Can a drill be used as an electric screwdriver?

Screwdrivers. recommendations for selection

Not every cordless electric screwdriver can be used as a regular drill. For drilling, the tool must be fitted with a suitable chuck, e.g. a quick-action chuck. In addition, an electric screwdriver should have considerable torque and high speed. If you are deciding whether to choose a mains or cordless electric screwdriver, choose the latter. Cordless drills are better suited for universal applications. Power-driven screwdrivers with a drill function are not common. But for domestic use, we would recommend the KALIBR DE 300 with a quick-action chuck. Otherwise, a drill with a hexagonal shank is needed for drilling with a mains-operated electric screwdriver.

Some mains screwdrivers have a narrow specialization, in particular, some models are recommended for working with drywall. After you understand the application area, you should pay attention to the power. For screwing in drywall screws 450-600 watts is enough. If you need to make threaded connections in the details of wood, chipboard, and the same drywall requires an electric screwdriver with a capacity of 700 watts. A tool with the same power is needed for screwing screws with a washer into metal. The second important characteristic is the RPM. If you want to drill holes, it must be high. We can draw the following conclusion: the best electric screwdriver for professionals should be chosen according to its purpose.

How to use mains models for drywall work?

Thanks to the popularity of such material as drywall, the use of screwdrivers in construction has increased significantly. Screwing screws into drywall is possible with any tool, but the best results can be obtained with a special network electric screwdriver. It is not necessary to drill holes for fasteners beforehand when using it. The tool guarantees high speed installation, works with drywall screws, and some models are even equipped with a device that reduces noise level. No need to exert force or apply pressure when tightening screws. When working, just make sure that the bit and tongue of the screw are aligned so that it is not twisted.

The mains electric screwdriver is a really handy tool that allows you to get the job done quickly. It is an indispensable tool in construction and finishing works, as it allows you to screw in screws without pre-drilling the holes for them. And this feature applies to almost all materials. Pre-drilling is only recommended in exceptional cases, particularly when working with wood. But this should be done only to reduce the likelihood of cracks in the material. Power tools are in good demand. For many models in our store are on sale screwdrivers at a discount.

How to screw a screwdriver into wood.

How to screw a screwdriver into wood. How to screw a screwdriver in wood with an electric screwdriver. How to screw a screwdriver into wood with a drill. How to screw a screwdriver in wood without a screwdriver and without an electric screwdriver. What is the drill bit to zagrut under a screw in wood.

You can screw a screwdriver, an electric screwdriver or a drill into the wood in three ways. The easiest and most inexpensive way to screw in a screwdriver. Wood is soft and pliable material that allows you to screw in a sufficient number of screws with a screwdriver without much fatigue. In order to screw in a large number of screws you have to resort to using an electric screwdriver, all power part of the work it will do for you. Screwing a screwdriver in wood with a drill is also not very difficult, but to do this, the drill must have a function of continuously variable speed control.

How to screw a screwdriver into wood.

In most cases, you have to screw two types of wood screwdrivers, flat and Phillips. For tightening screws of this type, appropriate screwdrivers with a flat tip (designation SL) or a Phillips head (designation PH) are chosen. You can also find cross bits marked PZ on the market. PZ bits have extra faces and are used for screws with a recessed slot. Screwdrivers with flat tips are sometimes called minus-tips, and cross-tips are sometimes called plus-tips or triangular screwdrivers. Marking includes not only a letter code, but also a number code, which indicates the width of the flat tip or which group the Phillips head belongs to. When making furniture with their own hands often have to screw in screwdriver screws whose diameter ranges from 2.2 to 4.2 millimeters. For example, for wood screws with a flat drive, the screwdriver symbol must be SL 4 to 8, and for wood screws with a cross drive, the screwdriver symbol must be PH or PZ 1 or 2.

How to screw a self-tapping screw into wood with an electric screwdriver.

