1/2" corded drill with a keyless chuck?

[Mike007]

I've been looking for a used 1/2" corded drill to throw in a toolbox I drag with me on offroad trips. I'm surprised to see quite a few with keyless chucks. I can see it on a cordless, but when I need to break out the corded 1/2" drill I'd think a keyed chuck would be more likely to not slip on the bit.

 

[scissorman]

Technology has advanced.

 

[Gidge]

I have had two (DeWalt) 3/8" drills with keyless chucks, and both crapped out on me after about a year.

I now have a 1/2" (corded MIlwaukee with a key) and have been using it w/o issue for about 5 years.

It's not worth replacing keyless chucks as the cost would almost be the price of a new drill (planned obsolescence ?) ; I wouldn't trust a keyless drill in any size, YMMV.

 

[Elginz]

My 1/2 drill press is keyless, it has a cord and I love it.

 

[txvwnut]

My Milwaukee magnum hole shooter has a keyless chuck and I've never had any issues with it slipping at all. I actually look for drills with keyless chucks now since all my goons at the real job keep loosing chuck keys.

 

[mrvm]

My bad experience with keyless chucks was a corded Makita hammer drill. Quite annoying to have a loose bit after hammer drilling a single hole in concrete. Good drill in drill mode otherwise.

Corded Milwaukee Magnum drill with keyed chuck is just so awesome. Find an old one and treasure the experience

 

[Davefr]

Not all keyless chucks are the same. Go with a quality keyless chuck and you'll never revert back to an old fashioned keyed chuck.

 

[sam.coll]

Yup never had an issue with the keyless chuck on my Makita DP4001, it never slips. Cant even bear the thought of going back to a chuck with key.

 

[dadsEH]

My drill press is keyless, to ensure a good grip I use a pair of pliers to hold the chuck body and I can really tighten the knurled screw end by hand. Never had a slip yet even using 1/2 in bits in thick steel.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I don't mind a keyed chuck on a corded drill. Keyless is what I prefer on a cordless drill.
With that said I have a Milwaukee Magnum Holes Shooter (1/2") that's pushing 30 years old and it works like new. That's what I would recommend.

 

[Twitchr]

My Milwaukee magnum hole shooter has a keyless chuck and I've never had any issues with it slipping at all. I actually look for drills with keyless chucks now since all my goons at the real job keep loosing chuck keys.

This, I agree. I have the Milwaukee Magnum keyless and I have never had it slip(drilling similar things as you I pressume, broken hub bolts, jeep stuff).

My only issue with it is the way it clamps to the bit. It gets a great grip, however created a small notch in the steel of the bit, making it somewhat annoying to get the bits back into the index.

 

[The Cobbler]

....however created a small notch in the steel of the bit, making it somewhat annoying to get the bits back into the index.

I put the bits in face down then

 

[Monte]

 

[bcradio]

I've been looking for a used 1/2" corded drill to throw in a toolbox I drag with me on offroad trips. I'm surprised to see quite a few with keyless chucks. I can see it on a cordless, but when I need to break out the corded 1/2" drill I'd think a keyed chuck would be more likely to not slip on the bit.

You lost me here.

 

[rsanter]

It's an upgrade. What if you are on the road and have lost the key? Then what?

I use a keyless chuck in my mill and my lathe, they are certainly good enough for you to use in a little ole hand drill

Bob

 

[Gidge]

It's an upgrade. What if you are on the road and have lost the key? Then what?
Bob

1. Carry a spare key in your glove box
2. Go to the hardware store and get another key

It would be good to have quality a keyless chuck, I just have not run into one yet. Any suggestions within reach of the common man ?

 

[McFarmer]

I put new keyless chucks on several of my old drills, what a difference. Best ones where some outfit made in France, can't remember the name. I also found some older USA made ones.

 

[neophyte]

1. Carry a spare key in your glove box
2. Go to the hardware store and get another key

It would be good to have quality a keyless chuck, I just have not run into one yet. Any suggestions within reach of the common man ?

The drill chucks on the drills Monte linked to are all very good.

