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Turning in instead of cranking: The five devices tested
Photo: Rainer Claaßen
Do-it-yourself is popular - and not just since most people spend significantly more time at home due to the corona crisis.
Anyone who occasionally sets up furniture from Ikea, attaches shelves to the wall or gets creative themselves, and designs furniture or home accessories, will quickly notice: With the hand screwdriver the work becomes annoying pretty quickly.
If you work with solid materials such as hardwood, you will soon reach your limits anyway.
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But not everyone wants to invest in a large cordless screwdriver right away.
The models tested here are small and handy, but do a good job in the household - and in some cases should also be appreciated by professional craftsmen.
The products at a glance:
Bosch IXO cordless screwdriver (5th generation) (29.85 euros)
-
the small device is delivered in a practical and also compact storage box that looks really chic.
The scope of delivery includes a power adapter and a small set of ten bits in total.
Bosch IXO cordless screwdriver (6th generation) (41.99 euros)
- the main difference to the much cheaper predecessor model is the new design.
In the sixth generation, the IXO looks almost futuristic.
In the charging cradle, the device can be supplied with power without having to fumble a cable into a socket
Brandson cordless screwdriver with torque
attachment
(37.85 euros)
- four different attachments are included in the scope of delivery.
Among other things, a tool for cutting carpets is included.
Together with 28 bits, a holder extension and a charger, it all comes in a sturdy black case
Makita cordless straight screwdriver DF001DW (48.73 euros)
- the manufacturer is known for professional tools.
The handle of the device can be rotated so that it can be held like a pistol or like a classic screwdriver, which is useful for some tasks.
Tacklife SDP51DC cordless screwdriver (23.99 euros)
- the delivery of the cheapest device in the test field does not include a transport
box
.
an attachment is included for this, which can also be screwed at angles.
In addition, a total of 30 bits and a fine drill bit.
This is how we tested:
Handling
- is the screwdriver easy to hold?
Are the controls easy to reach and in the right place?
Power
- screws of different lengths and thicknesses were screwed into wooden beams - how deep do the various devices manage to turn the screws into the wood?
Endurance
- The batteries were fully charged and the devices were then left to run continuously until they shut down due to a lack of power.
Equipment
-
What is included in the scope of delivery?
Are there enough essays?
Bosch IXO cordless screwdriver (5th generation)
Icon: enlarge Photo: Rainer Claaßen
The cheaper model from Bosch - it has been on the market a little longer than the second device from this manufacturer in the test field - makes a very balanced impression.
The battery life of 70 minutes is in the upper midfield and the device is also in the middle in terms of power transmission.
Only ten bit attachments are included in the white transport case.
A power supply unit with a USB connection is also included.
During the charging process, an LED on the top of the device shows the progress of the charging process.
This also signals by flashing red when the battery is slowly running out.
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Bosch IXO cordless screwdriver (5th generation, in storage box)
From € 35.02
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05.12.2020 1.49 p.m.
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Bosch offers various alternative attachments as accessories.
In order to attach the, a rubber cap that is around the drill chuck must be removed.
This can be attached in two positions, in which different panels are attached in front of the LED so that the light is either more focused and brighter, or illuminates a larger area of the work surface in a slightly darker way.
The speed and energy used cannot be regulated - the »trigger« only knows the on and off positions.
The direction of rotation is set with a switch on the top of the housing.
Bosch IXO cordless screwdriver (6th generation)
Icon: enlarge Photo: Rainer Claaßen
Shortly before the battery ran out of power after almost 75 minutes, the device signaled that work would soon be finished with one of the three LEDs on the top flashing.
The case not only looks elegant, it also feels good in the hand.
The direction of rotation is set with a slide switch, which is conveniently located for the thumb of the working hand.
The speed of rotation and thus the energy transferred can be precisely dosed with the index finger on the trigger.
The integrated LED illuminates the work area while the »trigger« is pressed - and for a few seconds afterwards.
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Bosch IXO cordless screwdriver (6th generation, integrated battery with charging station and micro USB charger, variable speed control, in a box) green
From € 54.15
Price query time
05.12.2020 1.49 p.m.
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Via the so-called affiliate links above, we usually receive a commission from the dealer when making a purchase.
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Bosch offers alternative attachments, for example for screwing in angles or for cutting carpets, as accessories.
The range even includes a grill fan attachment.
However, there is no transport cover - and only ten bit attachments are included.
However, they can be accommodated in the practical charging cradle.
The device is not the most powerful in the test field.
She turned a four-millimeter screw just a little more than two centimeters deep into a hardwood beam without pre-drilling.
But the strength is sufficient for "normal" handicraft work.
In addition, the device had the best endurance with an operating time of 75 minutes.
Brandson cordless screwdriver with torque attachment
Icon: enlarge Photo: Rainer Claaßen
Several alternative attachments are included with this device.
