What cordless DIY drill

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Dave Plowman (News)" saying something like:

No better way to kill a battery, as I've found. Simple enough to have the charger come on via 24hr timer for 30mins /day.

After many years of using rechargeables for all sorts of things I still reckon charging at 1/10th the capacity for about 14 hours gives the best life. The very best intelligent chargers may be quicker - but don't give a longer service life.

Yes, this is a very effective strategy. it's also a great way to prevaricate. "Yes dear, I'll get right on it. I'll just put the 'driver on to charge. It'll be cooked in 14 hours, so I can start tomorrow." :-)

IIRC they lose capacity at a higher rate if left fully charged. It is also temperature dependent so keeping in the fridge may help.

Same applies with a four hour charge, really. If you want a drill that is always ready for instant work, use a mains one.

(This thread has good timing for me.)

I'm looking to replace my Bosch cordless drill set (2 drills, 3 batteries, 1 charger) which is about 12 or 13 years old (I think). The drills are still fairly good but the batteries are shot and will probably cost more than a new drill.

My main concern is that all the cordless drills I've seen so far only come with one battery, so you run the risk of having to stop and recharge in the middle of a job unless you recharge the partly charged battery in advance of a job. I've been told that the latter is bad for the battery in the long term.

Is that no longer a problem (because of better batteries), or should I seek out a drill or set with an extra battery?

Plenty come with two batteries - but you'd have to search them out. But it depends on use - if doing very heavy work you could run one flat before the second has re-charged. I regard my cordless drills as being for light work - if I need to cane a drill, like drilling out doors for mortice locks etc - a mains one is more suitable.

I'm thinking of getting a mains one for masonry (my house has fairly hard bricks) and a cordless one for general use (instead of the set of two different cordless ones I have now). Thanks.

Your prayers are answered. Got a flyer from Screwfix today - Bosch SDS mains with all three functions and a two battery 12v cordless for 99.99. Pt No 26072-30. I'd say that looks a good buy.

Great, thanks for the pointer!