Screwdriver turns. Screwdriver torque selection
Screwdriver torque is a significant parameter that you need to pay attention to when choosing. It must be taken into account whether the tool will be used for homework or professional. On sale today there are various models that differ in their characteristics.
There are many models of screwdrivers from various manufacturers on the construction market, which differ depending on the power source, parts and functions.
Screwdriver models
A screwdriver is the most commonly used tool, which is indispensable for construction and repair activities. Today, manufacturers offer a variety of models that can be used under various conditions. This tool is convenient for manual work, it is necessary for tightening / loosening screws, screws, self-tapping screws, for drilling and even for stirring building mixtures.
According to the power source, the tool is classified into:
The cordless screwdriver is powered by the battery included in the kit.
- Rechargeable models powered by special batteries. They increase the weight of the tool, but make it easier to work in hard-to-reach places.
- Network devices that require connection to the electrical network. They have a limited reach due to the length of the cord, although extensions can be used.
According to the purpose, the equipment can be divided into:
- models for construction/repair work;
- for production shops, workshops, auto repair shops;
- for industrial enterprises;
- for domestic use.
There are professional, semi-professional, household models on sale. When choosing, attention should be paid to the torque, which shows what kind of work the screwdriver can handle.
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What is meant by torque?
Torque is a value that allows you to determine the level of load on the equipment. Which option to choose? It is usually equal to 5-10 Nm, this is quite enough for the safe and high-quality operation of the tool. This parameter is provided for most household and semi-professional models that can easily cope with tight self-tapping screws, drilling steel, concrete.
What should be the torque? You should pay attention to what the instrument will be. For example, for a universal device, rather high torque values \u200b\u200bmust be selected so that the tool can equally well cope with any type of work, be it self-tapping screws or structurally rigid materials. If you need a tool only for drilling wood, then you can prefer a model with a small moment from among the household ones. When choosing, pay attention to the number of revolutions. For example, 400-500 is enough for screwing screws. For drilling hard surfaces, it is best to use devices with a speed of 1200-1300 per minute.
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Torque to screw diameter ratio
When choosing a cordless or corded screwdriver, it is important to correctly determine the ratio of the screw diameter and speed. Such a dependence is not too difficult to determine:
To tighten screws of different diameters, different rotation speeds are required.
- If the screw diameter is 6 mm, then the rotational speed during screwing will be 10 Nm. For structurally soft or hard materials, the frequency will be 25 Nm.
- If the screw diameter is 7 mm, then the torque when working with hard materials will be 27 Nm, and for soft materials - 11 Nm.
- With a maximum screw diameter of 8 mm, the torque will be 30 Nm.
What does this ratio show? It is possible to determine exactly what torque can be used for a certain working screw diameter. The right choice will not only make the work more efficient, but also improve the quality, reliability, and durability of the equipment. The operation will be completed much faster, the operator will spend less effort.
For network equipment, high power has little effect on the operation process, and batteries run out quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to have spare batteries and the ability to charge those already planted. Usually, manufacturers provide spare batteries for professional tools, but for simpler models, at least one battery will have to be purchased separately. When choosing a screwdriver, it is necessary to take into account the presence of another function - reverse. It is necessary in the event that the drill is stuck in the material. Such a reverse is usually electronic; to control it, you should use a two-position switch, which is located near the start button.
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Which torque is better?
A screwdriver is a tool that is necessary for carrying out various kinds of work. This is not only construction, but also many home repairs, such as assembling furniture, installing communications. To choose the right equipment, you should pay attention to the torque, which affects the comfort and quality of work. For example, to assemble furniture, too powerful a tool is not needed. If you plan to install an interior partition, then you need to take more professional equipment that will perfectly cope with the task.
Drills and screwdrivers are used for mixing building mixtures, you just need to purchase a construction mixer nozzle.
The torque of such tools must be sufficient to be able to mix even the most viscous mixtures and solutions, to ensure their uniformity and high quality.
For mixing concrete and other viscous mixtures, special nozzles are used.
If it is required to use nozzles for mortars, then the torque must be sufficient to cope with mixtures of not only low viscosity, but also high. The choice of model depends on the planned work. If a screwdriver is required to be used for mixing liquid mixtures, then the torque may not be too high. If the tool is purchased to work with viscous mixtures, then it is already necessary to prefer professional devices, the speed of which is high.