The keyless chuck on the Fein drill is a Rohm 141 Supra SK-E. I don't believe these chucks are cheap though.

http://us.roehm.biz/products/produc...d=7855&cHash=9279730dbe6f3fde935ca4229b225a2e

Rohm also manufactures a model 141 Supra SK chuck. The design is older, but there may be other advantages. Hilti sells these chucks on an adapter to convert their rotary hammers to accept regular drill bits.

http://us.roehm.biz/products/produc...d=7854&cHash=1f32817fdf08f70405c4ed4dcc8ca0ea



The drill chuck on the first Metabo drill is a Metabo Futuro Top chuck. These drill chucks are manufactured by Metabo. These chucks still aren't cheap, but they tend to be more affordable than the Rohm Supra chucks. The bodies on these like on the Rohm Supra chucks are machined out of a solid piece of steel which makes them durable, but also a bit heavy.

https://www.metabo.com/com/en/acces...roof/quick-action-keyless-chuck-futuro-top-r/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00069LBM6/?tag=atomicindus08-20



The drill chuck on the second Metabo drill is a Metabo Futuro Plus model chuck. These chucks like the Rohm Supra chucks, and the Metabo Futuro Top chucks use a ratcheting mechanism to hold the bit securely. The outer shell on the Futuro Plus chucks is also steel, but is formed plate instead of milled from a block like the previous Rohm and Metabo chucks. The advantage to the Futuro Plus chucks is they're lighter in weight which is better for a smaller lighter corded drill. They're also somewhat affordable.

https://www.metabo.com/com/en/acces...ck-action-keyless-chuck-futuro-plus-s2-m-r-l/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YYZ8C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Rohm manufactures an almost identical chuck called the 104-61 Extra-RV.

http://us.roehm.biz/products/produc...d=8719&cHash=5f2b485e46ef9d9017854c8d57f18dd1

Its possible the Rohm Extra-RV and Metabo Futuro Plus chucks come of the same manufacturing line. I think Monte in a past thread mentioned that Metabo may be the OEM.

Bosch and other tool companies also offer the same chuck rebranded.




Milwaukee also sold a very good chuck that was used on some of their older drills. The chucks were all steel, with a heavy formed steel shell, and a ratcheting mechanism to securely hold the bit. The chucks were manufactured in Japan by Yukiwa. Unfortunately Yukiwa seems to have redesigned the chucks. The current Yukiwa chucks are the same ones used on a number of current Milwaukee drills and I've seen complaints about them.

 

[neophyte]

I put new keyless chucks on several of my old drills, what a difference. Best ones where some outfit made in France, can't remember the name. I also found some older USA made ones.

The French made chucks are made by LFA Amyot.

French website:

http://www.lfa-amyot.com/en/power-tools-range/194-hand-tightening-keyless-drill-chucks.php

USA website:

http://www.lfachucks.com/Portable_Keyless.html

 

[rice rocket]

all the knowledge

Wow, thanks for all the info.

Do you know what their current quick chuck is and how it's manufactured?

They also make a keyed version for the super **** retentive. You can carry both chucks for extra redundancy.

 

[honcho]

The drill chucks on the drills Monte linked to are all very good.

The keyless chuck on the Fein drill is a Rohm 141 Supra SK-E. I don't believe these chucks are cheap though.

http://us.roehm.biz/products/produc...d=7855&cHash=9279730dbe6f3fde935ca4229b225a2e

Rohm also manufactures a model 141 Supra SK chuck. The design is older, but there may be other advantages. Hilti sells these chucks on an adapter to convert their rotary hammers to accept regular drill bits.

http://us.roehm.biz/products/produc...d=7854&cHash=1f32817fdf08f70405c4ed4dcc8ca0ea



The drill chuck on the first Metabo drill is a Metabo Futuro Top chuck. These drill chucks are manufactured by Metabo. These chucks still aren't cheap, but they tend to be more affordable than the Rohm Supra chucks. The bodies on these like on the Rohm Supra chucks are machined out of a solid piece of steel which makes them durable, but also a bit heavy.

https://www.metabo.com/com/en/acces...roof/quick-action-keyless-chuck-futuro-top-r/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00069LBM6/?tag=atomicindus08-20



