Portable drill

[Greg Guarino]

I think that no tool is optimally suited for every job. I have an older Ryobi 12V that I still really like. It's really well-balanced in the hand. The first set of batteries lasted about 4 years.

I also have a Ryobi 18V (I got it when it was about the same price as replacing the 12V batteries, then I found 12v batteries for much less, so now I have 2 cordless drills). I don't think these batteries last quite as long, and the drill is heavier, but it does have more power. The extra power is seldom necessary. I keep the 12v in the house and the 18v in the garage. Sometimes I use both (drill bit on one, phillips bit on the other)

For drilling through the walls and floors of my (brick) house I have a Makita corded hammer drill. I don't usually put the second handle on, which means that at some point I'll be posting here (typing with my left hand) that the second handle is necessary to prevent wrist injury. It's very powerful and the hammer feature really makes short work of drilling through masonry. But I don't like it for driving screws. It's designed to work at higher RPMs and I find the trigger too sensitive to get the lower speeds you want for driving screws.

I also have a couple of older corded drills, a Skil and B&D. I find these handy for really questionable work like wire-brushing and anything else that's likely to gum up, heat up or jam up the tool.

I think that if I had no drills at all, I'd buy a 14.4 volt cordless and the Makita Hammer Drill.

I had to read this twice before I "got" it. Or is my mind just in the gutter?

Greg Guarino

[Rich256]

Of course you do. Just depends on how much he wants to pay and how much he will use it. (When it comes to cars I recommend Jaguar instead of a Chevrolet Aveo - if you can afford it).

[Steve B]

Truth is, there is no ONE drill that does everything. Ergo, a person NEEDS a battery operated drill, a 3/8" electric drill, a 1/2" electric drill, a

1/2" hammer drill, an SDS rotohammer drill, etc.

The OP requested info on a general bracket of drill. I would suggest to him a DeWalt 12v., around $125.

From there, it all depends on what you are going to use it for. I have multiple drills, some of which only come out of hiding once or twice a year, but when they do, they do their work quickly and easily, then go back into their hiding places.

I like to take my Ferrari Enzo on long drives. But, the old '69 VW Beetle is just fine for a 7-11 run for beer and cigarettes. They both have their areas of expertise. One size don't fit all, and each is better than the other in special regards.

So it is with tools.

Particularly drills.

Steve

[IBM5081]

Does your definition of "portable" mean that the drill is cordless? Corded drills are fairly portable. Can be carried in one hand. Unless running a cord to the nearest receptacle is an issue, go corded.

John Lynch wrote:

[John Doe]

I wonder what individual battery size those use (for example, 1/3 AA).

[John Doe]

I suspect most things that cannot be comparison shopped for, like non-namebrand products. I guess that leaves you with an impression of the store itself to go by.

[Rich256]

And my neighbor who doesn't have a corded drill bought a battery operated on three years ago. He hasn't used it yet. Easier to hire someone or sometimes even comes over and asks me to do it for him.

[Mark Lloyd]

I don't know about that one, but I have looked inside a Black & Decker

6V drill. It contained 5 sub-C cells.

[John Lynch]

I'm really sorry about all the repeat post! I didn't think it was working, so I kept trying until I finally gave up. Now I'm very surprised to see that it was working after all. I'm an old guy and not very computer savy. I bought a rental house for something to keep me busy in retirement and I've had situations where a portable would have been real handy. Like when the renters aren't home, and I want to drill or screw outside. Another time was when I built a deer blind a quarter mile from the house.

So I probably don't need a heavy duty one. I checked out the Bosch site that bamboo recommended and I was very tempted to buy one, because I like a bargain, but the one from Sears might be more sensible, considering my needs.

Thanks to all of you! You all had good points that gave me something to think about.

John

[Al Bundy]

John Doe wrote in news:%h4Mg.16830$% [e-mail]:

Let's see, you need to take a drill up on the roof. You take your corded drill up. All you have is a round extension cord because you cut your flat cord with the corded saw when using it. You step on the round cord. Whoops.! 32ft/sec/sec. Hey you on the ground with your tibia at 45 degrees. Is that a round pencil impaled in your chest? Shame on you! Don't you know you're suppose to use flat carpenters pencils on a roof?!

Which may be longer than the exclusive corded drill owner.

[Mark Lloyd]

Let's see, you need to take a drill up on the roof. You take your cordless drill up. The battery dies. Your spare battery is over by the ladder, and you can't quite reach it. Trying, you injure your shoulder (and actually push the spare battery off the roof, where it falls on your wife's head. She yells and leaves to complain to a neighbor), and are not able to finish the job or climb down. You wish you hadn't forgotten your wireless phone, that could have been used to call for help.

[Steve B]

[buffalobill]

[Larry Jaques]

On Fri, 08 Sep 2006 22:42:52 -0500, with neither quill nor qualm, Mark Lloyd quickly quoth:

Hehehe. In that case, the person should stay on the ground and use their cell phone to call a REAL contractor or handyman.

Also, he should heed these timeless words of wisdom:

If at first you don't succeed, forget skydiving. and Never attempt to leap a chasm in two jumps.

-- Vidi, Vici, Veni ---

Comprehensive Website Development

[Mark Lloyd]

Who often DO use cordless drills, although are less likely to carry dead batteries up to the roof.

And, of course, never attempt to leap a chasm when you have absolutely no evidence that the other side even exists (look before you leap).

[Phisherman]

Let me guess...None. Over 20 years of home ownership and I never used a drill on the roof.

[<aemeijers]

Never had to fix any of the tin on the chimney stack, or remount a TV mast, huh? Small jobs like that are what cordless drills are great for. On the other hand, if you are replacing all the shutters on the second floor, working from the porch roof, mebbe that cordless won&#39;t have the staying power to drill out those rusty anchors, or drill 8-per-window new ones in that 60-year-old mortar. Cordless and corded are both useful tools- the trick is in knowing when to use which one.

aem sends....

[krw]

I&#39;ve thought about that. Batteries are _expensive_ and rebuilding them is not quite so, but still...

I think they&#39;re "sub-C"; basically a half-length &#39;C&#39;.