Buying my first drill

[ToolM]

So I'm about to head out to either Home Depot or lowes to purchase my first real power drill. I've had a piece of junk $40 black and deckar for awhile now that is very limited. It will be mainly for things around the house but I would like it to be capable of bigger projects as well. I was thinking maybe a combo kit including an impact as well. Let me know what you guys recommend. Not looking to spend anymore than $200 but you could maybe convince me. Thanks!

 

[BajaBound]

Milwaukee Fuel drill and impact combo at HD. Comes with two large li ion batteries. I think it's the best stuff out there and I ponied up the dough for it and look forward to years of good use.

 

[Filson]

I have the new Makita 18v Hammer/Driver Drill and Impact combo and I would replace it immediately with the same model if it were to ever go ****-up for some reason. I've had it for almost 2 years now, use it regularly, and have nothing but praises for it. They offered the highest torque on the market (at the time I bought it anyway) with 750lbs from the drill and 1450 or something like that from the impact. The kit runs about $280-300 though, but well worth the money.

 

[Coach James]

It really depends on what you want? Do you want a recip saw as part of it? Circular saw? Light?

I have power tools from Hitachi, Kobalt, Porter Cable, Ryobi and Bosch and all have served me well. Lowes has 30 combo kits under $200, but it depends on what tools you want in the kit. Any of the brands I listed will do fine for general purpose use around the house, despite some folks insisting brand *** is no good.

Coach

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Impacts are great for driving screws. If you will be drilling concrete a hammer drill is useful. For drilling metal you'll want high torque, slow speed. A rarely used cordless drill will never be charged when you need it.
My most versatile drill is a 1/2" variable speed hammer drill. AMPs = power.
Price range for a good one (I like Milwaukee) will probably be in the $100-200 range.

 

[vnboil]

I bought the Ridgid drill/impact driver set here;

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-X4-Hyper-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Drill-and-Impact-Driver-Combo-Kit-3-Tool-with-Radio-R9601/203810442

and I really like it

I thought about the Milwaukee Fuel set everyone seems to recommend, but couldn't justify spending twice as much when the reviews for the Ridgid set were really good

 

[Loscaldazar]

Porter Cable 20V Max. One of the smallest and most powerful drills on the market. Pretty cheap too. I've found that it's small size and power makes it really useful pretty much everywhere. 40 minute quick charge too. There are a few version that are sold with a 4 hour charger and one battery, so make sure you know which kit you are buying.

The drill, 2 batteries and quick charger go on sale at $99 twice a year. Same with the impact driver, 2 batteries and quick charger. They use a lot of metal construction compared to most other brands, and there are hundreds of very positive reviews on these drills. At $99, there is no better drill option. Even the $140 normal price for drill, 2 batteries and quick charger makes them a steal for the quality and power you get. I've been using mine for a little over a year now to do everything from wire brushing off rust/corrosion (very tough on a cordless drill), drill out bolts and other stuck fasteners on cars, and plenty of fabricating work out of steel. I recently used the impact driver to help a family friend build a deck, and it work flawless for a few hundred/thousand screws.

The only thing I don't like is that because of all the rubber molding on them (for comfort in gripping them, and also protection from being dropped), it gets very dirty and doesn't clean up well. But I can survive with a dirty drill

Over 300 positive reviews on Amazon alone
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JBBF0A/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JBBF0K/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CM7Z2KW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And then over 200 more from Lowes
http://www.lowes.com/pd_234292-3425...rrentURL=?Ntt=porter+cable+20v+max&facetInfo=
http://www.lowes.com/pd_538775-3425...rrentURL=?Ntt=porter+cable+20v+max&facetInfo=
http://www.lowes.com/pd_234293-70-P...rrentURL=?Ntt=porter+cable+20v+max&facetInfo=
http://www.lowes.com/pd_518765-3425...rrentURL=?Ntt=porter+cable+20v+max&facetInfo=

 

[woody 73]

Funny thing but one of our other GJ members was looking for a good drill and I went to his local CL and found two fantastic old drills for a great price.

