My Bosch 18v 1/2" drill seems to be on its last leg, so I'll be looking for a replacement. Just wondering which brand has really good chucks on their cordless drills? I'm not married to any brand or battery platform.
18v Cordless drill-Good Chuck?
- Thread starter M6erfan
- Start date
NFH2740
Well-known member
The high end Dewalt and Makitas have good chucks. I have seen a number of Dewalt drill with Jacobs chucks; Makita with Europeon brand (Czech?). Milwaukee chucks are terrible; Rohm makes a great replacement for the 9/16" arbor found on Gen 2 and later drills.
Ultimately, it really doesn't matter what drill you buy. If you don't like the chuck, it can be replaced with an aftermarket; most arbors are 1/2"-20.
I use Milwaukee and install Rohm chucks.
Ultimately, it really doesn't matter what drill you buy. If you don't like the chuck, it can be replaced with an aftermarket; most arbors are 1/2"-20.
I use Milwaukee and install Rohm chucks.
engineer2
Well-known member
Get a Makita with an all-metal chuck.
neophyte
Well-known member
See this thread with recommendations.
www.garagejournal.com
I would look for a hammer drill model, with an all steel keyless chuck that has carbide jaw inserts.
Slipping keyless chuck
My woefully abused yet ever faithful Makita cordless drill has finally demanded attention. The keyless chuck slips no matter how much I tighten it. I'm not wanting to spend ~$50 for a new Makita chuck when the entire tool can be had for not too much more. Has anyone a solution for the...
www.garagejournal.com
I would look for a hammer drill model, with an all steel keyless chuck that has carbide jaw inserts.
I thought about upgrading my current Bosch, but the chuck isn't removable. The whole gearbox unit needs to be replaced, and you get the same plastic chuck with it.
acer66
Well-known member
The higher end Bosch also have good metal chucks.
I model I had, killed it by leaving it out in the rain, was called Brute or something and the chuck was very good.
I model I had, killed it by leaving it out in the rain, was called Brute or something and the chuck was very good.
designer485
Well-known member
A lot of the compact drill drivers don't have the nicer chucks, they usually come on the larger / heavier hammer drills. Buy the drill you want and replace the chuck with a Rohm. I have put Rohm chucks on every drill I have...they are world's better to use than the plastic junk that is installed from the factory.
Everyone talks about how bad the Milwaukee chucks are but in my experience the Dewalt chucks, even the metal ones aren’t all that great either. I can’t begin to remember all the bits I’ve dropped because the chuck loosened while drilling. Even more annoying when it’s a hole saw you drop through the hole you just drilled in the floor.
Honestly can’t say I’ve had a good drill chuck since I retired my corded Dewalt with the Jacob’s keyed chuck on it.
Honestly can’t say I’ve had a good drill chuck since I retired my corded Dewalt with the Jacob’s keyed chuck on it.
neophyte
Well-known member
This seems highly unlikely.
Most drill chucks are threaded onto the drill arbor with a left handed thread,
sometimes very tightly.
These sometimes also have a locking screw at the bottom of the chuck cavity, to keep the chuck on when the drill is used in reverse.
The locking screws vary.
I’ve come across slotted screws, and hex screws, and wouldn't be surprised nowadays if torx/star screws might also be used.
These screws are sometimes also very tight.
Sometimes the chucks may also use threadlocker of some type.
Higher end Rohm Supra SK chucks and Metabo Futuro Top chucks work differently and can’t use a locking screw thru the bottom of the chuck, so are usually threadlockered onto the drill arbor.
There are also tapered arbors found on some non impacting drills, although this is usually confined to older drills from several decades ago or more, and high end drills like Fein, and some large specialty drills.
There are also newer drill models made do that the chicks can be easily swapped out, that have a female hex socket on the arbor, and a locking system built into the chuck.
It your drill was one of these, I presume you would know it.
I’m not sure how standardized these systems are.
Festool/Festo was one of the first manufacturers, but now a number of tool manufacturers have similar drills.
3/8-24 and 1/2-20 are usually the standard threads for the drill arbor.
Sometimes it takes locking a larger hex wrench in the chuck and a vise and running the drill in reverse to remove the chuck.
Make sure you check for and remove the center screw first if it’s there.
Also, be careful.
If the chuck is on tight, the drill can turn very quickly, and dang near tear your arm out.
Tightening a large hex key in the chuck, and giving the hex a hard sharp whack with a heavy hammer while the chuck rests on s flat surface is usually recommended first.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Years ago, I had one of those horrendous Milwaukee chucks. Replaced with Metabo.
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engineer2
Well-known member
If you are having trouble with your chuck, give the insides a few squirts of WD-40.
I’m totally in Milwaukee cordless tools
What I have found with my drills is when you are in high speed mode drilling and pulling out if you release the drill throttle quickly the drill stops immediately and loosens the chuck. Sometimes it’s on the second or third hole
I’ve learned now to release the trigger slowly to avoid the loosening of the bit in the chuck.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
I find DeWalt and Makita drills to have the best chucks - at least the higher end models with all-metal chucks. We had a brushed milwaukee M18 drills at work, and the chuck on those units was an absolute travesty. I believe Milwaukee improved the situation since.
Rabid Badger
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That's because it's a crappy chuck.
Rabid Badger
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- Apr 2, 2018
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The Makita XPH14 costs $150 and comes with a world-class Yukiwa chuck.
Cheaper than buying a mediocre drill and buying a chuck to help it **** less.
