Need drill recommendation

[mishmish]

Hey!

I am really sorry to ask what I imagine is a very common question. I did try to search but I am hoping to try and get an up-to-date answer.

Just moved into our new home from a condo. We avoided getting stuff that would weigh us down for a long time so now it's time to start building ourselves up! Hence why I am looking to get started and purchase a drill.

I'm fine with splurging a bit for DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, etc. Majority use-case that I can imagine at the moment is wood related jobs, although I'd like to keep my options open later. Most likely don't need something industrial, but also a little better than hobbyist jeweler level

I also noticed it's pretty common for drill and impact drivers to be sold together. I've honestly only just learned what an impact drill is. Would you recommend to just go with one of those combos?

Any special considerations I should put into a drill bit set? Also, any other handy tools you feel would be good to recommend, would be appreciated.

Thank you so much and I apologize again for asking what must be a very common question.

 

[Epoxy Floor Vet]

Everyone is different on what brand they like. I like Milwaukee, they make a really nice line of tools that I like. Do your research on the whole line once you’ve narrowed down your manufacturer. All of the tools in that line will use the same batteries and chargers. That way you can cut back on extra expense for different chargers and batteries for your following tool purchases.

 

[mishmish]

My problem is which model from a given brand do I get? Just want to be sure I'm not getting the low-tier option.

 

[Kenstone1]

Because there are so many GOOD drills on the market it would be easier to list the drills NOT TO BUY.
My NOT to buy list is short, only 2 drills:
Ryobi
Black and Decker

My drill use is more as a hobbyist/DIY'er and not something I use in my profession, so consider my views with that in mind.

I do remember that Milwaukee HAD a lifetime guarantee on batteries included with a new tool but not batteries bought separately, something worth further research if it's still valid.
I'm sure someone will be along to verify/refute what I have posted here.
Good Luck on you quest,

 

[619DioFan]

With the exception of the milwaukee fuel impacts I bought ( wanted the strongest I could get and have not been let down ) all of my other cordless tools to include my weedeater are Ryobi 18volt. drills , hexdrivers , sawzall , grinder , other saws etc. use them all the time with zero issues.

 

[1MtnGoat]

I prefer the Milwaukee 18 volt Fuel series. These are brushless and the batteries go a long time between charges. Plenty of power. I bought a combination 1/2" drill w/hammer function and an impact driver. I've had the set since they first hit the market 5 plus years. They've been worked hard and I have no complaints. Great set.

 

[mishmish]

I prefer the Milwaukee 18 volt Fuel series. These are brushless and the batteries go a long time between charges. Plenty of power. I bought a combination 1/2" drill w/hammer function and an impact driver. I've had the set since they first hit the market 5 plus years. They've been worked hard and I have no complaints. Great set.

Would you recommend a hammer drill over just the regular drill?

 

[mishmish]

This is what I'm leaning towards at the moment, any thoughts?

DEWALT DCD791D2 20V MAX XR Li-Ion 0.5" 2.0Ah Brushless Compact Drill/Driver Kit - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0183RLVSQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And this seems like a decent deal as well?
20-Volt MAX XR Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Drill/Impact Combo Kit (2-Tool) with (2) Batteries 2Ah, Charger and Bag - https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...teries-2Ah-Charger-and-Bag-DCK283D2/206524075

 

[Rabid Badger]

Would you recommend a hammer drill over just the regular drill?

If you want to drill small holes in concrete a hammer drill will do it. If you need to drill larger holes I would recommend a regular drill and a separate rotary hammer.

This is what I'm leaning towards at the moment, any thoughts?

DEWALT DCD791D2 20V MAX XR Li-Ion 0.5" 2.0Ah Brushless Compact Drill/Driver Kit - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0183RLVSQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And this seems like a decent deal as well?
20-Volt MAX XR Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Drill/Impact Combo Kit (2-Tool) with (2) Batteries 2Ah, Charger and Bag - https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...teries-2Ah-Charger-and-Bag-DCK283D2/206524075

Nothing wrong with those.

 

[mishmish]

Alright, I think I'm gonna sleep on it for one night but will probably go with the DeWalt DCD791D2. Will probably get an impact driver later on as needed. Thanks, everyone, for the advice! Will keep tracking this thread in case someone has any further input, which I'd love to hear. Thanks again.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Save a few bucks ! Get a 3/8" drill ! I have an Milwaukee M12 3/8" drill/driver, 2407-22. For home repair it cover >90% of your jobs. It even has a hammer drill function so when you need to hang something on a brick or concrete wall, you can make a 1/4" hole with a carbide masonry bit, insert a plastic wall anchor and use a screw (use stainless steel screws for outside projects).

For drill bits, I like Drill Hog. Sold on eBay and Amazon. They have 3/8" sets. Shop around, I'm sure you will be able to find 3/8" reduced shank (all you really need are 7/16" and 1/2") jobber length drill bits. Even 1/4" reduced shank stubby drill bits will work in a pinch.

While your shopping, pick up a couple of step drill bits (Drill Hog again). You need to go up to about 3/4".

 

[Rabid Badger]

Save a few bucks ! Get a 3/8" drill ! I have an Milwaukee M12 3/8" drill/driver, 2407-22. For home repair it cover >90% of your jobs. It even has a hammer drill function so when you need to hang something on a brick or concrete wall, you can make a 1/4" hole with a carbide masonry bit, insert a plastic wall anchor and use a screw (use stainless steel screws for outside projects).

For drill bits, I like Drill Hog. Sold on eBay and Amazon. They have 3/8" sets. Shop around, I'm sure you will be able to find 3/8" reduced shank (all you really need are 7/16" and 1/2") jobber length drill bits. Even 1/4" reduced shank stubby drill bits will work in a pinch.

