Makita DF001DW 3.6V Li-ion Screwdriver Supplied with an 18 Piece Bit Set in a Carry Case

Product Information

Unlike the convertible electric screwdrivers on my list, you can’t get as much pressure behind this driver.

If you’ve got large hands, like me, it’s almost too small to get a good grip on it compared to the Makita DF001DW, for example. They’re smaller than they used to be, with lithium-ion batteries that do a better job of holding charge. You don’t have to be an Ikea addict to know that assembling flatpack furniture can be a chore, while putting all the screws in place soon gets old in any DIY or PC-building project.Drilling a pilot hole is essential when you’re working with hard or brittle materials, it makes screws easier to drive and helps to avoid splitting the workpiece. First off, this is one of the best electric screwdriver kits out there because it includes an offset and right-angle adapter. Battery power, capacity and charge time between use are the most important considerations when choosing a cordless screwdriver. What’s more, you can go a lot further with attachments for drilling, cutting spice-grinding, blowing and even removing corks. This factor, the soft-grip handle and the overall ergonomic design make it extremely comfortable to use.

We put cordless screwdrivers through a series of challenging tests, looking at their ability to drive a range of indoor, outdoor, and self-tapping screws in and out of a chunky softwood beam, both with appropriately sized pilot holes and without.The screwdriver transforms from the standard “gun” shape to a straight driver by twisting the body of the tool when you need to get into tight spots too. There’s the usual range of crosshead, flat head and PoZi bits, but also some Torx and even some hex shank drill bits .

This cordless screwdriver is a neat piece of kit though, well-built and powerful, yet compact and light to use. There’s plenty of rubberised plastic on the handle which makes it grippy, and a battery charge indicator just behind it. Keep pressure on the screw while you drive it to stop your bit from slipping and chewing up the screw head. Key specs – Power: 4V; Speeds: 1; Max speeds: 230rpm; Max torque: 3Nm; Battery: 1,500mAh lithium-ion; Charger: Proprietary 4.Part of Makita's vision includes striving for innovation in its technology and tools, making them a popular brand for a wide variety of trades. Sarah’s role as chief editor at DIY Garden is about more than just making sure we’re literally dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s (although she’s a stickler for detail, so it’s certainly about that too! The kit includes a micro-USB type adaptor, a USB micro charging cable and a massive 81-piece bit set in a sturdy storage case. You get more reach along its 182 mm length, handy when screws are buried deep under worktops or inside electrical appliances. This can be seen in products such as the Makita radio, which are designed to be durable enough to withstand knocks.

Although the slow rotation speed means it won’t replace a combi drill, it’s ideal for an emergency or a tight spot. And if you need the light touch of a manual screwdriver, you can lock off most electric screwdrivers and use muscle power if you want. It’s a cracking tool just for driving in screws, but the start of a mini-DIY system if you’re looking to do more.This is convenient if you’re travelling around and also means you can keep using your screwdriver even if you lose the charger supplied.