Say Goodbye To Your Regular Screwdriver: The Quicker Tool You Should Use Instead

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You might think there isn't much to say about a screwdriver, but there are different types of screwdrivers that perform various functions. An interesting alternative to regular ones is a Rapi-Driv (or Rapi-Drive) screwdriver. It screws and unscrews the way you need, but how it does is a little bit different. And there are a few reasons why you might want to ditch your regular screwdriver for one of these.

The promise of a Rapi-Driv is that it's much faster than a regular screwdriver without being electric. It's completely manual but uses a rotating, "cranking" motion that lets you spin much faster than a regular screwdriver. It looks a bit like a regular one, except the shaft isn't straight. Instead, it bends, so the handle part isn't directly aligned with the tip. In a way, it looks like a glitchy or broken screwdriver. 

With your traditional screwdriver, you use your hand, wrist, and fingers to rotate the handle to remove or install a screw. But when doing this, you can only go so fast. Instead, the Rapi-Driv doesn't use your hand and wrist to create the rotating motion, but rather your elbow and forearm. You hold the handle firmly while moving it in a circular motion, which lets you go much faster. If you're intrigued, you can get a 6-inch interchangeable Rapi-Driv screwdriver with two standard bits from Home Depot for just $16.97. Beyond being quicker, this is a great alternative for anyone who struggles with screwdrivers due to wrist pain or arthritis. 

The promise of speed sounds interesting, but is that enough to buy one? Not necessarily, but these are better than screwdrivers in some specific situations — any project that uses long screws. For example, wall-mounted electrical outlets or light switches have screws that need to reach behind the electrical box and into the wall, which can take forever to remove. So if you ever need to replace electrical outlets or do other electrical work at home, this could be a significant time saver.

While this tool really shines with extra-long screws, it works the same with shorter ones. It can be helpful when you're working on a project where there are tons of screws, so you can take them out or put them in quickly without having to use a drill. And if you're working on a project where there isn't accessible power or you don't have a quality cordless drill – like in a greenhouse or backyard shed – a Rapi-Driv can come in handy.

This solution, however, isn't meant as a tool you can use to remove screws that are tightly stuck in place. To tackle these, you can use a regular screwdriver first to loosen the screw and switch over to the Rapi-Driv to take it off once it's moving freely. For the same reason, it doesn't work well with a self-drilling screw. It also needs a bit of space to rotate, so it's not ideal for tight corners. So while it's a great addition to your toolkit, it's not meant as a full replacement for your regular screwdriver.