Real power
The useful power of the tool is the maximum power that it can deliver to the working nozzle. This power is always less than the power consumed (see below), since part of the electricity inevitably goes to heat and friction in the tool mechanisms. In addition, this parameter is not given for every model, often information in the characteristics is limited to power consumption. Nevertheless, the actual capabilities of the tool directly depend on the net power: the higher it is, the greater the speed and/or torque this model is able to develop, the easier it is for it to cope with tasks that require high efforts. So, to compare different devices with each other, it is best to use this parameter (of course, you can only compare models of the same type or similar in type).
Also note that high working power is not always an advantage: it accordingly affects the dimensions, weight and price of the tool, while in fact high speeds and efforts are not always necessary. Detailed recommendations on the optimal values for different tools and different types of work can be found in special sources.
Rotation speed
The speed of rotation of the working nozzle provided by the tool.
If a single number is indicated in this paragraph (for example, 1800), it can be either a standard, constant, or maximum rotation speed. This refers to the maximum speed if the tool has more than one speed (see "Number of speeds") and/or a speed controller (see "Functions"). In turn, two or three numbers through an oblique line (for example, 1100/2300/3400) are indicated only for models that have the corresponding number of individual speeds. Each of these numbers indicates the standard (and in the presence of a speed controller — the maximum) number of revolutions at one of the speeds.
Anyway, when choosing a tool by the number of revolutions, it is worth considering both its general type (see "Device") and the specifics of the intended work. Detailed recommendations on this matter are quite extensive, it makes no sense to give them in full here — it is better to turn to special sources. We note only a few general points. So,
high -speed drills nowadays are considered to be drills capable of delivering more than 3000 rpm. In general, high speed contributes to productivity, but there is also a downside: increasing the speed (for the same power) reduces torque — accordingly, the efficiency of working with stubborn materials and large diameter nozzles decreases. Therefore, it makes sense to specifically look for a "high-speed" tool only if speed is of key impor
...tance; it doesn’t hurt to make sure that the model you choose can provide the required efficiency and torque.Max. beats
The number of beats per minute provided by a tool that supports the corresponding mode.
For more information about this mode, see "Functions", here we note that it can be provided both in drills and in screwdrivers and wrenches (see "Device"), and the meaning of the impact mode in these varieties is somewhat different. Therefore, the speeds differ: many drills are capable of delivering about 48,000 beats / min, or even 64,000 beats / min, while in screwdrivers and wrenches, 3200 beats / min are considered “classics of the genre”, and values above 3500 beats / min are practically do not meet.
The general meaning of this indicator is also directly related to the type. So, among drills, the difference in chiseling speed can be quite large. With these tools, more strokes improve overall productivity and efficiency, while fewer strokes improve accuracy and reduce the risk of damaging delicate materials. In screwdrivers and nutrunners, high speed also contributes to overall efficiency, but for most of these tools, the differences in this indicator are not significant enough to be noticeable in practice.
Torque
Torque is the maximum force with which this model is capable of turning the working nozzle.
Higher torque gives more options, it allows you to cope with complex tasks such as drilling in hard materials, unscrewing stuck screws and nuts, etc. On the other hand, a lot of force requires corresponding power — and this, in turn, affects the dimensions , weight and cost of the tool itself, and also puts forward increased power requirements (mains power, battery capacity or pressure / compressor performance). And for some tasks, excessive torque is basically unacceptable, so for maximum versatility, it is desirable to have
torque control — and this affects the cost even more. And the more steps, the more optimally you can configure the tool to perform a particular type of work. So the general rule is this: when choosing, it is worth considering the specifics of the planned work, and not chasing the greatest working effort.
Detailed recommendations on choosing the optimal torque for different types of tools (see "Device") can be found in special sources. Here we note that it is of key importance primarily for screwdrivers, although it is also given for other types of tools. At the same time, in the “weakest” models, the maximum working force does not exceed 15 Nm, in the most powerful ones it is more than 150 Nm.
