Looking for a cordless drill?

Well the choices are vast as are the prices, to compound this most manufacturers bundle their products, pay a little more to get a lot more.

The questions you need to answer are:-
What am I going to use the drill for?
How often am I going to do these tasks?
What size holes am I going drill and in what material?

How long do I want it to last before failure?

In this field you generally get what you pay for. You can spend $30 get a drill, battery, charger, case and an assortment of accessory bits. If you plan on doing very light work on rare occasions then this option may suffice. If you plan on building a deck, hanging numerous sheets of drywall then it is unlikely that the $30 purchase would see the job through without some pain and disappointment.

If you plan on drilling into masonry (Concrete, brick, block etc) A hammer drill is a must. In my experience cheap hammer drills if used on a regular basis never last long. The hammer action and masonry dust takes quite a toll.

More important than the cost, there is a safety issue. Using tools that are unsuitable for the job at hand can be dangerous to you and destructive to the tool.

How much power do you need? Is weight an issue? How long does it take to charge? How many batteries do I get?

All battery powered devices do have a drawback. The battery. This power source dictates what the drill is capable of. General rule of thumb here, the higher the voltage the more power you have. Weight also tends to increase. When the battery dies then what? Either have a spare charged battery or wait anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours depending upon battery/charger system.

What's in a name?

A lot, some manufacturers try and maintain a high quality standard, while others don't manufacture anything they just badge a third party product which can result in Q.C. problems and finding replacement batteries or charger could be worse.

If you are a first time buyer, choose a reputable store, or brand. Ask about the warranty and what does it cover? You will drop it. At some point in time you will. I always ask "If I break it then what?" For me the answer must be "We will replace it!".

In summary:

3/8" or 1/2" chuck - 3/8 is usually found on lowered powered models.
4.7V - 24V General voltage range of cordless drills, 4.7-9.6V Low powered end, light use only, cabinet assembly, some drilling. 12-14.4V Medium duty , 18-24V Heavy duty.
Hammer action a better quality drill is a must if you want it to last.

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Boag-Munroe.
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