Best Auto Feed Screwdrivers Reviewed

Criteria for Evaluation

To create this list, an enormous assortment of screwdrivers were evaluated and eventually rejected – and even then we had to to rank those that were selected to be a part of the list. There was quite a bit of criterion that was thought of when ranking these screwdrivers. A number of the factors were fairly obvious, like power, weight, and quickness – however some weren’t so obvious. Some opinions were subjective, like comfort. In order to fully explain why the tools were eventually ranked how they were, we have offered you a brief explanation of the relevant factors.

Another issue to think about is that the explicit utility of the screwdriver outside of our rankings. This list contains screwdrivers created for specific jobs. What job one excels at, another won’t. You need to think of the rankings as simply a signpost to help you sort through the options, and then determine for yourself the value the tool will have for your specific needs.

Price

When comparing the auto feed screwdrivers, we dealt with machines around $60 and some around $600. In order to accurately compare these against one another, we had to utilize a cost/benefit ratio. Unlike other power tools, this was a bit harder with auto feed drivers. Regardless the idea is that if a device can accomplish 70% of tasks, but only costs 20% as much as another tool, it would be deemed to be a higher overall value.

Power

Driver power is a combining of the Torque and RPM. Attention was paid to RPM and Inch-pounds of course, but the overall ranking dealt specifically with what level of tasks could this driver tackle (there was a very high correlation between the two of course). Tools that could only handle smaller tasks or deal with weaker materials ranked lower overall than screwdrivers that could power through denser materials.

Precision

While accuracy is important for all powered screwdrivers, it is a bit less important with auto feed drivers since the tasks are often relying on a large amount of screws placed quickly. We still considered this as relevant metric, but it was not as important as it was in our general powered screwdriver rankings.

Ease of Use and Versatility

Something being “easy to use” is nice, but it can be very subjective with power tools – most have a learning curve or take some time to get comfortable with. What weighed heavier was the versatility of the device and how rare, or common, feeding jams were. The Achilles heel of great auto feed drivers is the jam.

How well it could reach awkward places, how many hands it took to utilize, and where and when you could see somebody using the tool were also important.

Features

Features are nice, and are common selling points for a lot of power tools, especially when they have many similar competitors. Compared to other tools, auto feed drivers are actually rather light on superfluous features, so when a good added feature did appear, we made sure to add some extra points to the device.

FAQs

Cord or Cordless?

When you are talking about general screwdrivers, this debate is just about over. For a long time cordless screwdrivers weren’t able to provide the necessary torque, but with advancements in battery technology, the cordless alternative has become the more sought after one. It is generally easier to handle and deal with. The only real benefit to corded drivers are the price, and not worrying about a charge – almost every task can be handled by a powerful enough cordless screwdriver. he lithium-ion batteries of today are immensely more powerful than the batteries of a generation ago.

For auto feed drivers, a cord may still be a bit more practical. Corded drivers are able to apply nails all day without losing power and killing a battery, and will often have that extra bit of umph that makes putting down a thousand screws just a bit easier on the hands. Corded screwdrivers will also usually weigh less so that’s a plus when you are dealing with hundreds of screws.

What does the Clutch do in an Electric Screwdriver?

A clutch is an element of a device that works to transfer power from from one area of an object to another. It regulates the output of energy or power that is delivered to the devices working mechanism. It is the same as a car clutch. At one end of the placement, the clutch prevents any energy from being transferred, when fully freed it allows for a complete connection between the power source and the mechanism conducting the work. A clutch is used to control the overall power output of a tool.

What is Torque on a Screwdriver?

Torque is often confused for the speed at which a tool rotates, but this is a misconception. RPM measures the rotations per minute – torque is the measurement of the force in which the object turns. These days both corded and cordless drivers can provide substantial torque, well past what is typically required.

To put it simply, torque is how capable your drill or screwdriver will be at powering through a material or surface. The more torque a tool has, the easier it will be to work through the material. If the torque is too low, it will not be strong enough to break through the surface.

There have been recent studies done that try to combine both the speed and torque into a separate rating, weighing the combined power.

Do I Need an Auto Feed Screwdriver, or Simply an Electric Screwdriver?

