This is the new Craftsman 4V Slide Screwdriver, featuring a 6-but Twist and Go cartridge.
Pull back on the slide button before you want to change a bit. Rotate the bit cartridge manually to select the desired bit, push the slide button forward, and you’re ready to go.
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The Craftsman Slide screwdriver has a rocker trigger switch, for forward and reverse selection, similar to my son’s new Bob the Builder Drill. Its motor is single-speed, so aside from setting the direction, the switch only provides for on/off control. No-load speed of 180 RPM.
It can deliver 30.9 in-lbs of torque, which is about the norm for a 3.6V or 4V Max cordless screwdriver.
There are a few similar cordless drivers already on the market:
- Worx QBit
- Worx Semi-Automatic (USA Version)
- Worx XTD Extended Reach Driver
- Skil 360 Quick Select
- Kobalt 24-in-1 Auto-Loading Driver
- Bosch Auto-Loading Screwdriver (Similar to Skil, UK Version)
The Craftsman 4V Slide screwdriver comes with a selection of bits, plus (2) 3-inch extension bit holders (why two?), and (2) Phillips wobble bits that can reach into corners and tight spaces.
I don’t recall seeing anything like this before – Phillips screwdriver bits that swivel inside of standard-looking bit holders.
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It looks like the bit cartridge is removable, at least partially, for bit loading and changeouts. The tool also has an LED worklight and soft rubbery handle grip.
The 4V 1.5Ah Li-ion battery is built into the tool, and charges in 3-5 hours via a wall charger. I wish that micro USB was the norm for tools like this, but from other product images it looks like charging is done via a barrel jack.
Price: $35
Buy Now(via Sears)
This looks to be a good homeowner or casual DIYer option, and the wobble bits intrigue me. After a quick search, it looks like Snap-on also offers wobble bits, at $8+ each. They’re available in Phillips and Torx sizes.
I think I would prefer for a trigger switch and forward/reverse button, but a trigger probably doesn’t make much sense for a single speed tool. Maybe a variable speed motor, trigger switch, and independent direction selection switch would have added too much to the cost.
The Craftsman Slide cordless screwdriver is currently $35, but it’ll probably go on sale around the holiday season.
mizzourob
To me this is a bit gimicky but there is a niche for a tool like this, and make me think of the failed Craftsman V4 / Ryobi 4V line.
I wish Milwaukee would do expand their M4 lineup with more options, I could probably get behind that but not so much as this all-in-one tool.
Hang Fire
I was going to mention how handy I’ve found my Ryobi Tek4 system, it uses standard locking hex bits and batteries are still available, if little else. Replaceable batteries and proprietary bits (at least, they look proprietary) sets it apart from the Craftsman, which appears to be a 3 year then landfill type purchase.
USB charging would be too slow, or might introduce wire melting if substandard/early cables were used.
James C
You’re mistaken about USB charging. This tool likely has a single 3.7V 18650 battery. USB is well within the specs to charge it safely and quickly. It’s not much different than the specs powering a smartphone.
Hang Fire
OK, which USB spec are you using?
James C
Even USB 2.0 does 5V at half an amp. This driver, I would guess, has an 18650 battery and is stated at 1500 mAh. No problem for USB.
Everything about this tool reads “cost-cutting” to me. I wonder if USB would cost a few pennies more per unit.
Stuart
Several brands offer USB-chargeable 3.6V cordless screwdrivers. Why not this one?
Dacan
How does the bit get back into the cartridge? Is it slide the button forward to use the bit and then slide back to pull back into cartridge?
While gimmicky it seems cool, but your probably stuck buying special bits that work, everyone has diff bit lengths, etc so unlikely another companies bits will fit. Secondly if its made with cheap materials you know it will break or not be so easy to use.
Stuart
I’m thinking magnetic plunger, with the front chuck being a hex cylinder? So with the slide forward, it looks like a regular 1/4″ hex screwdriver chuck.
Luke Skywarner
Those wobble bits are the most interesting part, in my opinion. Might have to pick some up from Snap-On.
Blythe M
Top part looks exactly like a kobalt manual ratcheting version lowes used to sell. It was kinda neat and came with 4 cartridges, but the bit change is finicky and gets hung up
Powarun
Looks like something Worx made years ago. It worked nice till someone lost the charging cable. WE used it for mounting server equipment where we didn’t need torque.