OP you left out your home town under your avatar, for whatever it is worth why not check your area for a good used drill. Example from Today (for another post) that the op missed:

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/tls/4597734102.html

From my area:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/tls/4571061397.html

 

[ez-duzit]

Best drill is 1/2" corded Milwaukee Magnum. It will do it all.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You didn't mention whether you were looking for a battery powered drill or one you plug in. Unless you're using it every day, I'd stick with a corded drill - you never have to worry about batteries going dead or going bad from sitting. I have a Milwaukee that's been very good.

 

[rice rocket]

you never have to worry about batteries going dead or going bad from sitting. I have a Milwaukee that's been very good.

That doesn't happen anymore with li-ions, really. Nicads, for sure.

 

[bcradio]

That doesn't happen anymore with li-ions, really. Nicads, for sure.

They can definitely go bad from sitting (had multiple Li-on batts do it for me). If you want to store them, do so at half charge... never full or empty.

 

[Farmall450]

Get a DeWalt in 20V Max (li-ion)

You won't regret it. Here's a review of an economical brushed model...http://toolaudits.com/2014/08/dewalt-dcd771-12-20v-max-lithium-ion-drilldriver-review/

Milwaukee and their fuel line aren't too shabby either.

 

[franzdom]

Best drill is 1/2" corded Milwaukee Magnum. It will do it all.

I am thinking the same. There is all this talk of battery power but my very strongest and most reliable is the first good drill I ever had.

 

[General Geoff]

B&D has a reputation for being cheap, but their 20v max drills are very powerful and have plenty of longevity, both in terms of battery life during use and overall battery life over the years (so far, anyway!). I have their matrix system driver with interchangeable clutch drill and impact attachment which I use for assembling/disassembling electronics, automotive, as well as household and light woodworking. It won't turn overtorqued lugs or suspension bolts, but I never expected that from it.

I'll probably be augmenting it with a Milkwaukee 18v fuel 1/2" impact, for the heavy stuff. For the price I paid (~$80 for the drill/impact combo), though, I'm very happy.


edit; I have a ~25 year old Bosch 1/2" chuck corded drill that's a hand me down from my dad, and is my fallback for long duration jobs where a battery operated drill would be an impediment. That thing just doesn't quit! I can't use it for delicate electronics assembly though. The B&D's lightest clutch setting is perfect for snugging up little laptop screws.

 

[Farmall450]

Also, welcome to the board!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Drills . Most DIYers just don't get it ! You really need 2 drills.

First, a 3/8" battery operated drill. You can stay with a 12v-14V drill unless you want one that is compatible with future battery operated tool purchases which would like be 18V+. You want portability here, not power.

Your second drill should be a CORDED 1/2", but it MUST have triple gear reduction. This will give you a top speed of 500-800 rpm. The big win is with triple gear reduction, the motor can be a lot smaller, about the size of a good 3/8" drill. Trust me, with triple gear reduction it will have plenty of torque. (Mine has come close to breaking my wrist more than once !)

Milwaukee 1001

Dewalt DW245

 

[BikerDad]

Milwaukee Fuel drill and impact combo at HD. Comes with two large li ion batteries. I think it's the best stuff out there and I ponied up the dough for it and look forward to years of good use.

That Fuel combo kit is a great kit. At 399 smackers, it's also allllllmost twice what he's looking to spend.

A lot of the responses have suggested corded drills, I'm just going to have to go with a modest "nyet" on that. Corded drills are great, I have two. The problem though is that unless one uses it a lot, they make really lousy drivers because they don't have a clutch. A really experienced user can feather the trigger and get fair results, but even so, most tradesmen will reach for a cordless first when it comes time to drive fasteners.

This Milwaukee M12 Fuel / M12 'combo' would be a good one. (Note: the deal is available from other vendors also).

You'll be hard pressed to stay under $200 for an 18v brushless drill/driver, much less a combo kit. In fact, I don't think you'll be able to find a 12v brushless combo for under $200. (Only the impact driver above is brushless). Easy to find, the 18v brushed drill/driver and impact driver combo kits from Bosch, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita are all good. A step behind them are Rigid, and Hitachi, perhaps Craftsman. (Yes, as a house power tool brand, Rigid is definitely a step above "Kobalt" power tools at Lowes.) Then Ryobi and Porter-Cable. (oh, the inhumanity of what Stanley B&D has done to P-C!! ) Dragging along hind teat are Skil (except the awesome Mag 77) & Black & Decker. The big boys (Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee) are easy enough to find at $200, each has their fans and detractors.

