When you go to your local hardware or home improvement store to buy a screwdriver, you might feel overwhelmed with all of the options you have to choose from. Do you go big or small? Electronic or manual? Is it worth investing in a more expensive but higher quality screwdriver? And most importantly, what are all of these advanced features and why do I need them?

In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about choosing the right screwdriver for your needs. Here are a few factors to consider when buying your screwdriver:

Quality

While you might be tempted to buy a cheap plastic screwdriver to put together a new piece of furniture, consider its long-term lifespan. You’re going to have to keep this screwdriver in your home for the foreseeable future, so make sure it’s one you like. Also, buying cheap plastic screwdrivers ultimately contributes to waste since you’ll throw it out sooner, whereas a nicer version will last much longer. 

Look for materials such as chrome-vanadium steel, which is durable and won’t rust easily. This will ensure that your purchase lasts for a long time. You’ll also want to take note, if you can, of how deep the blade goes into the handle. Cheap screwdrivers often have their blade shallowly placed into the handle, making it easy to fall off. And once it falls off, it is unlikely that your screwdriver will ever function the same again. 

Handle

There are three types of handles to choose from: composite, rounded, or T. You can see composite handles (the normally shaped ones) and rounded handles (the bigger base handles) below. T handles tend to protrude even more on the sides of the handle, forming a T-shape. The benefit of a rounded or T handle is increased torque for more intensive jobs or repeated use where you want the handle to do as much work as possible. 

Tip

You’ll have a few factors to consider for the tip of your new screwdriver, mainly whether it is magnetic and whether the tips are interchangeable. Magnetic tips can be especially helpful when dealing with smaller screws, as the magnetization automatically locks the screwdriver into place. You’ll also want to note whether or not the tips are interchangeable, as you can buy one screwdriver that can handle phillips head screws, flat head screws, and nuts and bolts if you get one screwdriver that can do it all.

You’ll also want to consider the type of screwdriver which can include the ratchet screwdriver for increased torque capability, the electric screwdriver, the insulated screwdriver for electrical work, the precision screwdriver for watchmakers or jewelers, the mains tester screwdriver for more advanced electrical work, the ceramic screwdriver, or the nuts driver for nuts and bolts. For more details on this, check out other posts on our blog.

At UF Tools, we’ll help you find a cutting edge screwdriver with every option you’ll ever need. Reach out to our team of experts for more information on choosing the perfect screwdriver set for your needs.