What can be done from a screwdriver?

Everyone is familiar with such a simple device to use as a screwdriver. Actually, this is a converted electric drill. It can be called a hand-held power tool, which is designed for screwing and unscrewing various fasteners. But with its help, you can not only unscrew and wrap a screw or nut.

The screwdriver is a slightly transformed electric drill. It is quite suitable for creating the most primitive motor, drive, or even engine. In addition, this device easily turns into many completely unexpected things using the principle of its operation. A number of examples and non-standard ideas for its application can be cited.

A screwdriver with small improvements can be used as a generator, moreover, much effort is not required:

• first, the battery is removed, a corresponding wire is connected to each terminal with crocodile clips and connected to the consuming device;
• before connecting, it is imperative to test the correct polarity of the connection using a multimeter;
• a hex key is clamped in the chuck, which is used when furniture is assembled; a comfortable handle is attached to it, since it will take a long time to generate current;
• current will be produced, but the voltage will be so low that it will only be enough to charge a mobile phone, and to illuminate it with a small low-power LED lamp.

You can also use wind energy - this will already be called a wind generator. However, the disadvantage of such a circuit is also low voltage.

In the manufacture of an amateur desktop drilling machine, you can also use the parts of a screwdriver, namely: a motor, a gearbox and a chuck. It is most practical to fix the drilling head (chuck) with two textolite clamps. It is important that all the holes of the clamps are on the same axis, distortions are unacceptable here. Limiting struts are made of bushings with an internal thread. Bushings are selected of the same size, exactly corresponding to the lumen of the clamps. Additionally, it will be necessary to make a textolite clamp with two nylon bosses, which is put on the bar. Then a wooden lever with a spring is installed, which is used to retract the drill head. Power is supplied from a 150-watt transformer, its output voltage should not exceed the characteristics of the units of the power tool used. You will also need to install a diode bridge and a capacitor.

Screwdrivers can also be used when equipping home workshops. Today we are talking about a lathe and grinder, on which you can process or grind small wooden products. A workbench for wood is usually turned into a bed.The main thing is that the table is a perfectly flat surface. The headstock and drive will be our power tool. It is placed in a specially machined wooden mold and fixed with a holder, for example, a clamp. If the workbench is not planned to be constantly used as a machine, the tool and its bed are usually made removable, otherwise they are screwed on. A tooth mandrel is inserted into the fixture. The tailstock is made of a wooden structure including a tapered-sharpened adjusting screw. It is installed, taking into account the alignment of both headstock and the tools mounted on them. The tailstock structure is secured with a clamp. For greater convenience and safety, you can install a handrail.

If a home angle grinder has failed, then simpler designs for improving the nut screwdriver are available.

They do not present any complexity at all:

• you can make a homemade nozzle from a stud of the appropriate thickness using a nut and washer;
• in retail chains, a special nozzle is purchased on which a grinding disc is attached;
• sometimes to install a special side attachment you have to dismantle the gearbox, it will take some time, but in this case the resulting device will more resemble a grinder type "grinder".

Attention! Improvements like these require strict safety precautions, as the use of reversing the direction of rotation can cause serious injury.

Screwdrivers also help with the creation of scooters or electric bicycles. These vehicles will really appeal to elementary school children or preschoolers. They are created like this: a chain drive is installed between the drive sprocket of the wheel and the spindle of the screwdriver. The latter receives energy from the battery of this power tool. It should be noted that with a low total mass of the most advanced vehicle and its driver-child, it was possible to reach a speed of almost 20 kilometers per hour.

The idea of ​​modernizing a child's vehicle - a pedal typewriter - can also be implemented. The result should be a real electric car. True, the implementation of this idea will require possession of some locksmith skills.

To implement the idea, you will need to prepare the following spare parts.

• A steel profile tube for making a frame, which can be easily made by yourself.
• Wheels with rubber tires. The best way to do this is to disassemble the old garden cart.
• For the body, you will need either a pedal-operated child car body, or you will have to make it yourself from scrap materials (plastic or metal-plastic water pipes are suitable).
• Units from two disassembled screwdrivers should serve as electric drives: motors and gearboxes will be used from them. They are placed in specially made casings.
• A bearing is installed to support the output shaft.
• Car battery is recommended.

A screwdriver can also help improve a child's vehicle, such as making a small snowmobile from an electric car.

They use a newly built electric car for this purpose, only slightly modernize it.

• The frame will be improved to install the drive wheel, which will be the main engine of the device.
• Skis are installed instead of wheels, and the plastic steering wheel is replaced with a metal handlebar from a children's bicycle.
• The chain drive will act as a drive.
• This upgrade will save both time and money, and the joy of the children will be genuine.

The transformation of a screwdriver into a drill occurs with one wave of the hand, since these tools are largely interchangeable.

Although it is necessary to take into account certain nuances:

• the screwdriver's planetary gearbox fails if a force is applied to the tool for which it is not designed: it was not originally planned to use it for drilling hard materials;
• as a rule, the power of its electric motor is lower than that of a drill.

If, on the contrary, the electric drill is planned to be used as a screwdriver, then you should be careful and remember that:

• the drill will quickly unscrew / tighten the nut or self-tapping screw;
• she will be able to screw the screw into the harder material.

There are also certain disadvantages:

• the size and weight of the drill is larger, it is not so convenient to work with it in narrow places;
• it is not possible to use a drill when assembling furniture and when working with thin plastic, drywall, etc.;
• the use of PPE (glasses, gloves) is necessary;
• due to the inconsistency of the design with the tasks set, the tool wears out more.

Next, see how to make a mini-drill from an old screwdriver.

The cordless version of the electric screwdriver or the mains-powered version easily turns into a device that is called "engraver", "dremel", "drill", "mini-drill", "straight grinder". As with upgrading a screwdriver to a grinder, there are two ways to convert it:

• a special nozzle is purchased in retail chains;
• a homemade fixing device is used, suitable for the use of a dremel rig.

The simplest electric motor for a boat using a screwdriver is made as follows:

• a screwdriver is fastened to a thick board approximately 50x20x3 cm in a vertical position with a clamp;
• instead of a bit, a shaft is clamped into the chuck, slightly longer than the board;
• the shaft is fixed on it in two places by bearings, a propeller is attached to it;
• the plank itself is fixed to the rear side of the boat by a movable system of clamps.

The simplest boat motor is ready!

To a homemade electric motor from a screwdriver, as an addition, it is quite possible to make a homemade small winch for an anchor.

The assembly principle does not change, the drive mechanism is the same screwdriver, fixed on clamps with self-tapping screws. The cartridge is replaced with a reel with an anchor flexible cable or a strong rope thrown over the block.

The simplest drive for automatic closing and opening of garage doors consists of a screwdriver fixed at a convenient height, instead of a chuck, a worm gear of sufficient length is installed, rigidly connected to the gate leaf. Using the reverse function will allow you to open and close the gate.

To make an ice screw for winter fishing, you need to take:

• steel pipe of the required diameter;
• hardened steel plates for the manufacture of auger, which are heated and bent at certain angles;
• all component parts are welded, then the surface of the seams is ground;
• at the end of the assembly, it is recommended to paint the ice screw in a bright color.

In general, screwdrivers have many, many uses in the household other than those listed in this article. The only thing that should be considered with such upgrades is that the screwdriver:

• designed to perform work at high speed and for a relatively short time;
• with prolonged continuous operation, it quickly overheats;
• the power of its engine is low, therefore, for longer operations, the installation of a reduction gear is required.

The main thing is not to forget about safety!

For cool ideas for a screwdriver, see the next video.