I've retired & I want to take up electronics as a hobby. I need a cordless drill.

I've been to the Radio Shack, Walmart, Lowe's, Harbor Freight & Home Depot websites. Radio Shack doesn't sell cordless drills. Harbor Freight has a $20 drill but it uses nickel-cadmium batteries. Ni-cad batteries have a memory effect. They wouldn't be my 1st choice. So, Harbor Freight is ruled out.

I can easily spend over $100 on a drill set. I don't want to. I don't want to spend more than about $50 for a basic drill & bit set.

I also want the option of using the drill as a screwdriver.

I've seen voltage from a low of 4 volts to a high of 24 volts. Does a higher voltage mean more torque? What voltage drill should I get?

What size chuck - 3/8" or 1/4" ? When you think about it, 3/8" is just 1/8" less than 1/4". I assume that I should get a 3/8".

Are there any bells & whistles that you recommend that I get?

Any brand recommendations?

 

First you have to decide what your uses will be and find a model that fits your personal need.

For around the house; I've had one of these Craftsman Nextec drills for a few years now, and it has been spectacular. It gets a lot of hard use and has held up much better than I expected. It's small and light so it's great for around the house work, and when you use low gear it has enough torque to drive 3" and 4" screws in wood. I actually used it to build a deck, and with 2 batteries the second battery charges faster than you can kill the first one. It's not as powerful or fast as the bigger cordless drills, but for the bigger uses (stirring 5gal paint buckets, driving big lag bolts, etc..) I have a Milwaukee plug-in drill.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-1758...SellerId=Sears&prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

 

First you have to decide what your uses will be and find a model that fits your personal need.

For around the house; I've had one of these Craftsman Nextec drills for a few years now, and it has been spectacular. It gets a lot of hard use and has held up much better than I expected. It's small and light so it's great for around the house work, and when you use low gear it has enough torque to drive 3" and 4" screws in wood. I actually used it to build a deck, and with 2 batteries the second battery charges faster than you can kill the first one. It's not as powerful or fast as the bigger cordless drills, but for the bigger uses (stirring 5gal paint buckets, driving big lag bolts, etc..) I have a Milwaukee plug-in drill.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-1758...SellerId=Sears&prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

I had forgotten about Craftsman!

 

I like Craftsman too but mine uses the C3 19.2V Lithium Ion packs. Great batteries that are ready for work whenever you grab the tool unlike the NiCds it came with. One unexpected plus is that a lot of these came with NiCds that have died and wind up in thrift stores. I recently picked up a reciprocating saw, a bigger drill and a worklight that all use the same battery packs for $10. Nice.

EDIT: The Li-ion packs directly replace the NiCds. The later chargers also are compatible.

 

I can only tell you how I do something like this. Being retired money isn't in abundance so do some researching first. Many brands of power tools aren't made by the seller. So I try to find one I think will do what's needed. then find who made it and see if some one else sells one made by the same factory, and compare prices. Here's just the first site on Google I found for you, there may be more. http://toolguyd.com/tool-brands-corporate-affiliations/

Also, do you know about 'reconditioned' tools? There are companies that resell after going thru the returned tools, checking and replacing any things that might be wrong. A more complete check than would be done on the assembly line. They sell them for up to half of the price of new. I've bought from a place called CPO for around 10 years now, and almost everything so far can't be told from a new tool if you placed both side by side. Even got my 3 sons buying from them now(their trades men like I was). No bad tools yet. And they come with the same warranty as new. www.cpooutlets.com/

 

I like Craftsman too but mine uses the C3 19.2V Lithium Ion packs. Great batteries that are ready for work whenever you grab the tool unlike the NiCds it came with. One unexpected plus is that a lot of these came with NiCds that have died and wind up in thrift stores. I recently picked up a reciprocating saw, a bigger drill and a worklight that all use the same battery packs for $10. Nice.

And the lith/ion batteries are the same style as the NiCd, or were.

