Cordless Drill Driver Buying Guide

A screwdriver can handle household tasks such as tightening cabinet hinges, putting up hooks, or swapping out the batteries in a toy, but once you get beyond that level, a drill can make life a lot easier. Putting up baby gates or assembling knockdown furniture, for example, is just way easier with a drill. Then, once you get to full-on DIY projects like replacing a rotted deck board or fixing a sagging gutter, a drill is essential.

cordless drill driver buying guide

The below picture shows both a combi drill and an impact driver. The combi drill (on the left) has a much longer body than the impact driver and will have many more options and settings. The impact driver is designed with a shorter/smaller body so that is can reach into tighter spaces and is generally much lighter in weight.

Designed with versatility in mind, a drill driver helps create holes and drive screws. With a key-less chuck that accepts a wide range of both round and hex-shank drill bits, screw driving bits and additional accessories such as hole saws, rotary sanders and wire-wheel brushes. There are a few features you'll find on almost every drill, the terminology may seem a little daunting (especially if you're a first time buyer) so we've explained all the jargon below to help you make a more informed decision.

This cordless hammer driver drill from Makita features brushless motor to provide up to 50% more run time, increased power, speed and overall tool life. Thank to that this tool provides more energy and power, generating a maximum 7500rpm no load speed, impressive max 54Nm torque and up to 30000bpm impact rate. This tool is offering 2-speed all-metal mechanical gearbox. The gear ratios offer you optimum low and high speeds for driving screws or for drilling. The variable speed trigger and 21 torque settings ensure you have the means to drive many different sizes of screw into many different materials.

A cordless drill is a must-have tool for the dedicated DIY-er or tradesperson. You'll want one with lots of power and torque for drilling and screw-driving into a range of materials, a battery pack (or two) with plenty of juice, and useful features such as multiple gear and speed settings.

Beyond this you might also come across rotary hammers, which are essentially a heavy-duty version of the hammer drill and mostly used by tradies, as well as impact drivers, which are designed specifically for driving screws or loosening bolts.

Some people keep two drills, one for drilling and one for driving, as many projects involve both tasks. Many brands offer kits that include a drill/driver and an impact driver for this reason, or other combinations such as drill/driver and hammer drill.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) is the standard battery type that you'll find with almost all cordless drills. Capacity is measured in ampere hours (Ah) and generally speaking the higher the number, the longer the runtime.

Corded drills are ideal for heavy use. When it comes to finding one, there are a few factors you need to take into account. Some are the same as with cordless drills (torque and speed), but you also need to consider:

Drill/ DriverThese drills are used for lighter projects. They can be corded and cordless, although most of them are cordless nowadays. We will discuss the benefits of corded and cordless drills below. The main tasks you can do with the drill/driver are:

This is a tool for driving screws in the drywall or for any projects that involves a lot of screws. It has higher speeds than other drills (2,000 RPM at least) to screw heads at the proper depth every time, so you can complete the job much easier and faster compared to other drills. It can be corded or cordless, but since the speed is high, most models are coded.

Just like the previous type of the drill, it is a tool that is good for screw driving. However, many could agree that it is better than others when you need to tighten or loosen nuts. There are only cordless models on the market. Some of them operate on air pressure, and you will need an air compressor to run the drill.

Corded DrillsCorded drills are arguably more durable and have more strength than their cordless counterparts. Besides, you can use it for as long as you want without worrying about the batteries. The downside is that you have to work somewhere near a power outlet.

Cordless DrillsModern cordless drills have enough power to perform the vast variety of jobs, although their force is limited by the battery. How much power it can deliver depends on three characteristics: torque, voltage and capacity. Voltage and capacity are linked to batteries.

The battery produces voltage. The higher the voltage, the more jobs you can do with the drill. For small projects like screwing, cordless 10.8 volt drills are enough. A bit heavier jobs such as wood and soft stone require 14.4 volts. Most hobbyists will find 14.4 volts more than enough for all their projects.

Regular drills and impact drivers are generally available in corded or cordless models. Cordless tools can provide greater mobility and convenience, not having to find a power source to plug into. Cordless tools also can increase safety as cords can be tripping and electrocution hazards.

Before setting out on your project, ensure your drill or screwdriver bits are appropriate for the job. Not only are there different shanks (i.e. hex, round or slotted-drive system), there are drill bits for different materials and purposes.

A good impact driver will drive an 8in monster screw into wood without kicking up a fuss. It does this by complementing its screwing action with an up, down and sideways hammering motion that's both fast and very noisy. As a result, impact drivers typically output levels of torque that not even top-of-the-range combi drills can match. This means that screws are driven in at record speed and with minimal effort and far less stress on the wrist and forearm. This, in turn, means far fewer instances of screw heads being stripped.

Gtech specialises in cordless products from electric bicycles and vacuum cleaners to lawn mowers and garden tools. The company only recently branched out into DIY power tool design and manufacturer, and this small, compact and rather snazzy looking impact driver is one of the very first products out of the blocks.

Every DIYer needs a drill, but choosing the best cordless drill for those DIY jobs and home improvement projects isn't simple. You will want a drill that is reliable, long lasting and powerful enough to take on any DIY projects you have planned. But alongside features and battery life you will need to consider your budget. If you are a serious DIYer you will need to look for a drill that has top build quality and durability, so expect to pay more. But , if you are an occasional DIYer you can look for a budget-friendly cordless drill that still retains a lot of the same features, but at a lower price.

Here we take a look at cordless drills across the whole market ranging from budget-friendly drills for beginners right through to powerful hammer and combi drills for the most committed of DIYers to help you make the right choice for your needs and pocket. And, as an added bonus we've also included the best deals we can find with quality drills at knock down prices.

Powered by a two-speed brushless motor this cordless drill delivers up to 65Nm of torque. More than enough to tackle your DIY projects. Includes 2x 2.0Ah XR batteries, charger, belt hook and TSTAK carry case

A compact cordless drill that comes with a 2 x 12V 2.0Ah batteries, a quick charger and drill chuck adapter. Great for getting into difficult to reach areas and plenty of power offering 30 Nm of torque

Depending on the trade you're in, or the jobs you'll be carrying out, its likely that you will need a specific tool. Toolstop has put together a Power Drill buying guide to tell you whether a combi drill, drill driver or impact driver is best suited to your needs.

An impact driver will be fitted with a hex chuck (or similar). This is a quick-release style mechanism that differs from the chucks found on combi and drill drivers. A hex chuck takes hex screwdriver bits as an impact driver is essentially designed to drive screws into tough work pieces. However, with the correct bit fitted, you can also undertake some drilling applications.

As you can see, it's important that you use the correct drill or driver for the job, as each has a different purpose. If you only need to drill into wood, a drill driver will do the job. However, if drilling in masonry and tougher materials is a regular occurance, you should opt for a combi drill. For driving long screws, you need an impact driver!

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Most drills fall into two categories, Corded or Cordless. The main difference between these two drills is their convenience and power. Corded Drills are usually lighter as there is no heavy battery pack. However, a Cordless Drill offers better mobility, and you can use it anywhere you want without having to drag an extension cable with you. Because of their built-in battery technology, cordless power tools are usually more expensive than their corded equivalent.

Drill Drivers are the perfect solution for small DIY jobs at home. They not only drill holes into wood and metal but also act as drivers, which means that they can loosen or tighten screws. Usually, Drill Drivers are much more compact and lightweight than their more powerful counterparts. 041b061a72