HOTO electric screwdriver.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
I’m a big fan of having the right tool for the job, and one type of tool that I use a lot is a screwdriver. While it’s hard to beat a decent set of traditional screwdrivers — here is a great set by Klein Tools that will last you a lifetime — there are times when an electric screwdriver can take the strain off my hands.
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A screwdriver that’s been in my toolbox for over a year now is the HOTO 3.6V cordless 1500mAh electric screwdriver, and right now you can pick this up for the bargain price of $43!
HOTO electric screwdriver tech specs
- Rotary knob switches the screwdriver between three different torque settings
- Fast driving, thanks to 220 RPM motor
- A massive 1500mAh capacity battery provides ultra-long endurance and, when fully charged, can drive in more than 1,000 screws before needing a recharge
- The screwdriver features a circular LED shadowless lamp, so you can see what you’re doing
- HOTO cordless screwdriver set contains a dozen two-inch long S2 tool steel long bits with hardness up to 60HRC
- The screwdriver and bits are stored in the anodized aluminum alloy storage box that has a soft, rubber top handle
- Universal Type-C charging interface means you don’t need a separate charger
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On the one end of this superb screwdriver is a standard 1/4-inch socket that takes the various bits, and behind that is a rotary knob that switches the screwdriver off and on, and also switches between three torque settings. There’s also a circular LED shadowless lamp, so you can see what you’re doing, which is a nice touch because it means I don’t have to wrangle a flashlight when I’m working in a dark area.
Rotary torque knob with shadowless LED light.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
On the other end of the screwdriver, there’s a USB-C port for charging the unit — a neat touch because it does away with the need for any proprietary charger (I don’t need any more of those in my life).
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In the middle of the tool are the controls, which are about as simple as they get. There’s a button to screw a screw in, and a button to screw a screw out.
HOTO electric screwdriver in action.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The screwdriver and bits are stored in the anodized aluminum alloy storage box that has a soft, rubber top handle. If you want more than the dozen bits, HOTO has a version with 25 bits in a different case for a few dollars more
Removing the HOTO electric screwdriver from its aluminum carry case.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The three torque settings range from powerful enough to assemble a PC case or flat pack furniture (where you need quite low power), to powerful enough to put a fence up or screw down floorboards.
What this screwdriver doesn’t offer is a super-gentle setting for things such as electronic gadgets, which this screwdriver might be too powerful for. This is where a mini precision electric screwdriver complements the HOTO screwdriver really well (and this is also on sale right now).
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Aside from the lack of a super-gentle setting, the HOTO electric screwdriver with a dozen bits is a great choice — especially at this much lower price point. Mine has already had well over a year of use now, undertaking tasks such as assembling PC cases, putting together flat-pack furniture, and being abused driving 6-inch screws into plastic door and window frames, and it is still going strong.
It’s more than paid for itself!