Go into HD and Lowes and fondle the tools. If they have the little demo bench set up, use it. Each tool will have slightly different ergonomics and balance. See which one appeals to you the most. There is no "best", if there were, the guys who make a living using these things day in and day out would all or most all be using 'the best'.

 

[Trey T]

When you look into cordless tools, keep in mind that you're investing in an entire platform because of the battery fitment. It's good to think ahead and see which brand has the widest selection of tool.

The popular brands are Bosch, Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee, and Rigid. Milwaukee is the brand I highly recommend and several people on here gave positive feedback regarding their warranty program.

with that being said, I recommend Milwaukee M12 Fuel drill

 

[BikerDad]

Drills . Most DIYers just don't get it ! You really need 2 drills.

First, a 3/8" battery operated drill. You can stay with a 12v-14V drill unless you want one that is compatible with future battery operated tool purchases which would like be 18V+. You want portability here, not power.

Your second drill should be a CORDED 1/2", but it MUST have triple gear reduction. This will give you a top speed of 500-800 rpm. The big win is with triple gear reduction, the motor can be a lot smaller, about the size of a good 3/8" drill. Trust me, with triple gear reduction it will have plenty of torque. (Mine has come close to breaking my wrist more than once !)

Milwaukee 1001

Dewalt DW245

What ToW says here is close to spot-on. I wouldn't bother with a 14.4, it's a dying format. 12v subcompacts or 18v compacts are the best jack-of-all-trades option for a casual DIY guy. A big honkin' 1/2" corded is really handy to have, when you need it, and ToW's provided two fine examples. Turning holesaws, big spade bits, drilling 1/2" or larger holes in metal, etc. And a great use for the DIY guy, mixing paint and sometimes mortar/grout/drywall mud. I would, however, wait on getting one of these until you have a specific need for it, or you find a great deal on one. You can go with a hammer drill in this size, but before you do, seriously look at your hammer needs. A half inch standard hammer drill will be impotent against old good condition concrete, granite, and other hard and tough materials. It does well against brick, cinder block, sedimentary rocks, new concrete. So if you live in a 80 year old house on a Vermont ridgetop, skip the hammer, go SDS. On the other hand, if you live in a brand new home in Florida, a standard hammer drill will handle any likely hammer drill challenges.

 

[dchawk81]

Porter Cable 20V Max. One of the smallest and most powerful drills on the market. Pretty cheap too. I've found that it's small size and power makes it really useful pretty much everywhere. 40 minute quick charge too. There are a few version that are sold with a 4 hour charger and one battery, so make sure you know which kit you are buying.

The drill, 2 batteries and quick charger go on sale at $99 twice a year. Same with the impact driver, 2 batteries and quick charger. They use a lot of metal construction compared to most other brands, and there are hundreds of very positive reviews on these drills. At $99, there is no better drill option. Even the $140 normal price for drill, 2 batteries and quick charger makes them a steal for the quality and power you get. I've been using mine for a little over a year now to do everything from wire brushing off rust/corrosion (very tough on a cordless drill), drill out bolts and other stuck fasteners on cars, and plenty of fabricating work out of steel. I recently used the impact driver to help a family friend build a deck, and it work flawless for a few hundred/thousand screws.

The only thing I don't like is that because of all the rubber molding on them (for comfort in gripping them, and also protection from being dropped), it gets very dirty and doesn't clean up well. But I can survive with a dirty drill

Over 300 positive reviews on Amazon alone
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JBBF0A/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JBBF0K/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CM7Z2KW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And then over 200 more from Lowes
http://www.lowes.com/pd_234292-3425...rrentURL=?Ntt=porter+cable+20v+max&facetInfo=
http://www.lowes.com/pd_538775-3425...rrentURL=?Ntt=porter+cable+20v+max&facetInfo=
http://www.lowes.com/pd_234293-70-P...rrentURL=?Ntt=porter+cable+20v+max&facetInfo=
http://www.lowes.com/pd_518765-3425...rrentURL=?Ntt=porter+cable+20v+max&facetInfo=

Same. Great drill, IMHO, and the first one I've ever bought that I felt could actually last for years. Just used it the other day to build new cellar doors. Drove each and every screw down deep and effortlessly.