If you need to put up a whole mess of fencing, a deck or something similar, then an auto feed can save you a ridiculous amount of time.

It really just depends on the types of jobs you are trying to accomplish – and how many of those jobs you will be doing. If you are putting up a single fence, for example, it may be a better idea to go with a normally powered screwdriver and just suffer through that task – but then you will have something that is more versatile for your future jobs.

How do I Conserve Battery Power?

If you go with a cordless device, you’re going to have to make sure you take care of your battery, especially if you don’t want to shell out the extra money for a couple of back ups. Making sure you maintain a proper charge and treat the battery right can go a long way it maintains its longevity.

Different batteries operate differently from one another, however. I know that (and Dewalt verifies this) that Dewalt batteries perform much better if you stop using them right when they begin to show a sign of weakening (from loss of charge) and recharge them. This is the opposite of how laptops or cellphones work, where they say it’s better to let the battery drain completely before recharging. Check out the manual or the manufacturer’s webpage to see how their battery functions best and what you can do to ensure yours continues to work at peak functionality. They aren’t exactly cheap.

Batteries may often trick you into believing they are broken when they are just operating under adverse conditions. Extreme heat is often a cause of a battery seeming to lose its charge too quickly. Tools can heat up very fast. If your battery is acting up on a hot day or with a hot tool, let it sit in a cooler area for awhile until it’s back to a normal temperature (in and out) then let it charge overnight. If it still fussy then you should consider replacing it.

Do I need a LED Light?

This question comes up a lot more with general screwdrivers more so than auto feed drivers, and that kinda makes sense. It seems every other electric screwdriver these days has a LED light built into it. That will, of course, make you question your purchase if the driver you want doesn’t have one.You, of course, do not need a LED light, but it can be very helpful for both auto feed and regular electric drivers.

We all know how annoying it is to try and hold up a light and operate a tool with a single hand, or to struggle to balance a flashlight on something to just end up blocking it with our arms or bodies. A built in light kills all that annoyance. For general electric drivers that you will often be used in tight corners or inside cabinets or wherever this can be a godsend. The advantage is a little more muted on the auto feeders, just by the nature of the work they are mostly used for, but there are definitely auto feeder tasks that are made much more pleasurable by the addition of a built in LED light as well.

You just have to reflect on the jobs you will be doing and how you plan on accomplishing them. Does a man make light source play into that?

What is the Reverse Switch?

A reverse switch allows you to change the direction of the spin of your screwdriver. Of course, one direction will continue to tighten a screw, while the other direction will loosen or remove it. A reverse switch allows you to quickly avoid mistakes and reinsert screws without releasing and adjusting the tool – a well-placed switch allows you to troubleshoot your work on the fly.

What is the History of the Screwdriver?

Ok, no one ever actually asks this, but I got to write about it in the other screwdriver article, and It is just as relevant for this one.

Strangely enough, the screw actually predates the screwdriver by centuries. Early screws were more or less fancy nails that were inserted using a hammer and then tightened with a knife. This meant that the flat head/ slotted screw was the first developed, and the only one developed for a millennia. In fact, the “+” Phillips screws weren’t invented until the 1900’s, and the first handheld screwdriver only appeared a few years earlier in the 1800’s. – A couple of thousand years after the invention of the screw. This makes the screwdriver only a few decades older than the automobile.

I like to think there must have been a few independently developed screwdrivers from the past we just haven’t discovered yet. I mean, how do you not think if it?

Making Your Decision

There should be enough info here contained within the FAQ, the criteria and the list itself to help you make an informed choice regarding your next auto feed screwdriver purchase. It can be annoying trying to sort through the conflicting accounts, multitudes of competitors and different versions of tools to make the purchase that is right for you – and hopefully, you are now better able to make that choice with a modicum of peace of mind. Every tool on this list is a solid purchase, and while you may not agree with all of our choices – there is something to take away from the justification of their inclusion. There are a lot of options, and the decision ultimately comes down to you, I just hope you are now more able to make it with confidence.

So whether you are a pro looking to lay down screws for the next big job, or a DIY enthusiast wanting to tackle his deck with as little trouble as possible – I tried to make sure the auto feed drivers presented would be the right fit for your needs. Good luck – and remember – build smart, build safe, and build big.