With screwing screws in wood electric screwdriver to cope even a person far from this business, as an electric screwdriver will do all the work for you, you only need to pick up the correct nozzle for an electric screwdriver (bit). The rules that must be adhered to when choosing a bit for screwing screws into wood are the same as when choosing a screwdriver.

How to drive a screwdriver in wood with a drill.

To screw self-tapping screws into wood the drill must have a function of electronic speed control. In other words revolutions of the drill chuck should be smoothly increased as the button is pressed. It’s also worth remembering that most drills do not have a maximum torque adjustment function like electric screwdrivers and it’s necessary to control the depth of the screwdriver and take your finger off the button beforehand. A standard drill has enough power to drive a self-drilling screw deep into the wood or even tear off the head of the screw.

How to screw a screwdriver without a screwdriver and without an electric screwdriver.

This method of tightening the screws of course is an exception to the rules but in some cases, when you really need and at hand only a drill and screws nothing else remains but to clamp the head of the screw directly into the chuck and slowly twist it. To prevent the screwdriver from turning in the chuck, you can knock on the edge of the screw head with a hammer several times to make it slightly deformed instead of round.

What is the right drill bit for a screwdriver in wood?

It is not necessary to pre-drill a hole, as a self-tapping screw is nothing else than a self-tapping screw, and according to the manufacturer’s specifications it can be screwed into wood and plastic without pre-drilling. In confirmation of this, you can consider what should be the drill bit for wood screwdriving under the 4.8100, and if we think logically, the diameter of the drill bit should be approximately 3 mm. and at least 130 mm long. (100 to drill and 30 to chuck in the drill chuck). It is unlikely that such a drill can be found on the market.

And finally. remember that a poorly driven self-tapping screw holds much better than a well-tapped nail.

How to use a drill as an electric screwdriver?

First of all you should choose appropriate models for your purposes and for the type of screws/bolts to use. the bits. They should be fitted in place of the drill bit in the spindle chuck.

Further, if possible, it is recommended to reduce rotational speed of the mechanism to make the work safer and to keep the tool and nozzles in serviceable condition. they wear less at low speeds. Some models have variable speed control, others let you adjust speed manually by changing the mechanism or electrical circuit.

For experienced craftsmen it is not a serious problem to operate a drill like an electric screwdriver and at high RPM, but there is always a risk of damaging the bit or screw, cutting the head of the screw, “cutting through” the material, etc.д.

Also note that drilling tools do not have a splitting clutch (responsible for preventing breakage of the tool mechanism when the engine suddenly stops), so the necessary work must be carried out with care. It is recommended that you use a more robust bit than an electric screwdriver.

Magnetizing and hardening nozzles

A large number of nozzles are made in China from soft material. That is why they quickly lose their shape. A new bit only lasts a short time. To extend the operating life, the bit should be hardened. You will need: machine oil, a gas torch or a gas stove, a small container of oil from any can, a piece of steel wire.

A hardened bit will last longer than a normal bit.

Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd)

This type of battery has a relatively low price, but is fairly common in mid-range devices. Despite the arrival of new types of batteries on the market, this battery has been and continues to be popular.

• low price;
• tolerates low temperatures well during use or storage;
• full discharge does not harm the battery, so the tool can be stored in a discharged state for a long time, after which (with proper charging) it recovers its properties.

READ How to Drill a Bolt Through the Center with a Drill

• The battery capacity of 2 Ah is considered to be the limit.
• Short life time. The highest quality batteries do not endure more than 1000 cycles (charge-discharge).
• High degree of self-discharge. If the battery is fully charged, you will find after a short time that it is fully or partially discharged.
• The “memory effect” is the biggest disadvantage of these batteries. The battery cannot be recharged if it has not used up its resources completely. This is because if you try to charge the battery from a non-zero value, the “0” will be taken to be the value left in the battery. Therefore, the capacity of the battery is artificially reduced. To avoid this, before you connect the battery to the charger, it should be fully discharged. This fact causes inconvenience, because you have to waste time on the procedure of discharging.
• Ni-Cd cells must be disposed of properly, otherwise they harm the environment.

