What features should I look for when buying my first drill?
What features should I look for when buying my first drill?
Corded drills are good for quick drilling jobs, but they are heavy and require a nearby electrical outlet or extension cord, making them less convenient. My old, cheap corded drill is extremely barebones and lacks a lot of essential features. For example, it does not have a clutch or keyless chuck, and the only speed control is in the trigger. Nicer drills will have a switch that toggles between a slower "driving" mode and a faster "drilling" mode.
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Cordless drills are much more convenient--but only if you buy one with good battery technology. Avoid NiCd/NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, as they charge slowly, commonly have an annoying "memory" problem if you don't maintain them properly, and will never be ready to use when you want to use them. Trust me, you won't want to have to charge your NiCd batteries for 4-8 hours every time you want to use your drill. Instead, buy a cordless drill with a NiMH or, better yet, Li-Ion (Lithium Ion) battery. Preferably, buy one with two batteries and a quick charger, so you can charge one battery while using the other, and you'll be much less likely to get stuck sitting around idle waiting for the battery to charge.
For a novice or home user who will only use the drill a couple times a year, I'd recommend a cheap Lithium Ion drill with 2 batteries for $50 or less. Again, DO NOT buy a drill with NiCd batteries. It will serve you well for several years if you store the batteries inside your house and avoid subjecting them to extreme temperatures such as a garage that gets below freezing in the winter. If you plan on building things or using your drill more frequently, your first set should be a 12v compact drill/impact driver combo kit from a reputable manufacturer. You can usually find these on sale for $100 or slightly more. The greatest advantage is that you won't have to constantly swap between your drill bit and your screwdriver bit. The bonus is that an impact driver is much less likely to strip your screws, even with a Phillips screwdriver bit. Other important features for a drill: Drills, like many other tools, are commodity items these days. In short, you get what you pay for. The more premium brands typically offer better battery technology (faster charging, better able to hold a charge between uses, batteries that continue to hold a charge after many years of charging cycles) and more features, although some homeowner-targeted brands do include extra features. On top of the features above, you can also purchase different types of drills such as hammer drills and rotary hammers and drill presses, which address more specialized needs. Because this question is more about recommendations for a novice, those other types of drills are outside the scope of my answer and would be better served by separate questions. Goto KSQ Technology to know more.
Drill Bit Buying Guide
Drill Bit Construction
When it comes to drills, there are two easily identifiable parts you need to know about – the shank and the chuck. The following information explains how drills and drill bits work:
The shank is the end of the drill bit that fits into the drill and is secured by the chuck. A round shank centers a bit in the chuck more accurately. The flat surfaces on a hex shank allow the chuck to grip the drill bit securely.
Quarter-inch hex shank bits are used on 1/4-inch impact drivers and can be quickly changed. SDS (slotted drive system) shanks are used for concrete drills and demolition bits and work specifically with SDS-Plus and SDS-Max rotary hammer drills.
The chuck is the part of the drill that attaches the drill bit. Most power drills for home use have a 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch chuck. Larger chucks come in 5/8-inch and 3/4-inch sizes, but are usually fitted on heavy-duty and industrial power drills and drill presses.
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