Cordless Drills

 Every handyman should have a cordless drill as part of his or her tool kit. It is one it not the best handiest tool in your tool kit. It can be used for drilling holes in wood or metal and drive just about any screw made.  There is a wide range of different cordless drills available on the market in different price ranges. There are cheap ones in terms of price and quality. Don’t compromise when buying a cordless drill. I have bought four in the past twenty years. The first two were low quality and inexpensive drills that just couldn’t do the job for any length of time. Professional cordless drills made by DeWalt, Makita or Bosch are on the top of my recommended list.  

If you are planning on buying a cordless drill do your homework to make sure you get one that will do the intended job. Here are some key points to consider:

1. The pack and voltage rating:

A 14.4 Volts up to 18 Volts cordless drills is an excellent drill. These units usually come with two drill batteries that are Nickel Metal Hydride batteries. The 18v drill is heavier and does a better job than the 14.4v cordless drill.  The higher the voltage the faster the drill will spin and the higher the torque. An important feature with the battery pack is to get the one with the highest Ah (Ampere per hour). A 1.8 or a 2.4 Ah battery is available for most cordless drills. The 2.4 Ah battery will last nearly 30 % longer than the 1.8 Ah battery. Nearly all cordless drill batteries are very durable batteries

2. Gear train:

Make sure your cordless drill has a 2-step mechanical gear train. This will provide a higher torque for drilling those difficult drilling projects.

3. Chuck:

A keyless ½ chuck is the only way to go. It offers a wide variety of drill bit options. Changing bits or screw driver is any easy process of just running the drill in reverse while holding the chuck handhold.

4. Speed control:

Settle for nothing less than a variable speed.

5. Fast Charger:

A fast charger will recharge a cordless drill battery in approximately 15 minutes

6. Electronic Brake:

This important feature is not found on inexpensive cordless drills .This means when you lift the switch the drill bit stops immediately. This electronic braking is key for certain woodworking and drywall applications.

7. Variable Speed Switch:

Nearly all cordless drills have a variable speed switch. The deeper you press the switch - the faster the drill runs.

These are the key things to look for when considering buying a cordless drill.  A hammer action feature is not necessary. Most of the time you use your drill for drilling holes or putting in screws. The hammer feature just adds weight to the drill and really isn’t worth the additional cost.  I prefer the Dewalt 18V 1/2'' Cordless Compact Drill/Driver Kit - DC720KA. It is a great unit that will last a long time and can take the rough environment that is used in. A Dewalt cordless drill cost between $179.00 – $200.00, depending where you purchase it. It is well worth the price.

See: Tool Battery Charging Tips