Is it possible to avoid having an electric screwdriver at all if you have a torch?

The torch has many advantages over an electric screwdriver. However, this does not mean that you have to give up the impact drill. If it is not handy, the torch can be a substitute, but it all depends on the goals and objectives you set yourself.

It is also worth considering the type of material with which you plan to work. For example, it is recommended that you only use an electric screwdriver to work with wood and metal. If the material is not too hard and strong you can use it. The drill costs a fraction of what a torch would cost, and this is also its advantage.

In other cases, you should use an electric screwdriver. After all, if an electric screwdriver is good for simple tasks, its power is not enough for more complicated tasks. However, you can also use the electric screwdriver for some light-duty functions. If it does not violate the operating instructions.

Design and principle of operation

An electric screwdriver can be used in different spheres and for different actions, for example, at home, in construction, assembly and disassembly of furniture, in various workshops and wherever many fasteners are used. You can use it for drilling, threading, screwing and unscrewing fasteners. Let’s get acquainted with the device and the principle of operation of such a mechanism.

All wrenches are divided into three types

• operating on the usual network and are called mains;
• Battery-powered and called battery-powered;
• operating on both mains and battery power. a combined version.

All screwdrivers are very similar both externally and internally.They consist of elements such as:

• housing;
• chuck;
• power button;
• rotation switch;
• speed regulator;
• the power on lock button;
• tightening torque regulator.

Some models have an additional light, and some models do not have one or another element. So, the models operating from the network, there is a power cord, while cordless models have a storage battery.

The body of the power tool consists of two parts and can be made of plastic or different metal alloys, but it is much rarer.

The principle of operation of all electric screwdrivers is similar: the electric motor is driven in a rotary motion by the electricity consumed, which transmits force through the gear and shaft from the motor to the nozzle fitted in the chuck, and the nozzle already performs the process of drilling, screwing in or unscrewing fasteners. The motor of a cordless screwdriver uses an AC voltage of 200 V, and a cordless screwdriver uses a DC voltage of 3.5 V to 36 V.

Changing the bit is also quick and easy. The electric screwdriver can be equipped with a quick-action chuck or a key-type chuck.

Changing the screwdriver bit with a quick-change chuck:

• to begin with, you need to pick up a drill bit for the work you plan to do, or a bit, taking into account the size of the flat, the type of slot;
• the chuck is unscrewed counterclockwise;
• install the selected bit;
• Turning the chuck shell clockwise clamps the bit.
• take a wrench and insert it into a special recess;
• Unscrew the chuck;
• insert a new nozzle;
• Turn the wrench in a clockwise direction, securing the nozzle.

• Design and principle of operation
• How to prepare for work?
• Choices for use
• Twist wires
• Tightening fixtures
• Features of drilling concrete
• Can it be used as a drill?
• Useful tips for use

Many craftsmen prefer to use an electric screwdriver instead of a screwdriver. It allows you to save time and do the work quickly and efficiently. Let’s get acquainted with the principles of work and the device of this tool, learn its areas of application and rules of operation, as well as give some useful tips.

As mentioned above, mainly the electric screwdriver is used for such things, to unscrew or screw something. If using your electric screwdriver as a drill, carefully read the manual to see if the manufacturer’s instructions provide for this option.

READ How to Connect a Drill Directly without Reverse Drill

If it is still possible to use the electric screwdriver as a drill to drill and make a hole in, for example, a wooden or plastic product, it is recommended to put a small and even piece of wood under the object in question. This way your hole will be made better and will prevent cracks and chips.

If you use metal in your work, then you need to follow some simple rules here.Before starting to drill, the place of the hole should be tilted to avoid slipping of the drill bit on the metal. Select the drilling mode and get to work. But here we must not forget that drilling in metal can break the drill bit. In order to prevent this, it is recommended not to apply too much pressure to the tool. If the drill happens to get stuck, switch the electric screwdriver to unscrewing mode and quietly unscrew the drill.