In addition to the "normal" screw attachment, the black plastic case contains an attachment that is kinked at right angles, one with which you can screw close to edges and one with which the maximum torque can be regulated.
For the ten levels that can be set, the manufacturer does not provide any information on how much force is maximum transmitted in each case.
There are, however, situations in which it can make sense to dose the torque.
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Brandson cordless screwdriver with torque attachment, cutting attachment, angle attachment, eccentric attachment, 1.5 Ah lithium-ion battery and extensive accessories, bit set, 2 directions of rotation, LED transport case
From € 37.85
Price query time
05.12.2020 1.49 p.m.
No guarantee
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Order at AmazonIcon: amazon
Product reviews are purely editorial and independent.
Via the so-called affiliate links above, we usually receive a commission from the dealer when making a purchase.
More information here
The rotation speed and energy transfer cannot be regulated with the pistol-like trigger.
A slider above it switches between clockwise and counterclockwise rotation - accidental actuation can easily occur with this positioning.
The device had the least power of all test candidates - the six-millimeter screw that all other test candidates screwed into a softwood beam as far as it would go, protruded almost 2.5 centimeters from the wood when the device stopped.
He countersunk the four-millimeter screw in the hardwood only 1.5 centimeters deep.
The battery lasted for almost exactly an hour.
The scope of delivery includes 28 bits and an extension attachment.
Makita cordless straight screwdriver DF001DW
Icon: enlarge Photo: Rainer Claaßen
Not entirely unexpectedly, the model from the Japanese manufacturer turned out to be the strongest in the test field.
The four-millimeter screw even drove it almost 4.5 centimeters into the hardwood beam.
The manufacturer is not stingy when it comes to accessories: the price of just under 50 euros includes a large plastic transport box that contains 68 short and six long bit attachments in addition to the screwdriver and a charger, as well as six attachments with which smaller nuts can be tightened to let.
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Makita cordless straight screwdriver (with 81-piece accessories, 6 W, 3.6 V) DF001DW
From € 48.73
Price query time
05.12.2020 1.49 p.m.
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Product reviews are purely editorial and independent.
Via the so-called affiliate links above, we usually receive a commission from the dealer when making a purchase.
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The material looks robust and of high quality.
The screwdriver itself is not elegant, but not only convinces with its great power.
The handle engages well in two selectable positions, the shaft is well centered, and the device can be gripped firmly with two hands despite its compact dimensions.
While the LED lights on the other test candidates switch on automatically when the device is activated, here you have to press a button at the end of the screwdriver if the work surface is to be illuminated.
A rubber cover protects the micro-USB port for charging - so no dust or water can get in there.
The battery life was in the middle with 65 minutes.
Tacklife SDP51DC cordless screwdriver
Icon: enlarge Photo: Rainer Claaßen
The inexpensive Tacklife model is supplied in a cardboard box with a thin plastic insert - you should probably buy another container for permanent storage.
The plastic box in which the 30 bit attachments are housed is practical, however.
With a clamp it can be attached to a belt, for example.
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Tacklife SDP51DC cordless screwdriver, 33 accessories (incl. Angle adapter), 3.6V, 2.0Ah Li-Ion battery with battery indicator, max.
Torque: 4 Nm, LED light, for assembling furniture such as shelves and mini blinds
From € 29.99 (€ 0.07 / gram)
Price query time
05.12.2020 1.49 p.m.
No guarantee
Icon: Info
Order at AmazonIcon: amazon
Product reviews are purely editorial and independent.
Via the so-called affiliate links above, we usually receive a commission from the dealer when making a purchase.
More information here
The battery provided a runtime of one hour.
A micro-USB charging cable was in the box, but the matching USB charger is missing, which is also the case with the current iPhone.
If you pull off the rubber cover around the bit holder, you can easily attach the screw attachment at an angle and fix it in eight positions.
The chuck itself has some play, which makes it difficult to screw in screws precisely.
An LED light is attached to the underside of the screwdriver.
By turning the bracket, the size of the illuminated area can be changed slightly.
The direction of movement is set with the thumb on the back of the device, a pistol grip is used to switch it on and off - however, the transmitted force cannot be dosed with it.
The running time was one hour.
Conclusion:
Artificial intelligence is not yet built into these tools - but all test candidates are charged via a micro-USB port.
In this case, however, it does not function as a computer interface.
Annoying: In none of the models is it possible to change the battery.
Because of the inevitable aging of the electricity storage system, the service life is limited to a few years.
Basically all tested models work well and even the comparatively weak model from Brandson provides enough energy for most DIY tasks.
Here you can also get a lot of accessories for a comparatively low price.
The branded devices from Bosch and Makita look better processed and should therefore last longer.
The current generation of Bosch IXO combines attractive design with good functionality.
The most robust and powerful device is the Makita model.
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