Drill drivers serve two basic functions. They can be fit with standard drill bits to make holes in various materials. The also can be fit with screw-driving bits that can drive screws into materials such as metal or wood.
The feature that makes drill drivers ideal for driving screws is an adjustable clutch mechanism. When the clutch is on a low setting, the drill driver will stop when a screw gets snug, lowering the risk of stripping the screw. If the clutch is disengaged, the operator runs the risk of over-tightening, which can damage or drive a screw too far into a material.
There are several companies that manufacture drill drivers including Hilti, Panasonic, Bosch, Craftsman, Dewalt, Hitachi, Makita, Metabo, Milwaukee and Porter Cable. Each drill driver manufacturer offers different types of drill drivers that are ideal for certain applications.
Of the 10 cordless drill drivers compared by ToolsOfTheTrade.com, the two most popular types of batteries employed by these drill drivers are nickel metal hydride batteries (NiMH) and nickel cadmium batteries (NiCad).
Cordless drill drivers are capable of operating at speeds that are anywhere between 0 and 2,000 RPMs, depending on the manufacturer. Cordless drill drivers typically weigh anywhere between 4 and 14 pounds.