But it is still recommended to buy a special model of drill. electric screwdriver for these purposes, which can also be both mains and cordless.

Twisting wires

An electric screwdriver, which has a specific nozzle, is great for twisting split ends of wires. Twisting is usually done with a pair of pliers, but those wishing to use an electric screwdriver can use it for this purpose. The main thing is to correctly perform this tricky procedure.

Knitting rebar

An electric screwdriver can be used to knit rebar, using steel wire. This is common in construction, when various reinforced concrete structures of houses and foundations are erected. In order to twist, one takes a cordless or corded tool, which has a hook attachment.

• The device and principle of operation
• How to prepare for work?
• Usage Options
• Twisting wires
• Tightening fixtures
• Features of drilling in concrete
• Can be used as a drill?
• Useful Tips for Use

Many craftsmen prefer to use an electric screwdriver instead of a screwdriver. It allows you to save time and do the work quickly and qualitatively. Let’s get acquainted with the principles of work and the device of this tool, learn its areas of application and rules of operation, as well as give some useful tips.

As mentioned above, mainly the electric screwdriver is used for such things, to unscrew or screw something. When using an electric screwdriver as a drill, carefully read the manual. is this option provided for in the manufacturer’s instructions.

READ How to Connect a Drill Directly Without Reversing

If it is still possible to use the electric screwdriver as a drill to drill and make a hole in, for example, a wooden or plastic product, it is advisable to put a small and even piece of wood under the object in question. This will make your hole better and prevent cracks and chips from forming.

If your work involves metal, there are some simple rules to follow.Before you start drilling, the hole must be tilted to prevent the drill from sliding on the metal. Choose a drilling mode and get to work. But here we must not forget that when drilling on metal, you can break the drill bit. In order to prevent this, it is recommended that the tool is not pressed hard. If it happened that the drill stuck, then switch the electric screwdriver to unscrewing mode, and calmly unscrew the drill.

Still, it is recommended to buy a special model of drill. electric screwdriver for these purposes, which can also be both mains and cordless.

Twisting wires

An electric screwdriver, which has a specific nozzle, is great for twisting split wire ends. Twisting is usually done with a pair of pliers, but those who want to use an electric screwdriver can use it for this purpose. The main thing is to perform this tricky procedure correctly.

Knitting the rebar

An electric screwdriver can be used to knit rebar, using steel wire. This is common in construction, when various reinforced concrete structures of houses and foundations are erected. To knit, take a cordless or corded tool that has a hook attachment.

How to prepare for work?

The first thing you will need to do in order to get to work is to take the electric screwdriver out of the case or suitcase and check for visible damage, chips or cracks. If you notice that there is something wrong with the tool, then you should not use it in any case, as it can be unsafe. Be sure to use an electric screwdriver battery

is charged, or the electric screwdriver itself is plugged in. When these conditions are met, turn on the electric screwdriver at idle speed and check that the rotation of the nozzle and the threads on the fastener. If all conditions are met, you can safely start working.

Don’t forget to choose and properly fix the bit or drill bit depending on where and how you’re going to work. We mentioned above how to fix them when we told you about changing nozzles.

There are also a few simple rules and regulations to follow when using the appliance directly.

Pay close attention to the electric screwdriver itself. It has a special scale, by turning which you can adjust the tool’s power. When turning the dial, set the mode that you want, depending on the kind of work that you are doing now.

Switching between these tool options is fairly easy and straightforward. Only hold the electric screwdriver by the handle above the battery pack. Most often the handle is covered with a material that is rubberized. This is why such a machined handle is safe to work with and ensures that the electric screwdriver will not fall out of your hand while working. To make it safer, the tool must be attached to the hand with a hand strap.

Operating principles

You should always bear in mind that you are not going to use the tool for its intended purpose and, therefore, there are certain restrictions and limitations.

