Best Reviewed
Cordless Screwdrivers
- Best cordless screwdriver Hitachi DB3DL *Est. $65
- Tiny palm driver Skil 2346-05 iXO3 *Est. $50
- Cordless driver for bigger jobs Milwaukee 2401-22 *Est. $100
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Tiny palm driver
- Easy to use
- Light and compact for small jobs
- Includes right-angle attachment
- Batteries hold their charge for up to 18 months
- Just a screwdriver, not a drill
- Only powerful enough for 2-inch screws or smaller
- No clutch to prevent stripping
- One complaint that chuck holds bits loosely
The 3.6-volt Skil 2346-05 iXO3 cordless screwdriver is an improved version of the original palm driver. It weighs just 11 ounces, and the iXO3 includes a handy right-angle attachment for working in extremely tight spaces. Reviews like the Skil iXO models for quick jobs such as hanging pictures and putting up a shelf. It's not powerful enough for more than 2-inch screws in wood or drywall. Though recharging the Skil iXO takes at least three hours, reviews praise its lengthy run time, and the Lithium-ion battery keeps its charge for up to 18 months between uses. For longer jobs with small screws, reviews recommend the Hitachi DB3DL (*Est. $65), which comes with two batteries (you can recharge one while using the other) plus a 10-year warranty.
The two comparison reviews that test the Skil palm-size cordless driver cover the earlier Skil iXO2 model, but the overall power and capability of the 3.6-volt battery is the same for the iXO2 and iXO3 -- and the iXO3 adds a right-angle attachment. ConsumerReports.org compares the Skil 2346-01 iXO2 with more models, but Wood Magazine provides more details. The third-generation Skil iXO3 gets a good comparison with the iXO2 at ToolSnob.com, and a detailed review at ToolMonger.com compares the iXO2 with the first-generation Skil iXO. We also found useful owner-written reviews and ratings at Amazon.com. Two consumer-satisfaction studies (that give Skil low ranking compared with other brands) might not be relevant, because they focus more on larger cordless tools.
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
This review at ConsumerReports.org compares the earlier Skil iXO2 (model 2346-01) with six other cordless screwdrivers, including a more powerful 7.2-volt Skil model. Ratings are at least partly on earlier tests published in December 2007. All the drills are ranked based on objective tests of speed, power, battery life and other factors. A few owners also review and rank the Skil iXO screwdriver here.
Review: Cordless Drill Ratings, May 2010
2. Wood MagazineDetails/Subscribe
Three different editors at Wood Magazine test Lithium-ion-powered palm-size cordless drivers -- including an earlier version of the Skil iXO2 -- by driving 2-inch drywall screws into a pine two-by-four without pilot holes. The Skil is judged most comfortable to use, but the 10.8-volt Bosch PS20-2 easily outperforms it.
Review: Wise Buys: Our Editors Test Palm Drivers, Editors of Wood Magazine, Nov. 2006
3. Toolsnob.com
This ToolSnob.com review covers the Skil iXO3, the newest version of the 3.6-volt Skil pocket screwdriver. It performs exactly like the Skil iXO2, but it comes with a convenient right-angle attachment.
Review: Skil iX03 Palm-Sized Screwdriver, Editors of ToolSnob.com, Feb. 10, 2009
This detailed, well-illustrated review of the Skil iXO2 at Toolmonger.com compares it with the earlier Skil iXO. The review notes some improvements: an LED light, an improved trigger design and a more comfortable grip.
Review: Hands-On: Skil iXO2 Lithium-Ion Driver, Sean O'Hara, Jan. 12, 2007
5. Amazon.com
More than three dozen owners reviewing cordless screwdrivers at Amazon.com give the Skil iXO a high average rating. One owner ran into a quality control problem; another notes that despite the tiny driver's lack of power, it can strip a screw because there's no clutch.
Review: Skil 2336-02 iXO 3-3/5-Volt Cordless Screwdriver, Contributors to Amazon.com
It's hard to tell how relevant this customer-satisfaction survey of cordless drill buyers might be when it comes to evaluating the tiny Skil screwdrivers. Among 13 cordless drill brands rated by recent buyers, Skil ranks at the very bottom. The rankings are based on six factors, with drill performance most important, followed by ease of use, battery performance, price, versatility of battery system and warranty.
Review: 2010 Cordless Drill/Driver Satisfaction Study, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, June 2, 2010
7. BuilderOnline.orgDetails/Subscribe
This 2007 survey of 3,428 builders and contractors ranks Skil a bit higher -- above Metabo, Craftsman, Panasonic and Ryobi -- but still only 11th among 15 brands that make cordless drills.
Review: 2008 Builder Brand Study, Hanley Wood, 2008
Cordless Screwdrivers Runners Up:
9 picks including: Amazon.com, American Woodworker…
4 picks by top review sites.
4 picks by top review sites.
3 picks including: Amazon.com, Tools of the Trade…
2 picks by top review sites.
Bosch PS20-2A 12-Volt Max Lithium-Ion Pocket Driver with 2 Batteries
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DEWALT DW920K-2 1/4-Inch 7.2-Volt Cordless Two-Position Screwdriver Kit
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Makita DF030D 10.8-Volt Ultra Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless Driver-Drill Kit
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