IXO

Frequently asked questions

• What especially needs to be observed when working with screws?

  • Tool reactions can occur when tightening and loosening screws, which can endanger the user. The causes are

    • kick-backs
    • bit slipping
    • noise

• What are the basic screwdriving applications?

  • Nearly all screwdriving applications can be classified as one of two basic types: hard screwdriving applications and soft screwdriving applications.

    • Hard screwdriving applications are all applications in which there is a hard material (usually metal) directly under the screw.
    • Soft screwdriving applications are all applications in which there is a soft material (usually wood) directly under the screw or the screw is being driven into soft material.

• What types of screws are there?

  • There are machine screws and wood screws. There are different versions of these basic types for various building materials and special applications. They differ in terms of their shape and their type of thread.

• What is a bit?

  • This term denotes the screwdriving accessory required for the particular screw type (slotted, cross head, hex, Torx, etc.). The bit is fixed in the machine either directly via a hex shank in a chuck or in a bit holder that is either part of the machine or an inserted accessory.

• What types of screwdrivers are there?

  • In principle, the different types are:

    • screwdrivers with depth stop
    • screwdrivers with torque clutch
    • screwdrivers with rotary impact

• What is especially important to note before using a battery or a cordless tool for the first time?

  • You must read the user manual because battery technology changes quickly, which may require a new method of operation.

• What is self-discharge?

  • Self-discharge refers to the process by which a battery passively emits energy through storage alone. Once a certain time has elapsed, the battery must be charged before it can operate a garden tool. The self-discharge with conventional nickel technology is approximately 25% per month, whereas with Li-ion it is less than 2%. Li-ion batteries are therefore ready to use even after prolonged periods of storage.

• What are lithium-ion batteries?

  • Lithium-ion batteries are based on a new technology that uses lithium as a component in the electrodes. They differ fundamentally from nickel-based batteries and have a cell voltage of 3.6 volts, which is three times as high as nickel cadmium batteries. Less battery cells are required, which enables the power tool to be smaller and lighter or more powerful at the same size. Unlike nickel cadmium batteries, lithium-ion batteries do not have memory effect. They also have considerably less self-discharge.

• What is the “memory effect”?

  • Memory effect occurs in NiCd batteries if they are not fully discharged. If a part of the battery is not used, the battery “remembers” this. The unused part of the battery is then no longer available for storing energy in the battery. This memory effect cannot occur in Li-ion batteries.

• What is the correct way to store lithium-ion batteries?

  • Li-ion batteries should be stored at room temperature. Storage at higher temperatures reduces the lifetime of the battery. Li-ion batteries can be destroyed by temperatures above 55 °C, and can suffer deep discharge at temperatures below –15 °C. Li-ion batteries should not be fully charged prior to long-term storage. The activity in a fully charged cell is higher than a partially charged cell, which causes the cell to age more quickly.

• Can lithium-ion batteries explode?

  • Brand-name batteries, particularly those in Bosch garden tools, are protected by a variety of safety mechanisms. An explosion is virtually impossible. Nonetheless, short circuits or mechanical damage to the pack should be avoided at all costs.

• How do you dispose of used batteries?

  • You give them back to the power tools dealer. He collects them and passes them on to the power tools manufacturer who then arranges for them to be recycled properly.

• How do you protect yourself against bit slipping?

  • The most common cause of bit slipping is:

    • bit size does not fit the screw
    • bit is applied to the screw at a tilt
    • tilting during screwdriving
    • not enough pressure

    It is not difficult to see that an application error is to blame in each of these cases.

    The effects of bit slipping are:

    • risk of injury to the user
    • damage to the workpiece
    • damage to the screw
    • damage to the bit

    You can see that it is worth avoiding these common application errors.

• How do I find the right spare part for my power tool?

  • In the spare parts catalogue you will find all the exploded drawings for our tools from the last 25 years. Here you will easily be able to identify your required spare part. Have the part number of the tool or its trade name at the ready. You will need to enter it to quickly find the right spare part.