Cordless Hammer Drill

Important Considerations When Buying a Cordless Drill

Cordless drills are probably one of the most commonly owned tools by a modern handyman apart from a hammer or screwdriver. Cordless drills save time and energy when drilling holes and cordless drill/drivers are excellent multi-use tools if you have many fixings to do. Of course the main advantage of a cordless drill is its portability when compared to its corded cousin.

Main Types of Cordless Drill

The tool must be fit for the job, or so the old wisdom goes. So an important factor in selecting the right drill for the job is a thorough knowledge of what duties it is expected to perform. Modern cordless drills are capable of performing a variety of tasks and may come with a number of diverse features, among these are:

• Multifunction Drill/Drivers. The drill is capable of drilling holes and fixing screws. An important feature to look for in a drill of this type is a variable clutch. This allows for screw fixing without the possibility of stripping the screw or destroying the mounting surface. Another standard feature in a drill of this type is a reverse setting as without it you cannot extract screws.
• Hammer Setting. On a lightweight drill this can be of only moderate use in enabling drilling into masonry and concrete. This lightweight type of drill would be of use in DIY only. A more powerful cordless hammer drill would make short work of drilling into concrete and the truly powerful models may even have a rotation lock so that the hammer action can be used to "chase" a wall while installing cables, or even for light demolition.
• Variable Speed Trigger. A very useful feature on a drill/driver as it makes driving screws a lot easier, but also of use if drilling metal as it allows lower speeds and avoids overheating. A similar feature can sometimes be gained by having dual speed setting which also alters the amount of torque the drill delivers.

 

Buyer's Decisions - Factors to Consider

When buying a cordless drill many factors need to be taken into consideration, not merely price or brand:

Whereas a corded drills power output is measured in Watts, for cordless drills it is more usual to measure the power of the drill by battery type. Generally, the higher the voltage rating, the more powerful the drill. DIY type drills are normally 12 volt or below, moderate use or light industrial drills are 18 volt. 18 volt drills are very common in industry at the moment although for light demolition a 36 volt model may be used. Choose according to the likely duty cycle for the drill.

Look for a drill that comes with a second battery and a charger. This choice enables you to work using the spare battery while the other is charging. Batteries should ideally be Lithium-Ion as older Ni-Cads have lower total charge and lose power as the charge lessens. Modern Li-Ion chargers are also much faster and some models boast a charge time for a battery of less than 15 minutes. Although "bare-tool" options may look cheap it is often much more expensive to buy spare batteries after the initial purchase. Some firms also do not sell chargers. Buying a drill with two batteries and a charger can save you heartache later even if the charger is not needed at the time.

Decide carefully and make sure you buy a drill capable of performing the tasks you will need it for. Buying a cheap cordless tool is often a false economy.

Dave Felton AKA Handyman is the admin
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DEWALT DC935KA 14.4V Cordless XRP 1/2-in Hammer Drill Kit $279.99 14.4V Cordless XRP 1/2" Hammer Drill Kit - DC935KA. (2) 14.4 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

DEWALT DC725KA 18V Cordless 1/2-in Compact Hammer Drill Kit $209.99 18V Cordless 1/2" Compact Hammer Drill Kit - DC725KA. (2) 18 Volt Cordless Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Screwdriver Bit. Kit Box

Milwaukee 2611-20 18V Cordless M18 High Performance Hammer Drill (Tool Only) $139 18V Cordless M18 High Performance Hammer Drill (Tool Only) - 2611-20

Factory Reconditioned Milwaukee 2611-80 18V Cordless M18 High Performance Hammer Drill (Tool Only) $89.99 18V Cordless M18 High Performace Hammer Drill (Tool Only) - 2611-80

Black & Decker EPC128BK Cordless 12V Hammer Drill $69.99 Ideal for light to medium DiY tasks around the home the Black & Decker EPC128BK Cordless 12v Hammer Drill features two gears: high speed for drilling into wood and steel and low speed for controlled driving. Twenty-four torque settings ensure that screws aren't over tightened. The hammer action means that it's just as happy drilling through masonry while a fast charge time of three hours and two batteries mean that it should always be ready for action.