Weight
The total weight of the tool is usually the device itself, without attachments. For battery models (see "Power Source"), usually, the weight is indicated with a standard battery installed; for battery-powered models, the weight can be given both with and without batteries, but in this case this point is not particularly important.
Other things being equal, less weight simplifies work, increases accuracy of movement and allows you to use the tool for longer without tiring. However, note that high power and productivity inevitably increase the mass of the tool; and various tricks to reduce weight increase the price and can reduce reliability. In addition, in some cases, a massive design is more preferable. First of all, this applies to work with a large load — for example, drilling holes of large diameter, or making recesses with impact: a heavy tool is more stable, it is less prone to jerks and shifts due to uneven material, vibration of mechanisms, etc.
It is also worth noting that specific weight values are directly related to the type of tool (see "Device"). Screwdrivers are the lightest — in most of them this figure
does not exceed 500 g. Screwdrivers and drill drivers are more "heavy": their average weight is
1.1 – 1.5 kg, although there are many lighter (
0.6 – 1 kg) and heavier (
1.6 – 2 kg or more ) models. And clas
...sic drills and wrenches have the greatest weight: such a tool must be quite powerful, so for them 1.6 – 2 kg is an average, 2.1 – 2.5 kg is above average, and many units weigh more than 2, 5 kg.Wood drilling max. ⌀
The largest diameter of holes that the tool can make when drilling with a conventional drill in wood.
The larger the hole diameter, the higher the resistance of the material, the more power the tool must provide and the higher the load on it. Therefore, the maximum allowable drilling diameter must not be exceeded, even if the chuck allows you to install a thicker drill bit — this can lead to tool breakage and even injury to others.
It is worth noting that some types of wood can have a fairly high density, and for them the actual allowable drill diameter will be, accordingly, less than the claimed one. However, this is true mainly for exotic breeds, which are extremely rare in our area.
Battery capacity
The capacity of the battery that comes with the corresponding tool (see “Power source”). The most limited capacity values in modern power tools
do not even reach 1 Ah ; such batteries are found mainly among
electric screwdrivers(see “Device”). And in powerful professional models there are batteries with
3 - 4 Ah or even
more.
In theory, the higher the capacity, the longer the tool can work on a single battery charge. However, in practice, everything is far from so simple. Firstly, ampere-hours are a fairly specific unit; its features are such that only batteries with the same voltage can be directly compared by the number of ampere-hours. If there is a difference in voltage, you need to convert the capacity into watt hours and use them for comparison. Secondly, the actual autonomy of the tool depends not only on the properties of the battery, but also on power consumption and other performance characteristics. Thus, it is possible to compare different models in terms of battery capacity only with the same supply voltage and similar capabilities.
Battery type
The model of a standard battery allows you to find out its characteristics in more detail, and also helps you understand what devices it is like and which one should be purchased in case of a replacement due to a malfunction or, if necessary, buy another similar one.
Charging time
The time to fully charge the battery that the tool is equipped with from a standard charger (when using other batteries or a “non-native” charger, this time may vary both in one direction and in the other).
For cordless tools in general, see "Power Source". And charging time data gives you an idea of how you'll need to organize your workflow and how long breaks you'll need to charge your batteries. The specific duration of the process will depend both on the capacity of the battery (ceteris paribus, a more capacious model takes longer to charge), and on the technologies used by the manufacturer that increase charging efficiency. However, in general, it is customary to refer to tools with
a good charging speed as models where this procedure takes no more than 45 minutes.
We also note that the specific meaning of this parameter also depends on the number of batteries in the kit. Recall that there are often several of them at once (see "Complete battery"), and while one battery is working, the rest can be charged. This allows you to reduce interruptions to a minimum, and even completely do without them. But if there is only one battery, charging breaks will inevitably be required in full. This is especially true for tools with a built-in power source (in models with replaceable batteries, the situation can be corrected by purchasing additional batteries).