Basic rules for safe and efficient operation of a drill like an electric screwdriver:

• Obey safety regulations. Handle the tool carefully.
• Do not tighten screws all the way in, as there is a risk of breaking the tool, bit or object. Experienced craftsmen advise under-tightening screws a bit and then finishing by hand with a screwdriver.
• To hold the bit securely, extended bits or a special bit holder are recommended.
• To avoid splitting in wood, it is recommended to drill holes in wood first and only then screw in the screws.

Of course, it is better to use an electric screwdriver for such purposes, but a drill will also cope with such types of work.

What to look for when selecting a screwdriver?

Torque adjustment

This feature allows you to adjust the torque to the specific task. For example, high torque is needed to screw self-tapping screws into dense wood, and low torque is needed to secure drywall so as not to damage the material.

It should be noted that there is torque adjustment in absolutely all drills, because with the help of the collar, in fact, and set the drilling mode. The difference in models may be only in the number of positions. If you have to work with a lot of different density of materials, it is worth taking with a large number of modes that will allow you to fine tune the device. If you need a device bought for a trivial home repair, you can not pay attention to the number.

Impact mode

An impact drill can have two different types of drill modes: drilling with a hammer and screwdriving with a hammer. When driving, the pulse impact increases the force and the screw goes in quicker and deeper, even in very hard material. In drilling mode, the impact makes the drill bit harder, so it penetrates metal and wood faster. A demonstrative work of the percussion mode can be seen in the powerful model DeWALT DCD996P2, which can drill in metal with a diameter of 15 mm, and in wood up to 55 mm.

But not all applications require an impact mode. For example, it is rarely used for furniture assembly, so carpenters do not need it. But it really comes in handy when drilling through internal walls.

Engine brake

Some devices have a mechanism that brakes the motor as soon as the power button is released. It stops the chuck and bit almost immediately and prevents the device from being held in the air for too long. It is especially important that heavy models weighing more than 2 kg have this function, because during prolonged work such “waiting” for the chuck to stop can strongly fatigue the hand.

Safety Clutch

The overload clutch is a mechanism that protects the motor from damage due to sudden increase in load, such as a drill bit jamming in a workpiece. At this critical load, the safety clutch disengages the chuck shaft from the motor, thereby protecting it from breakage.

The safety clutch is very rare, and only in cordless models. You have it in the Bosch GSR 18V-60, for example, and it is reusable. You may notice that some models have a safety clutch, but in the specs of the product it is listed as “electronic motor protection. If you value the reliability of your device and the longevity of the motor, go for a model with a safety clutch.

Brushless motor

It’s also called a brushless motor. The main feature of such a motor is a higher efficiency compared to the brush, that is, lower power consumption for the same useful power. If power consumption is not so important for network models, because there is always a power supply, it is a weighty indicator for cordless models. Brushless motors consume less power but deliver more power. A powerful German drill and electric screwdriver AEG BSB 18CBL, which can drill not only metal and wood, but also concrete, is a striking representative of brushless devices.

Another advantage of brushless motors is the absence of sparks, which is useful when working in fire-prone areas. Brushless motors are not cheap, so if you have a limited budget, you’d better look at models with a collector motor.

What to look for when choosing a screwdriver?

Torque adjustment

This feature allows you to adapt the torque to the task in hand. For example, a high torque is needed to drive screws into hardwood, while a low torque is needed to fasten drywall without damaging the material.

It should be noted that the torque control is absolutely in all drills, because with the help of the collar, in fact, and set the drilling mode. The only difference in models may be in the number of positions. If you have to work with a lot of different density of materials, it is worth taking a model with a large number of modes, which will allow you to adjust the device as accurately as possible. If you need a device bought for trivial home repairs, you can disregard the number of.

