CORDLESS DRILLS: Which type should I buy ? - Tool Guide

A cordless drill is unquestionably the most used and versatile power tool on the market. But with all that versatility comes an onslaught of options. If you mistakenly choose the wrong cordless drill for your needs, it'll be as helpful as a rubber nail.

But we're here to help. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast, hobbyist, or professional contractor, the following guide will help you find the best cordless drill for your needs. Starting with the most crucial question.

WHAT ARE YOU DRILLING?

Of course, the fundamental purpose of any cordless drill is to make holes in things. But, the question is: What things? Are you primarily drilling wood, concrete, steel or composite?

Knowing what materials you'll be drilling (most often) is vital in selecting the correct cordless drill for your needs, as well as how much torque is needed.

CORDLESS ROTARY HAMMER DRILLS 

For example, suppose you're looking for a cordless drill designed solely for masonry work. In that case, your shopping list should centre exclusively around Rotary Hammer Drills – purpose-made machines specially designed for heavy-duty masonry drilling. 

But let's take a step back and assume you need something more versatile. Maybe you need a drill that can handle medium-duty masonry work, heavy-duty structural timber drilling, and other tasks. What then? 

CORDLESS IMPACT DRILLS

In that case, you should look for an Impact Drill with a selectable gearbox, usually a 2-speed option: 

1. High speed with low torque
2. Low speed with high torque

Don't confuse a multi-speed drill with a variable-speed drill. Most cordless drills vary speed by changing how far the trigger is pressed. However, a 2-speed drill has the added benefit of radically increasing its torque output when the low-speed setting is selected through the gearbox.

The mistake many users make when drilling into masonry is thinking that if they depress the trigger halfway, the speed reduction is the same as selecting the Low-speed setting on the drill's gearbox. It's not. To make matters worse, they tend to push harder on the drill. This combination of pressure with incorrect gearing may overload the motor.

Incidentally, this is the number one reason cordless drills burn out and fail, so if you're drilling at slow speed and need lots of torque, buy a drill with a gearbox and don't overly rely on the trigger to control the output speed.

Within this category, you'll also find that heavy-duty drills boast steel gears and/or planetary gearboxes. There's nothing wrong with buying cheaper alternatives, but if you're a contractor who puts his tools to hard use, you’ll likely want what’s strongest.

CORDLESS DRILL WITH TORQUE CONTROL

The "impact" feature on all Impact Drills is exclusively for masonry work. So if your drilling needs exclude brick and mortar, there's no need to buy an Impact Drill. In that case, a far more relevant question is: Do you need a drill that can also drive screws and other fasteners?

If that's true, you need a cordless drill with torque control. Most drills can drive screws and fasteners while torque control allows you to set how deep to drive the screw.

For example, because some woods are significantly softer than others, you'll want to adjust the drill's torque control so that the screw doesn't get driven too deep.   

MORE QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A CORDLESS DRILL…

• Do you need a brushed or brushless cordless drill?
• How much battery power do you need?
• Should your cordless drill have a steel chuck, or is plastic okay?
• Do you need a speed charger or more batteries?

To answer these questions and more, call us on 021 705 1247 or visit our world-class tool store at 95 Victoria Road, Plumstead (CT) to chat with a specialist.