What is the difference between a good power drill and a bad drill?
Question:I would like to buy a good drill and l need some basic info on them.
Answers:
Cool
I haven't had to answer this question since my days as a Hardware department manager for Sears...
You need to consider you're usage are you using it around the house a couple times a year to drill holes to hang pictures or for a project or as part of a new job that requires using a power drill?
anyway the difference between good and bad is probably about $30
You should expect to spend at least $50
you should get at least two speeds and adjustable torque settings
3/8 is the most common size and that refers to the shaft of the drill bit you most likely will be fine with that but if you need to make really big holes you might get an1/2 inch drill
cordless or corded is a consideration also.
I prefer the dependability of corded but cordless is handy sometimes and sometimes almost necessary. get at least 9.4v but really the more the better because of the power and the length time for the charge will be longer.
All the name brands are good and I have used them all. I have never known of a Milwaukee brand to break, but I've seen the others break. I worked for Sears as I said so I know about about Craftsman which are, depending on the model, made by other brands, often Black and Decker. Craftsman are good choices for the casual around the house fixer up guy because they are strong and solid but don't cost a lot. A good good drill can be $200 bucks
There are a lot of good drills on the market today depending on how much money you are will to part with and how much are you going to use it. These are two very important things to think about. I would suggest you "talk only" to the people in Home Depot, Lowe's or other tool suppliers in your neck of the woods. I say "talk only" to get opinions from different people. I would only purchase a drill with 3/8 chuck and is reversible
Reliability. A good drill typically is built or endorsed by a mainstream company. You get your multi-speed function and alternate gearing, or any amount of accessories from many companies. I have used inexpensive drills and they typically have poor longevity of construction and/or battery. The power needed to drill different materials changes in correlation to the hardness being drilled, the same drill can be used but is unnecessary to drill wood and steel.
A good power drill is one that will drill the holes you want to drill. If you want to have a good cordless drill that will drill holes on most household applications, a good choice might be a name brand 14.4 volt cordless drill or a name brand plug-in drill may be suitable at a slightly lower price.
Keep in mind that most cordless drills have a built in clutch to prevent stripping screws and most plug in drills do not. Also, be sure that you buy one with at least a variable speed motor and a reverse switch. A Keyless chuck is also a really nice feature.
As a carpenter, I have been using my 9.6 volt makita cordless drill since I bought it in 1987 and I rarely ever reach for anything else when I need a power screwdriver. But I also own an 18 volt Dewalt drill that cost twice as much as the makita, and if I must drill holes I use it instead because it is more powerful and the battery lasts much longer.
My smallest plug-in drill is a Makita hammer drill. I hardly ever use this drill as a hammer drill, only as a regular drill when I need more power than my cordless drills offer me. When I need a hammer drill, I usually use my Bosch bulldog SDS-plus drill because it just works better.
My point then is simple, reflect on what you might be using the drill for after you buy it, and then buy the one that best fits the bill.
if you plan on using it every week get a dewalt,Milwaukee, something construction grade. me i have an inexpensive ryobi. i use it alot. its going on 5 years. all ryobie products have the same batt so u can change them if you stick with ryobi product. they feel cheap but all of them have paid for themselves and some for me. the difference is durability and price. i use my tools pretty hard and they have held up
Good drills have good chucks to begin with-- Cheaper drills have chucks that won't maintain their holding power or the ability to hold a bit squarely. 3/8 is the minimum I would purchase and it should also be reversible. The cheaper drills such as Black & Decker, Ryobi (BTW Ryobi makes drills for Craftsman) and the lesser known off brands are OK for occasional use but you get what you pay for. Stick with better brands e.g. DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, etc-- it's worth the extra money to get a better quality tool.
In all honesty now, a good drill( the kind that will have enough power for any job and will last damn near forever) will have Milwaukee, Bosch, Makita or Porter-Cable written on it. Get one with a 1/2 inch chuck, not a goofy little 3/8ths chuck. And if there's one that comes with a steel case for the drill, buy that one. Also, consider buying a hammer drill/drill combo instead.You'll have your drill and when the going gets TOUGH (like drilling rock) you can hammer into the problem. Same criterion as above.
The guy with a bad one, asks that question.
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