SKIL Palm-Sized Cordless Screwdriver: Our Review

Review of the SKIL Palm-Sized Cordless Screwdriver

As of this writing, the SKIL Palm-Sized Cordless Screwdriver had 180 customer reviews and 27 answered questions on Amazon. I’ve read through the feedback and then condensed the results into this review.  I hope that this helps you when shopping for a screwdriver.

Best Fea​tures

• check Compact
• check ​Lightweight
• check Easy to handle
• check LED Light
• check Good torque for the small size 

Item Specifics

The SKIL Palm-Sized Cordless Screwdriver was made to be easy to handle and to reach small and tight spaces. This screwdriver is ideal for around the house use.  It is compact and will fit in the palm of your hand.  The SKIL Palm-Sized Cordless Screwdriver uses 4-volts of maximum power and high torque for greater efficiency. It is powered by a lithium-ion battery that can hold a charge for up to 18 months.

LED Light

​The SKIL Palm-Sized Cordless Screwdriver has a built-in LED SiteLight that turns on automatically when you squeeze the trigger. The light is designed to be maintenance-free and should last for the life of the screwdriver.

Also included is a battery fuel gauge that will indicate when it’s time to charge the battery. This screwdriver has a 1/4-inch hex bit holder for fast and easy bit changes.

About the Company

SKIL is a leader in portable electric power tools and accessories.   Skil is part of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation.  They were founded in 1924 with the invention of the worm drive SKILSAW.  SKIL now delivers a complete line of power tools designed and engineered for home projects.

The SKIL 2354-01 iXO includes one iXO cordless screwdriver, a five piece bit set, and one charger

Great Torque Consider the Size

For a such a small screwdriver the The SKIL Palm-Sized Cordless Screwdriver has been reported by many to have great torque.

When Battery Dies a Replacement Screwdriver May Be Cheaper Than a Battery

One common piece of advice and complaint all in one, was that when the battery inevitably stops taking a charge, it may be more expensive to buy a battery than to just buy a new screwdriver with a battery.  As explained by a customer who said what others also expressed, ” I used it until the battery died (three months!), but it was so handy I had to bring it back to life.  I searched high and low for an aftermarket charger, and couldn’t find one that was the correct voltage and amperage rating, so I broke down and called Skil for a replacement.  Short story, the charger from Skil is more expensive than buying a new unit here.  Now I have two drivers and one charger.”

Small Size Makes It Convenient for Those with Arthritis

Sometimes life throws you curves, or may you just get old and can’t do the things you used to do.  For some people with health issues like arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or weakness due to old age, using a heavy tool is out of the question. Many people liked the size because it was lightweight, small and easy to hold.

One woman with carpal tunnel explains, “I absolutely love this screwdriver.  I had been borrowing a cordless drill from a friend to use as a screwdriver.  Due to carpal tunnel and arthritis in my hands, the drill was too heavy and very cumbersome to use.  This little screwdriver erased all that! It is lightweight, and petite. Perfect for a woman’s hand.  Yet it still does the job! I’ve used it to put together an entertainment tower, vacuum cleaner, and for other small jobs around the house.”

LED Light Is Nice Feature

People liked the LED light because it helped them to see the area that they were drilling better.  One customer said this about the light, “The light, low battery indicator and lithium battery are icing on the cake.”  While another liked the light for the same reason and because it indicated when the battery was low.  The customer left this comment, ” It also has a light for seeing in darker areas of work spaces and gauges to tell you how much power is left and whether you are screwing in or out (forward or reverse).”

​

Pros

• plus Great price
• plus Compact
• plus Good torque for its size

Cons

• close Short battery life 
• close May need a sleeping pad for cold nights

SKIL Palm-Sized Cordless Screwdriver Conclusion

The SKIL Palm-Sized Cordless Screwdriver is a great compact little screwdriver for small jobs. While it’s not a heavy duty power drill, it is powerful for it’s size with great torque.  The LED light is an added bonus.  A down fall is that like all batteries they won’t last forever.  Sooner or later it will start taking a charge.  When it does, customers said that it was too expensive to just buy a battery and how they instead bought another screwdriver with battery instead.  It’s too bad that the company didn’t offer an inexpensive battery so that people could just purchase a replacement battery.  But on a positive note, the drill with battery and charger is on the inexpensive side.  If you are wanting a compact, lightweight and inexpensive small screwdriver to do little jobs, I recommend the SKIL Palm-Sized Cordless Screwdriver.

Common Questions

Here are some top questions that I found for people considering buying a SKIL Palm-Sized Cordless Screwdriver.

• chevron-circle-right How long does the battery last?  Could it last all day using it off and on?   Run time is going to vary depending on the task at hand. However, a good rule of thumb is you can expect around 3-5 hours per charge.
• chevron-circle-right Do the bits from the older version fit this model?  Yes. Any hex bit will fit.
• chevron-circle-right Can you use this to drill holes in the wall (granted you buy the extra bits)? Technically you could, but it would be a very slow drill as the turning speed is nowhere near that of a drill.  Not recommended for drilling.  

Related Article: Finding the Best Cordless Screwdriver: Top 10 Reviewed and our Pick