How to Choose the Best Power Drill

A power drill can simply be defined as a tool that has a rotating attachment. Usually the attachment is a drill bit, but it can also be a paint stirrer or a sanding stone, for two examples. Drill bits allow the user to bore holes into wood, plastic, rock, cement, concrete, light metals, and even some types of iron and steel. The drill bit is held securely in place at the end of the drill. Once it is placed against a surface and the trigger is pressed down, the bit then begins to bore a hole. The tip of the drill bit is what does the actual work of cutting into the material. The slotted sides of a drill bit bring the shavings up and out of the hole.

Power drills are commonplace in woodworking and metalworking. Carpenters use them, as well as mechanics, maintenance workers, and plumbers. They can be a handy tool to have around the house for craft projects, household repair jobs, and for some types of automotive repairs.

If you don’t already own of these tools, or if the one you have doesn’t fit your needs, then you should buy yourself a power drill. Just be sure you read this article first and choose the best one.

Power drills come in two different types of power: corded electric and portable, rechargeable, cordless ones. A drill that has a cord needs, of course, to be plugged into a standard household outlet. It’s use is limited to the length of its cord. A drill that contains a rechargeable battery pack, on the other hand, is portable and can be used anywhere. It does have a limited run time though. In between uses, the pack needs to be removed from the drill and placed in its charger. The charger is then plugged into a household outlet.

A rechargeable power drill is lighter and easier to use than its corded counterpart. It comes in a variety voltages, and it can handle most tasks that a corded drill can. You can find a rechargeable drill at any store that sells tools. Some of the best known name brands are Black & Decker, Craftsman, Ryobi, and Skil. Prices for these top-of-the-line cordless power drills range from approximately $150 on up. Cheaper, lighter models can also be found at discount stores. They’re not durable enough for big jobs around the house or garage. But they do a good job with light jobs. You can buy one of these for $10 – $30. Two of the brand names I’ve seen most often are
ProSource and ShopSource.

Choose a cordless drill that has a power source in the eighteen volt range. Eighteen volts should provide an ample amount of power to perform typical jobs around your house and garage. A “variable speed motor” is the best type to buy. “Variable speed” allows the user to slow the speed down or raise it up as much as you need. When you start drilling a hole, for example, you can start out slowly so the bit doesn’t jump out of place. Then, as it begins to bore into the material, you can speed it up to get the job done.

Cordless drills that have one speed are limited in their uses. They can’t be used for boring into
cement, concrete, and other hard surfaces.

Another feature you should look for in order to choose the best rechargeable power drill, is one that has a reverse drive too. The reverse drive is helpful in loosening and removing screws and bolts. It can also help you dislodge a stuck drill bit or other attachment should it become stuck
in any type of material.

As for the chuck size, the best drills have at least a half inch adjustable one. This size will handle most typical bits and attachments.

And finally, choose a cordless power drill that comes with an additional battery pack, instead of just one. That way, you can have a pack in the charger while you’re using the other one.

Even the best corded power drills have a drawback because they need to be plugged into a household power source. Still, if you want a drill that will perform the lightest tasks to the heaviest, this is the best choice for you. Since it’s plugged in all the time to work, a corded drill never needs to be recharged. Therefore, you never have to worry about running out of power when you’re doing a job around your house or garage. Most of the cords are long so they can reach, but you may need to attach an extension cord on the end anyhow.