Jerry
I could see the usefulness of the wobble bits but wonder how well they will work with Phillips screws, I wonder if it would wobble when you wouldn’t want it to. I think it would be great for torx and square drive, though. Those seem to self align much better than Phillips.
Mike
Pretty sure das vobblebittzen used to be offered from Wiha(pronounced ‘vee-ha’ BTW) in old-fashioned manual drivers of course.
Also, at first glance I read “309 in-lbs at 1800 rpm” and thought that was pretty impressive. Silly me.
Satch
Interesting. More than anything it reminds me of the Worx screwdrivers of this type. Also a passing resemblance to the Skil/Bosch 360/PSR Select(green version) depending upon what country and market you live in. In a way, the Craftsman has a kind of retro movie ray-gun look to it. Like you said, catch it on sale for next to nothing and if it doesn’t pan out, donate it to Salvation Army.
I used to scoff at these little gadgets as a complete waste of time and money but they do have their place. Right in the bottom of a tool bag or box just waiting to come to the rescue when nothing else you have will fit in the space allowed or will tear up hardware. I mostly use my IXO(orange Skil version) for removing fasteners from appliances and A/C condenser units. Using any sort of high torque driver on devises like that is inviting trouble with the holes the screws go into. Too easy to ream them out.
BTW, you can sometimes find the IXO under the Bosch label(used to be Europe only but you can find some grey market imports here) and sporting of course, my favourite Bosch blue colouring. There is now something like a version IV or V and they look nothing like the little round butt IXO that sells under the Skil brand. Wouldn’t mind bagging one but hey, look at their European web site at the M2X. 3.6v removable batteries, two speed trigger switch, reversible, and spring loaded 1/4 inch bit holder. About 70 Euro.
Jeffrey
While I think this driver is pretty gimmicky, I think there is definitely a place for something like it. An electrician, for example, could use it for finish work when no torque is needed (doing dozens of plugs and switches…). Maybe make it super ergonomic, a quarter of the weight of an M12 driver, and have a variable speed trigger.
Satch
Jeffrey, you are describing me to a t. I cover a lot of different electrical maintenance tasks and there is really no way to limit tool use to the typical installer/contractor stuff. I have all that for the most part as well but my focus is finding and fixing problems. And this requires a lot of different tools for the task to hand. And a number of years of experience to figure out what is going on. Here is a link to the IXO model I referenced. Pretty ergonomic grip too even though it is tiny.
http://www.bosch-pt.com.sg/sg/en/professional/power-tools/c131411/p105243/screwdrivers-pocketseries/ixo-3.html
Satch
Here are some links to other Bosch web sites with more screwdriver/drills like the Craftsman. I think this is the Singapore site. That’s where the other link came from. The last is the UK site.
http://www.bosch-pt.com.sg/sg/en/professional/power-tools/c131411/p16844/screwdrivers-pocketseries/gsr-prodrive.html
http://www.bosch-pt.com.sg/sg/en/professional/power-tools/c131411/p120946/screwdrivers-pocketseries/gsr-bitdrive.html
https://www.bosch-professional.com/gb/en/gsr-mx2drive-24639-ocs-p/
Toolfreak
My experience with these low-end cordless screwdrivers has not been good, they often don’t have the torque to break loose a screw, whether it’s in wood or sheet metal, and often stop working when the battery goes bad, either from neglect (battery drains and is left completely drained for weeks/months so will no longer hold a charge), or just seemingly by themselves. I’d agree they do have their place, if you just need something to turn a loosened screw and something motorized would make it faster/easier than a manual screwdriver.
I just don’t see these or their gimmicky counterparts as viable alternatives to, say a 12V cordless or corded drill or driver. Even a 9.6V or 7.2V cordless would have more guts than one of these, and Lowe’s has the B&D drill/driver for less than this Craftsman 4V:
http://www.lowes.com/pd/BLACK-DECKER-8-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Li-ion-3-8-in-Cordless-Drill-with-Battery/999949024
I guess if Sears puts the “sale” price of this thing around $20, it might still be good if you really need something this small, but don’t want those other 4V drivers that just have a bit holder and require manually changing out the bits. It’s just too bad they don’t use removable batteries for these smaller tools as well, but that’d probably make the price go up even more.