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Which drill?

17 replies

BeBraveAndBeKind · 27/12/2020 23:32

I've had a Black & Decker drill for years but it's finally given up the ghost so I need to replace it. I quite fancy a cordless one this time but my wrists aren't as strong as they were so I don't want anything too heavy.

Can anyone recommend something that's powerful but not too wearing on the wrists?

OP posts:
thatonehasalittlecar · 28/12/2020 09:32

I am very happy with my DeWalt cordless hammer drill & screwdriver set. It’s very rare I need to get my SDS out these days

PigletJohn · 28/12/2020 11:01

For most small DIY jobs, I find an 18v combi drill ideal. Doorknobs, curtain rails, coat hangers, fence repairs.

Get one with two batteries. Not the big batteries because they are heavier and more expensive. The ones around £50 are not much good but worthwhile if you are hard up and have a particular job, such as building a shed or fence, in mind, because the job will be finished before the guarantee runs out, so you can take it back and get a new one if it breaks. Aldi and Lidl have a good guarantee. You can get a better one around £100 to £150.

If your wrists are weak, a 12v will be a bit lighter, but slower so probably no help. I don't think you will manage an SDS+ for concrete drilling.

A corded hammer drill will be better if you expect to drill into walls a lot, or lay floorboards, but is less convenient. More power for less money and weight.

Buy a set of about a dozen HSS twist drills and half a dozen masonry. You will only use two or three of them, and can buy replacements of your favourite sizes later. Some drills come with a rigid plastic case which is very handy and a starter set of drill bits.

"Brushless" motors are better but more expensive. I don't think I'd bother unless you are very flush. Nor a £200+ kit.

Lonelycrab · 28/12/2020 11:12

I personally like Dewalt cordless drills, have a couple of 12v jobs. Probably around the £100 mark but haven’t checked recently.

I have these and a cheap (£30 from tool station) corded hammer drill for going into walls and heavier jobs.

Beebumble2 · 28/12/2020 12:13

DH has a Makita cordless, which is great in just about every situation, but pricy.
We have bought De Walt for DSs, to avoid them ‘borrowing’ the Makita. Grin

Chumleymouse · 28/12/2020 12:32

If you don’t use it much , I would say buy a corded drill , cordless ones are good but the batteries will deteriorate over time and can be expensive to replace , I’m still using a 110v Bosch sds that’s about 25 years old and it’s still fine.

FixTheBone · 28/12/2020 12:43

I'd second the advice to consider going with a corded drill. They're often lighter, and always significantly cheaper for equivalent performance to a cordless drill.

You could use the price difference to buy a cordless screwdriver and / or a much lighter duty cordless drill for drilling wood / plasterboard and save the corded one for metal and masonry.

BeBraveAndBeKind · 28/12/2020 14:51

Thanks everyone! I'm not doing anything very heavy duty with it, it's just for shelves, curtain poles etc.

Good point about the batteries wearing out and being expensive to replace, I hadn't thought of that.

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 28/12/2020 16:21

old NiCad batteries used to die of old age after a few years. The new Lion ones seem to last well.

I give my old cordless tools to my BiL who uses them on his boat, with a flex to the boat battery.

Replacement cordless batteries historically cost more than a new tool, but it looks like the price of spare batts is dropping and manufacturers are not changing the design so often.

PigletJohn · 28/12/2020 21:15

yes, that looks suitable. I have a couple of cheaper ones. I don't know what you would want to spend.

BeBraveAndBeKind · 29/12/2020 22:59

That looks good, thanks! Smile

OP posts:
StanfordPines · 29/12/2020 23:01

Makita all day long.

Starseeking · 01/01/2021 07:52

[quote tanstaafl]How about this OP?

www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcd776d2t-gb-18v-2-0ah-li-ion-xr-cordless-combi-drill/899cf[/quote]
I have this drill, it's really good for all the jobs you mentioned wanting to do, and more!

I purchased this drill bit set to use with it, and have found I tend to use the same 3 or 4 bits constantly:

www.diy.com/departments/dewalt-100-piece-mixed-drill-bit-set/1113620_BQ.prd

Chumleymouse · 01/01/2021 10:34

If your looking to spend about 100 quid and it’s going to be used for home/ diy use only , you can get a macalister sds from screwfix for about 50 and then a drill driver for about the same ( I’d prefer a small corded one ). That way you have best of both worlds . 👍

PigletJohn · 01/01/2021 17:14

macalister is at the bottom of the price/quality continuum.

thatonehasalittlecar · 01/01/2021 17:56

For the price difference, get a twin set with an impact driver. It makes such a difference to any DIY.

www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcz298s2t-gb-18v-1-5ah-li-ion-xr-cordless-combi-drill-impact-driver-twin-pack/9801t

Chumleymouse · 01/01/2021 18:39

I know one bloke at work has a couple of macalister drills from toolstation/ screwfix , I know they are not professional tools , but he’s had them a couple of years and says they are fine for his diy needs.

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