Know the Drill: What to Look for When Buying a Cordless Drill

Reader Contribution by Steve Maxwell
Published on October 23, 2013
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What’s the best kind of cordless drill for general use around my homestead? I’m confused by the many features and voltage options.

The cordless drill is one of the greatest tool innovations of the past few decades, thanks to steadily improving batteries and motor technology. For many applications, a cordless drill and screws have replaced a hammer and nails. Drills can be used to drill holes or drive screws.

The 18-volt platform is the best for

general use, and today’s top battery-powered models deliver enough power to eliminate the need for a corded drill. Beyond voltage, you’ll need to make decisions about a couple of other features when buying a cordless drill.

First up are hammer drill capabilities. A hammer drill offers the option of pounding the spinning part of the drill back and forth at high frequency while drilling, and this greatly speeds up drilling action in masonry of all kinds. Although hammer versions of cordless drills cost more, the doubling or even tripling in masonry drilling speed is worth it if you anticipate tackling this kind of work.

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