Are you looking to drive 3″ screws into some concrete, well this review is not for you. But if your looking for a cool little small 4 volt screwdriver for your hobbies or other small projects, you may want to take a look at the Ryobi Tek4.
Power Tool Review- Ryobi Tek4 Screwdriver
Power Tool Model – HP53LK
Pros: small size, inexpensive, great weight
Cons: Battery compartment cover can be lost easily making the tool useless
Specifications of the Ryobi
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4V Lithium ion
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1/4″ chuck
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Chuck Type – Hex
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24 position clutch
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Built in LED work light
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Forward and reverse
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Tool weight – 2.1 lbs.
Nuts & Bolts of the Ryobi
Specifications
When you think of a small 4V screwdriver, you might think of a kids toy. They usually don’t offer a lot of options or power. We thought this would be the same case with the Ryobi Tek4, but we were wrong. The kit comes with the screwdriver, a tool bag, one battery, a charger and 6 piece 1/4″ bit set. The small screwdriver has a lot of power, more than we thought. We like that the screwdriver has 24 positions for the clutch, which makes it perfect for most small projects. The variable speed trigger is great and allows the user to very easily control their speed. The forward/reverse is very easy to use and placed in a great location for easy access, one handed.
One item to note is the battery compartment, which we are not fond of. The battery is placed inside the bottom of the screwdriver handle, which is not bad. However, there is a small screw on/off cap that holds the battery in place. We are not big fans of items that can be lost and especially when it affects the operation of the power tool. The cap is a small plastic cap, so if you drop the cap, it may hold up. But if you accidentally step on it, you might break it. Also the cap is small, so it would be easy to loose if your like me and have my type of luck.
Review
There are a lot of application where a user would need a small compact screw driver. They are lighter and smaller which makes it very easy to get into tight spots, which seems to be where all the manufactures hide these small screws. We used this screwdriver on a couple small RC cars and a computer to remove the hard drive. Over all we liked the balance and were very impressed by the power for a 4V. The light actually came in handy also. The chuck was well designed and bit changes were a snap.
For the video, we took a 2″ screw and drove it through a 2×4 and a piece of plywood. Not that you would be doing this type of work with this screwdriver, but hey why not try. As you can see it did make it through the material and actually on the video that was our third screw we drove with that battery, so actually we were pretty impressed.
Conclusion
If your looking for a small compact screwdriver, the Ryobi is a great choice. This is a lightweight, and powerful screwdriver. We like the idea that it has 24 positions for the clutch, so the user can match the toque with the project. The LED was a big help when we where taking a hard drive out of a computer and there was low light. We do wish the battery compartment was a little different. We are just not a big fan of having a part that is detachable from the drill. If you loose the cap to the battery compartment, your stuck until you can find a new one. Overall, this makes a great addition to any one’s tool line up that will need a small compact screwdriver as it offers great power and great balance.
Links
Visit Ryobi to learn more about the Tek4 Screwdriver
About Ryobi
As one of the world’s largest and most innovative power tool manufacturers, Ryobi Power Tools specializes in making pro-featured power tools truly affordable. That’s why Ryobi is the brand of choice for millions of homeowners, woodworkers, hobbyists, craftspeople, and value-conscious contractors.
We have built our reputation by manufacturing power tools that increase your purchasing power and expand your capabilities. Tools like our legendary AP10, the world’s first portable benchtop planer. Or our breakthrough BT3000, the first affordable, precision woodcutting system. Or our 18.0v Super Combo Kit that shattered the price barrier for big-job cordless power.
Today, Ryobi Power Tools offers you more pro feature, affordable power tools than ever, all backed by our 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee and 2-Year Limited Warranty. We’re proud to sell our tools exclusively through The Home Depot, where the values are unbeatable, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly – and you’re just steps away from everything else you need to enjoy your Ryobi tools to the fullest.
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I got a Ryobi TEK4 Screwdriver – HP53LK as a gift. I used it off and on over a couple of months (total running time about 10 minutes). I was installing a few screws and it stopped working. This was very light work. I brought it back to Home Depot and got another new one.
The new one lasted about 5 minutes total running time before it died.
With the battery installed, pulling the trigger, nothing happens. When I put the battery in the charger, the charging light stays off.
I’m bringing this one back today & will look for another brand.
This is not my main tool (a bosch 12v drill is my main one and has been for about 3 years now, everyday use) but I’m impressed with the Ryobi 4V drill. I’m not impressed with the batteries. I have had several bad out of the box. But the tek4 line is a cool line of tools and gadgets you get a lot of bang for you buck with the screwdriver.
Thanks for letting us know. The line is very cool, but haven’t had much experience with the batteries over a long time.
Ryobi TEK4 Screwdriver – HP53LK as a gift for Christmas. Are there drill bits for this as well. Probably will not use it often but curious about other acssesories?
Thanks email if you can.
I don’t think it comes with any drill bits, but maybe a drill tip like a Philips or flat head