Milwaukee 2602-22CT 18V Cordless M18 1/2-in Hammer Drill Driver Kit $229 18V Cordless M18 1/2-in Hammer Drill/Driver Kit - 2602-22CT. (2) M18 Compact Lithium-Ion Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

Milwaukee 2411-22 12V Cordless M12 3/8-in Hammer Drill Driver Kit $159 12V Cordless M12 3/8-in Hammer Drill Driver Kit - 2411-22. (2) 12V M12 Lithium-Ion Batteries. 30-Minute Charger. Carrying Case

DEWALT DCD950KX 18V Cordless XRP 1/2-in Hammer Drill Kit $279 18V Cordless XRP 1/2" Hammer Drill Kit - DCD950KX. 360° Side Handle. (2) 18V XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

Milwaukee 2604-22CT 18V Cordless M18 FUEL Lithium-Ion Hammer Drill $249 18V Cordless M18 FUEL Lithium-Ion Hammer Drill -2604-22CT. (2) M18 COMPACT REDLITHIUM Batteries. Multi-Voltage Charger. Product Manual

Metabo 602141520 SB18 LT Lithium-Ion Cordless Hammer Drill Driver $279.5 SB18 LT Lithium-Ion Cordless Hammer Drill/Driver - 602141520. Keyless chuck - 301003051. (2) 18V batteries - 625457001. Charger - 627058000

DEWALT DC989VA 18V Cordless XRP 1/2-in Hammer Drill Kit $379.99 18V Cordless XRP 1/2" Hammer Drill Kit - DC989VA. (2) 18 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Vehicle Charger. 360° Side Handle. Kit Box

DEWALT DC988KA 18V Cordless XRP 1/2-in Hammer Drill Kit $339.99 18V Cordless XRP 1/2" Hammer Drill Kit - DC988KA. (2) 18 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. 360° Side Handle. Kit Box

DEWALT DC925KA 18V Cordless XRP 1/2-in Hammer Drill Kit $319.99 18V Cordless XRP 1/2" Hammer Drill Kit - DC925KA. (2) 18 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. 360° Side Handle. Kit Box

DEWALT DC926KA 18V Cordless XRP 1/2-in Hammer Drill Kit $319.99 18V Cordless XRP 1/2" Hammer Drill Kit - DC926KA. (2) 18 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. 360° Side Handle. Kit Box

Hitachi DV18DL 18V Cordless HXP Lithium-Ion 1/2-in Hammer Drill $289.99 18V Cordless HXP Lithium-Ion 1/2-in Hammer Drill - DV18DL. (2) 18V HXP Lithium-Ion Batteries - 326241. Quick Charger - UC18YRL. Side Handle. Phillips Drill Bit - 983006. Carrying Case

Panasonic EY6950GQKW 18V Cordless Hammer Drill & Driver $316.95 "Panasonic EY6950GQKW Brand New Includes One Year Warranty, The Panasonic EY6950GQKW 18V Cordless Hammer Drill & Driver is two great, professional-grade tools in one ideal for the installation of tapcon and other small-diameter (1/2-inch or less) masonry anchors. The hammerdrill mode allows drilling in masonry brick and block with ease and speed. The tool delivers 1, 550 RPM combined with 28, 000 BPM for fast, clean and efficient masonry drilling. The drill/driver mode offers a 15-stage high-torque clutch for controlling the precise power applied to the task. The tool is compact, lightweight, and features excellent ergonomic design for greater comfort and reduced user fatigue. EY6950GQKW Features: 18V Cordless Hammer Drill & Driver High Capacity 3.5Ah Ni-MH Battery, Lightweight, High Power 425 in.lbs. of Torque, 65 Minute Charge, 2 Speed Gearbox Low: 75-450 rpm High: 250-1550 rpm, 15 Stage Clutch, 1/2"" Keyless Chuck, Ergonomic Body Soft Rubber Grip, Takes Panasonic 18V Battery Packs, Ideal For Electricians / General Construction / Interior Installation / Heating, Water & Sanitation Technicians / Masonry Drilling / Masonry & Wood Fastening / Wood & Metal Drilling FREE Extra Battery Included"