More recently I added an angle grinder bare tool that uses the same battery. Also worth the money, although it doesn't last long on a charge due to the high motor speed.

 

[ez-duzit]

Should also mention the most used drill I have is the Milwaukee Close Quarters drill. I have several of the first generation built by Sioux Tools, for Milwaukee (red). Also have an original Sioux (black). These are extremely handy, especially for driving screws, as they have very fine trigger control.

 

[n8n]

Best drill is 1/2" corded Milwaukee Magnum. It will do it all.

I've had the same since about 1996ish. Still is my go to drill. I also bought a 3/8" DeWalt for cheap thinking that it'd be handy for smaller jobs, but really, I have maybe used it twice over the years.

 

[Dust Devil]

Those suggesting the Milwaukee Magnum as a first and only drill are spot on. Solid unit like all other CORDED Milwaukee tools.

For a cordless drill IMO the Makita 18v Brushless is a superior unit.

 

[Dust Devil]

Go into HD and Lowes and fondle the tools. If they have the little demo bench set up, use it. Each tool will have slightly different ergonomics and balance. See which one appeals to you the most. There is no "best", if there were, the guys who make a living using these things day in and day out would all or most all be using 'the best'.

Very true and great advice.

Personally I think the Milwaukee cordless tools are not nearly as balanced or ergo as Makita. I agree Milwaukee has lots of tools in the m12/m18 line but they just do not feel as good in my hands as Makita and Snap cordless tools.

I just dont think Milwaukee or Dewalt has ever been on the same level as Makita when it comes to cordless tools.

I love Milwaukee corded tools esp the drills and sawzalls.

 

[RedRabbit]

I have the new Makita 18v Hammer/Driver Drill and Impact combo and I would replace it immediately with the same model if it were to ever go ****-up for some reason. I've had it for almost 2 years now, use it regularly, and have nothing but praises for it. They offered the highest torque on the market (at the time I bought it anyway) with 750lbs from the drill and 1450 or something like that from the impact. The kit runs about $280-300 though, but well worth the money.

I agree, the 18 volt LXT series is amazing, buy once and done.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Those suggesting the Milwaukee Magnum as a first and only drill are spot on. Solid unit like all other CORDED Milwaukee tools.

I sure wish Milwaukee made the Magnum with triple gear reduction. Much more compact that the D handle style.

I have a 30 year old Craftsman Industrial 1/2" with triple gear reduction. It is a beast !

 

[theoldwizard1]

So if you live in a 80 year old house on a Vermont ridgetop, skip the hammer, go SDS.

Okay. What is an SDS ?

 

[dchawk81]

Okay. What is an SDS ?

Probably this:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_bit_shank#SDS_shank

 

[theoldwizard1]

Okay. What is an SDS ?

Probably this:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_bit_shank#SDS_shank

From the Wikipedia link

The SDS bit was developed by Hilti and Bosch in 1975. The name comes from the German "Stecken – Drehen – Sichern" (Insert – Twist – Secure).

The SDS shank has the advantage of fitting into a simple spring-loaded chuck, so that bits are simply pushed into the chuck without tightening. This shank and chucks made for it are especially suited to hammer drilling with masonry drills in stone and concrete. The drill bit is not held solidly in the chuck, but can slide back and forth like a piston; it does not slip during rotation due to the non-circular shank cross-section, matching the chuck.

 

[ToolM]

So I'm really struggling with my decision here. I've been into Home Depot playing around with the drills and still can't decide. I'm down to getting he the $229 18v dewalt combo, the milwaukee 18v combo, and then the ridgid combo for $199. The ridgid really intrigues me due to th battery warranty but I'm worried about the quality of the drills. Any recommendations?

 

[rice rocket]

Honestly, I'd get the Ridgid, Porter Cable, or Ryobi stuff, you're young so the the more tools the better. The Milwaukee/DeWalt/Bosch stuff are nice pro tools, but you'll end up with 1/3 or 1/2 the amount of tools for the same amount of money.

In ten years time, the market landscape will have changed, you'll have a little more money in your pocket, and you rebuy as you feel appropriate.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nothing wrong with buying good stuff the first time around if you can afford too, within reason.

I have 18V Dewalt stuff and love the stuff. I picked up an impact driver for a back up incase my ever breaks since Dewalt appears to be wanting to end the 18V line. There are thousands of 18V Dewalt power tools out there being used and abused everyday by contractors, professionals, DIYers and home owners.

