operation.

3. Torque. There are two types soft and hard. The first is responsible for the indicator of the screwdriver in terms of twisting force. On average, the rotation speed can reach up to 350 rpm. The hard torque indicates the maximum force of the drilling force. The rotation speed can reach up to 1000 rpm.
To choose a wrench or a screwdriver that is easy to use, you should pay attention to weight. This characteristic depends on the power of the motor. Since a cooling system is provided for its functionality, it is reversed, which as a result increases the weight of the drill.

Summing up

The tool must be selected taking into account individual capabilities:

For domestic use and small repairs, an impact drill with a power of up to 700 watts is suitable. It can be used to drill holes on a variety of surfaces. To prepare building mixtures, it is enough to take a mixer nozzle.

For professional construction work, you need a power drill/driver. Its main difference from conventional tool is the ability to adjust the torque. It is very often used when working with drywall. The cordless screwdriver is characterized by good mobility and the ability to use it for complex construction tasks.

A highly specialized drill mixer will be indispensable for a tiler. For professional work suitable power of the device, convenient mounts to hold him. Included with such a drill, as a rule, are a variety of nozzles for preparing a tile mortar.

Complex homework can be done in a few minutes if you have the right tools. Most importantly, clearly define the list of tasks that the tool should handle. After that, you can proceed to the choice of your individual assistant.

When carrying out construction or repair work, it is almost always necessary to fasten various building materials, panels or structures together.

Very often this is done with screws, bolts or screws. In this case, you can not do without the appropriate tools - a screwdriver and a screwdriver. How do they differ from each other and what do they have in common?

Both of these tools are designed for screwing (or unscrewing) various fasteners and, in general, the principle of their operation is the same: the electric motor creates a rotational movement, and the planetary gearbox transfers energy from the engine to the spindle, on which it is fixed. chuck screwdriver or screwdriver. Both of these tools can run on either mains or battery power.

Differences

The main difference between them lies in the adapter for attaching nozzles.

If the screwdriver has a keyless chuck that allows you to fix and cylindrical shank drills, and hex bits, then the screwdriver is designed to hold bits exclusively and is not capable of holding drills. We can say that a screwdriver is a more specialized tool. It copes more effectively with the tightening of thick and long self-tapping screws.

Another difference may be the principle of operation of the screwdriver. The tool uses the principle of tangential impact. While the screw easily enters the surface, the tool rotates it quickly, and when a more or less serious effort is required, it switches to a frequent blow.
Screwdrivers are often used when carrying out large volumes of stationary work, for example, in repair shops or service stations.

Screwdriver or screwdriver

The main advantages of the screwdriver:

• Works more effectively with long and large screws or self-tapping screws.
• High speed driving medium screws into wood.
• More economical in terms of power consumption for the network option.

Screwdriver advantages:

• Versatility. Allows you to fix a drill with a cylindrical shank.
• Multiple speeds available.
• On average, lower cost.

The choice of these tools in retail chains is quite wide.

In general, it is quite difficult to give an unambiguous answer to the question “which of these two tools to choose?”. It all depends on the tasks that must be solved in the course of repair or construction. For domestic purposes, a screwdriver is more suitable, and if you need to constantly carry out a large amount of work with fasteners, then it makes sense to opt for a screwdriver.

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 universal tool, which 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, a drill driver without drilling for metal is more often advised. This feature has powerful units which are of 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 corded screwdrivers- they can remain inactive as long as they want 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 batteries(many firms 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 cordless screwdriver be sure to pay attention to the parameters of the power supply. 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 should be larger - in order to quickly and confidently do the right job even on hard materials or to drive 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". Useful feature, which 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. To work with soft materials type of wood, the normal speed is 400-500 rpm, for working with concrete or metal, a faster rotation is needed - 1200-1300 rpm - this 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 also try different speed 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 it's not the most needed 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 tape(it's still for sale). 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 The best way spend money.