Drills Buying Guide

Cordless drills have no dangling cords getting in the way of tasks. They are lighter in weight when compared to corded ones, and they can be used in places where no electrical socket is available. Budget models are perfect for quick, light tasks - you'll likely need to upgrade to a more powerful drill if you want to tackle any heavier projects.

Cordless screwdrivers are small, light, and typically have a long battery life. They are excellent for only the lightest of tasks, but their compact build makes them great for driving screws in tight spaces.

The additional power, or 'torque' provided by cordless impact drivers is perfect for quickly disloging larger nuts and bolts that have been over-tightened or become frozen, or for providing extra tightening power that a screwdriver can't. Car lug nuts can be handled with ease.

Cordless tool combo kits provide a multitude of options: drilling, sanding, sawing, grinding, routing - all that run on an interchangable battery pack. You definitely get what you pay for, so be sure to purchase a quality set, or you'll end up with a box mediocre tools you never use. You're better off buying higher quality tools individually.

Corded drills are preferred by experienced workers for heavy duty jobs. Corded power drills offer more power and torque, even though they rely on the availability electrical sockets. Holes of a large diameter are better drilled with corded power drills. If a cordless drill is used for a task of this kind, it could over-stress the battery and lead to a breakdown.

Right-angle drills are designed to drill in tight spaces, and are often used by plumbers and electricians. They are available in corded and cordless models.

Hammer drills are equipped with a percussion action so that heavy materials like concrete can be pierced. These drills usually operate using compressed air and are used in engineering workshops. Drills with an enhanced hammer action are also referred to as SDS drills. SDS drills operate in three modes – drill only, drill and hammer, and hammer-only. SDS drills are very powerful, so choose a lightweight model that has a safety clutch. These drills operate at thousands of beats per minute, and controlling them requires a certain amount of skill. Secondary handles provide a firm grip to make usage more comfortable.

Drill Motor Power

The size of the motor in the drill determines its performance. A power rating is used to indicate how powerful a drill is. There is simple logic here – the higher the amount of electricity consumed, the higher the power rating. The power rating is given in volts for cordless drills and in amps for corded ones. Cordless drills generally come with power ratings from about 9.6V to as many as 19.2V.

Drill Speed

The speed of a drill is indicated in RPMs (Revolutions per Minute). All drills have variable speed that is controlled by a trigger button, but the maximun range will vary.

Torque

Some power drills have multiple torque settings, allowing for better control when working with more delicate materials.

Drill Chuck Size

The part of the drill that holds the drill bit tightly in place is referred to as its chuck. This measurement refers to the largest drill bit diameter that can be fitted into it. 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch are the most common sizes, and for most tasks, a 3/8 inch chuck is sufficient.

The chuck mechanism may be either key operated, keyless, or SDS. Keyless models are usually fitted with a 13mm chuck.

Drill Batteries

Battery composition has an effect on drill performance: nickel-cadmuim (NiCd) should be powerful enough for most consumers, but lithium-ion (Li-ion) and nickel-metal hybride (NiMH) cells offer the strongest performance. Most drills will include an extra battery for you to charge while use the other. Battery power indicators help you gauge time of use, and quick-chargers can power up a battery in 60 minutes or less.

When using power tools of any sort, one should exercise extreme caution to avoid injury. Safety glasses should always be worn while using a power drill. Loose fitting clothing or jewelry can get caught in a power drill, so these should be avoided.

Avoid carrying a power drill by the cord, as this might lead to the cord getting dislodged when in use, and cause a short circuit that damage the unit or cause injury. The cord should be checked periodically and replaced if any wear is noticed.

It is very important to maintain a firm grip on the handle when a power drill is in use. Sprained wrists are not an uncommon occurrence among users of power drills.

Builders Square features drills from these leading manufacturers, and many more.

DeWALT
Black & Decker
Bosch Tools
Hitachi
Campbell Hausfeld
Makita
Milwaukee Electric Tool
Porter-Cable
Skil