
Guide
Toolbox essentials for DIY projects
by Anika Schulz
The thing with electric screwdrivers? Some are really good, some aren’t that good and others are useless. I owned the latter – for far too long.
Born into a DIY-loving family, I learnt early on how to assemble furniture. What began with euphorically buying new furniture usually ended around midnight in a desperate last-minute attempt to fix a cupboard door properly or unscrew the wrong screws from a board. At the time, I didn’t realise the problem wasn’t only my failure to read instructions properly, but also my cordless screwdriver, which I’d bought at a famous multinational furniture company.
After moving house for the third time, I had enough of the slowest cordless screwdriver in the world. I abandoned it on the street with a sign saying «help yourself» and bought a new one. Looking back, I wholeheartedly apologise to the person who picked up that useless old thing. You deserve better, too.
All those people who still assemble their DIY birdhouses with a manual screwdriver deserve better, too. I promise, with an electric screwdriver, you won’t only have fewer blisters on your fingers, but also more time to build even more birdhouses. Win-win-win for you, the birds and the world.
Good screw bits are a blessing. I've been experiencing this since I was given a high-quality screwdriver bit set. They don’t break and, most importantly, they don’t break the screws. And because I’m prone to losing small things, I’ve just bought a second set. Now I really enjoy assembling furniture. Seriously, I do.
Editor Carolin’s already covered how to find the right screwdriver for you. My two cents? Invest in a good one.
What’s your best DIY buy? Let me know in the comments!
Painting the walls just before handing over the flat? Making your own kimchi? Soldering a broken raclette oven? There's nothing you can't do yourself. Well, perhaps sometimes, but I'll definitely give it a try.
This is a subjective opinion of the editorial team. It doesn't necessarily reflect the position of the company.
Show allBosch Professional GSR 10.8-2-LI Set
Rechargeable battery operated
Getting a spare battery is my pro tip. Trust me, I’d have had a far better and longer first night’s sleep in my new home if I’d had a second battery. How come? Well, I had been attempting to assemble my bed frame when the battery of my screwdriver died. So I was forced to spend the first night on the floor while the battery was recharging. Now that I have a back-up battery, I’m on the safe side and never have to deal with long charging times again. That’s the way I like it.
Bosch Zubehör Screwdriver bit set with colour coding
Hexagonal
The key difference between my first cheap electric screwdriver (the one from the multinational furniture company) and my current mid-range one is the torque control. My current model features a multi-stage control that allows me to adjust the power it outputs onto the drill bits and the screws. This means I can finally screw screws through hard wood, pull old and cheap screws out of a wall or drill small holes in a wall. My previous one couldn’t perform any of these tasks.