Equipment that will be used for a variety of jobs must have a speed controller. Then the torque can be changed depending on what kind of work needs to be done. When choosing a screwdriver, you need to make sure that the lock for the control button always works, and not only at maximum effort. In the first case, the tool can be used for any work with the most convenient conditions. The torque value can be changed. It is recommended to buy models that have manual or electronic control. They have a special step-down transformer that works great with liquid mixtures when the voltage goes down.
Today, the industry offers a wide range of tools for home craftsmen. One of the most popular among them is a screwdriver, which greatly facilitates the work of both furniture assembly and roof construction.
Cordless screwdriver is perfect for work where there is no electricity.
A screwdriver can perform the functions inherent in a drill, and its powerful enough attachments can handle drilling in metal and even concrete. The tool will soon completely replace screwdrivers from everyday life. Most of its owners already experience tangible discomfort when they are forced to do without a screwdriver.
Which tool to choose?
Most home craftsmen and professionals prefer cordless screwdrivers, which make it possible to work away from the mains, however, the requirements for this tool when used in everyday life and professional activities can vary significantly.
Someone uses it to screw 2-3 screws into wood every couple of months, someone needs a screwdriver to build a fence, and for others it is a help in daily work, so making the right choice of a screwdriver for a home is simply necessary that the tool did not gather dust on the shelf, but became a real helper.
Still, you can not ignore the screwdrivers, powered by the mains. Of course, they do not have the mobility of their cordless "brothers", but when choosing a drill for the home, the buyer of a specialized store is simply obliged to look at the network models of screwdrivers.
With the same functionality and power as a drill, they are torque adjustable making them a versatile tool. The cordless drill screwdriver has an "enviable fate" - it has found recognition among professionals. Nevertheless, in domestic conditions such a drill can be useful.
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Tool selection by torque
Without going into the details of the description of what the physical definition of torque is, it must be said that when buying a screwdriver drill, you must definitely pay attention to this indicator. On the body of the tool and in its passport, the torque is displayed in Nm. The higher the number, the more powerful the screwdriver. This means that it is able to drive thicker screws and drills into more viscous and harder materials. Tools with torque below 10 Nm can be called screwdrivers.
Screwdrivers operating in the range from 10 Nm to 20 Nm can handle most household work. To cope with a more serious test (working with a roof, for example), a screwdriver drill with a torque of 20 Nm and above is more likely. In professional models, this figure reaches 140 Nm.
Screwdrivers are equipped with a torque control device (KM), because when performing different jobs both around the house and in production, different efforts are required from a screwdriver. If it works as a drill, then the regulator is set to the maximum KM, which ensures reliable drilling in wood or metal. For screwing screws into a board, confirmations into furniture or self-tapping screws into a metal profile, completely different efforts are needed.
The KM regulator is installed at the base of the screwdriver chuck and ensures that the fasteners are sufficiently screwed into one or another material. The smallest indicator of the regulator setting corresponds to the smallest KM. As soon as more force is required to screw in a self-tapping screw or screw than is set by the regulator, the cartridge will be disengaged from the motor shaft (the so-called ratchet will work). The ability to adjust the torque provides greater accuracy when working and protects the motor from overload.
In addition to installing the KM regulator, some manufacturers equip screwdrivers with rotation speed switches. Of course, not every model can change the speed, but there are two-speed and three-speed tools. Such models at high speeds of the cartridge cope with the duties of a drill, and at low speeds they screw fasteners.
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A little about ammo
Since the cartridge has already been mentioned, it is worth talking about its two varieties mounted on screwdrivers. Most models are equipped with three-jaw keyless clamps, providing a "hot" change of bits and drills with a section of ½ to 13 mm.
There are screwdrivers equipped with a chuck with a 6-sided socket, into which fixtures with appropriate shanks are inserted. Both those and other cartridges receive an impulse from the engine through the gearbox. Cheap models of screwdrivers can be equipped with plastic gears, and professional tools are equipped with durable steel gears.
