The Ryobi 4-volt screwdriver is one of those tools that I didn’t know I needed until I had it, and now I don’t know what I ever did without it! This little cordless screwdriver is one of my favorite Christmas gifts ever, and it’s made “Where’s the Ryobi?” almost as common a question in our household as “What’s for dinner?”

To start with, it’s a small, lightweight cordless screwdriver with a 4-volt, lithium-ion rechargeable battery that promises 4 times longer performance than its competitors. The 1/4” Speedload+ quick-connect chuck makes it easy to switch between the six driver bits that come with it.

The 12-position clutch adjusts the torque for pretty much any job you can think of, and the tiny LED lamp lights your way in tight spots. And if that weren’t enough, it comes with a handy little carrying bag.

We keep it in the kitchen drawer, and I can’t believe how often it’s pulled out. We use it to hang shelves and blinds, to fasten things together, to take things apart, and to handle times when “some assembly is required.” While I appreciate and love working with old-fashioned hand tools, I also appreciate the time I haven’t spent lately turning (and turning and turning) a screwdriver. This little tool has never once died or slowed down on the job – I simply recharge it whenever I think of it, and we get along famously.

I confess, I’m one of those people who’s always doing things the hard way and pushing my tools to their limits, and the Ryobi screwdriver hasn’t failed me yet. Last time I used it, I was in the dark in my dad’s attic, securing electrical boxes to ceiling joists (naturally without bothering to drill pilot holes) – the Ryobi screwdriver drove wood screws into that old-growth lumber like nobody’s business! I blew imaginary smoke off the end and flipped it into a pocket like the long arm of the law.

We also have a regular drill, a heavy-duty Hitachi (that I call the “Armbreaker”) that’ll drill through a mountainside if you’ve got the strength to hold it steady. Between these two awesome tools, I’d say we’re pretty well screwed!

The Ryobi 4-volt lithium-ion cordless screwdriver (model #HP41LK) is available at The Home Depot for less than $40.

Tags: , cordless tools, product review, Ryobi, The Home Depot, tool review