Back in the good old days, if you needed a drill, you bought one. It was made of metal, went fast, and only turned in one direction (forward). You got a drill bit, put it in the chuck, and used a chuck key to tighten it. You plugged the drill’s cord into the wall and drilled a hole in the material you wanted to use.
Since the cordless drill came out, there have been almost too many things to choose from. We can now look at options like battery voltage, chuck size, speed, and other things we don’t always understand. To make things even more confusing, you can still buy drills that run on household currents and have a cord. Apart from that, there are several kinds of drills available in today’s market such as hammer drills, drills with impact drivers, and so on. In this article, we’ll do our best to explain the various factors one has to consider before making a decision.
Caution:We strongly advise you to wear personal protective equipment before you start working with such power tools.
1. Precautions To Be Taken While Using Power Tools
2. Drill Specs
- Drill Battery Charger
- Battery Voltage and Type
- Speed
- Weight
- Variable Speed Reversible
- Variable Clutch Settings
- Chuck Size
4. Tips To Choose Drills Based On The Drivers Capacity
1 Precautions To Be Taken While Using Power Tools
- Put on a face shield or safety glasses (with safety glasses or goggles).
- Keep the drill’s air vents clean to keep the airflow going.
- Always keep drill bits sharp.
- During use, keep all cords away from the cutting area. Before each use, check for tears or other damage.
- Before changing or adjusting bits or attachments, disconnect the power source.
- Make sure the chuck is tight. Take out the chuck key before you turn on the drill.
- Secure the piece of work being drilled so it doesn’t move.
2 Drill Specs
As you know, there are several things to consider when you go “Drill shopping”. Let’s break them down.
Drill Battery Charger
Most cordless drills come with a charger, but not all do. If you already have a charger from that brand and want to add it to your collection, it makes sense to buy a tool without a charger. If not, be double sure, as a charger can be a little heavy on the pocket. A single battery charge cycle should last for a long time if a user uses it judiciously.
Pro Tip: A spare battery is the best way to make the cordless drill work well. One battery is always in the tool, and the other is in the charger. If you remember to plug in the charger, you will never be without power.
Battery Voltage and Type
In the 1980s, when the first cordless drill drivers came out, the batteries were 7.2 volts. Today there are 12-volt drills, 18-volt drills, and 20-volt drills. The most potent drill drivers on the market today have 20 volts. The higher the voltage, the more power you have. Drills with high power make it easier to drill larger bits into the surface. However, batteries with higher voltages are heavier and more expensive to buy at first.
Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and lithium-ion batteries are the most common batteries used in cordless drills today (Li-ion). Even though Li-ion batteries are more expensive, they work much better than their NiCd counterparts. They weigh less, charge faster, and keep their charge longer.
Speed
Sometimes you’ll see a “range” of speeds. The range tells you the lowest and highest speeds for the drill. If you see two ranges, the drill has a “low range” and a “high range.” The low range is usually used for driving, while the high range is used for drilling.
Pro Tip: Staying within the appropriate range will help prolong the life of the drill.
Weight
Unlike past drills, almost all of these are made of high-strength plastic. Plastic helps save a lot of weight. Batteries can be heavy, and as the voltage increases, so does their weight. With the help of technology, manufacturers have been able to reduce the weight to just 2 – 3 kilos. Don’t think a “lightweight” drill isn’t proper. If you use this tool for most of the day, a drill that is too heavy will wear you out before the battery does.
Variable Speed Reversible
Ensure that the drill you buy has this feature, which is standard on most modern units. One can change the speed by putting pressure on the trigger with your finger. This lets you control the torque very well, especially when driving screws. If you want to take screws out, you need drills that can go in both directions. The ability to go backward can also help you get a drill bit out of a tight spot.
Variable Clutch Settings
This feature is essential if you will be driving fasteners more than drilling holes with the tool. When a tool has an adjustable “clutch,” the drive stops overrunning when you reach high torque. When driving screws into soft materials, the clutch keeps the device from driving the screw in too far, which would damage the material. The threaded fasteners break when a drill driver doesn’t have a clutch.
Caution: Setting high clutch levels can also break the fasteners.
Chuck Size
The chuck sizes are usually 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″. The size refers to how wide the chuck can open, which tells you how big a bit you can use. In general, the chucks on drills with more power are bigger. A ½ inch chuck is more suitable for simple household tasks. Whereas a 3/8-inch chuck can be more appropriate for tougher jobs requiring large holes.
Pro Tip: Check to see what size bits you have now, and think about what you’ll need to drill.
Disclaimer: Chucks can be made of either plastic or metal. Advise caution in buying the right chuck for you. For instance, if you wish to drill into tough materials like a wall, a metal chuck might be more suitable.
Caution: All the models available today have keyless chucks, therefore you don’t have to worry about the keys.
Now that we’ve understood the different drill specs, let’s jump into a very common question people have:
3 Cordless Or Corded Drills?
Most people who do home repairs or work on shade trees have switched to cordless drills. Why? You can’t beat the convenience of not having to be tethered to a wall outlet by a power cord. Batteries today are more powerful than ever, last a long time, and can be charged quickly. A single charge can last for a very long time. Cordless models let you move from place to place freely with full power at your fingertips.
You can still buy a “corded” drill, but there aren’t as many options as there are for drills that run on batteries. If you only use a drill once in a while, you might want to get an electric one. The 120-volt product has a lot of benefits, such as constant power and no need to recharge or replace batteries. They’re also lighter compared to the cordless versions.
Pro Tip: Understand the need before you decide to buy a cordless drill. If you won’t be using them frequently, a corded drill might be better.
4 Tips To Choose Drills Based On The Drivers Capacity
As we’ve already said, the first cordless drill drivers used batteries with 7.2 volts. Even though most drills today have more power than that, you shouldn’t rule out this voltage as an option. The 7.2V Mini Cordless Drill is one of the smallest and lightest tools on the market. It can fit in tight spaces where larger drills can’t.
Pro Tip:A mini cordless drill can be a backup drill for a bigger one.
The 18 Volt Cordless group may have the most drill drivers. With 18V, you get 2.5 times as much power as with 7.2V. The drills with the most power all use 20 volts. Even though it’s expensive, you can still choose this. Chucks come in different sizes, which makes life easier for an auto mechanic.
Consider getting a drill driver kit that comes with all the ancillary tools to help you with your job. A combo kit can be economical. Some kits have two batteries and a charger, all stored in a kit box. We also advise you to invest in a good carry bag that can store your tool kit with corded or cordless power tools, drill bits, bit holders, and your personal protective equipment.
We hope that this article has given you much-needed information about powered drill drivers. Consider all the factors mentioned above before you choose to invest in a drill. Investing in a good drill can take you a long way.