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Cordless screwdrivers
The characteristics that are the same for both a cordless drill and a cordless tool are considered. Now it is necessary to dwell in more detail on portable screwdrivers, which receive energy from a battery periodically charged from the mains. When choosing a screwdriver for the home, you can see models on the counter that are equipped with different types of batteries.
Screwdrivers are equipped with 3 types of batteries - nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel-metal hydride (Ni-Mh) and lithium-ion (Li-Ion). Until now, the most common batteries on household screwdrivers have been Ni-Cd sources. These batteries have a number of advantages, the main ones being a lower price compared to other types and the ability to operate at low temperatures.
The process of charging the battery for a screwdriver.
At the same time, these batteries have a whole range of disadvantages, and the main one in their list is the memory effect, which affects the capacity of the battery and its life. For nickel-cadmium power supplies to last long, they must be used regularly. At the same time, they must go through a full charge-discharge cycle. If you do not fully charge a Ni-Cd battery, then its capacity will decrease, and it will be almost impossible to restore its original value. These elements are also afraid of deep discharge, so they cannot be stored in a discharged state.
Nickel metal hydride sources are less toxic than Ni-Cd batteries and have slightly better capacity. In addition, they are less susceptible to the memory effect, but they need to be stored in a charged state. These energy sources are more expensive, but their service life is much shorter.
Lithium-ion sources are practically devoid of the memory effect. Their value for housework lies in the fact that the batteries can be charged whenever they are depleted. At the same time, Li-Ion batteries are much less efficient at low temperatures, have the worst discharge current, are prone to destruction if the charging mode is disturbed, and are the most expensive. Lithium-ion cells are best used when working at high intensity.
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What to look for when buying
A screwdriver in a set usually comes with standard nozzles, and for the most useful work, you will need to additionally purchase a set of special nozzles and drills.
Ni-Cd batteries continue to be the best power source for screwdrivers for home use. Many manufacturers offer tools with 2 batteries for longer cycle times. Such proposals also arise due to the fact that nickel-cadmium energy sources do not have a high capacity.
When choosing a drill and deciding that it will be replaced by a Ni-Cd battery screwdriver, be prepared for its rapid discharge when drilling. When buying, be sure to pay attention to the battery capacity indicator, expressed in Ah. The higher it is, the longer the tool will work between charges.
The voltage of the energy source also has a direct effect on the performance of a cordless screwdriver. In stores, you can most often see devices equipped with 12 V, 14.4 V and 18 V batteries.
The power of a screwdriver is directly proportional to the voltage given out by its battery.
When buying a screwdriver or hammer drill, you need to pay attention to many criteria. You can purchase an ordinary household tool that is suitable for minor repairs, but it is also possible to choose a professional or universal one, the power of which is greater. When choosing, attention should be paid to what maximum torque of a screwdriver or punch is provided, otherwise the tool can be broken in the first hour of fruitful work.
Screwdriver speed
The maximum torque of a screwdriver is a value indicating the load level. It is different for professional and home devices. But most often it is 5-10 Nm (Newton per m), which is quite enough for high-quality, safe operation of a screwdriver. This is enough to ensure work even with very tight self-tapping screws, when drilling such surfaces, such as concrete or steel, when creating holes with large diameters.
What should be the maximum torque of the screwdriver? If you need a universal screwdriver, then the torque must be chosen quite high, so that with the help of the device it is possible not only to screw in self-tapping screws, but also to drill holes with a different diameter from each other.
How to choose a screwdriver, a 9-step instruction, an article from which you will learn everything about screwdrivers! Types, capacities, characteristics, application, comparisons.
We are preparing the orchestra for the working season. How to choose a screwdriver - a 9-step guide
To assemble furniture or hang a picture, today it is not necessary to make a lot of effort.
- The main thing is to choose the right tool!
This article will help you understand the variety of these tools and buy a screwdriver that is right for you.
1. Purpose of the tool
A screwdriver is only suitable for working with fasteners - an ideal assistant in assembling furniture or simple repairs.
There is also a universal tool: a drill driver, which combines the first two functions - drilling and screwing.
Cordless screwdriver - acts as a screwdriver, and also allows you to unscrew and tighten the fasteners. However, its power is lower than the power of a conventional screwdriver.
2. Tool type
A classic of the genre is a hammerless drill or a screwdriver. Such a tool makes only rotational movements. A hammerless drill is ideal for working with non-hard materials and wood.