Milwaukee 2611-24 18V Cordless M18 High Performance Hammer Drill $349 18V Cordless M18 High Performance Hammer Drill - 2611-24. (2) 18V M18 XC Lithium-Ion Batteries - 48-11-1828. 18V Charger - 48-59-1801. Side Handle. Carrying case

Milwaukee 0627-20 18V Cordless 1/2-in Hammer Drill (Tool Only) $169.99 18V Cordless 1/2-in Hammer Drill (Tool Only) - 0627-20. Screwdriver Bit - 48-30-1520. Side Handle. Tool Only - Battery and Charger Sold Separately. Product Manual

Milwaukee 2602-22 18V Cordless M18 1/2-in Hammer Drill Driver Kit $269 18V Cordless M18 1/2-in Hammer Drill/Driver Kit - 2602-22. (2) M18 XC High Capacity Lithium-Ion Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

Milwaukee 0726-20 28V Cordless M28 1/2-in Hammer Drill (Tool Only) $179.99 M28 Cordless 28 Volt 1/2-in Hammer Drill (Tool Only) - 0726-20. Side Handle. No. 2 Phillips Bit. Tool Only - Battery and Charger Sold Separately

Milwaukee 0726-22 28V Cordless M28 1/2-in Hammer Drill $409.99 M28 Cordless 28 Volt 1/2-in Hammer Drill - 0726-22. (2) 28V Lithium-ion Batteries - 48-11-2830. 1 Hour Charger - 48-59-2819. Side Handle. No. 2 Phillips Bit

Factory Reconditioned Milwaukee 0726-82 28V Cordless M28 1/2-in Hammer Drill $329.99 M28 Cordless 28 Volt 1/2-in Hammer Drill - 0726-82. (2) 28V Lithium-ion Batteries - 48-11-2830. 1 Hour Charger - 48-59-2819. Side Handle. No. 2 Phillips Bit

Porter-Cable PC180CHDK-2 Tradesman 18V Cordless Hammer Drill Kit $139.99 Tradesman 18V Cordless Hammer Drill Kit - PC180CHDK-2. (2) 18V Ni-Cd Batteries - PC18B. 1 Hour Charger - PCMVC. Double-Ended Bit. Carrying Case

Milwaukee 2604-22 18V Cordless M18 FUEL Lithium-Ion Hammer Drill $299 18V Cordless M18 FUEL Lithium-Ion Hammer Drill -2604-22. (2) M18 XC HIGH CAPACITY REDLITHIUM Batteries. Multi-Voltage Charger. Product Manual

Metabo 602147520 SB18 LTX Lithium-Ion Cordless Hammer Drill Driver $377 SB18 LTX Lithium-Ion Cordless Hammer Drill/Driver - 602147520. Keyless chuck - 636621001. Side handle - 627058001. (2) 18V LI-Power extreme batteries - 625459000. Charger - 627058000

Bosch 17618-01 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion BruteTough Hammer Drill Driver $299.99 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion BruteTough Hammer Drill/Driver - 17618-01. (2) Lithium-Ion battery fatpacks. 30-Minute Charger - BC430. Side Handle. Magnestic bit holder. Carrying Case

Hitachi DV18DVC 18V Cordless Ni-Cd 1/2-in Hammer Drill Kit $119.99 18V Cordless Ni-Cd 1/2-in Hammer Drill Kit - DV18DVC. (2) 18V 1.4 Ah Ni-Cd Batteries - 324365. Charger - UC18YGL2. Carrying Case - 323230. 2-Sided #2 Phillips Bit - 983006

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