Things You Should Know Before Buying a Cordless Drill
There are many major categories of drills and to get the best cordless drill, it is important to choose one that will satisfy the needs of the work you typically carry out. If you use drills frequently and tackle a number of different tasks, you could consider getting drills from different categories.
We're going to list several different styles of drills on the market today and what they're commonly used for to help guide your buying decision so you don't waste any of your hard-earned cash!
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Different Styles Of Drills
Cordless Drill
This type of drill is the most popular and most versatile tool in this category. Cordless drills have a low/high speed variable clutch designed to drive fasteners and higher speed modes intended for drilling pilot holes. There are some with a hammer-drill mode, which is a crucial feature for those who need to drill holes in masonry materials.
I've often mention to my friends and family that they should look for cordless drills that are either 18-20v lithium brushless drills. You can't go wrong with ether Makita, Dewalt, or Milwaukee -- these drills are top quality and will take a beaten. Visit cordlessdrillzone for more on cordless drills.
Cordless Right-Angle Drill
This is a specialized tool that operates similarly to a typical cordless drill; however, the chuck is powered to the motor shaft at a 90 degree angle via right-angle gearing. This type of engineering reduces the distance between the chuck tip and the opposite motor housing surface to roughly 4 inches.
This allows the drill to access tight areas like between floor joists. Electricians and plumbers are major fans of this type of drill.
Cordless Impact Driver
This tool uses an internal mechanism to repeatedly strike the rotating shaft of the tool. The rotational blows allow the device to drive and loosen even the biggest, most stubborn fasteners with remarkable control.
The cordless impact driver is quicker and more efficient in driving screws and it is has a lower chance of stripping the screws. In addition, they are more compact and lighter than cordless drill/drivers.
Cordless Kits
Cordless drills are frequently included in kits that comprise a number of different kinds of cordless tools that all use the same battery and charger. You should think about purchasing a kit if you are sure the other tools in the kit will be useful to you. Kits provide considerable savings in comparison to individually buying the included tools and accessories.
Things You Should Consider Before Buying a Cordless Drill
Consider Comfort
Some tasks like attaching deck boards will call for the drill to be held for extended periods. Therefore, you should ensure that it feels balanced and comfortable in your hand. If your wrist strength is compromised or you have small hands, do not buy the biggest or most-powerful drill available.
Go for a tool that can adequately undertake your typically most-demanding projects.
Power is Paramount
Voltage is used to measure power - the higher the voltage of the battery, the more twisting or torque strength you will get. Additionally, the higher the voltage, typically the heavier the device will be. A 36-volt cordless drill could weigh up to 8 pounds.
As such, you should only go that big if you need to quickly drill big holes, drive huge fasteners or have other tools that require this much voltage and you would like to have all your tools on that same voltage platform.
For attaching drywall, installing cabinet hardware and other lighter projects, go for a lighter-weight drill with lower voltage. For the majority of users, a 12-volt device will provide ample power for common drilling tasks.
Choose the Correct Chuck Size
The maximum size of the bit shank that can be accommodated by the drill will be determined by the size of the chuck. A ½-inch chuck is relatively standard and provides the flexibility to carry out a range of tasks. These range from drilling small holes in wooden materials to drilling bigger holes in concrete or stirring drywall compound and heavy-bodied adhesives.
Speed is Essential
The majority of cordless drills have two ranges of speed: low and high. The low speed is roughly between 300 and 400 rpm with superior torque for driving screws. The high speed is around 1200 to 1500 rpm designed for drilling.
Batteries and Chargers
The battery is the heart of a cordless drill as it is largely responsible for the power and run time of the tool. Over the past few years, lithium-ion batteries have gained increasing popularity because they are lighter and hold the charge better during rest periods.
However, Ni-Cad batteries are less expensive and perform adequately; this makes them a viable option for casual users. It is important to note that volt is used to measure power, while amp is used to measure run time.
Battery chargers play an important role as well. There is a wide range of recharge times among the different chargers - from approximately 15 minutes up to 3 hours.