So, the old standby was a Ryobi D46C, 1100 rpm 3/8" drill, and I compared it to the Metabo SBE 710 (with lights out in the garage to give them as much power as possible). Picking each up, the Metabo is more of a two-handed drill than the smaller one and it's much heavier, as for the difference between somewhat compact tools here. This one came with a keyed chuck as pictured (previously), which I prefer. Other chucks can be ordered separately. The Ryobi one sometimes slips a bit on me, so I'll stick with cranking the more industrial (or unimproved) one tight. Using the same smallish size drill bits (under 1/8", I guess, not the tiniest though), the Metabo was remarkably faster at going though a thick piece of wood, especially on its high gear setting (which gives it around 3x the rpm, and it felt 3x smoother with so much less resistance). It's got a 12 foot long cord too (3x longer perhaps, no make that 3-feet), and this has a ball swivel at the handle for the cord to swing around, so it wasn't flopping about in use. The one I got has a biased US plug (which they don't seem to list as a technical variant, TW it said on their site, well it says US on the plug, apparently a variation then... wait, I see it there now, it's on the
spare parts list, not the
mauals list, and that totally makes sense)!
Initially I wasn't sure about its settings, even after reading the manual, because I was thinking of them backward, or that's typical for some manifolds, where it shows a drill vs hammer icon, I slid the lever over the drill, and did the same with a lever for forward direction, but ended up hammering through the piece of wood in reverse! Yeah, you're supposed to know that whatever icon is still showing is what it's set on.
The manual is for all models too. The higher end ones have a faster listed load speed, while the no-load specs are similar, so that's kind of strange (not sure if their
VibraTech handles would act like a turbo boost on those), and the SB 710 drill-only version does not have a reverse setting (was thinking the SBE was lacking that for a minute there, and otherwise it has an all black side handle, reversible also). Some models have dials for speed control, whereas the one I got has high and low gears, and can be varied further with the trigger partially depressed. It can also be locked with a button on the handle (although I didn't think to try locking it partially depressed, which could be useful if it works that way... actually not, so I could probably use a clamp to set it partially).
Speaking of speed variations, I also tried a German made Schroeder hand drill with a breast plate, which was faster than I expected, enough so to get the bit hot (and why not, the Metabo manual says not to get a power drill wet, so I could use the hand drill in the rain, if necessary). It has two gear settings likewise. I'd say the Ryobi would out perform it about as much as the Metabo outperforms the Ryobi. Another benefit of hand drills is that this one seems to leave a cleaner hole on the back end of what it's drilling through, and works okay vertically with a hand on the breast plate (perhaps why it isn't longer over all). Doesn't seem to go in reverse very well, I just kept spinning it forward and pulled backward to remove it after drilling through. As for the other gear, you have to switch each threaded handle to the other side. Oddly enough, one side of this particular Schroeder has irregular threads that stick against the thumb knob, so I had to add a washer to tighten it ahead of those threads (no problem really, I'll use it on both sides to keep it handy).
I think the German drills are pretty good now, yet haven't compared many others except for their specs (I'd consider the 1/4" Milwaukee magnum at 4000 rpm for small stuff, but don't drill enough to have one of each size, or a faster rotary tool either, they're said to burn out more than they used to). Just thought the Metabo would be a good all around tool for drilling anything (except in all weather), looks like it can handle from 1/16" to over 1" for some materials, and 1/2" for the heavy stuff. I also found tooled steel drill guides in the 29 bit range for more precise work without a press (which this drill approximates at similar rpms). They actually make a press stand accessory for it, but I think the guides should be better in a way, without having to bolt anything down. The hand drill has a 1/2" chuck too, so that would be somewhat comparable in capacity (may have to skip the concrete with that, it didn't come with instructions, just a cardboard box). As for the Metabo case (versus a simple box that some versions come with), it could be done without, or useful for something else, as this drill won't fit inside with the second handle attached. I'd rather not take it apart to store it there... hmm, I think the hand drill would fit it, and a box o' bits.
Just kidding, the big drill will fit inside with the second handle oriented downward (as pictured), along with a drill index, the drill guides, extra hand drill, clamps, etc. It isn't all that thick though, you know (when plastic gets light spots), so it may or may not work out as a total drill kit. Alternately I think a Pelican case would cost me more than this drill, which could not possibly demolish it (that's some serious plastic).
