Drill recommendations please (for a beginner/basic diy)

[CarolNoE]

Hi, inspired by a thread last night where a poster had decided to do the odd jobs herself rather than wait for her other half, I am going to watch YouTube tutorials and finish off all the niggly jobs which bug me.
I need to build up a tool kit and want an electric drill, no need for cordless (I think a decent battery is what hikes the price up). I would be grateful for any suggestions or tips please. It is for indoor jobs like putting up small shelves (those slim picture rail type). I live in a 70's flat so quite solid walls. I think I need a cable detector gadget as well.
Many thanks

My husband had an AEG drill with a hammer action which was used to drill into block work. He could also use it for wood etc. Lasted about 20 years and was used a lot. It packed up just before Christmas so he bought a Bosch cordless professional which was several hundred pounds. Probably best to go and get advice from the DIY store and go for a well known brand like Bosch, Skil or AEG.

Sounds like you need a corded hammer drill like this: www.diy.com/departments/bosch-550w-240v-corded-hammer-drill-easyimpact-550/3165140840668_BQ.prd and a set of bits.

I don't have that drill, and so can't recommend it, but Bosch is a good make.

In reality, there isn't a lot of call or choice for this type of tool these days, and you'd probably find a cordless combi drill a better bet. Costs go up with battery size, but if you don't need the battery to last all day, then you don't need to splash outt on a high capacity one.

On the cable detector, they're not infallible. However cables should only be routed in straight lines vertically and across from switches and sockets - so avoid drilling there.

@bouncydog and @evilkitten many thanks for replying. After posting I found a guide to buying drills on B&Q. I was thinking of the middle aisle at Aldi or Lidl as I don't want to spend too much as not sure how much use it will get but I want to get it right first time and finally get my home nice...it's a tiny flat so more a case of pulling my finger out and having a go. The other thread really hit home..I need to find it and placemark.
After reading up I will need a hammer drill as going into masonry. I couldn't think of the word and was going to say concrete. I had a cable detector before and my stepdad did advise me about up and down of switches/sockets. Just need a bank holiday for the offers/promotions and discounts. Cheers C x

An 18v cordless combi drill with two batteries.

Aldi or Lidl will do.

Not a "drill driver"

Or this one
www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-18V-Li-ion-Cordless-Combi-Drill-with-2-Batteries/p/141178
If your local branch has one in stock

www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-msrh600-2-6kg-electric-sds-plus-drill-220-240v/994fy

If your just using it to drill walls / concrete ? An sds is a better tool , it will drill effortlessly and you’ll wonder how you managed without one.

If your drilling wood / metal you might need a different type of drill . 👍

Combi drill is unsuitable for light or accurate work.

A combi drill will do ordinary DIY jobs but will struggle with reinforced concrete.

A 1970's flat is likely to have blockwork internal walls, that a combi will easily penetrate.

Sorry, I meant

SDS+ drill is unsuitable for light or accurate work.

That’s why I said if she needed it to drill only walls.
If you live in a house with hard ( imperial) bricks on the inside , a percussion drill will be hard going and the hole can wander making them very inaccurate. If you live in a new build with thermolites you can drill them with a hand drill 😀. It all depends on what the op has in her house . But once you’ve used an sds drill for drilling masonry you’d never go back to a percussion drill 👍

Many thanks for the advice and time taken to reply. Still looking for yesterday's thread to earmark youtube links. Order placed to collect from Screwfix, reading the reviews (which made more sense after all the above info) I went for a MacAllister. Feeling a lot more confident after your input so thanks again. C x