Fein Cordless Collated Screwdriver Lightweight and Speedy
Independent Review by Peter Brett
Watching an expert using a collated screwdriver to put up panels or partitions is a bit like watching a magician using sleight of hand – it is like magic. The speed with which an expert can drive screws to a set depth and at set intervals is a skill to be admired. But of course, an expert has to have a good
tool that he can trust to do a great job a very high percentage of the time. From previous testing of Fein collated screwdrivers, I know that they have a good reputation, so the brand-new Fein cordless 14.4 and 18v drivers have a lot to live up to.
Without the collated screw magazine holder
attached the 18v Lithium ion driver I was sent is a spare and lightweight tool in black and Orange ABS Fein livery that looks like a stripped down drill/driver. The design of all Fein drills I have used is very sleek and spare and I like that because the sculptural qualities make for a balanced and easy to handle tool. Rubberised overmould is kept to an efficient
minimum, covering only the back of the main handle and the curve at the back of the motor housing. The trigger is very big enough to operate with two fingers and is speed-sensitive. The forward/reverse/lock lever is quite small and just above the trigger, but is easily operable with the forefinger. On the top of the body is a black belt clip that can be exchanged for the larger clip that is designed to fit over a tubular scaffold or working platform tube. The Fein 3Ah Lithium Ion battery pack is totally
encased in black plastic with a rubberized flat base that allows a very stable platform on which to rest the drill when required. The battery is released by pressing the large orange lever and the battery slides out to the front. This is a very efficient system and works easily. On the left hand side of the case is a battery life indicator with four lights. If it gets down to one light then you are on the last quarter of battery life. With the short noise cap/cone on and a secondary
sleeved hex chuck (provided in the case) in place, it is possible to use the driver as a single-screw driver. The screw is held by a strong magnet and as you press it against the workpiece, the spring-loaded drive from the motor will engage the screw head and drive the screw home. Used on its own as a single shot driver the abiding
impression I have is of a clean, neat and spare design that is light and easy to handle – a typical Fein design in my view. I therefore wondered what the feel of the tool
would be like when the collated screw magazine is added as it makes the drill at least another 22cm longer. To add the magazine you first of all have to
remove the nose cone (it simply unclips) and the short hex chuck. This reveals the bare nose of the drill that is important for the operator to know about.
18 ToolBUSINESS+HIRE
It is possible to unscrew the alloy nose with a 27mm spanner to adjust the torque and depth setting for bigger and smaller screws. This is critical to get consistent results when screwing to plasterboard for example. The next thing to do is to add the longer
screwdriver bit by flicking the collar of the hex bit forward and inserting the hex shank. Finally, the collated screw magazine is slid on and clicked into place over the collar of the drill. This process takes less than a minute since the Fein designers have made it as simple and trouble free as possible. For
effective and reliable operation there are a few easy
adjustments to make next. Firstly you need to set the length of the screws being used on the spring-loaded nose carrier. This is straightforward by pushing a small metal button on the carrier and sliding the nose forwards or backwards until it lines up with the index mark of the length required. One side is marked in metric and the other in imperial measurements so no need to make mistakes. Next you have to use the rotary screw on the left
side of the magazine housing to set the depth to which you want to set the screws. This will necessitate a bit of trial and error depending on the material being used and the length of the screws. Loading the strip of collated screws can take a bit
of getting used to the first few times, but since the first two screwholes are not filled you have a bit of a lead-in to help you ensure that you will be able gauge when the first screw is correctly lined up with the driver point. The collated screw strip is pushed through the guide slots using just finger power and is
www.toolbusiness.co.uk
quite easy to do. The 35mm long screws that I used came in a strip of fifty and did not hang down too far to get in the way when I was test-driving the screws. Of course my left hand was safely holding the moulded area of the magazine where intended. I found that the key to the magic of using an entire
strip of screws without any wastage was the lining up of the first screw and ensuring that the driver is in screwdriving, not reverse mode. Using a long piece of softwood, I was able to drive a whole strip of screws without any hiccups and felt very proud of myself. What I really noticed was just how light and easy to use this driver is. The motor power is more than adequate so it feels smooth and progressive as you drive the screws and then the next screw is popped into position automatically as you remove the pressure from the screw carrier. While it might take a bit more practice for me to become a bit closer to being an “expert” I felt that the Fein ASCT18M gave a more than a fighting chance to succeed in this ambition. This is another really well designed tool to add to the Fein stable. The whole kit, including spare battery and
diagnostic charger, comes in the usual very sturdy Fein designed plastic case that is lined with a polystyrene insert that is custom moulded to hold everything in place while in transit.
Reply No. 210
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32