It is powered by WORX 20-volt batteries that can be used with other Power Share-compatible tools made by the company. The product is sold in a package with a charger and two batteries. Besides that, a Philips bit and two wood drill bits come with the driver. In terms of performance, it offers two different speed settings and has electronic torque control – both helping you with delivering the exact amount of rotation for whatever job you need to get done. More in WORX WX176l.1 Switchdriver 2-in-1 cordless drill review.
What’s in the box
(1) – 20V Switchdriver Drill/Driver
(2) – 1.5Ah Batteries
(1) – 20V Battery Charger
(1) – 2″ Screwdriver Bit
(2) – HSS Drill Brits
Drill, charger, two batteries with instructions. Plus, there are two drill bits and one #2 Phillips included. The Switchdriver is a compact and comfortable design. I grabbed a charged pack and did some testing of the new drill. I inserted the Phillips bit in one chuck and the drill bit in the other. The chuck operates quite easily and changing a hex head bit is simple.
The switching head position is locked in place to prevent accidental rotation. It requires releasing or unlocking to swap driver head. A simple trigger releases the rotating head. Simple and elegant design. Drilling holes in wood requires high speed setting. Driving is done at low speed. The electronic torque control clumsily behaves like a battery that’s having the voltage cutoff due to a discharged battery. I don’t like it because it mimics a discharged battery pack.
Pros & Cons – WORX WX176l.1 Switchdriver 2-in-1 cordless drill
Pros
Compact size
–Well balanced
–LED light illuminates some of the work area
–Conventional locations for reverse switch and low/high speed switch.
–Swapping driver heads is easy and quick
–Total price, if shopped well, is less than two batteries. If you need batteries buy them in a discounted kit. However, the kits with two packs are the older style 1.5 amp hour picks. Newer model Worx trimmer kits have 2.0 amp hour packs. Amp hour rating is more than just capacity or size of the “fuel tank”. It directly affects the packs ability to deliver current. I suspect Worx will changeover to the higher capacity packs across the board once they turn inventory over. Remember, amp hour (ah) rating is akin to the size of your “fuel tank.”
CONS
–Torque output is underwhelming at 330 inch lbs. or 27 ft. Lbs. That is amazingly low for a 20 volt drill / driver. I could not drive Kreg screws into a pre drilled joint.
–electronic torque control is virtually worthless to me. It simply shuts off the current and acts like your battery is low and the torque load has stalled the switchdriver. I am marking this down to 3 starts as a result.
–Charger does not diagnose or balance the cells when charging. Nor does it shutoff when the pack is charged. Hence, their nickname is “dumb charger.”
–LED light should have a delayed off so it can triggered on to find the screw head without spinning the drill or driver it. (This feature is standard on competitive offerings )
–No belt clip or hook which is often standard on cordless drills.
–No carrying case although HF offers a range of different size bags for a reasonable price.
Specifications – WORX WX176l.1 Switchdriver 2-in-1 cordless drill
- Rated Voltage: 20V MAX
- No-Load Speed: 0-400/MIN – 0-1500/MIN
- Chuck Capacity: 1/4″ HEX
- Max Torque: 265 in-lbs.
- Clutch Positions: 11 + 1
- Max Drilling Capacity: 3/8″ STEEL / 1-3/16″ WOOD
- Machine Weight: 3.1 lbs.
- Height: 9 inches
- Width: 3.5 inches
- Length: 8.5 inches
- Voltage: 20 volts
- Wattage: 1,500 watts
- Avg Battery life: 2 hours
- Battery Charge Time: 3 – 5 hours
- Low speed: 0 – 400 RPM
- High Speed: 0 – 1,500 RPM
- Warranty: 3 yrs.
What Is WORX Switchdriver?
WORX is a manufacturer originally from China that offers a portfolio of lawn and garden equipment as well as power tools aimed mainly at homeowners and DIY enthusiasts. Besides standard tools, it also manufactures some more innovative tools like a 2-in-1 reciprocating saw/jigsaw and the WORX Switch Driver which is the topic of this article.
As you know, regular impact drivers feature a chuck to which you can attach a bit to.
