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NT
Cheap drills
Some jobs are quicker & easier with 2 drills. For regular diyers, a backup drill can be well worth having, or a spare one for the odd time you get someone else in to help.
The drills discussed aren't being recommended for use as the main and only drill.
=3D=3DNew cheapies=3D=3D New mains drills are available in the =A35-10 range. The short life expectancy of most of them makes these poor tools. Even for a light user, if you have to buy a new one every few years, it ends up cheaper to get something that can last.
In the worst cases it seems the manufacturer counts on the tool rarely getting used, with regular use its dead in a month.
The upside is a modern set of features, such as hammer drilling, reverse etc. You also get a warranty, for what its worth.
=3D=3DOld B&D drills=3D=3D Old B&D drills from the 1960s and 70s are given away, or sold for a few pounds.
The 60s/70s stuff is fairly basic. A chuck that's usually big enough, an on off switch, and if you're lucky a 2 speed gearbox. That's it. For a second or third drill that much is fine. In the 80s B&D went modern, with a decent feature set.
These tools look grim, but are capable enough. An old 275w B&D was able to operate a 22mm auger in some very tough wood, without getting stuck or slowing down much, and did a lot of holes without heating up. The 1" auger was a bit too big for it. I even used it with a 2" core drill when I didn't have the right shank for the SDS. They're basic, but capable enough, and at a couple of quid for a backup drill they're a bargain imho.
One thing is worth bearing in mind. Drilling into a buried live cable holding a metal bodied drill is a risk, if the earthing impedance isn't low enough a nasty shock can result. An RCD on the drill lead won't help. So I like to use pvc dipped cotton gloves with these drills.