Power Drills (Corded)

[TheMadMech]

I'm an industrial mechanic and am looking for a good 1/2" chuck corded drill. I sometimes have to drill heavy I-Beams or C-Channel and want a solid drill that I can rely on for this task. I just am not familiar with much beyond DeWalt or Milwaukee. Browsing for grinder information Metabo came up, are their drills as highly recommended as their grinders or is there someone else I should look up? (I'm in the USA if that makes a difference on availability).

 

[Cap'nJake]

Milwaukee is the best I have ever used

 

[Roberts210]

IMO you can't beat Milwaukee. I bought the 3/8ths in 1986, the 1/2" in 1997. Don't remember when I got the close quarters drill. I lost the 3/8ths drill for about 6 months in the bed of my truck. It had been under a bunched up blue tarp, and rain had leaked all over it. I thought it was dead, but it fired right up and has never let me down.

 

[jallyn]

I'd get a name brand...any of the three you mentioned. And since you are in the trade you probably know drilling steel is best doing it LOW-SPEED and with oil or some kind of cutting lubricant. This will save you time and effort and save the drill from being overworked.

 

[scissorman]

Milwaukee for the win.

 

[oldwino]

Definitely Milwaukee!
For heavy work I.e. Drilling I-beams etc you might look at the D-handle which is torquier than the standard hole shooter (I took the angle attachment off my 90 degree and use that. Works great and will drill.heavy metal all day long

 

[B_Bimmer]

Milwaukee for the win.

With corded drills... It isn't even a contest. I prefer mint older ones that were US made, they are plentiful enough on ebay. I have never been disappointed by newer ones though.

 

[zkling]

Fein, Metabo or Bosch euro if money is no object. Otherwise most of the China made name brand 1/2" keyed drills are about in the same ballpark.

 

[CJM8515]

Milwaukee is the best I have ever used

Only one I will use. Seriously they are the best corded drills ever made imho.

 

[Davefr]

Only one I will use. Seriously they are the best corded drills ever made imho.

I agree and there's tons of them at garage/estate sales, CL and Ebay if you want to save some moolah.

 

[toolaholic]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004YOEM/?tag=atomicindus08-20 I have a lot of corded drills. This is one of my faves! Makita 6302h. I like how the handle locks into serrated blocks around chuck!

 

[77Mini]

I'd go with a Milwaukee. Can't go wrong.

 

[PJNJ]

I have the 3/8 and 1/2 Milwaukee drills. Both USA made versions. Bought the 3/8 new and the 1/2 at a garage sale for $6. A little cleaning and penetrating oil on the stuck 1/2 chuck and it works great. The best drills I have ever used. They are both powerful and the 3/8 is remarkably smooth.

 

[TheMadMech]

sounds like the Milwaukee's are remarkably popular, thanks for the feedback guys.

 

[winlinmac]

I prefer the ergonomics on the Dewalt drills. Milwaukee is great too with a very lenient warranty.

 

[bonneyman]

with corded drills... It isn't even a contest. I prefer mint older ones that were us made, they are plentiful enough on ebay. I have never been disappointed by newer ones though.

^^^this^^^

 

[TheMadMech]

I'm just curious, does anyone have a Metabo drill and have feedback about them?

 

[Monte]

I sometimes have to drill heavy I-Beams or C-Channel and want a solid drill that I can rely on for this task.

maybe this tool is the right one for your task ?

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P9UhHf_Uuxo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[drink]

My 1/2" drill is a Milwaukee. It came with a 5 year warranty and it was made in the USA. You will have to call them and ask which of their products are made in the USA because they have sent some stuff offshore to be made since I purchased mine. Home Depot is a stocking dealer where you can look them over and Toolup.com ships to your door.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/

 

[DBendr]

Wrong. Anyone who's ever drilled any heavy iron KNOWS you want a big D-handle at 600 or so RPM
I run an 1101 .I think it's 500 rpm. It's also a jewel for hole saws and mixing concrete in a five gallon bucket.

 

[drink]

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/0234-6

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/0244-1

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/0235-21

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/0300-20

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/0302-20

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/0299-20

 

[PureLeaf]

I'm just curious, does anyone have a Metabo drill and have feedback about them?

I have a cordless one thats great. But since we're talking corded; amazon warehouse deals actually had 2 or 3 about 4 months ago that went up for half their usually price. People grabbed them. So they're out there, but couldn't say more then that.

 

[Zeke]

I have both milwaukee and makita. Both good.

 

[drink]

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/1250-1

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/1001-1

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/1007-1

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/1101-1

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/1107-6

 

[drink]

I have drilled in some thick steel with my 1/2" drill but I did not do it all day long everyday. You can use the correct type of drill bit to drill in steel and make things a lot easier. If you are running constantly all day then it sounds like you need a D-handle.

 

[drink]

http://www.toolup.com/milwaukee/drills/standard-drills

 

[zkling]

Wrong. Anyone who's ever drilled any heavy iron KNOWS you want a big D-handle at 600 or so RPM
I run an 1101 .I think it's 500 rpm. It's also a jewel for hole saws and mixing concrete in a five gallon bucket.

Yes and no. The real work horses are the mag drills or spade handles. With just a D handle you don't get as much reaction force support with the trigger control hand. Now the D handles are great for keeping everything in line, but for running the big bits, no.