Cordless drill dilemma 1/4" vs 3/8" chuck

[Travis E.]

I am in the market for a new small drill to carry around in my bag at work.
I will be buying a Milwakee 12v product and don't see a advantage to having a 1/4" hex. I feel that it will limit what I can and cannot do. While it may be nice if I were to only use a certain size drill bit, screw or nut driver, but that is not the case. I currently use several different drill bits and at times will use a tap to clean up some threads or even tap through thin material.

I have my mind set on a chuck but unless someone can steer me towards the 1/4" I just don't have see a use for it in my application. The few people I talked to on this subject think I'm unwilling to get with the times. I am not concerned about the cost, I just don't need a tool in my bag that I won't use or like.

What do you prefer and why?

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Unless you are using it on tight spot and for mostly drilling small holes, 3/8 is way to go.

Sometimes 3/8 is small too.

 

[RobertF]

The 1/4" is nice if all you're doing is driving machine screws all day. All the 1/4" drill bits I've seen at Home Depot have really long shanks and if you want to use a non 1/4" hex bit you need one of the adapters and those run another $30 or so plus you have to carry it around.

I'd get a 3/8" drive drill and buy a quality 1/4" quick change to go with it.

 

[DHCrocks]

I have both types and usually grab the 1/4" hex due to it being a more compact unit. It will fit in a lot more places. The chuck on a 3/8" drill is longer and wider which limits access in tight spots. The only time I'll use the chucked drill is if I need to use a drill bit that I don't have in the 1/4" hex size.