Skil Rechargeable 4V Screwdriver with Circuit Sensor Technology (45-piece bit kit case)

A compact 4V driver that earns a permanent spot in the kitchen drawer

I like having a small powered screwdriver within arm’s reach for household tasks—assembling a shelf, swapping a switch plate, tightening a door hinge. After a few weeks with Skil’s 4V rechargeable driver, it’s the one I keep grabbing. It blends sensible design with just enough power, and it throws in a built‑in live‑wire detector that’s more than a gimmick, provided you treat it as a secondary check rather than a safety guarantee.

Design and ergonomics

This driver is compact at about 6.9 inches long, with a straight, pen‑style body that feels natural in a variety of grips. It’s stout enough to fill the hand, but slim enough to sneak into cabinet boxes and behind appliances. The overmolded housing is grippy without being tacky, and the balance is neutral around the mid‑point, which makes one‑handed starts and stops easy.

The forward/reverse selection is handled by a twist collar just behind the collet. I was skeptical at first—I’m used to a rocker switch—but the collar actually works well. With your index finger and thumb where they naturally land, you can flick between directions without shifting your grip, and you’re less likely to bump it by accident than a small F/R slide switch. There’s a center detent that essentially “locks” the driver to prevent unintentional spin.

At the nose is a 1/4‑inch hex collet that takes standard bits. Bit retention is positive: bits snap in with confidence, and the magnet in the included bit holder is strong enough to hang onto fasteners when you back out of a hole. I also like the included slim magnetic bit collar for reaching into recesses—helpful for cabinet hardware where a standard sleeve would rub.

Lighting that’s actually useful

Skil puts two LEDs near the front, and they’re positioned well enough to reduce the classic single‑shadow cone you get from single‑LED drivers. The after‑glow—roughly 8–10 seconds—sounds like a small thing, but it’s genuinely helpful when you stop the driver and still need to spot the next screw or read a label in a dark cavity. The light intensity is tuned right for close work; it won’t blind you in white cabinets, and it’s bright enough to be effective.

Power and control

On paper the no‑load speed is 230 rpm, which is about right for a 4V class tool. In practice, there’s enough torque to run cabinet screws, electrical device screws, most furniture fasteners, and sheet‑metal screws into pre‑punched holes. It’s not a drill and it’s not intended for structural screws; if you’re expecting to drive 3‑inch construction screws into studs, you’ll be disappointed. For the kind of tasks that send you reaching for a manual screwdriver, this is a genuine time‑saver.

Speed ramps smoothly off the trigger, so you can feather the start to avoid cam‑outs on small fasteners. There’s no adjustable clutch, which means you need to use your trigger finger and a bit of restraint on delicate hardware. I find that running screws most of the way and finishing the last quarter‑turn by hand is the best approach for door hinges, outlet cover plates, and electronics housings.

Circuit Sensor Technology: helpful, with caveats

The headline feature is the circuit sensor, a built‑in non‑contact voltage detector that can sense live AC wiring up to about an inch away and gives you both a visual and audible alert. I treated it like I would a pocket NCVT: before pulling a switch or outlet, I wave the driver near the faceplate and cord runs. It consistently chirped on live outlets and lamp cords. It will occasionally alert on bundled cords or near a breaker panel where there’s a lot of ambient field, and, like all NCVTs, it can miss a dead‑front situation where the hot conductor is well‑shielded.

The bottom line: it’s a convenient, integrated sanity check that you’ll actually use. But it’s not a replacement for lock‑out/tag‑out and a proper tester. If you’re doing electrical work, shut off the breaker and verify with a dedicated meter before you touch conductors.

Battery and charging

Power comes from a built‑in lithium‑ion cell that charges via micro‑USB. I prefer USB‑C on modern tools, but micro‑USB still gets the job done and has the advantage that you probably already have cables in a junk drawer. Expect to top it up from any 5V USB wall adapter; the kit I used included a cable but not a wall plug, so you’ll need to supply your own.

