Versatile drill

I would go for the Bosch even though recharging is 10mins longer the all metal gearbox swings it for me not sure what is in the Hitachi.

Richard

If it really is occasional use and you expect a long life, stay clear of cordless. The batteries will fail long before the machine does. And may well need charging before you can use it anyway.

Agreed. A cheap mains hammer drill from the likes of Aldi/lidl will do nearly all you require of it and even if it dies after 10 years, it wont owe you anything. Battery tools need regular use so they will be ready charged when you want them. Don't expect more than a few (5?) years life (irrespective of level of use) from a battery pack.

Both are well OTT for occasional use.

A JCB, black & decker etc NiCd/NiMH 14v drill would be plenty

yes... they're very handy, but for occasional use the batteries will be flat, and waiting a few hours is far from handy.

... but you'll get better service from your 1970s B&D. They're deeply out of fashion but are surprisingly able, and very reliable.

yep. In your situation I might stick with the old B&D. Better certainly exists, but I don't think you'll get what you want in a cordless.

NT

The bosch is slightly lighter?

Though a cheapy drill probably not much good for screw driving.

Li-ion is much better though for tool batteries.

I've picked up a tool that hadn't been used for a few months and there was still plenty of charge.

NiCd or NiMH, yep they'd have been flat.

Of the two I'd go for the Bosch, probably as much cos I've a few Bosch tools, they have all been reliable

I'd assumed that the B&D had finally died? Agree that an old all metal

dless-combi-drill/9647j

ss-combi-drill/8652f

flat, and waiting a few hours is far from handy.

ut of fashion but are surprisingly able, and very reliable.

exists, but I don't think you'll get what you want in a cordless.

If it's dead, I'd look for something more modern as those lack reverse & ha mmer. But a more modern one won't have anything like the longevity. If anot her old B&D is offered for next to nothing, it's not a bad deal, as long as you have other drills for hammer action etc. I did some core drilling once with an ancient B&D, 270w or something, and it did just as well as a moder n drill despite the power rating difference. (There was some problem with t he shank that made it impossible to use the SDS.)

NT

I really don't think I'd agree. It is a fair point that very occasional use (a couple of times a year?) will be bad from the battery viewpoint.

But the battery drill will have far better control than a cheap mains drill if you are using it for screws.

I use my Makita for screws more often than I use a screwdriver. E.g. for removing and replacing the back of the washing machine the other day: far quicker and easier.

it's bad in the sense that you'll need to wait 3 hours for it to charge first

for sure

yes.... once it's charged. Which takes hours.

NT

It isn't how occasional the job is, it's what the occasional job is. Even if you only drill brick once a flood you need SDS.

Bill

No, money-wise a mains drill will be far better quality that a battery drill costing the same. No batteries and charger you see.

Bill

No - it's still going - and no - it's not the metal one either. But it doesn't do screws - it doesn't do hammer. Just pure rotation at

However I don't mind not having cordless so I'll look around for a mains driven unit which can sit in its box for a year and still work when SWIMBO needs something doing.

The OP was looking at drills with two batteries and a fast charger. My Makita charges in less than an hour. I honestly think a cordless drill/driver is one of the first tools I would recommend for basic DIY (e.g. assembly of IKEA stuff). After screwdrivers suitable for plug tops.

better quality yes. better on screws not by a mile.

NT

mains drills will screw, though control is grotty.

You haven't clarified what tasks you want it for.

NT

I would too, except in a case like this where charge time will turn 2 minute jobs into hour jobs.

NT

I've got an ancient B&D mains drill (Tradesman) which is an excellent screw driver. No torque control, but you soon get the feel of it, as it runs at a very slow speed - about 50 rpm.

I've got a Bosch 18v drill with the LI-ion batteries (although mine are

John M