That being said, let’s take a look at why the Dewalt DCK211S2 12-volt Max drill / driver is so awesome.

This 12-volt 3/8-inch cordless drill / driver features two speed transmission (0-400 / 0-1,500) and boasts an ergonomic design that makes it a joy to use in small spaces. The 12-volt max lithium-ion battery sits at the bottom of the tool. Two advantages to that. First, it allows the handle to be slimmer and therefore promotes a better grip - compared to other cordless tools where the battery is stored in the handle. The second advantage to the battery placement is that it serves as a base, which allows you to stand the tool upright when not in use. Little detail, but these things are important to me. Also, you can get the most from this drill / driver’s 189-unit-watt output because you can apply maximum leverage thanks to the cordless tool’s compact and well balanced body. You get the exact amount of torque you need because of the 15-position clutch that works together with the two-speed gearbox. Incorporated LED lights around the barrel ensure maximum visibility of your work area without shadows. And as with any cordless tool that runs on lithium ion batteries, the battery life between uses is great.

So as I mentioned earlier, if you are going to own such a great cordless power tool, don’t get carried away and use it for jobs it can’t handle. Also, don’t get tempted to use it for jobs that it’s too powerful for. This could ruin your project and make your working experience much less enjoyable. Instead, invest in a good little cordless screwdriver to supplement this tool.

Many people have asked this question before. My answer is always the same. Yes – but it depends which cordless screwdriver you have in mind.

What makes having a cordless screwdriver in addition to your drill awesome, is if you can use it as easily and conveniently as a manual screwdriver. If it’s bulky and chunky, forget it. If you have to fuss with the batteries and it takes a whole process to set up and keep alive, forget it. If it’s not easy to store in your tool belt, forget it. You get the picture. If it’s not easy to store, use or transport, you’re better off using your manual screwdriver in combo with your cordless drill/driver. But if you are considering a cordless screwdriver that has all these qualities, it will make a great addition to your tool collection and you will get a lot of use out of it.

I recommend the Hitachi DB3DL 3.6-Volt lithium-ion cordless screwdriver or the Black & Decker AS600 6-Volt alkaline battery cordless screwdriver. You can probably tell which of these would be the best option in the long run. The Hitachi, of course! Specifically because of the lithium ion batteries and the fact that you can use it in a pistol grip too. But the Black & Decker is so much cheaper (but if you factor in the cost of rechargeable batteries…maybe not in the long run) and therefore competes with the Hitachi because both are functionally pretty equivalent. They are as easy and convenient to use as a manual screwdriver. You can decide which suits you best.

We were tired of the old kitchen cabinets and thought that a fresh coat of white paint and new, more modern hardware would really freshen up our kitchen. Well, it really did. First we unscrewed all the cabinet doors and hardware and emptied everything out of there. I would really recommend doing this with a cordless screwdriver - cuts the time down to nothing. Then a thorough clean and sanded everything down. Carefully repainted everything white. After everything was dry, we installed the new hardware and reattached all the cabinet doors. After we restocked everything, we stood back and admired our handy work. In just about two days we had a brand new looking kitchen boasting a sleeker modern vibe. We are so happy and couldn’t have done it as easily without our cordless power tool.

Seriously, consider investing in a cordless screwdriver / drill if you are into such tasks around the home. Nowadays, you can get a really good cordless screwdriver for under $40 and it will enhance your DIY experiences. Do your research, read reviews on Amazon and consider what your specific needs are to ensure you choose the right tool for you. Some general tips to consider - lean towards choosing cordless screwdivers / drills or other power tools that run on lithium ion batteries versus NICAD batteries. They last longer and won’t suffer from battery memory effect. Also, look for screwdrivers that have a few different grip handle positions (at least straight and pistol style) as it makes it easy to reach at awkward angles. A built in flashlight comes in real handy too and check that the torque is adjustable - this makes your cordless screwdriver that much more versatile.

Wishing you happy DIY-ing with your cordless screwdriver!

Summer’s almost over – but we can still enjoy our outdoor decks well into October. Over the weekend I visited a neighbor who was working on his deck. He’s about half way done, but he’s been working on it for a while. He showed me around his project. Really nice I have to admit – he’s using Philippine Mahogany (FSC trademark) which is a beautiful looking wood that has a tight-grained hardwood and resists pests and rot really well. His plan is to treat it with marine oil so that it will resemble teak. Although he is toying with the idea of letting it age naturally to a silvery color… Anyways, enough about the deck. On with the power tools.

