January 20, 2011
How To Choose The Right Cordless Drill
Cordless drills are very convenient for anyone doing lightweight to heavy-duty drilling. Working around an electrical outlet within your reach and maneuvering around the cord of the drill can be very frustrating when working on a project. Finding the best cordless drills requires paying attention to a few specific factors, and also your own personal preferences for the type of work you are doing.
For a lot of people, power is the most important part of finding a drill. However, more power is not necessarily better. Power is determined by battery voltage in cordless drills. High power is good for doing heavy-duty jobs like drilling into floors or thick wood. In order to have high voltage means having a heavier weighted drill. So if you only need to do lightweight jobs, then it may be better to have a low powered drill.
The handle is also an important part of the drill. Some handles are called T-handles. These have a wider base, usually where the battery is stored. This also helps to balance the drill so you can hold it with more ease. Another handle is called the pistol grip. This is like the handle on a gun. Since it does not have a wide base, it may be a little more difficult to hold, but if you are drilling large screws, you are more able to apply pressure higher up on the handle.
A very convenient part of cordless drills is called the clutch. This is what stops the drill from going too far once the screw has already been screwed in. The clutch stops the drill bit and prevents the screw from being stripped. The more settings the drill has for the clutch, the more types of screws and holes you can easily drill.
Most lightweight drills have a low, medium, and high speed setting. Lower speeds give you more control and are very useful in driving in screws. For drilling holes, it is generally easier to use a higher speed. If you need a drill that will give you a more precise speed setting, then you may want to look for a drill that lets you select the exact RPM speed.
There are also choices for charging the batteries. Some chargers only need fifteen minutes of charging while others take a few hours. Sometimes it is better to have a charger that takes longer because it is less likely that that the battery will overheat. For lightweight jobs a slower charger is better, but for people who constantly use a drill it may be better to have a faster one.
When selecting a drill, it is best to choose one that is comfortable to hold. This can be measured in the feel of the grip it has, the weight of the drill, and the type of handle. Find one that is comfortable to grip, with an easy trigger.
Choosing the right cordless drill means looking at several different factors and weighing out the types of jobs you need it for. Pay attention to weight, speed, comfort, chargers and batteries, voltage, and the type of handle. When you do not have to worry about cords your projects can become less frustrating.
The best cordless drills are the ones that meet your specific needs, so make sure you’re buying what you truly need and not just what’s popular. Lots of shoppers buy a Makita cordless drill since it is a popular brand, but other brands like Bosch, Panasonic, and Ryobi all make quality products, too.
Filed under DIY by Jason Amistad