Electric Screwdriver

[Huge]

My 20 y/o B&D electric screwdriver has finally given up the ghost. The battery was starting to fail to hold charge, and then at the weekend, the switch broke, so although I can drive screws in with it, I can't take them out!

So ... I need a replacement.

Any recommendations?

What's this Bosch 10.8V Li-ion likely to be like?

(I need a new cordless drill, too. The el-cheapo Wicks special has lunched its batteries after less than a year, and I've bent something in it anyway so the chuck doesn't rotate true...)

[Grunff]

played with that particular Bosch, but I have played with a similar one, and it was nice.

I have one of these:

the size, they're great. The torque output is quite modest, but I only use it for spinning really, not for high torque applications.

What do you mainly to use it for?

That's easy:

[Andy Hall]

How large a drill do you want?

Festool's C12 is excellent both as a screwdriver and as a drill if you are otherwise looking for a drill in the 14v range.

[Robert Laws]

I've got the baby Bosch 3.6V Li-ion screwdriver:

it's not in the same power class as what you are looking for, I was quite happy with it until yesterday when the forward/reverse switch started playing up (intermittant contact). I've only had it a month so this does not speak well for design quality. We used it to screw chipbard floor panels down; it did about 200 screws before failing.

Robert

[Huge]

Light/medium DIY. One capable of drilling holes in 1" hardwood deck planking... If it's a big job, I haul out the mains drill.

CBA with the constant drill bit/screwdriver changes. Hence want a seperate drill & screwdriver.

[Huge]

Driving screws? :o)

(Sorry)

Light/medium DIY. Handyman stuff. I wouldn't take on a new roof or similar. (Amusing sidenote; I got collared for a survey at a local DIY shed. One of the questions was "Would you take on a large DIY job such as hanging a door?" Large? Hanging a door? I regard that as trivial.)

not wasted, 250 quid was rather more money that I wanted to spend. What about half that?

[Grunff]

:-)

I tend to use my cordless screwdriver for little things, like equipment cases, furniture assembly etc. Anything which requires any torque, and I get the cordless drill out.

Also easy:

drill for the money, worth £150 easily.

[Huge]

Oh, OK. I drove about 200 decking screws with the B&D last summer. That's probably what killed it. It's got to the point now where it won't drive

3" No 8's all the way into softwood, even with pilot holes. (I was making a new cover for the well. The previous one only lasted 13 years. Sheesh. Cheapo 'shed' marine ply. Pah.)

And duly ordered, since it's on special offer. Thanks.

[Andy Hall]

Makita 14.4v job.

An excellent workhorse.

[dom]

I got one as a freebie with a bosch professional drill. Didn't use it for months, then got it out one day to drive screws in a tight corner

- excellent little tool - limited torque but does a lovely job of driving smallish screws. Over a years use and no problems.

[dom]

Saw one of these at my local Screwfix trade counter on Saturday. I'd say it's price point was about right at 90 quid. It certainly didn't feel to have the build quality I would expect for the original list price. I was umming and ahhing about buying one (and gaining the advantage of fresh cells) - or buying a naked bosch combi and using my existing 14.4v bosch cells. I bought a naked bosch unit off ebay (for

70 quid) and the build quality is quite a bit better than the Hitachi. I know that's not a one for one comparison - but I don't think this was ever really a "170 quid of value" product.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I've been very pleased with a Wicks 'pro' high torque type - it has the advantage of a rather clever right angle drive accessory which goes between drill body and chuck, and only takes seconds to fit. I actually bought the drill for that feature specifically, but as an ordinary drill it's still as good as any I've tried. Two batteries and an intelligent charger for around 100 quid, depending on offers etc - I paid 90.

It appears to be made by Kress, so rather different from their far east el cheapo range.

[The Medway Handyman]

Seconded - although I have the 14:4v combi. Had heavy use for 12 months including about 5 or 6 decks and no signs of any problems.