The drill chuck on the second Metabo drill is a Metabo Futuro Plus model chuck. These chucks like the Rohm Supra chucks, and the Metabo Futuro Top chucks use a ratcheting mechanism to hold the bit securely. The outer shell on the Futuro Plus chucks is also steel, but is formed plate instead of milled from a block like the previous Rohm and Metabo chucks. The advantage to the Futuro Plus chucks is they're lighter in weight which is better for a smaller lighter corded drill. They're also somewhat affordable.

https://www.metabo.com/com/en/acces...ck-action-keyless-chuck-futuro-plus-s2-m-r-l/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YYZ8C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Rohm manufactures an almost identical chuck called the 104-61 Extra-RV.

http://us.roehm.biz/products/produc...d=8719&cHash=5f2b485e46ef9d9017854c8d57f18dd1

Its possible the Rohm Extra-RV and Metabo Futuro Plus chucks come of the same manufacturing line. I think Monte in a past thread mentioned that Metabo may be the OEM.

Bosch and other tool companies also offer the same chuck rebranded.




Milwaukee also sold a very good chuck that was used on some of their older drills. The chucks were all steel, with a heavy formed steel shell, and a ratcheting mechanism to securely hold the bit. The chucks were manufactured in Japan by Yukiwa. Unfortunately Yukiwa seems to have redesigned the chucks. The current Yukiwa chucks are the same ones used on a number of current Milwaukee drills and I've seen complaints about them.

I am super impressed by the drill chuck knowledge in this post. That's some specialized / esoteric information. Neophyte, by chance do you work in the power tool industry?

 

[neophyte]

I am super impressed by the drill chuck knowledge in this post. That's some specialized / esoteric information. Neophyte, by chance do you work in the power tool industry?

No, I just came across the info here and elsewhere while researching for myself.

 

[neophyte]

Wow, thanks for all the info.

Do you know what their current quick chuck is and how it's manufactured?

They also make a keyed version for the super **** retentive. You can carry both chucks for extra redundancy.

The quick change chucks are made for drills with a quick change spindle.

The "quick" drills have a spindle with an internal hex recess than can hold an insert bit, and a round outside with a ball groove. When paired with the quick change chucks, you can quickly remove the drill chuck if you need to drive a screw in a tight location. There is also a quick change bit holder that attaches the same as the chuck, and can be used for quick change bits.

The quick change chucks can't be retrofitted to older non quick drills.

 

[rice rocket]

Yeah understood, I own the drill and use it.

Just wondering if you had similar knowledge of how these are put together.


Thanks.

 

[neophyte]

Yeah understood, I own the drill and use it.

Just wondering if you had similar knowledge of how these are put together.


Thanks.

I believe they're just mods of existing drill chucks. The keyed chuck looks like the basic keyed Rohm chucks. The Keyless version looks like the lighter weight single sleeve all steel German keyless chucks.

 

[McFarmer]

The French made chucks are made by LFA Amyot.

French website:

http://www.lfa-amyot.com/en/power-tools-range/194-hand-tightening-keyless-drill-chucks.php

USA website:

http://www.lfachucks.com/Portable_Keyless.html

That's the one. Very good quality, trouble is my son picked it out when I told him to take one after he bought his house.

 

[Mike007]

You lost me here.

When I go on off-road trips I put together a toolbox of tools from my garage then throw it in my truck. It's one more thing on a long list I have to do to get ready. I decided to just set up a box just for this purpose so I just throw it on and off.

I don't want a cordless drill because I don't want to have to remember to charge it. A lot of the 1/2" corded drills Ive been coming across have keyless chucks. In my experience they slip when the drilling gets tough. But my experience has been limited to a 16 year old 18 volt Milwaukee cordless that I still use almost everyday. Apparently based on this thread, all keyless chucks aren't equal and don't all slip.

Anyway, I found a nice older USA made 1/2" Milwaukee Holeshooter for $25 on CL with a keyed chuck.

 

[rice rocket]

How do you know that Craigslist drill isn't on its last legs?

 

[Monte]

Bosch will also come out with a new 1/2" drill with keyless chuck:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cw-rGw2yutw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Mike007]

How do you know that Craigslist drill isn't on its last legs?

It doesn't look abused, or even used much. Works good. But you never know.