 

Reconditioned or refurbished tools is a nice idea, and thanks for the link I'll check that out! I bought a big airless paint sprayer reconditioned from a store on eBay for a lot less than a new one. Visually it was was definitely used, but it came with new accessories (new hose, gun, etc..) and theoretically new pump insides. I painted my 2-story house with it 2x, my dad's house, my neighbor pained his house and fence, and I did a lot of painting with it at my new house and it's still going strong. I would say it worked like-new. Based on that experience, I would definitely buy a refurbished tool again, from a reputable seller.

 

I also want the option of using the drill as a screwdriver.
What size chuck - 3/8" or 1/4" ? When you think about it, 3/8" is just 1/8" less than 1/4". I assume that I should get a 3/8".

Are there any bells & whistles that you recommend that I get?
Any brand recommendations?

What is your country of origin?
If in Canada Princess Auto have a selection for cheap.
3/8 chuck gives you the most flexibility, also many come with a settable clutch on the chuck.
Max.

 

What is your country of origin?
If in Canada Princess Auto have a selection for cheap.
3/8 chuck gives you the most flexibility, also many come with a settable clutch on the chuck.
Max.

I'm an American, born & raised!

 

I can only tell you how I do something like this. Being retired money isn't in abundance so do some researching first. Many brands of power tools aren't made by the seller. So I try to find one I think will do what's needed. then find who made it and see if some one else sells one made by the same factory, and compare prices. Here's just the first site on Google I found for you, there may be more. http://toolguyd.com/tool-brands-corporate-affiliations/

Also, do you know about 'reconditioned' tools? There are companies that resell after going thru the returned tools, checking and replacing any things that might be wrong. A more complete check than would be done on the assembly line. They sell them for up to half of the price of new. I've bought from a place called CPO for around 10 years now, and almost everything so far can't be told from a new tool if you placed both side by side. Even got my 3 sons buying from them now(their trades men like I was). No bad tools yet. And they come with the same warranty as new. www.cpooutlets.com/

I hadn't considered reconditioned tools. You guys have given me good ideas! What I really need is a kit with the drill & bits & a carrying case. I'll search for those.

 

What I really need is a kit with the drill & bits & a carrying case. I'll search for those.

Most of the ones I have come across come with a case charger and spare battery, don't buy the drills that come with the cheaper drills, they tend to BEND and require resharpening after every use!
Max.

 

I hadn't considered reconditioned tools. You guys have given me good ideas! What I really need is a kit with the drill & bits & a carrying case. I'll search for those.

I agree with Max on the "kit" choice. Unless the drills are at least Irwin tool quality your wasting money. And many of those kit type drills are of the lowest quality too, many call them "sucker deals". For people that don't know any better.

 

Bits are definitely a case of you get what you pay for. Cheap bits dull or break quickly if you drill into anything harder than wood. I've had good luck with bits made from cobalt alloy.

 

Based on that experience, I would definitely buy a refurbished tool again, from a reputable seller.

CPO sells under a few names, Reconditioned tools, Tyler tools there may be others, and they do sell on Ebay too. When looking for a certain tool if one company is out of stock I look at the other ones. Have had good luck with all of them. They also sell new and have some good prices on them.

http://www.reconditionedtools.com/ http://www.tylertool.com/reconditioned-tools/reconditioned-tools,default,sc.html

 

I have one of these and like it a lot. The only thing that came close, in my opinion, was the Dewalt set for $99 that includes 2 batteries. If I had projects that required two batteries, I would have gone with that one. But the B&D model (the lower Dewalt brand) can be found for half the price and is a nice tool. Then just watch for sales on bit sets. It's amazing what you can find on clearance sometimes.

 

I've retired & I want to take up electronics as a hobby. I need a cordless drill.

I've been to the Radio Shack, Walmart, Lowe's, Harbor Freight & Home Depot websites. Radio Shack doesn't sell cordless drills. Harbor Freight has a $20 drill but it uses nickel-cadmium batteries. Ni-cad batteries have a memory effect. They wouldn't be my 1st choice. So, Harbor Freight is ruled out.

