Drivers for Dummies: A Newbie Guide to Drills and Drivers
Just like everything else in the market, it’s only wise that you do a bit of research first before buying your power tools and in this article, we’re going to be focusing specifically on drills. This article was formed to better help you, our reader, to decide on what to spend your hard-earned bucks on.
Corded and Cordless Drills
Drills are power tools that excel in drilling holes into wood, concrete, and steel. If you ever decide to purchase a drill to add to your shop, you will eventually come across a dilemma whether to get a cordless drill or a corded one. When considering which drill to purchase, it’s important to keep in mind the difference between the two.
Corded Drills
Corded drills traditionally have more torque and a higher RPM (revolution per minute) and can be exploited for longer use without shutting off. You would often use a corded drill for heavy-duty work in drilling holes in wood, concrete, and steel. These are usually powered by a 110 to 120-volt electric cord.
Cons: Having a corded drill could mean having to lug around extension cords, due to most corded drills being installed with only a 6-ft wire. You will also have to be constantly pulling on the cord to unplug it when moving around your shop, and that might be frustrating.
Pros: One thing to consider when starting out doing DIY projects is that corded drills are essentially more affordable compared to cordless drills, a big factor on why is because you won’t be required to buy any extra batteries and not having to worry about battery life and recharging.
If you’re considering purchasing a corded drill, we recommend that you go for the Black and Decker DR260C Corded Drill. This light-weighted corded drill does a bang-up job in drilling into wood, masonry, and metal, with the 5.2 amp power it produces. It also provides ample variable speed for good control during drilling and driving.
https://www.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-Corded-5-2-Amp-DR260C/dp/B00T2VJ93C
Cordless Drills
Cordless drills, on the other hand, are battery-powered and don’t require you to plug them into any outlets. Its battery life depends on the amp per hour; the greater the amp per hour, the longer the battery life. Unlike corded drills, cordless ones have either a 3/8 or ½ inch sized clutch that enables them to drill and drive with a bit stripping/snapping preventive mechanism. Cordless drills can be used to drill holes into wood, concrete, and metal. You can also use them to screw in fasteners.
Cons: Cordless drills are a much bigger investment because you will be purchasing as many batteries as you have tools and each battery can cost you at least $60. You can also expect compatibility problems as not all batteries will be compatible with your drill. Another itch you’ll encounter is the running out of battery life and having to recharge them from time to time.
Pros: You can work from point A to point B without having to worry about tripping on its cord and lugging extension cords around. As long as you have good quality drills and batteries, cordless drills can be very reliable and powerful to work with, they are also traditionally more durable as compared to corded drills. The clutch mechanism in a cordless drill is adjustable to your preferred setting where a corded drill would normally have a fixed clutch. In terms of longevity, the brushless motors found in cordless drills can perform more efficiently than that of the corded.
If you're just starting out and looking for a quality yet affordable cordless drill, we recommend the Makita XT269M. Its efficient BL brushless motor is electronically controlled to optimize battery energy use to up to 50% longer run-time per charge. It has a 2-variable speed ½ inch Hammer Driver Drill. It is equipped with a max torque and its light-weighted to only 4.2 pounds including the battery. You can purchase a combo kit for only $249.00 on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Makita-XT269M-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless/dp/B01IB4NALM
Hammer Drill
A hammer drill or impact drill is traditionally used for drilling in hard materials such as concrete, brick, and stone. Although some hammer drills are equipped with a setting that allows you to switch to a non-hammering mode, it is highly discouraged that you use it to drill into wood.
Hammer drills can be a bit over on the pricey end when comparing with regular drills. They are also more substantial in mass when we talk about the ergonomics. But when it comes to its functionality, versatility, and durability, and depending on its brand, hammer drills are worth your penny.
We highly recommend the DeWalt DCD996P2 if you’re looking to getting the best quality hammer drill out there. This tool produces high-performance transmission for fast application speeds and improved run time. Its highly efficient brushless motors deliver up to 57 percent more run time over brushed motors.
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCD996P2-Lithium-Brushless-3-Speed/dp/B01DR90NA2
Impact Driver
Impact drivers are mainly used for driving in screws that require a lot of torque. These tools are equipped with a hammering-like-mechanism that pushes forward its screw bit in the actual circular rotation of the chuck. More than just driving in screws, the impact driver also loosens up screws that may have been tightened up too much or have been stuck due to over-torque.
These drivers can pack a powerful punch and, in some instances, are capable of snapping screw bits off in half. If we compare this with a decent cordless drill that, let’s say, produces around 60Nm (Newton Meter, the unit for torque) force, then an impact driver will produce about 150Nm.
If you’re just starting out in the DIY world and are looking to getting your first impact driver. We highly recommend the DeWalt DCF885C1 impact driver. It’s affordable, it’s powerful, and it’s not complex at all to use. Ergonomically speaking, it's quite compact, only taking up 5.55 inches, front to back, and is light-weighted with 2.8 pounds (excluding battery). You can get one for $99 at Home Depot or on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCF885C1-20V-Impact-Driver/dp/B01LBT3AZU
Facing a dilemma on which drill to buy? Why not borrow one instead of purchasing one brand new? Many DIY-ers collect a whole lot of tools and they’re prone to forgetting about the older ones they still have lying around their garage. My Garage Rentals gives them the opportunity to still make use of these tools by having them rented on the site. And you can rent them out yourself. While you’re still thinking on which drill to invest your money on, why not rent one for a day and for an affordable price? Rent a Hammer Drill today for only $30.00 per day.
https://www.mygaragerentals.com/