- If you need to tighten the screws or drill holes in the wall - this is a win-win option.
There are instruments with impact - in addition to rotational movements, they perform forward and backward movements. This allows you to drill more durable materials: concrete, brick and various metals.
*Impact drills are more versatile - you can always turn off the impact function and move on to work with more fragile materials.
Angle tools are essential for working in tight spaces or hard to reach places. Here the gearbox has the shape of the letter "L" and is fixed at an angle of 90 degrees - hence the name.
Some hammerless screwdrivers also have additional angled bits. For example, it is very convenient when working under the hood of a car.
3. Cartridge type
Any screwdrivers are equipped with a chuck. This is the mechanism that holds the nozzle or drill. In screwdrivers, the chuck is installed under the bits. A bit is a small nozzle, hexagonal on one side and of various shapes on the other. To change the nozzle - just remove one and, until a slight click, insert another.
Another important parameter is the diameter of the cartridge. It determines what size drill or bit can be used when working with a tool. For non-professional instruments, a range of 0 to 20 mm is sufficient.
4. Tool power
The power of the tool is determined by the voltage that the battery produces. It varies from 1.2 to 36 volts.
Thus, for small jobs, you can buy a screwdriver with a voltage of 3-6 volts. For drilling in non-hard materials, a screwdriver with a voltage of 10-15 volts is suitable.
- When choosing a screwdriver, pay attention to the battery capacity - the duration of work depends on it. The average is from 1 to 3 A / h.
Often included is a second battery for continuous operation, as well as a special base for charging.
5. Maximum torque
Maximum torque - determines the efficiency of the tool.
According to this indicator, you can understand how large the diameter and length of the screw can be screwed with a screwdriver.
- Power, voltage and maximum torque are interrelated indicators. The higher the voltage, the higher the torque.
For a screwdriver, the maximum torque can be several N / m. This is quite enough to assemble a chair or bracket.
Screwdriver with a torque of 10-30 N/m – to cope with any task. Tighten the screw in the metal shelving - no problem!
*Torque of 30-40 N / M - will easily allow you to drill a tree.
A device with a maximum torque of 40 N / m and more - easily cope with brick concrete and metal surfaces
6. Number of speeds
As a rule, screwdrivers and screwdrivers have only one speed: from 0 to 800 rpm - this is enough to work with fasteners.
But most drills have 2 speeds:
1st mode with a number of revolutions from 0-400 rpm - mainly used for twisting.
2nd mode with the number of revolutions from 400-1300 rpm - for drilling holes.
- Almost all screwdrivers are equipped with a "reverse" function - for unscrewing fasteners.
7. Additional information
When working with such tools, reliability and safety are important.
Many models have: power button lock; battery protection system against overload, overheating and deep discharge; Illumination of the working area with a built-in LED flashlight.
When choosing a tool, pay attention to its weight - the higher the power of the screwdriver, the heavier it is.
8. Equipment
As a rule, a set of screwdrivers comes with: a compact plastic or metal case, a battery charger, but sets of drills and nozzles are bought separately, most often.
- Do not forget that when working with screwdrivers and drills, you need to protect your eyes - use construction goggles.
9. Recipes
If you need a tool for simple work, a small and light screwdriver with a voltage of 3 to 15 volts, with a built-in battery, with a keyless chuck or a padded one, will suit you.
For some types of work, it makes sense to buy an angle-type screwdriver - especially if you often repair the car.
If you use tools at home and occasionally: it is worth buying a screwdriver-drill - unstressed or impact, with a voltage of 15 volts and a torque of 30 N / m, or better - with power support and from the mains.
Is there a major overhaul ahead?
An impact drill with a voltage of 20 volts or more, with a quick-clamping or screw-in chuck for large drills, with a torque of 40 N / m and 2 speeds for different operating modes is ideal.
Each instrument has its own special sound! Do you have a whole orchestra?
How to choose a screwdriver - video
For a long time, screwdrivers have come to replace screwdrivers. If earlier these devices had a rather high price, today almost everyone can afford to buy such a tool at home or at work. But since choosing a cordless screwdriver is not as easy as it might seem at first glance, you need to contact professionals for advice.
