Drills + Cordless screwdriver
EUR154,33
Bosch Professional GSR 10.8-2-LI Set
Rechargeable battery operated
My largest DIY fail? A bad electric screwdriver
11/4/2024
Translation: Eva Francis
The thing with electric screwdrivers? Some are really good, some aren’t that good and others are useless. I owned the latter – for far too long.
Born into a DIY-loving family, I learnt early on how to assemble furniture. What began with euphorically buying new furniture usually ended around midnight in a desperate last-minute attempt to fix a cupboard door properly or unscrew the wrong screws from a board. At the time, I didn’t realise the problem wasn’t only my failure to read instructions properly, but also my cordless screwdriver, which I’d bought at a famous multinational furniture company.
After moving house for the third time, I had enough of the slowest cordless screwdriver in the world. I abandoned it on the street with a sign saying «help yourself» and bought a new one. Looking back, I wholeheartedly apologise to the person who picked up that useless old thing. You deserve better, too.
Good electric screwdrivers make the world a better place
All those people who still assemble their DIY birdhouses with a manual screwdriver deserve better, too. I promise, with an electric screwdriver, you won’t only have fewer blisters on your fingers, but also more time to build even more birdhouses. Win-win-win for you, the birds and the world.
Two batteries are better than one
Getting a spare battery is my pro tip. Trust me, I’d have had a far better and longer first night’s sleep in my new home if I’d had a second battery. How come? Well, I had been attempting to assemble my bed frame when the battery of my screwdriver died. So I was forced to spend the first night on the floor while the battery was recharging. Now that I have a back-up battery, I’m on the safe side and never have to deal with long charging times again. That’s the way I like it.
Screw bits make the world go round
Good screw bits are a blessing. I've been experiencing this since I was given a high-quality screwdriver bit set. They don’t break and, most importantly, they don’t break the screws. And because I’m prone to losing small things, I’ve just bought a second set. Now I really enjoy assembling furniture. Seriously, I do.
I’ve got my home covered
The key difference between my first cheap electric screwdriver (the one from the multinational furniture company) and my current mid-range one is the torque control. My current model features a multi-stage control that allows me to adjust the power it outputs onto the drill bits and the screws. This means I can finally screw screws through hard wood, pull old and cheap screws out of a wall or drill small holes in a wall. My previous one couldn’t perform any of these tasks.
Editor Carolin’s already covered how to find the right screwdriver for you. My two cents? Invest in a good one.
What’s your best DIY buy? Let me know in the comments!
Header image: Stefanie Lechthaler
Painting the walls just before handing over the flat? Making your own kimchi? Soldering a broken raclette oven? There's nothing you can't do yourself. Well, perhaps sometimes, but I'll definitely give it a try.
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This is a subjective opinion of the editorial team. It doesn't necessarily reflect the position of the company.
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