Tool tips for a tool tool.

June 14, 2007 3:44 AM

The perfect tool: a drill, screwdriver, and wrench combined into a single, battery-powered device. Does it exist?

I've been on the lookout for a three-in-one tool that combines a drill, screwdriver, and wrench (along with other features) . . . initial signs point to impact drivers (by DeWalt or Ryobi) being what I'm after, but as a tool newbie, I'm confused.

Mefi tool experts, weigh in!

Ideally, I'd like a device that replaces the above three tools for most tasks. Strictly amateur, household maintenance work is on the planning board: I'm not gearing up to build cabinets or desks.

-What categories of tools should I be looking at, and what adapters will I need?
-Brand and model recommendations?
-Pluses and minuses of this tool vis-a-vis handpowered wrenches and screwdrivers?

posted by Gordion Knott to home & garden (7 comments total)

You can pick up a cordless "drill driver" for around £20 in the UK. Draper is a reliable brand.

Pro's - they're cheap, and extremely convenient.

Con's - the cheaper one's wear out quickly, and the battery inevitably runs out of charge just when you need it most.
posted by Solomon at 4:14 AM on June 14, 2007

Plus point: If you get real busy with screws/nuts, a power driver will really reduce the chance of repetitive motion injury.

The more powerful devices sold for home use are more like drills designed to also serve for screws and nuts, rather than a screwdriver that also works as a drill.

Avoid models that don't offer replaceable battery packs. Batteries wear out, and it's stupid if this makes you have to replace the entire device.
posted by Goofyy at 4:26 AM on June 14, 2007

Cordless Impact Driver all the way.

I have a lower end Mastercraft model from Canadian Tire (not sure that that link will stay live across sessions), and I have driver literally thousands of screws/drilled countless holes with it.

Things I have used it for:
Installed metal roof on house
Complete basement reno (drilled large holes for wiring, did framing, hung drywall - all with the same tool)
Screwing down subflooring
Assembling and installing kitchen cabinets
Installing prehung doors

The one caveat that comes with this (and most) impact drivers is that the chucks don't readily accept standard round shank drill bits. You either need special hex shank bits (readily available, and not that expensive), or a special drill chuck adapter. Not a deal breaker either way, in my opinion.
posted by davey_darling at 5:14 AM on June 14, 2007

Ya, a cordless impact is what you need. Unless you're a pro screwing in hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of screws every single day, you don't need bigger than 14v, either.

Look on the box to see the inch-pounds of torque. The higher the number, the ballsier the drill. Example, Black and Decker's 14v has like 50 or something inch pounds, while the hitachi has 144.

If you're just going to piddle around, a handyman brand like Black and Decker will suit you. If you're going to do any real drilling/screwing, torquing, you need a more-pro one. Brands I recommend:
Hitachi (Ugly green things, but they've got SO MUCH power, are lightweight, come w/ 2 batteries, recharge in like 40 mins, and I usually get ~500 screws into METAL before the battery dies.)
DeWalt
Milwaukee
Bosch

Not personally a big fan of the Ryobi's myself. Contractors tend to stick w/ DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Bosch.
posted by TomMelee at 5:33 AM on June 14, 2007

Second the Hitachi brand. I used to mock their bright green "Extreeeem!" look, but they are solid good quality tools. I now own a mitre saw, a drill, a router and a table saw made by them.

My brother in law has a Milkwaukee that he swears by.

And don't cheap out! Tools should last you a lifetime.
posted by Danaid at 6:43 AM on June 14, 2007

"The perfect tool: a drill, screwdriver, and wrench combined into a single, battery-powered device. Does it exist? "

The PERFECT one? No. The closest one can come is a decent cordless drill with low/high -speed gearing (low for driving screws and nuts, high for drilling), and a bit & socket set to use with it. For real high-torque wrenching and hard-to-access spots, you'll still need a decent (manual) wrench or socket wrench.

In my experience, cordless drills are the least-likely tools to last a lifetime, mostly because the batteries will die in 3 to 10 years, and when you go to replace them you'll find that the battery technology and voltage ratings have advanced so much that you can probably pick up a whole new drill set on sale for maybe $20 more than a replacement battery for the old one.

Right now I have 3 cordless drivers - a B&D cordless screwdriver (light and easy to hold), a cheap 12v cordless drill for tougher 'screwing' and occasional light drilling, and a brand-name "contractor" 14v drill kit for tougher drilling and screwing.

I haven't yet tried an impact drill.
posted by Artful Codger at 8:57 AM on June 14, 2007

For the record: A 12v impact will outperform an 18-22v standard drill in terms of power and longevity.

Also, impact drills do NOT have clutches like traditional drills, making them significantly harder to burn up when you forget to change the clutch setting from DRILL to SCREW 10.

Now, that said, you're not going to get anywhere near a manufacturers torque specification for a nut/bolt with any drill. You'll need an airhammer/torque wrench/at least a box/combo wrench for that.

Oh, and about batteries dying---I posted earlier that MOST battery packs (B&D's especially) are NiCad AA's or A's just boxed up in the pack. They are especially easy to open and replace, and much cheaper. Often people replace them with NiMH's for even more longevity. This is what is done to all reconditioned battery packs, especially those found on ebay.
posted by TomMelee at 7:08 PM on June 14, 2007