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Drill suggestions?

I'm on my first project and I've lost one of my drill batteries. Rather than pay to get a new one, I figured I'd just put it towards a new drill. (I currently own a run-of-the-mill B&D drill, and I'm not sure it would handle what I'm trying to do with it anyway!)

Anyone have any drill suggestions, or favorites, or drills they've had good experiences with for building stuff?

Thanks!

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Drills and Screws

claydowling

Thu, 06/16/2011 - 10:56

I have an inexpensive Ryobi corded drill, and it has actually worked quite well for years. Bought it to build my deck, where it performed admirably, and just kept going.

The other drill, a more recent purchase, is a corded Porter Cable with a 1/2" chuck (but not a hammer drill). I've only owned it for about a month, but used it quite heavily. It's really too heavy for average woodworking use. I used it for mixing cement, mortar and grout for my kitchen floors, because the load would chew up lesser equipment (roughly 300 pounds of mortar, 100 pounds of leveling cement, and 25 pounds of grout). It was only about $30 more than the Ryobi, and was the least expensive 1/2" drill they had at Lowe's.

As for Black and Decker, I'd avoid them. Some products might be fine, but they've developed a reputation in recent years producing disposable products. A good drill should last 20 years easily--even my cheap Skill has lasted that long.

benfoldsfivealive

Thu, 06/16/2011 - 20:48

Thank you! I keep seeing drills that also function as "impact drivers" (I think that's right...) Anyway, I figured that's what I'd need, right? Is there a certain voltage of drill I should look for? I'm going to search for the Ryobi.

Thanks again!

claydowling

Fri, 06/17/2011 - 04:10

Impact drivers are not what you need or want. I recommend a regular corded drill over the cordless. Cordless is more convenient right up until the battery isn't charged when you need it, or the battery pack dies (which it will). There's nothing wrong with the cordless, but everybody I know who uses them owns several because of the battery and charge issue.

I do own several cordless drills though. They just happen to look like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA058000CUP0&nm_mc=KN… and they work great.