18 Volt Cordless Drills – Read Faq
James asks…
Construction workers, woodworkers etc...I need your help please...?
Wasn't sure where to post this question but anyway......Is this a good drill for to do projects in and around the house? Was thinking of buying it for a Christmas gift for the husband but I'm not sure what to look for when purchasing something like this.
Any advice and/or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanx!
http://cgi.ebay.com/DeWalt-DW959K2-18-Volt-1-2-Cordless-Drill-Kit-NEW_W0QQitemZ110205449235QQihZ001QQcategoryZ42272QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Staff Member Said:
You picked a real beauty, no two ways about it. My thought on this is to what level is hubby going to use it? If he is an amatuer woodworker, that is a great choice. If he is the type to fix little things around the house and doesnt plan on using it very often, you can get a Ryobi 3/8" cordless for 1/3 of that price. I am NOT saying to get a cheaper drill. Personally, I would love it if my darling Hunny Bunny would think like you,,,,but she doesnt, and wishing wont make it so. Just remember, the batteries have a definite life span and the 18 volters are more expensive, so plan the purchase for the use it is intended for.
Linda asks…
what kind of cordless drill should I buy?
I'd like to spend as little as I can get away with, obviously, but I'm willing to spend as much as I need to. I'm looking for something that I can use for everyday-around-the-house tasks like hanging curtain rods and blinds, paintings and basic repairs like if a cabinet door or something needs to be fixed but I also want something heavy-duty enough that I can do larger projects like building a deck or a picnic table.
I understand Makita is a great brand but I also see a lot of Dewault drills around too.
What kind of torque do I need? Should it be 3/8"? What about voltage? 18 volts?
Staff Member Said:
I have a Ryobi 18 volt 1/2 chuck.
Makita and Dewalt are great drills but probably more than you need. The next one i get will be a Makita Ni-cad. Consider the prices of new batteries though. In many cases it is almost cheeper to buy a new gun than to replace them! For around the house i suggest the 1/2 Ryobi heres why... Batteries are cheep. With a fresh battery i was able to out torque a 1/2 corded Hitachi. ( Thats tones more torque than you will need. ) The 1/2 Chuck allows you to use it with a mixing paddle for paint grout or thinset. Not to mention twist bits with a 1/2 shank.
In closing for the price and usage i suggest the Ryobi. Its cheeper than the others and except for weight and ergonomics it has preformed just as well as the more expensive drills.
Lizzie asks…
What type of corded drill should I purchase?
Okay, I cannot afford a good cordless drill, so now I am looking at electric (corded) drills. I'm sure that the same things apply to corded drills as to cordless drills. However, on corded drills it appears that the power is measured in amps rather than volts. How many amps do I need to drill through wood and seat crews without stripping them? I went to Lowe's and see that an 8 amp Dewalt corded drill is $70.00 dollars as compared to an 18 volt Dewalt which is approx. $150.00. I know corded is not as convenient as cordless, but my budget is $75.00, (so I also need to think about the cost of an indoor/outdoor extension cord.)
Okay, now I'm confused. Dan H says that his Ryobi and Black and Decker are used in daily construction, which I assume is pretty heavy and active use. However, other people are saying that Ryobi's and B&D's have plastic internal parts and won't hold up. Which info. is correct?
Staff Member Said:
You should be able to get a decent cordless for $75. Another good option is a $50 cordless and a really cheap corded drill. You'll get to use each for what they are best at, cordless for driving screws, and corded for drilling holes.
If you go with the corded drill, be sure to get a variable speed drill. And most people prefer a keyless chuck, but it can be a challenge to really torque down a drill bit with some versions of keyless chucks. So again, the cheaper cordless with a keyless chuck for driving screws, and a cheap corded drill with a keyed chuck for drilling holes is a good way to go on a budget.
Avoid the coleman brand of cheap cordless. I have had very bad experiences with their cordless tools.
Sears is good, so is dewalt. For the corded drill, try Menards if you have one, the toolshop line of products is very inexpensive and not that bad for an occasional use.
But if you are into quality and can't abide cheaper products, then I agree that you'll need to go with a corded drill to get into the good quality lines. Bosch is too expensive. Think craftsman or dewalt or makita for brands. Ryobi has too many plastic parts internally that will strip eventually
Courtesy of Y!Answers