Let's Twist Again —
By way of an introduction to cordless tools
There is a line of demarcation in the tool industry: before the Twist and after the Twist. The Twist was a battery-powered screwdriver introduced by Skil in 1985. The world of tools hasn't been the same since. Skil sold nearly three million Twist cordless screwdrivers that first year, making it one of the most successful product introductions in tool history. And thus began the revolution in cordless tools.
Today if it uses power, there's probably a cordless version of it available somewhere.
But no one knew that in 1985. Skil knew only that it wanted to introduce labor-saving devices to common household tools. The $20 Twist was a sensation. Tools haven't been the same since.
I have been building boats since I was 9 years old, when I count that up I have to use my toes as well as my fingers, twice! In that time I have gone from a blunt 10 point panel saw, a chisel and a hammer to a workshop that includes things such as a thicknesser, big bandsaw, table saw, drill press and something like 18 or 20 power tools. I am out there on average 10 hours a week, and have built 15 boats in the last 14 years with two more getting very close.
Tools are an interest, my wife would say an obsession but to be realistic, keeping a workshop like mine is borderline. Commercially the investment I have made in tools is not justified for the hours I do, but I need to make the best of the time that I do have as there are always other things calling.
It is very easy to spend money on power tools. Not always easy to buy the right ones. And not easy to select the type of work that benefits from the investments so when the cordless drill came on the scene I was slow to buy ‘yet another’ power tool.
All that is in the past! I bought a small 7.2 volt cheapie 10 years ago, wore it out pretty quickly, bought a good one of the same voltage as the weight was comfortable and very recently was handed the 14.4 volt Black and Decker ‘FireStorm’ driver drill to play with. If they want it back theyíll have a fight on their hands!
In conjunction with my lighter unit this grunty heavyweight has proven to be a real asset to the workshop. I no longer use my 3/8 chuck 2 speed 240 volt drill, the B&D does all that, no cord, slightly slower but I can grab it off the rack and use it without having to untangle a cord. With the gearbox in ì Hi Torqueî it swings a 25mm auger bit in Jarrah, as a driver it will twist the head off a 14 g stainless steel woodscrew if you let it, so use the very effective 22 position torque clutch . Set for high speed it is great for shooting holes when running screw holes through ply planks and is very controllable coming back and putting them in.
I find the handle fits well, the trigger finger sits comfortably and there is enough room on the handle for comfort, the forward neutral reverse switch is well placed and easy to use but the gearbox ratio chnge ( being picky here) is not quite as nice to use needing the grip to be altered to move the somewhat stiff slide switch.
Charging the battery is as usual. One hour from flat to full according to the book, but I put the battery on charge at lunchtime and again in the evening when using it a lot and have found the big battery contains enough juice to keep me working right through.
I like this tool, the narrow body and slim chuck allows me into confined spaces, the keyless chuck is one of the better ones I have used and Iíve yet to have it slip even on really big drill bits. It is comfortable to use although heavier than I like for all day use, the rubber inlay grips are nice and add to the security of the hand under load. It has great torque in low gear and is very hard to stall, while in high gear there is enough r.p.ms to punch very rapid holes holes with even very small drill bits and the particularly good variable speed controller in the trigger is a real boon.
Concerns? It sounds very busy and a bit harsh when running, I think it is the gear train making the noise, while the sticky two speed change annoys me a bit. But these are very small things and I think for the price that this is a very worthwhile piece of kit.
On kits, I like the smart briefcase it comes in, there is a nice little container built into the lid for accessories and bits, the catches all stay closed when the case is dropped and it sits well on the standard 290 mm wide workshop shelf.
As I said, if ‘they’ want it back, they’ll have to catch me first !
John Welsford
