The Best Drill
How to select the best drill for your needs.
No matter if you only do simple jobs around the house, or are full-fledged do-it-yourself handyman, choosing the best drill possible is essential. With hundreds of models to choose from, this can at times be a difficult challenge. To assist you in selecting the right tool for the job, it is important to examine the needs of your situation. The different features you have to consider are the power and speed of the unit. In addition, you will need to determine if you prefer a corded or cordless power drill. Let’s look at each of these topics in more detail below.
The first option you have when purchasing the best drill for your needs, is its power. When it comes to cordless models, power is in terms of the battery’s voltage. Lower levels of voltage provide less torque, and will struggle with certain types of jobs. However, as you go up on the scale of power, the weight increases as well. So, finding a balance between the power you need, and the portability you want is the key. Exactly how much power do you require?
For simply drilling holes, hanging pictures, putting together furniture kits, and installing light fixtures a 9.6-12V drill is sufficient. If instead, you tend to do more maintenance around your home, you may need to upgrade to 12-14.4V unit. This type of power will allow you to drill holes in metal as well. For tackling true do-it-yourself projects, the 18V option is the best drill to select. The power of one of these models, will allow you to build a deck, do general remodeling on your home, and drive heavy duty bolts when you have the need to do so. The last and final level of power is a 24V drill, and this is best suited for professionals, who use their equipment for heavy duty jobs.
The second feature to consider is the speed of the drill. Lower end models only include one running speed, but many today allow for two options. A switch allows you to change between low and high speed operation, depending upon the task you are doing. Most often you will use the slower 300 rpm setting to drive screws, and the faster 800 rpm speed when drilling holes. While this is fine for light duty jobs, for high level carpentry or larger projects, you may want a variable speed control instead. This will allow you to select any speed up to a maximum setting, and some of these drills can reach 1,000 rpm or faster.
Many homeowners prefer a 14.4V model, as it blends the best drill features together. It boasts enough torque and power for most typical jobs, yet is still lightweight as well. A perennial favorite among homeowners is the Hitachi DS14DL. Rating highest in all categories except weight of the unit, it is great for a variety of jobs. For the best drill in the 12V power range, users prefer the DeWalt DCD910KX. They are impressed with its durability and long lasting battery, though it is a bit weighty as well. Topping the charts in the 18V category, is the Hitachi DS18DL model. With high scores in both power and speed, it is perfect for more extensive handyman jobs.
So, in conclusion, when selecting the best drill for your needs, keep the above factors under advisement. This will allow you to purchase a unit which will be up to the tasks you have in mind.
See how to use a power drill in this video…