What should every consumer know?
This power tool is simply indispensable for repair and construction work. The question arises: "But what about screwdrivers?" If modern construction organizations used such equipment, the construction or repair of the facility would be delayed for a long time. As for use in everyday life, for a more comfortable tightening or unscrewing of screws, it is necessary to use just such equipment. As you already understood, the screwdriver works in a narrow direction, or more precisely, with fasteners such as screws, self-tapping screws and dowels. But it was like that before, today, for an additional fee, you can purchase several nozzles, and the tool can partially replace the drill. Let's take a closer look at the question of how to choose a cordless screwdriver, and what you need to pay attention to first.
Mains and cordless tools
A mains powered screwdriver can be used where there is an outlet. In the absence of it, you are unlikely to be able to twist or unscrew something. This is where the battery comes in. It is safe to say that such a solution gives more opportunities to its owner. For example, it makes no sense to buy a battery-operated hammer drill, but the situation is different with screwdrivers. Of course, the battery needs to be recharged periodically, but most often you get two batteries in the kit, so this should not be any problem. Whether there is an outlet or not - it will not matter to you, since you simply do not need it. Of course, over time, the battery will hold its charge worse and worse, but, most likely, by this time you will already have time to change the tool to a similar one, but more powerful and functional.
How to choose a drill driver? Step-by-step instruction
There are a number of parameters that you should pay attention to in the first place. The main one is power. It is worth noting that 500-700 W is enough for domestic use, but about 1,300 W will be needed to perform construction work. There are special drills for working in hard-to-reach places, their power is slightly less, about 400 watts. The number of turns is another important indicator. If 3,000 rpm is enough for work at home, then 4,000-4,500 rpm is needed for construction work. Regardless of the purpose, it is advisable to give preference to a model with the ability to adjust the speed, so you can adapt to the specifics of the work, because different materials need different speeds. Do not forget that a powerful tool rotates the drill faster, but the price also increases in direct proportion. However, this is not all that can be said about how to choose a drill driver, so let's deal with the issue to the end.
More about making the right choice
When buying, it is always necessary to specify the diameter of the holes that the tool can make. But here you need to understand that for each hole this indicator will be different, so focus more on what you will work with. If you want to get a hole of such a diameter that the drill is not designed to work with, you risk damaging the unit. Depending on your preferences, choose the type of cartridge. Now gear (fixed with a key) and quick-clamping (fixed by hand) cartridges are produced. There are practically no fundamental differences. Now you know what a cordless drill/driver is. We figured out how to choose a device, so let's go ahead and talk about the batteries used.
About Li-ion batteries
It's safe to say that battery type plays a huge role. Currently, this type of battery is one of the most popular and widespread. A lithium-ion battery is used not only in screwdrivers or drills, but also in other construction tools, as well as in portable devices (laptop, mobile phone, etc.). From this we can draw a simple conclusion that there are many advantages. One of them is durability. With proper use, the lithium-ion battery is rated for 3,000 charges/discharges. The maximum shelf life is approximately 3 years. It is difficult to say whether this is good or bad, but as practice shows, this is quite enough. How to choose the right cordless screwdriver? Everything is simple here: buy a good battery with a large capacity - and you will be happy. But do not forget that normal operation requires constant use of the device, so you need to use a screwdriver from time to time, at least for prevention. But there are other types of batteries, which we will talk about now.
How to choose a screwdriver battery? Ni-Cd
Nickel-cadmium battery is the most budget solution that can be. The number of charges / discharges is half that of a lithium-ion battery, and is about 1.5 thousand, but the service life is slightly longer - about 5 years. The main advantage of the Ni-Cd battery is that it works great at sub-zero temperatures, so you can safely operate the device until the mark on the thermometer drops below -15 degrees Celsius. But there are many downsides as well. For example, a long charging time. Although in some cases this can not be called a disadvantage. This is due to the fact that when buying a screwdriver with such a battery in the kit, you will receive 2 batteries. Therefore, while one is on charge, the second can be used. But even despite the low cost, it is necessary to follow some rules: keep the battery only charged, as well as fully charge and discharge it. This is due to the fact that the nickel-cadmium battery has a memory effect.