I was teasing him about being slow with the job when I realized what kind of tool he was using. In his hand, a 7.2 volt cordless screwdriver! I asked him what e was using that for and he said that’s what he’s been using to build the deck! I was beside myself. No kidding it was taking him forever. Definitely not enough power. Thing is, he’s not that into power tools and doesn’t have a very extensive collection of tools. I offered to get my Dewalt DCD760KL 18 volt cordless compact drill/driver. He seemed a bit intimidated at first, but once I showed him how to use it, he was real happy. He called me today to tell me he would stop by tomorrow to return my tool because he finished his deck! He couldn’t believe how much it sped up the whole process. That just goes to show that having the right tool is crucial. It’s not like his cordless screwdriver was a bad tool, it’s just that it was not appropriate for the kind of work he was doing. He especially loved how the lithium ion battery seemed to last and last and how light the cordless drill felt for such a heavy duty tool. Needless to say, I’m very proud of my Dewalt 18-volt cordless drill/driver.

After some research I’ve concluded that the best cordless screwdriver of 2011 is the new Hitachi DB3DL2 3.6-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Screwdriver. Of course, ‘best’ is subjective to the needs of the user. In this case, I’m reviewing this tool from a busy DIYer’s perspective – not from that of a contractor.

So why is this cordless screwdriver so great? First of all, it’s really light. This is probably regarded by most DIYers as a significant quality. Weighing in at just under 1 lbs, this cordless drill will sit nicely in your tool belt. Great that it’s light weight - but does it have power? That is the next most important question. You’ll be glad to know that it’s also pretty powerful for a light to mid duty tool. It’s powered by a 1.5Ah lithium ion battery, which allows for fade free power, less weight and 3 times the battery life of conventional batteries. The handle boasts a dual position (straight or pistol grip) so the tool can be flexibly used for any type of project and hard to reach places. The handle also has a nice ergonomic shape, making it easy and comfortable to hold. If you need to tighten screws manually, this tool is equipped with a spindle lock. You can also count on a built in LED light to light up your work areas so they are always visible and you can work safely and accurately. The rocker forward/reverse switch allows you to easily and intuitively change directions while working. And for fast and simple bit changes, this cordless drill has a 1/4″ hex chuck. Lastly, it is very reasonably priced with a lifetime warranty.

So what can you expect to get if you buy this tool? Of course, you get the DB3DL cordless driver drill, two 3.6-volt HXP 1.5 Ah lithium-ion batteries, a charger and a case.

To sum up, if you need a more conventional cordless drill, more heavy duty, more power but just a little lighter – then this is not the tool for you. Instead, you may want to consider the Dewalt DW920K-2, or something comparable. The Hitachi DB3DL2 3.6-volt lithium-ion cordless screwdriver is perfect for everyday tasks, light to medium duty jobs. It’s light, its user friendly, it’s versatile and it has excellent power for a little tool. So to me, it the best cordless screwdriver of 2011. For more info, go to the Hitachi website.

See you next time.

On that note, I want to mention a new tool that I just received from Amazon a few weeks ago: the Black & Decker NST2018 Grass Hog 12-Inch 18-Volt Cordless Electric String Trimmer. This whipper snipper is just an amazing purchase that I would recommend to anyone. For under $100 it beats any other gas powered tool out there. The best part is, that the electric motor makes very little noise and doesn’t blow and toxic fumes in your face. My first tests showed very good battery life and sufficient power to handle regular garden use. But you will have to wait until the end of the summer for a proper review, so it can be thoroughly tested. After all, there is not much grass to work with yet.

I hope everyone is still enjoying their cordless power tools as much as I am…especially the cordless power screwdriver!

You may have noticed the links on my site that direct you to amazon.com. These are the best cordless screwdrivers that I recommend. The number one choice is the Dewalt DW920K-2 or Makita TD020DSEW 7.2v impact screwdriver and DF010DSE lithium ion driver drill. But I have a recommendation for pretty much any budget. The main reason why I think that cordless power screwdriver make such great gifts is that they are not very expensive and are very useful. You can be confident that your gift won’t just be flung onto a dusty shelf and forgotten forever. Plus, most guys just love power tools!

P.s. If your budget has a bit of extra breathing room you might want to consider a cordless lithium ion combo kit. This will turn every Handyman-wannabe into a child on Christmas.

