Kawasaki 840889 4-Volt Dual Angle Li-Ion Screwdriver

 (7 customer reviews)

Lots of things to like about this driver, but sadly it's going to have to go back...

Nice:- clutch, swivel handle, sleeved bit holder, reasonably compact, light- but not empty-feeling- weight, independent LED light switch.

Not so nice:- (unsurprising, really) NOT variable speed as mentioned in a previous review; reversing switch awkward to access; awful font for clutch setting numerals- as often found in Chinese instruction manuals; barely visible clutch setting marker arrow moulding; nasty cheap clear plastic over charge level LEDs; plug-in, rather than cradle, charger (though at least that avoids the problem of poor contacts); not terribly torque-y; "Kawasaki" branding sticker, while nice, is going to fall off in short order- and it is just a licensed use of the name, not like Hitachi or Panasonic...

The unacceptable:- basically, you can't use it more than once or twice in a given direction before it will cease to respond to the trigger- the LED, if...Read more

I purchased this item to replace a worn out Ryobi of about the same demensions and features. Unlike the Ryobi, this tool does not 'lock' once you've reached the twisting limit you've selected. It wasn't described as a feature, so I tried to adapt. Then the on button switch began to get intermittent. Without the lock feature, it made the tool unusable. Unfortunately, I didn't bother to look into returning it until after the return window expired. I couldn't find a Kawasaki tool website to seek manufacturer support. Bottom line, I would not recommend this tool.

Pros: Holds charge well. Built in LED flashlight. Torque limiting adjustment. Dual-angle (pistol to straight). Feels solid. Nice weight.

Cons: The reversing switch is awkwardly placed. Easy to hit it by mistake. Enough torque for most jobs, but not all.

Overall, I like this tool and use it a lot. So far, it's a great value for the money. However, this is basically a convenience tool for small projects. For big jobs, or jobs requiring a lot of torque, you'll still need to break out the power drill. The dual angle adjustment is a great convenience feature. Far superior to the "hinged" cordless drivers. I've had this for a few months now and used it for maybe a half-dozen projects. No signs of wear yet, though I'm sure the battery will eventually wear out, at which point it would make more sense to replace the whole driver than the battery.

I'm giving this four stars based on the features vs price. At $20 I definitely got my money's worth.