Ryobi, I mean Craftsman just launched their line of V4 tools.  Speaking of that where is my Tek 4 Screwdriver.  I bought it, used it once and now don’t know where I put it.  If you are wondering why any company would come out with a line of 4V tools, you’re not alone, I wondered the same thing.  What will I ever do with a 4V screwdriver?  Well I might not do anything with these tools, but there is a market for them as a lot of people do love smaller tools.  After all isn’t that one reason 10.8V, I mean 12V have been doing so well.  Not too long ago Black & Decker had their popular 3.8V that people loved.  Then they were retired for Black & Decker’s VPX series which was their 7V line.  Which again Black & Decker retired.  But if you look around there is still a huge following for the VPX series as the bare tool screwdriver sells for about $40 on eBay.  So I guess all in all there is a huge need for these tools.  Not by everyone, but by some.

While a 12V tool is great to have around because they are less bulky and not as heavy as the 18V, the 12V can still be a pain sometimes.  If I am a computer repair man, why do I need to lug my 12V into a clients home to take a couple of screws out when a 4V would be better.  Having a 4V frees up more room in my tool bag and is less weight to haul around.  Not to mention how a 4V could be great for the homeowner.  Someone who uses a tool once a year, maybe twice a year or even someone who doesn’t need the power of a 12V, then the 4V would be the perfect option.  So I guess there really is a need for 4V tools.

Ryobi, I mean Craftsman saw this opportunity and developed a line of 4V tools based on their Die Hard Battery name.  So enough small talk, lets get into the new Craftsman V4 tools.

Craftsman V4 Battery

Here is the little bad boy that powers the Craftsman V4 line of tools, the Diehard 4 Volt battery.  We haven’t been able to find out the charge time, but Craftsman does state this has a recharge life cycle of about 2,000 recharges.  Since the battery is only around $14, that makes each charge cycle less than a penny per charge, not too bad.

Craftsman V4 Screwdriver

As you can see this looks like a very compact screwdriver.  The V4 utilizes a 1/4″ hex quick release collet.  Two cool things about this drill is first you can select your gear.  Low for 200 rpm which is good for screwing and high for 600 rpm which can be good for drilling.  One thing that surprised us about this drill is that it has 24 clutch settings that gives the user more control.  The screwdriver comes with a battery, charger and two bits.

Craftsman V4 Flashlight

This is a 1w light that puts out 65 Lumen’s.  According to Craftsman this light will run about 6 hours on one charge.

Craftsman V4 Headphones

Craftsman also decided to offer headphones in their V4 line up.  These headphones offer noise suppression up to 25 db, which is just a little under my wife’s 26 db when I leave the seat up on the toilet.  Not to worry, Craftsman includes an auxiliary cord so I can hook it up to my MP3 player and drown out the noise that way.  Once the yelling is over and things go back to normal, I can adjust the built in microphone to enhance my conversation with her to tell her it won’t happen again.

Craftsman V4 Multi-Cutter

This is a cool concept, a multi-cutter.  The cutter cuts through a wide variety of materials such as leather, plastics, aluminum and some other things I am sure you can think of.  There is a safety switch to prevent accidental starts.

Craftsman V4 Rotary Tool

A rotary tool is a must.  This tool comes with a 13 piece bit set and has a 22,000 rpm output.  Great for hobbyist who don’t want the bigger rotary tools because they want more control.

Craftsman V4 Soldering Iron

This is a pretty cool idea, well actually hot as it does get up to 900 degrees fahrenheit.  The iron puts out 6W.  Two safety features Craftsman included were the slide on/off switch instead of push on/off, so you don’t accidentally start the iron.  There is also a tip protector cover.

Craftsman V4 Combo Kits

Craftsman V4 Screwdriver/Flashlight Kit

Craftsman is currently offering two kits.  The one above is the V4 screwdriver with flashlight and the one below is the screwdriver and Multi-Cutter.

Craftsman V4 Screwdriver/Multi-Cutter Kit

We haven’t tried any of these tools, so we really can not give any feedback about the quality, balance or value of the tool.  However everyone knows the name Craftsman and we have always had a great experience with Craftsman power tools.  My mom is downsizing this year and moving into a small condo.  I know what I am going to give her for Christmas.

If anyone has any experience with these tools, drop us a line or leave a comment to let us know your feedback.

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