Key feature
- Rotating dual chucks let you switch between bits on the switchdriver drill faster than ever
- Electronic torque control prevents the stripping of screws
- Cordless driver/drill variable 2-speed gearing tackles all common drilling & driving functions
- 1/4″ hex quick-change chucks for easy bit change-out
- Includes 2 powerful MaxLithium batteries — part of the 20V Power Share platform of DIY yard and power tools that share batteries, saving you time and money
WORX WX176l.1 Switchdriver 2-in-1 cordless drill comparison
| WORX WX176L.1 Switchdriver 2-in-1 Cordless Drill and Driver | BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Drill/Driver (BCD702C1AEV) | WORX WX176L.9 20V Switchdriver 2-in-1 Cordless Drill and Driver Tool Only | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Cell Composition | Lithium Ion | Lithium Ion | — |
| Included Components | Includes 2) 1.5Ah batteries, 1) 5 hour charger, 11)HSS Twist Drill Bits, 5) Spade Wood Drill Bits, 4) Tile Drill Bits, 2) 6″ Power Screwdriving Bits, 7) 2″ Power Screwdriving Bits, 1) Bit Holder, 17)1″ Insert Bits, 3) Nutsetters, 8)SAE Sockets, 8) Metric Sockets, 1) 1/4″ Drive Socket Adapter, Blow-molded case | BCD702 Drill/Driver; LBXR20 Battery; LCS1620 Charger; Screwdriving Bit | Switchdriver 2-in-1 Cordless Drill and Driver, one #2 Philips driver bit, and a manufacturer’s 3-year warranty. |
| Item Dimensions | 8.75 x 3.3 x 9 inches | — | 8.75 x 3.3 x 9 inches |
| Power Source | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | Battery Powered |
| Voltage | 20 volts | 20 volts | 120 volts |
WORX WX176l.1 Switchdriver 2-in-1 cordless drill review
Design
Worx creates a footprint that’s a little large for a kitchen drawer drill and part of that has to do with the rotating chuck system. At 7.6″ tall and 8.4″ long, it’s a bit long compared to other compact and DIY drills. Look at other models if you’re looking for something you can use in tight spaces.
Dual Chuc
Without a doubt, the Worx Switch Driver’s main selling point is the convenient 2-chuck system. This unique system lets you keep 2 different size drill bits, or one bit and a screwdriver tip equipped at all times for a quick transition between them. It’s very common to drill a hole before installing the screw, and this system makes it quick and easy to do so with just the press of a button.
Battery Charger
One aspect of the Worx Switch Driver that can use some improvement is the battery charger. As it is, there is no auto-shutoff to protect the battery. Most chargers shut off when the battery reaches full charge, but the Worx will continue charging, which can quickly ruin the battery.
High Powered
Don’t let the fact that it uses batteries lead you to believe it’s underpowered. The modern lithium batteries are quite powerful and can match an electric drill’s torque as long as it has a good charge. The built-in torque control automatically senses when the screw is set and stops turning to prevent stripping.
Portability
Another important feature of the Worx Switch Driver is its portability. Its 20-volt lithium-ion battery can run for up to 2 hours on a single charge, which should be enough time to complete most tasks. You can use it anywhere without the need for an electrical outlet or heavy extension cord.
LED Headlamp
The built-in LED headlamp is indispensable when working in low light because it illuminates the surface where you are drilling. It’s not as good as a flashlight, but it’s more than enough to prevent misplaced holes. The LED component is extremely durable and will not burn out for the life of the tool.
Reversible
Another powerful feature of the Worx Switch Driver is that both chucks are reversible, so you can use it as a regular drill but can also reverse it so you can remove screws much easier.
WORX Switchdriver Alternatives
In the past, other companies including Buffalo and Mansfield tried introducing similar products into the market. However, at this point, WORX Switchdriver seems to be the only readily-available dual-chuck impact driver.
That said, there are a couple of alternatives that you can use to make your work faster compared to using a single tool with multiple bits.
The first alternative is, of course, simply using two impact drivers – each with a different bit attached. That would, however, require you to buy two expensive tools – and also carry more equipment with you.
The other alternative worth exploring are bits designed to be switched quickly. An example of that would be the DeWalt rapid load set. While those will fit any impact driver, they do not eliminate the need to switch the bits – they just make it a bit easier.