While your shopping, pick up a couple of step drill bits (Drill Hog again). You need to go up to about 3/4".

You're recommending he buy a far less capable tool to save $20?

 

[techieman33]

My take would be to buy brushless Ryobi. Something like this would be a good start. Having an impact really will make a big difference when your driving screws.

Sure Ryobi isn't as good as Milwaukee, Dewalt, or Makita. But it's more than good enough to get the job done. And your also buying into a platform that's great for homeowners. They have tons of reasonably priced tools and batteries as you expand your collection. It's a lot easier to spend $30 for a light, or $40 for a sander or caulking gun to help you complete one or two projects and then sit for long periods of time, or maybe never be used again. It's a lot harder when your on one of the "pro" brands and it's $100 minimum for any new tool.

 

[M6erfan]

To me, the question would be which has the best chuck.

 

[M6erfan]

Save a few bucks ! Get a 3/8" drill ! I have an Milwaukee M12 3/8" drill/driver, 2407-22. For home repair it cover >90% of your jobs. It even has a hammer drill function so when you need to hang something on a brick or concrete wall, you can make a 1/4" hole with a carbide masonry bit, insert a plastic wall anchor and use a screw (use stainless steel screws for outside projects).

For drill bits, I like Drill Hog. Sold on eBay and Amazon. They have 3/8" sets. Shop around, I'm sure you will be able to find 3/8" reduced shank (all you really need are 7/16" and 1/2") jobber length drill bits. Even 1/4" reduced shank stubby drill bits will work in a pinch.

While your shopping, pick up a couple of step drill bits (Drill Hog again). You need to go up to about 3/4".

Drill Hog huh? When I was shopping for a metric set recently I looked into them. They mis-lead with "USA" on their products. No COO listed and their website is sketchy, no way to even contact them. Lifetime warranty? Good luck with that... For the price OP can get a real USA drill set from a known company.

 

[Dust]

I have the DeWalt 12v Max drill at home, it serves most of my purposes very well. With two batteries you can do most medium sized projects with a lot of holes and screws in a single day. If you can do it for minimal cost, pick up the drill and impact driver combo, plus another pair of batteries.

A coworker has a Milwuakee 1/2" 18v drill at work. That thing is a monster, and can easily break your wrist. If I needed a more powerful cordless drill, that would probably be the one I would buy. I like DeWalt, but after using the Milwaukee I'm sold on it.

 

[Legion Prime]

I'd recommend looking at what tools you might want to purchase in the future and who has them. I knew I wanted a cordless router so that ruled out Milwaukee for me. I ended up going with Ridgid because I liked their router better than the DeWalt, their LSA for both batteries and tools helped my decision as well. A drill & impact combo is really nice, having the drill set up with a drill bit and a driver in the impact makes stuff go so much faster.
For drill bits I don't even bother with anything I see in the stores. A step bit or two absolutely, they are super handy! For actual twist drill bits go online to your tool vendor of choice, Harry Epstein is one I believe is even a sponsor here, and look for pretty much anything actually made in the US. Norseman, Viking, CleLine, Latrobe and Precision Twist are all US made brands that will last you a long time with care.

 

[Citation]

I'm not sure I can suggest a brand but I would look for a 12V drill + impact driver set. They are typically around $120-140 when not on sale but can often be had for under $100 if you wait for a sale price.

For about the same money you could get a more powerful (~18V, often marketed as "20V max") drill (no impact driver). I think the 12V (lower power) kit with the impact driver is a better choice. Yes, the drill is smaller and can't drive as big a drill bit. However, I think back to when, just by chance, I got a 12V kit with impact driver to replace a larger, older DeWalt drill. I didn't bother with the impact driver for a while but when I finally used it I realized it was MUCH better for things like removing screws from a shed I was tearing down. It was much better for driving screws when building some flooring. It's just easier to control and less likely to strip the screw vs the drill that came with the kit. I had been using my drill to drive screws but for those larger screws the impact driver is just better.

 

[CafeTools]

My M18 milwaukee fuel hex impact does my car lug nuts. You can't go wrong with the 3 or 4 power settings. Buy once cry once.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Definitely brushless. Definitely get an impact whatever you do. I use an impact about 10x more than a drill. Color is less important, but you'll be more or less locked into whatever battery you buy. So look at the other tools they have you might someday want.

This is a really good kit. I doubt the average homeowner needs XR tools.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-2-T...-Included-and-2-Batteries-Included/1000135831 Sometimes you can buy them separately and get an extra battery by doing so for the same money. I also like the Dewalt Atomic from feeling them instore, smaller is better IMO.

The hammer drills do work, but they are a lot of bulk for something you'll use very rarely most likely. A SDS rotary hammer is about 50x faster.

 

[Davefr]

I'd suggest the Milwaukee M12 Fuel drill/driver kit when it goes on sale at HD.

Yes get the impact driver!! They're much better at driving screws in wood. (ex: decking)

The M12 series has a vast array of tools using that battery platform. IMHO M18 is overkill for a homeowner but if most of your tasks will be major then go with the M18 platform.

 

[mishmish]

Alright, ended up with this set:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A08YKV6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Thanks for advice everyone

 

[theoldwizard1]

... no way to even contact them. Lifetime warranty? Good luck with that...

You do have to register the product !

Other here have used the warranty with no issues. One person said he emailed pictures of the broken item and got a replacement in the mail.

 

[M6erfan]

You do have to register the product !

Other here have used the warranty with no issues. One person said he emailed pictures of the broken item and got a replacement in the mail.

They must send instructions with the bits then, because their website is woefully void with information about registering or contact info.

Are they even made in the USA?

Congrats OP!