Runtime is solid for a compact driver. In my use—assembling a flat‑pack cabinet, installing a couple of door strikes, and swapping a handful of switches—I didn’t run it down in a single session. Lithium‑ion also means it holds a charge sitting in a drawer, so it’s ready when you grab it a week later.

Bits and accessories

Skil includes a 45‑piece bit assortment along with a 60 mm magnetic bit holder and a slim magnetic bit collar. The quality of the bits themselves is fine for household duty, and the case keeps everything organized. The selection is broad—Phillips, slotted, square, Torx, hex, plus a healthy spread of security bits—so you’re covered for those occasional oddball fasteners on consumer electronics, fixtures, and child‑proof covers.

If you’re mostly driving common screws, the mix tilts heavier toward specialty bits than I prefer. I ended up adding a couple extra #2 Phillips and a #1 Phillips to the case so I wasn’t hunting for the one I’d left across the room. That said, the included slim 2‑inch bits can be a real advantage in tight hardware installs where a stubby bit won’t reach past trim or a hinge leaf.

In use

• Cabinet hardware: The driver’s size and dual LEDs make quick work of hinges and pulls. I start screws by hand, drive to snug with light trigger pressure, then give a final hand‑tight turn to avoid over‑torque.
• Electrical device swaps: The circuit sensor is a nice pre‑check before I remove a cover. The 4V power is ideal for device screws—fast enough, but not so strong that you’ll crack a plate if you pay attention.
• Flat‑pack furniture: This is where the 230 rpm speed shines. With the magnetic bit holder, you can run cam screws and connector bolts quickly and switch bits without fuss.
• Around the house: Door strike adjustments, battery compartment screws, and miscellaneous brackets are the sweet spot. The driver’s straight form factor fits where a pistol‑grip drill won’t.

Noise levels are low compared to a drill/driver, and vibration is minimal. The trigger response is predictable, which keeps cam‑out to a minimum with quality bits. Bit changes are quick; the collet holds tightly without sticking, even with the slim 2‑inch bits.

Limitations and nitpicks

• No clutch: Common in this class, but it’s worth emphasizing. If you routinely work with delicate plastic housings, plan to finish by hand.
• Micro‑USB: It works, but USB‑C would be more current, and a wall adapter in the box would save a scavenger hunt.
• Bit selection: Broad but not optimized for everyday fasteners. Expect to supplement with duplicate Phillips sizes you use most.
• Not a drill: This won’t replace your 12V or 18V drill/driver for heavy work or larger diameter screws. Think of it as the powered upgrade to a manual screwdriver.

Durability and warranty

Build quality feels solid, with tight seams and a robust collar mechanism. After a few bumps and a drop from bench height, mine shows only cosmetic scuffs and no functional issues. The five‑year limited warranty is generous for a tool in this category and suggests Skil expects it to last.

Who it’s for

If you’re a homeowner, apartment dweller, or tech who wants a compact, reliable driver for light to medium duty tasks, this 4V unit hits a sweet spot. Pros will still lean on higher‑voltage drill/drivers for production work, but even on a jobsite, this is handy for finish hardware, devices, and punch‑list odds and ends. The integrated voltage detector adds everyday value for anyone who occasionally opens a junction box or replaces a switch.

Recommendation

I recommend the Skil 4V screwdriver as a smart, well‑rounded companion for everyday tasks. It’s comfortable, genuinely useful in tight spaces, and offers thoughtful touches—the dual LEDs with after‑glow, the twist‑to‑reverse collar, and the magnetic accessories—that make small jobs go faster. The Circuit Sensor is a welcome safety nudge, as long as you treat it as a preliminary check rather than a definitive test. I’d like to see USB‑C charging and a bit assortment skewed more toward common sizes, but those are manageable quibbles. For the price and size, it earns its keep and a permanent spot in the drawer.