My Black & Decker 7.2 V portable drill is dying after 9 years. I'm looking for something with more oomph that will last another 10 years or so. You guys have any advice on a particular brand/model?

I know very little about tools; but I use them all the time around the house. Just today I installed a solar panel on the side of the house to power some lights. It works great! Drilling through stucco, though, was a nightmare.

 

i like dewalt drills. i feel that 14.4 volt models are a good compromise between power and managable weight. the design, materials and construction of their products are of quality. i have three: 12v compact drill/driver, 14.4v drill/driver and a 14.4v impact driver. the home depot has incredible deals from time to time.

 

I used to scoff the cost of the Dewalt drills until I helped a buddy put together a kitchen. I've owned Black & Decker & Makita and now I have a dewalt. It just seems to be very well balanced and the power is very even with great torque management. I've drilled in everything from delicate picture frame screws to pounding in 1" plywood and it's held up like a champ.

 

on the dewalt drills. Me and everyone I work with use 9.6 V dewalts everyday and I've only seen one break (trigger blew up) I've had mine for about 2 1/2 years and I've put a lot of hours on it and have never had a problem with it. I even dropped it 15 feet onto a flight of stairs, and then all the way down the stairs and it still works like the day i bought it.

p.s. you can buy the 9.6 V package and then buy 12 V batteries to put in them. They both work.

 

I dont understand the cordless thing. Just get a chorded drill. Never need to worry about running out of battery and they have more power. And i mean really, how often are you drilling somewhere with no power outlet near by?(or within range of an extension chord)

 

I used to say that... In fact, I've never bought a cordless drill...

But I got one for Xmas a couple of years ago as a "bonus" gift for helping my stepdad build a garage.

It fucking rocks, and I don't know how I've lived without it... It's great for when I'm out in the yard just doing something quick on the shed (to elec. out there) or on my compost bins. I'd have to run the 100 ft cord out there (and still might not have enough).

I still use the old corded drill for specific projects (like using a wire wheel on something). So a cordless isn't necessarily a replacement, but rather a complimenting tool.

 

Milwaukee > DeWalt.

 

Porter Cable > DeWalt too, even though DeWalt Corp owns them now.

Don't get a drill that's heavier than you need - the battery will only cost you more and it will be unwieldy to use. I have a PC 19.2V hammer drill, but that's only because I wanted the hammer drill capability and I used it to drive deck screws when I built my deck.

Six years later it's still in perfect condition - I use it for woodworking so it's driving a lot of screws into hardwood. The 9.6V DeWalt that I had prior to it was worn out (gearbox started skipping when driving the deck screws).

One nice thing about a really strong drill is you can get adapters for sockets and use it as a cordless impact wrench even on fairly large fasteners.

Mike

 

sounds like my Dad talking - he was so against a cordless - always swore by the plug in kind. We were doing his kitchen one time and my Bro-in-law shows up with his dewalt (cordless) and we had a head to head contest so to speak - corded model got buried alive (granted it was probably an old one that he bought when he was younger, but it did not have the power of the dewalt.) He has since bought one

I don't own one, but my next one will be. Mine is a craftsman 14v (i think) - it is OK for what I use it for, but sometimes it has let me down in the torque dept.

 

Not gonna pay that much for a drill if I'm only using it on weekends to be a DIYer. If I was in the trade I'd rock one they are very very nice.

 

There is no way a chordless drill will be more powerful that a chorded drill, dollar for dollar. Your dads drill was probably very old.

 

I agree - but still would never bother with a cord - not since cordless are an equal match. I first bought mine when I laid the floor in my attic - would have been a pain to plug into the light fixture - cordless all the way.

 

I figure cordless drills are good enough. The reason for this is because I never see a guy on a home show (this old house, etc) walking around with a corded drill. They all use cordless. I can be damn sure that I will never be doing the difficulty of work that they do, so I'm sure I'll be fine with a cordless in the future (i currently have a corded one).

 

you'll be fine with a cordless. My craftman (someday will upgrade - when it croaks) has been more than enough. Hanging sheet rock, driving bolts etc.