I can easily spend over $100 on a drill set. I don't want to. I don't want to spend more than about $50 for a basic drill & bit set.

I also want the option of using the drill as a screwdriver.

I've seen voltage from a low of 4 volts to a high of 24 volts. Does a higher voltage mean more torque? What voltage drill should I get?

What size chuck - 3/8" or 1/4" ? When you think about it, 3/8" is just 1/8" less than 1/4". I assume that I should get a 3/8".

Are there any bells & whistles that you recommend that I get?

Any brand recommendations?

Buy the $100 Bosch at lowes. It has a clutch you can set to prevent over tightening screws. And speed setting and a torque setting.
Comes with two lithium ion batteries.
It can blast a 1/2" hole into a 4x4 no problem.

Anything less and you may as well buy a corded drill for $40 and a box of bits you'll hit $50.
I don't think cords are so bad. If it is your only drill, I would go cord. Pain in the ass if you are out of batteries and have to wait for one to charge.

 

I have one of these and like it a lot. The only thing that came close, in my opinion, was the Dewalt set for $99 that includes 2 batteries. If I had projects that required two batteries, I would have gone with that one. But the B&D model (the lower Dewalt brand) can be found for half the price and is a nice tool. Then just watch for sales on bit sets. It's amazing what you can find on clearance sometimes.

I bought a Dewalt and it has been really good.

 

You get what you pay for. I get around and use cordless drill motors every day, professionally.

Right now, in the US, Milwaukee and DeWalt have the best quality current models. Makita is in the ballpark. Hilti are very good, but crazy expensive.
You might be happiest though to buy an older 14.4V or 18V used or reconditioned tool, which DeWalt definitely had the best. Milwaukee, (like Craftsman power tools) is no longer American in any respect, having been bought out by Asians several years ago, but their quality has improved a lot in the last 2 years.

Ryobi and Porter Cable have some good values, on a few tools, unpredictably.

Of course, being a senior, like myself, you realize that a drill motor is no better than it's chuck!

 

I've retired & I want to take up electronics as a hobby. I need a cordless drill.

I've been to the Radio Shack, Walmart, Lowe's, Harbor Freight & Home Depot websites. Radio Shack doesn't sell cordless drills. Harbor Freight has a $20 drill but it uses nickel-cadmium batteries. Ni-cad batteries have a memory effect. They wouldn't be my 1st choice. So, Harbor Freight is ruled out.

I can easily spend over $100 on a drill set. I don't want to. I don't want to spend more than about $50 for a basic drill & bit set.

I also want the option of using the drill as a screwdriver.

I've seen voltage from a low of 4 volts to a high of 24 volts. Does a higher voltage mean more torque? What voltage drill should I get?

What size chuck - 3/8" or 1/4" ? When you think about it, 3/8" is just 1/8" less than 1/4". I assume that I should get a 3/8".

Are there any bells & whistles that you recommend that I get?

Any brand recommendations?

1/4" on a cordless drill / screwdriver ($20 or so) and 3/8" on a drill press.
Yes, avoid NiCad.

 

As a repairman of nearly anything, I have a 30 year old Makita 9.6 volt drill with 2 speeds, reversible, an adjustable clutch, and ni-cad batteries. That's all I have ever needed. It will drill wood, steel, and concrete. It will sink a 4 inch screw into pressure treated lumber and do that as fast as I can work for 4 hours. I have at least 200 different tips, and that's not counting the drill bits or the duplicates.

The third time the power switch broke, a repair shop clerk said it would cost me $40 for the switch, $20 for shipping, and then labor. "Wouldn't you rather have a new drill that needs a $100 battery every three years instead of a dirty old Makita that needs a $40 switch every 10 years?" I found the switch, a snap ring, and a new clutch plate online for $35 and rebuilt it myself. It is now as good as new.

Maybe you can't buy that quality now, but you can try not to buy one that needs a $100 battery.