Getting into the game right now, you might want to consider the 20V stuff they are offering or any other quality battery tool company. I don't think you can go wrong with Dewalt or Milwaukee.

 

[Indexmill]

Boy, I sure wish I could go out and buy my first drill....Oh, wait that was 40 years ago. Darn!

Corded for when you need real power or longevity. Cordless for everything else. Any of the brands mentioned in this thread will serve you well. I still have and use every corded drill I ever bought over the past 40 years.

Just take care of them. Don't drop them in the mud or off the top of a ladder onto concrete. Always use sharp bits and the correct speed for what you are drilling. Blow em out once in a while. Keep em in their case. Don't grab em with caulk or grease all over your hand and fingers. Treat them well.

The new crop of lithium ion batteries do not have the dreaded "memory effect" that the NiCads did. There is an enormous amount of energy inside a fully charged Lion battery. That energy can do a lot of work. Use care when handling the batteries and keep track of charge rates and cycles. Always store at half charge. Best not to leave batts on the charger unattended or near anywhere that any high heat or fire might be a problem. Youtube burning Lion batts to see what I am saying.

 

[slyonedoofy]

Boy, I sure wish I could go out and buy my first drill....Oh, wait that was 40 years ago. Darn!

Corded for when you need real power or longevity. Cordless for everything else. Any of the brands mentioned in this thread will serve you well. I still have and use every corded drill I ever bought over the past 40 years.

Just take care of them. Don't drop them in the mud or off the top of a ladder onto concrete. Always use sharp bits and the correct speed for what you are drilling. Blow em out once in a while. Keep em in their case. Don't grab em with caulk or grease all over your hand and fingers. Treat them well.

The new crop of lithium ion batteries do not have the dreaded "memory effect" that the NiCads did. There is an enormous amount of energy inside a fully charged Lion battery. That energy can do a lot of work. Use care when handling the batteries and keep track of charge rates and cycles. Always store at half charge. Best not to leave batts on the charger unattended or near anywhere that any high heat or fire might be a problem. Youtube burning Lion batts to see what I am saying.

I'm curious about the storing of lith-ion batteries at half charge. I have heard that but have never seen some real data on if it makes a difference.

Why would I want to store batteries at half charge when I'm not sure when I need them? Doesn't make sense.

I have lith-ions I have kept at full charge in storage and it has made no difference in their life. 4 years and 4 batteries still strong. Sometimes 6 months between use.

Any advice?

 

[ewingb323]

Milwaukee fuel m12 can't go wrong

 

[crbnfbr]

Off topic, but can all these Li-ion battery manufacturers stop calling their batteries 20v. Lithium cells come in 3.6v so multiply by 5 and that makes 18v not 20v.

Sorry about that. I just got a new Bosch Hammer drill: http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=hdh181xbn#benefits

I got the bare tool because I already have six Litheon batteries. I got it from Lowes with a 10% coupon for just over $180. I absolutely cannot believe how much better, and more powerful it is than my of 500in/lbs non hammer drill Bosch.

I would definitely recommend this drill.

 

[vnboil]

What's a situation where you'd want to use a corded drill versus a good cordless one?

 

[ez-duzit]

High torque applications such as when using large hole saws, for example. And when drilling for long periods.

 

[ngray]

There's lots of great advice here, and that's partly because there aren't a lot of bad drills made by the major brands. Ryobi is definitely the cheapest you should go, stay away from harbor freight alltogether. There's no reason to buy 14/18v ni-cd anymore. Li-Ion or don't bother, it's just too cheap now when it goes on sale. I just replaced my old 14.4 BD drill with a Milwaukee M18 set with a non-hammer drill and a hackzall with 2 batteries for 150. No reason to look for cheaper when there's deals like that out there.

I was in your shoes about 10 years back, and am pleased with my choice to buy corded stuff first, and then cordless when I could swing it. I've used my corded to do things my cordless never could (10ft of flexible drill bit anyone?), and the battery never runs out. Just not as convenient. If I could only swing one, I'd go corded, unless you have well-tooled friends and family close by, then cordless-only is fine. Corded tools are more capable and cost less. There's a reason they still sell them.