Cheaper than buying a mediocre drill and buying a chuck to help it **** less.
engineer2
Well-known member
The good Makita chucks make a ratcheting/clicking sound when you tighten them. Seems to lock the bit in place.
ronkz650
Well-known member
Most drills are either 3/8-24 or 1/2-20 thread. Determine which you need and buy a good Jacob's chuck. They are not all that expensive, around $25 give or take. You can also ditch the stupid 3/8 capacity chuck and upgrade to 1/2 on lower capacity drills. I got rid of all my Milwaukee factory chucks and installed Jacobs. Big improvement, but removing the old chuck can be a bear unless you have good tools for the job.
RTM
Well-known member
What model number? Just looked at 8 or so on ereplacementparts, and those with a chuck, not 1/4” hex, all had separate part ## for the chuck.
Its a HDS181
www.ereplacementparts.com
Gear Box 2609199295 - OEM Bosch - eReplacementParts.com
Buy the official Bosch Gear Box 2609199295 replacement - Use our model diagrams, repair help, and video tutorials to help get the job done.
www.ereplacementparts.com
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RTM
Well-known member
Dang, never seen that on anything I’ve worked on.Its a HDS181
Gear Box 2609199295 - OEM Bosch - eReplacementParts.com
Buy the official Bosch Gear Box 2609199295 replacement - Use our model diagrams, repair help, and video tutorials to help get the job done.
reader2580
Well-known member
I have a Makita drill and the chuck is great. My father has a Ridgid drill and the chuck *****. If I am helping him out at his house I will sometimes grab my drill instead of using his as the bit will spin.
Those Rohm chucks seem to be quite expensive. They cost about as much as a bare drill without battery.
Those Rohm chucks seem to be quite expensive. They cost about as much as a bare drill without battery.
Milwaukee went though a phase where they had truly poor chucks. I have to think it was some MBA bean-counter who demanded fewer parts across their product lines and pushed a cheap one from the lower product lines into the higher product lines. They rightfully got a lot of **** for it.
The good news is that as far as I can tell, they got religion and their current FUEL line has very good chucks. I don't know if they'd compare to a Rhom chuck, but I've never cursed the one on my drill.
That's only true if you're getting a pretty cheap drill. They're about half the cost of most 'better' drills from the various colors.
I hate the chuck on my Milwaukee FUEL 2706-20 it holds bits fine but sometimes is a bear to open it back up. I don't actually use the drill all that often I generally use the impact drivers but I keep a pair of channel locks handy in case I need it.
I looked online and it seems the required chuck for this drill is 9/16-18. Can anybody confirm that this is right?
Would this be a good replacement? The chuck on the Milwaukee is metal and "clicks" while tightening. It seems like decent quality not sure if I broke it or not. Haven't heard of Rohm before this thread but sounds like they're decent chucks so willing to give it a shot.
I looked online and it seems the required chuck for this drill is 9/16-18. Can anybody confirm that this is right?
Would this be a good replacement? The chuck on the Milwaukee is metal and "clicks" while tightening. It seems like decent quality not sure if I broke it or not. Haven't heard of Rohm before this thread but sounds like they're decent chucks so willing to give it a shot.
neophyte
Well-known member
Chucks that repeatedly click when being tightened are usually ratcheting chucks.I hate the chuck on my Milwaukee FUEL 2706-20 it holds bits fine but sometimes is a bear to open it back up. I don't actually use the drill all that often I generally use the impact drivers but I keep a pair of channel locks handy in case I need it.
I looked online and it seems the required chuck for this drill is 9/16-18. Can anybody confirm that this is right?
Would this be a good replacement? The chuck on the Milwaukee is metal and "clicks" while tightening. It seems like decent quality not sure if I broke it or not. Haven't heard of Rohm before this thread but sounds like they're decent chucks so willing to give it a shot.
Most major chuck manufacturers make ratcheting chucks nowadays for their keyless chucks.
As for the threading on newer Milwaukee drills, it may be 9/16-18.
I know Milwaukee was using a weird thread pitch that caused issues replacing the chicks, but don’t own any of the drills from after the switch.
I was at Lowes earlier and checked out the latest Bosch hammer drills out of curiosity. I think it was a GSB975. Metal chuck, seems much nicer than the plastic one on mine. Although I tightened it down and it clicked, and locked in the completely closed position lol. No unlocking it for trying. Oops.
I have 3 DeWalt 20V drills with metal chucks. They are all very good. The main reason I went with DeWalt vs Milwaukee with my new cordless tools was at that time (4? years ago) there were lots of complaints here about Milwaukee chucks being terrible. I'm not paying $150+ for a drill and then buying a new $50+ chuck for it.
reader2580
Well-known member
When I first looked for Rohm chucks the ones I found were around $140. I looked again and see there are a lot of less expensive chucks.
scooby074
Well-known member
Ive had great luck with my Milwaulkee chuck on my Gen2 (?) hammerdrill. Worst was my old Dewalt XRP that actually was recalled and had a new and improved chuck installed, much better.
You guys know how to tighten a ratcheting chuck, right?
You guys know how to tighten a ratcheting chuck, right?
Rabid Badger
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Don't be a jackass.
scooby074
Well-known member
What do you mean? Dont be a ****.
designer485
Well-known member
I usually pay around $35-40 for my Rohm chucks. I have bought from Amazon (new in the box) and from eBay (DeWalt original equipment).
reader2580
Well-known member
When I looked for Rohm chucks a second time I saw that many of them are $40 to $60. I am not sure why I saw a bunch for around $140 to $150 the first time.
neophyte
Well-known member
Rohm manufactures (or at least sells) drill chucks ranging from basic steel keyed drill chucks, to Basic inexpensive plastic sleeved keyless chucks, to high precision ball bearing chicks, and high precision keyless chucks.
Rohm also manufactures lathe chucks, and other specialty chucks.
Even the Rohm Supra series chucks are available in different grades for precision as well as design, depending on the type of tool the chucks are meant to be mounted on.
You really need to look up the catalog to figure out which models you’re looking for.