DeWalt Raises Eyebrows with New Cordless Screwdriver Design
I am among those who loved using DeWalt’s gyroscopic screwdriver. Sadly (for me), it’s only available on the used market, but the DeWalt 4V FlexDrive Cordless Screwdriver continues the trend of innovative design for this underrated tool class. I’ll walk you through what’s unusual about the design, what kind of performance you can expect, and whether or not it’s a worth adding to your tool bag.
Curious about which brand makes the best electric screwdriver?
How the DeWalt FlexDrive Collar Works
If you look around the driver, you’ll notice you don’t have forward and reverse buttons like most models. Instead, it’s built into the FlexDrive control system at the front of the screwdriver.
When the collar is in the center position, it’s locked out and you can use it like a manual screwdriver.
To shift into forward, twist the collar clockwise. To put it in reverse, twist it counterclockwise.
You activate the motor by pushing the collar forward. When you release the collar, it springs back and automatically shuts off the motor.
The genius of the design is that you can shift and operate the collar all the way around the handle. You never have to change your hand position in order to reach a button.
You have to hold the collar to keep the motor engaged, though. It’s not impossible to use with one hand, but it does take an adjustment from simply pressing a button. A little muscle memory goes a long way, and it’s primarily a matter of getting used to a new norm.
DeWalt FlexDrive Cordless Screwdriver Performance
This model hits a top speed of 360 RPM and can produce up to 44 in-lbs of torque. Six torque modes on the base of tool give you additional control. In manual mode, you can apply up to 124 in-lbs of torque.
With that level of torque, this is primarily for smaller fasteners in assembly tasks and materials that are easy to damage by overdriving screws. It’s handy for a wide range of jobs around the house, including switch plates and cabinet hardware that require a gentler touch.
On the other hand, the DWHT66719 doesn’t have the ultra-low torque you find on electric screwdrivers designed for delicate IT work. You can use it for RC builds, drone work, and some IT, but you’ll want to be careful around electrical boards, especially if they don’t have reinforced screw holes.
DeWalt FlexDrive Cordless Screwdriver Design Notes
There aren’t a ton of bells and whistles on a tool like this, but DeWalt did toss in a couple of nice upgrades.
The bit secures in a collet—similar to an impact driver—instead of a simple magnetic bit holder. It also has the convenience of one-hand insertion and removal. As we expect, it uses 1/4-inch hex shank bits, so it’s easy to find bits or use existing ones you have.
The front features four LED lights surrounding the collet, lighting up your work areas and eliminating shadows better than single and dual-light designs.
Additional Highlights
- Integrated 4V lithium-ion battery
- USC-C charging
- 8.4 inches long
- 0.7 pounds
DeWalt FlexDrive Cordless Screwdriver Price
When DeWalt launched this screwdriver, it was $89.99. However, we’ve been seeing it for $79.99 at most retailers. Along with the tool, there’s also a bit set and a USB-C charging cable in the box.
It’s backed by a 3-year warranty.
Should You Buy It?
I really like the overall design of DeWalt’s FlexDrive cordless screwdriver. It has the right performance level for what these tools are used for, the torque control makes it more versatile, and the feature set improves the experience. The FlexDrive control might take some time to get used to, but I’m not worried about that.
The main hesitation is the price tag. If you’re looking for an inexpensive model, something like Skil’s Twist 2.0 might be closer to what you’re after. If you want Pro quality, Milwaukee and Makita both have two-speed, mechanical clutch, pivoting handle models that are $100+ more expensive. Metabo HPT’s single-speed version is much more affordable, though. Unless you really need what those models offer, DeWalt is in a pretty good place