Ni-Mh: advantages and disadvantages
Ni-Mh (nickel-metal hydride) batteries are quite rare in today's screwdrivers. At its core, this is something in between the two above-described batteries. Among the shortcomings, it is worth highlighting the large weight and a small number of charge / discharge cycles (1,000). The term of work is on average 4 years. As for the advantages, this is the absence of the memory effect and the minimum self-discharge during storage. However, despite this, it is recommended to fully charge and then discharge the battery before first use. Do not forget to pay attention to the capacity, which is measured in Ah (Amp-hours). The higher the indicator, the longer the battery will perform its immediate task. In order to understand how to choose the right drill driver, you need to decide on the type of battery. If you do everything right, you will not experience any problems.
What to choose for industrial purposes?
And now let's talk a little about how to choose a professional screwdriver. The fact is that it is important to pay attention not only to the power and type of battery, but also to the presence of useful additional features, and there are plenty of them in modern models. Often this should be a lightweight model that can easily work in hard-to-reach places, while the worker will not get tired too quickly due to the large weight of the tool. By the way, as for the type of battery, it is definitely lithium-ion. In construction, a percussion mechanism will be very useful. This feature is extremely relevant when drilling stone or brick. Professional builders or repairers are often faced with the fact that there is no way to rest well to make a hole. Even worse - it happens that the self-tapping screw will get stuck in place and neither here nor there. You have to start everything from the very beginning. In order not to experience this kind of discomfort, an impulse is needed. This function temporarily increases the torque, which allows you to get out of a difficult situation. Working in poor light is poor performance and poor accuracy. To solve this issue, buy a tool with a backlight. Well, that's all that can be said about how to choose a cordless screwdriver for professional use.
About chucks and gearboxes
Today on the market there are screwdrivers with the following types of cartridges:
- Quick-release (three-jaw with a clamping range of not more than 1.3 centimeters).
- Hexagonal. In this case, it is possible to work with a large ¼ inch shank.
Quick-release chucks are more common due to their practicality. No problem, you can use any tool that is suitable in diameter. If you buy a cartridge with a large diameter, then the screwdriver will have more opportunities. As for the hexagonal options, this is a good solution for professional tools where frequent tool changes are required and there is a need to work in hard-to-reach places. In principle, from the foregoing, a completely logical conclusion can be drawn: a quick-release chuck is suitable for the home, and a hexagonal chuck for professional use. As for the gearbox, then everything is quite simple. Gears come in two varieties: plastic and metal. Today, plastic alloys are quite durable and not so expensive. The question may arise as to how to choose a screwdriver for the home according to this parameter. Plastic is perfect for household purposes, and you won’t have to overpay. The metal gear will withstand a much greater load, so it is better for prof. tool.
Soft and hard torque
In this article, a little has already been said about the power of a screwdriver. I would like to add this information. The point is that there is a soft torque. It affects the twisting / twisting forces. Often this parameter is not paid much attention, but in vain. Insufficient force can lead to the fact that the self-tapping screw will not be completely twisted, and you will have to get it out at the final stage with your hands. Modern models have a fairly large spread in the range of 0-350 Nm. For domestic purposes, 30-150 Nm is quite enough, for professional purposes - everything above. The hard torque is responsible for the RPM during drilling. As a rule, this indicator fluctuates in the range of 1,000-4,000 rpm. Let's look at everything with an example. A screwdriver with a torque of 35 Nm is able to screw a 70 mm self-tapping screw into wood, and for a 100 mm self-tapping screw, a force of 50 Nm is required. After that, it should be very clear to you how to choose a cordless screwdriver.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is nothing complicated here. The most important thing is to highlight the main parameters for yourself, such as power, torque, battery type, capacity, etc. After carefully analyzing all this, you can easily make a thoughtful and, most importantly, the right choice. Do not forget that tools for home and professional use differ in many ways, so often experts prefer more powerful and functional models. From this article, you learned about what a cordless drill/driver is, how to choose a tool and not make a mistake. Currently, the following companies are considered the best manufacturers: Bosch, Skil, DeWALT, etc. A screwdriver with the inscription of one of these companies on the body will cost a lot, but in return you will get high quality, excellent ergonomics and just a good tool. That, perhaps, is all that can be said about how to choose a good screwdriver.