Impact mode

In screwdrivers, the impact mode can be of two kinds: drilling with impact and screwing with impact. When you screw in, a pulse impact increases the force and the screw goes in faster and deeper, even if the material is very hard. In drilling mode, impact increases the force applied to the drill bit, so metal and wood are drilled through faster. A demonstrative work of the impact mode can be seen in the powerful DeWALT DCD996P2, which is able to drill in metal with a diameter of 15 mm, and in wood up to 55 mm.

Not all applications, however, require the percussion mode. For example, it is rarely used for furniture assembly, so carpenters don’t need it. But for drilling inside walls, it really comes in handy.

Motor brake

Some devices have a mechanism that brakes the motor immediately after the power button is turned off. It stops the chuck and bit almost instantly and prevents the tool from being held in the air for too long. Particularly important for heavy models weighing 2 kg or more because this type of “waiting” for a chuck stop can be very tiring for prolonged use.

Safety clutch

The safety clutch is a mechanism that protects the motor from damage when load is abruptly increased, for example, as a consequence of the drill bit jamming in the workpiece. At this critical load, the overload clutch disengages the chuck shaft from the motor to prevent damage.

The safety clutch is very rare and is found only on cordless models. For example, it is in the Bosch GSR 18V-60, and it is reusable. Note that some models have a safety clutch, but in the product specifications it is listed as “electronic motor protection”. If operational reliability and motor durability are important to you, buy a model with a safety clutch.

Brushless motor

Also called a commutatorless motor. The main feature of this motor is its higher efficiency compared to a brushless motor, i.e. lower power consumption for the same output. While power consumption is not important for cordless models, because there is always a power supply, it is a significant factor for cordless ones. Brushless motors consume less power but deliver excellent power. A powerful German drill-driver-electric screwdriver AEG BSB 18CBL, which can drill not only metal and wood, but also concrete is a striking representative of brushless devices.

Another advantage of brushless motors is the absence of sparks, which is useful when working in fire-prone areas. Brushless motors are equipped with expensive models, so if you have a limited budget, it is better to look at models with a collector motor.

Pros and cons of using a drill as an electric screwdriver

Despite the rather forced application of the tool in an unusual area, this solution has some advantages:

• Thanks to the a priori higher number of revolutions and increased speed, the drill copes with tasks faster than an electric screwdriver;
• Because of the higher torque, it is possible to drive screws into harder and tougher materials (some metals, etc.), as well as into furniture.);
• Possibility of using one tool for the entire range of jobs.
• Drills tend to be heavier and more bulky. you can’t always get to hard-to-reach places;
• They require a certain amount of skill to use as an electric screwdriver;
• The drill is not suitable for thin and fragile materials (plastic, plasterboard, planks less than 20 mm, etc.).) and furniture;
• Special safety precautions are required. safety glasses, not twisting screws, avoiding shocks during work, etc.;
• High wear and tear of the tool (bits and bits), as well as a significant risk of damaging the screws.

It can be concluded that the drill can occasionally be used as an electric screwdriver, but you should not abuse such untargeted use.

How to choose a device

To choose an electric screwdriver, you must first become familiar with what this type of tool is used for. in professional or domestic purposes, what work can be performed with its help.

Someone relies on the knowledge of the technical characteristics of the machine when buying, someone prefers to listen to the seller’s advice. Some people pay attention to a well-known brand, take advice from the “World Wide Web”. Personal experience, advice from professionals, knowledge of the technical parameters of the devices will help choose an electric screwdriver, which will become an indispensable assistant in the works at home.

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If you need a power drill for repairs in the apartment and infrequent moonlighting, take an inexpensive network model to 3000. 4000. For furniture assembly will need a network device with adjustable torque, so you can adjust to different wood density.

If you need a device for frequent work, then it is definitely worth taking a cordless device with a lithium battery (look at the proposals, where the set includes 2. 3 batteries at once). For heavy work take a tool with a percussion mode and a safety clutch. From experience we can say that it is better to splurge a little, but to take a good model, which will serve long, than to constantly repair the cheap “noname”.