This week’s EYE ON NPI is Electric (video)! This week we’re featuring the new Wiha speedE II electric screwdriver. (Wiha speedE II electric screwdriver). Wiha is a famed maker (DigiKey Link) of excellent quality tools, we still use our Wiha screwdriver set purchased over 20 years ago (Details) and used daily to assemble, disassemble all of our projects. They make really excellent quality tools, so when we saw this electric screwdriver, we picked it up to try out!

The speedE comes as a full kit with lots of accessories. In addition to the electric screwdriver itself, there’s also a battery charger and two batteries. The batteries are rechargeable 18500 protected LiIon’s – you can’t charge them within the tool itself, instead there’s a separate charger. Thankfully you do get two batteries, so you can keep one in the charger while the other is used.

The tool itself is easy and intuitive to use. The battery fits in the handle, and there are replaceable tips that are included with the starter kit with various phillips, flathead and square ends. In the handle is a slide-ring switch. Use your fingers to twist the ring in the direction you want to use and it turns. At the same time, a ring light in the body will illuminate the workspace. When the battery is low, the ring light will flash – simply pop open the handle and swap batteries in a few seconds.

Not only is the motor electric, saving you from repetitive motion, but it will stop when the torque level is reached, to keep from over-tightening screws in soft material. On the side is a switch that can flip between ‘low’ 0.5 Nm max, and ‘high’ 1.0 Nm max torque. The manual has a range for both torques, probably related to battery charge state and lifetime. After the max torque level is reached, the motor clutch engages and you can continue turning to get your “finger tight plus one-quarter turn” setting. Compared to the original speedE screwdriver, the second model has higher manual torque (12 Nm vs 8 Nm) and two torque settings (~0.8 Nm and ~0.4 Nm vs just 0.4 Nm).

We think this tool is a nice bridge between small pocket electric screwdrivers, and larger, heavier electric screwdrivers or drills. While clearly designed for electricians, we think these could also be really great for electrical assembly, robotics, or projects where you’ve got to do a lot of assembly really fast and you don’t want to get an achey wrist.

You can pick up a full Wiha SpeedE II kit for a great price at Digi-Key – for much less than what you’d pay on your ‘a to z’ online stores or tool outlets – in stock now for immediate shipping! (Short Link) Order today and you’ll breeze through your terminal blocks, set screws, and machine screws by tomorrow afternoon.