Having used power tools for my job in the building and electrical trade for many years, there is one tool that I have always shunned away from. The electric screwdriver... always under-powered, and running out of battery just when I needed it. Because of the poor products on offer, I had always relied on the standard screwdriver. For assembly jobs, the standard cordless drill driver came out of my tool box, saving me hours of time, but for most jobs, a full sized drill driver is just too bulky. When Metabo sent me their new (2nd generation) PowerMaxx Li Pro, I was really excited. I knew how good Metabo products are meant to be, so surely this had a good chance of delivering some professional performance...Lets kick off with what you get for your money. In the nice moulded case you get the 7.2V power driver, an LC60 (one hour) charger, two 2.2Ah lithium ion batteries, an angle attachment (for getting into awkward spaces), a 17 piece bit set (very nice) and a quick action keyless chuck (so you can use the PowerMaxx Li for simple drilling jobs). All this for a price of around £120 and things are already looking good, you just seem to get so much for your money, but the important thing is how well this tool performs.
My past experience set me on a quest to make the PowerMaxx Li fail, so I wanted to really stress this tool. The first job that I set it to was assembling kitchen cabinets. The carcasses went together with no problem at all, and the first battery, after about an hour of continuous use was still going strong. Attaching brackets and batons to the walls also proved no problem and the torque settings allowed the job to be completed with ease. I mentioned you get an angle attachment in the kit too, well this really came into good use when getting tight into the corners of the cupboards. About half way through the day the battery had been exhausted, but thanks to a second one being supplied, I could carry on working without interruption.Charging whilst I was working is really fast. The LC60 charger takes an empty battery cell to full in just one hour. The 2.2Ah battery cells have a 'balancing function' which ensures that the cells inside get the same amount of juice. This means that they perform very well, right up to the last bit of power they have left. The manufacturers claims are not glossy marketing hype, these compact batteries pack to much power that I was really impressed.
There are two speed settings on the PowerMaxx Li, one for drilling and one for driving. This is the only area where things seemed a little scratchy. You change the speed with the driver rotating, which makes a little clunky noise, but I suppose is a necessity to get the gear to change. This did not effect my overall impression of the unit though, as I took it out on job after job and it never let me down once. Of course it is really designed for driving screws in, and this is where it really excels. The fact that it is so versatile just adds even more value. Drilling pilot holes, getting screws into to tight spaces and at awkward angles, are all in a days work for the PowerMaxx Li.
Where I had walked away from this type of tool before. The Metabo PowerMaxx Li Pro has opened my eyes as to how far Metabo has developed this technology. This little tool has to stay with me, and should be part of any professional's tool kit. It will be the best £120 you have ever spent!
Product: Metabo PowerMaxx Li Pro
Price: £114.95 (average)
Supplied by: Metabo UK Ltd
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