Corded Drill

[Arne73]

another vote for the milwaukee magnum, it will hurt you if the bit gets stuck

best drill IMO, and only like $120

Adding my voice to the Milwaukee vote, I got mine second hand and use the hell out of it. Rock solid and dependable, will not let you down.

 

[ToddyB]

I would go old school and get the 0234-6 5.5 amp Milwaukee. It is as tough as they come. Even though it is less amps it will out perform the new style. It is a non-bigbox store drill.

 

[Monte]

Fein

 

[nikonica]

The drill doesn't look as cool as the Milwaukee, but I do like the look of the chuck better (I don't mind a keyed chuck).

You WANT a keyed chuck.

Milwaukee, DeWalt, Hitachi, Bosch, Makita, Ridgid, etc. are all good drills. Black & Decker, Porter Cable (only recently became the same as B&D), and Skil, not so much.

I personally like using very very old electric drills - Black & Decker, Millers Falls, Milwaukee, Van Dorn... The technology hasn't changed much since the '20s and '30s, with the exception of a shift from metal to nylon bodies and from single-speed to variable speed triggers. Although it does make good sense to replace the cord and do a little cleanup/lubrication after 50-80 years - you know, make sure the case is grounded to the third prong

 

[Gregg33]

My 1/2" Makita is made in England. It's a few years old. I suspect now production has switched to PRC, but I'm not sure.

 

[american lockpicker]

Hmm, they make some good jigsaws and great routers but personally I don't like the drills.
There's a local stockists that sells Bosch gear at reasonable prices and even then most of the tradesmen round town avoid the drills.
Heavy, underpowered and often don't last well <shrugs>

I've been happy with the 2 I have but I don't have as many choices as you do. Around here its the best I can find unless I order something online like Fein or Metebo.

 

[1931S/X]

my first drill i bought was a 3/8 milwuakee holeshooter. i have used the milwuakee stuff for years at work and always liked it. well i burnt that 3.8 drill up as it wasnt up to the task of stuff i was using it for. i replaced it with the 1/2" magnum they only had the keyless chuck in stock. that is the tightest keyless chuck i have ever seen. the power is incredible, my buddy twisted up a 9/16" drill bit like a pretzel. i later realized it pays to have both 3/8 and 1/2" drills so i replaced my dead one with a hitachi that was on sale fo rlike 40 bucks. not nearly as nice as the milwaukee, the speeds arent as easily controlled but it does the job. i go for the 3/8 drill for bits up to 1/4".

 

[59 wagon man]

just my .02 have used milwaukee for 25 years always thought them to be top quality. the last 3 or 4 sawzalls i have bought seem to go thru triggers fairly quick . the do cut good. as a plumber i have used ridgid pipe wrenchs and threading equipment also for years . recently my new purchases have all been ridgid. cordless set had the best price and warranty - lifetime and it works well. next thing i bought was a corded drill same thing can't beat the ridgid in my mind. next up was a sawzall ridgid has this little mini corded sawzall for $100 and it works great in tight spots much smaller then the milw. i have had dewalt,makita, craftsman,porter cable,skil, and would probably choose either ridgid then milwaukee