After you have done all the research you need by reading reviews, and have found the best cordless power screwdriver for your needs, you still have to know where to buy it. A lot of middle aged people like me think they are pretty modern by browsing the internet for information on a product. They then make up their mind and head out to the local store with the intention of buying that product. Many times they are disappointed because the store is either out of stock or doesn’t carry it at all. Those were the good old days when you had to put in a special order for a power tool with a delivery date of 8 weeks. Don’t get me wrong – buying your cordless screwdriver from a trusted local hardware store is not the end of the world. If this makes you feel the most confident about your purchase, then by all means go ahead. However, buying cordless power tools and other products online is the way of the future (and present), it is definitely worth a shot.

If you are like me then you will probably search all over the web for the best price before buying. This can take some time and fun out of the experience so I will make this easy for you. By searching for the best price you will usually end up at the same online store every time: Amazon! Some people still think they only sell books, but meanwhile they sell virtually everything, and usually with the best price and shipping.

So, as soon as you have made your decision about which cordless power screwdriver you want to buy, head straight to Amazon.com and buy it. You will usually get your order within two days, and never look at another store again.

Here is a list of models I highly recommend:
-Dewalt DW920K-2 7.2 volt NiCad cordless Screwdriver
-Makita DF010DSE 7.2v lithium ion driver drill
-Makita TD020DSEW 7.2 volt cordless impact screwdriver
-Hitachi DB3DL 3.6 volt
-Black and Decker PD600

This is exactly the kind of job where a cordless power screwdriver would come in handy. But who wants to buy an expensive power tool to fasten a few screws once in a while? Luckily a small cordless electric screwdriver is not expensive and is therefore the ideal tool to have in your household. The foundation of this tool is its batteries. It defeats the purpose of using a power tool to assemble some furniture if you are hindered by cables. The rechargeable batteries in a good cordless screwdriver from Dewalt or Makita are very small and light, and last long enough to finish most jobs in a single charge. Surely some of you have tried to tackle an assembly with your huge corded drill and realized that it is just not worth the trouble. Even a cordless drill is just too heavy and powerful to make it worth using for assembling furniture and such.

Some of you might be thinking that it is not really that hard to fasten screws in a piece of furniture. This is true in situations where there is a predrilled hole- But if there isn’t and the wood is solid, you will have a much tough time. With a cordless power screwdriver you just have to press a button and let the torque of the motor do its job. If the material is even too strong for the strength of the tool, just plug in a drill bit and predrill a hole. It is that easy. All in a tool that is only slightly bigger and heavier than a manual screwdriver.

Of course a cordless power screwdriver also has a reverse button so you can remove screws just as easily. The drilling capability of a good model is also more than enough for most people’s needs. You won’t have to buy yourself an extra power tool. Therefore, I highly recommend everyone to shell out the 50 dollars for a cordless screwdriver. You will save yourself a lot of time and agony with your future Ikea purchases. Above all, it makes these kinds of inevitable tasks a whole lot more fun. I personally recommend checking out the Dewalt DW920k-2 7.2 volt cordless screwdriver, the Makita TD020DSEW 7.2v lithium ion impact driver, or the DF010DSE 7.2 volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Driver-Drill Kit with Auto-Stop Clutch. If you want to spend a bit less I suggest the Black & Decker PD600 Pivot Plus 6-Volt Nicad Cordless Screwdriver with Articulating Head or the Skil 2346-01 3.6-Volt IXO2 mini Screwdriver, which is the smallest of the bunch. It helps to look for some good reviews before making a decision about which one to buy.

One thing that a lot of inexperienced power tool owners wonder about are the attachments. There are so many to choose from, but not all will fit with every tool. So before you decide to buy some expensive attachments for your cordless power screwdriver you should make sure that they will work with your tool. The Makita TD020DSEW 7.2 volt cordless screwdriver is equipped with a quick release 1/4-inch hex chuck. This is not the most common chuck and most drill bits will not work with it. This system is a lot easier to use than the standard ratcheting chuck found on most drills.
A good set from Makita is the Makita T-00153 17-Piece Impact Driver Drill Accessory Set which even comes with adapters.

Keep in mind though that every hex type drill bit will work with any hex chuck power tool, so don’t worry if you don’t buy a Makita drill bit set for your Makita cordless screwdriver – it will work. You can even buy Makita bits for your Dewalt DW920k-2. I personally own Makita bits and have not had anything to complain about so far. They’re pretty much brand new looking and I use them a lot with my cordless screwdrivers. I do not suggest you get the cheapest no name bit since you run the risk of wearing them out very quickly. It is better to spend a bit more for good quality because it will pay off in the end…trust me, I know!

This is what hex type bits look like:

Makita T-00153 17-Piece Impact Driver Drill Accessory Set