When Pros want to upgrade their systems it’s often difficult to know where to go. While you may have your favorite “color” or brand, we seek to help you understand the competition through rigorous tool testing. We understand the tendency for Pros to choose favorites. To find the best cordless drill, we not only test power, we also look at run-time, vibration, ergonomics, features, and value. We do in-house testing of various torque and speed scenarios using our 2600 square foot shop full of premium testing rigs and measuring equipment. Our individual drill reviews are thorough, and break down the performance, build quality, features, feel, and value proposition of each tool. If you want a tool that’s more suited to driving fasteners, check out our best impact driver reviews where we avoid bias by using standardized testing methods across the board. Without an objective testing source, you may find yourself purchasing a tool that can’t get the job done.
The 2415-21 Milwaukee M12 3/8″ Right Angle Drill Kit makes it easy to drill holes and install fasteners in tight spaces thanks to its compact head size, a 3/8″ ratcheting chuck and a locking spindle. Milwaukee is all about making certain tasks easier and this drill is ideally suited for cabinet installers, furniture builders and anyone else that has to work in confined spaces.
The Milwaukee 2410-22 M12 Cordless 3/8″ Drill/Driver Kit features a compact 12V Li-Ion battery powered drill/driver that packs in full size tool features like an all metal locking chuck, 250 in-lbs of torque and a two-speed transmission. The M12 line of tools from Milwaukee is designed for the professional contractor that needs more from their tools in a compact form, so that they can fit into small spaces and not have the fatigue that is associated with larger, heavier tools.
The new Milwaukee 2455-22 M12 Cordless No-Hub Coupling Driver Kit is specifically designed to quickly install no-hub couplings with accuracy and repeatability. With specific torque settings for 60 and 80 in/lbs, this is the first tool of this kind in the industry. The No-Hub Driver has the ability to fasten up to 300 clamps on a single charge and it is supposed to be accurate for up to 25,000 clamps before it needs to be recalibrated.
One of the first things we noticed about the Skil 2895LI-02 18V Cordless Drill/Driver was how lightweight it felt in our hands. Now some might take this as a negative point, but we liked what we saw because the tool had good balance, was easy to hang onto and appeared to be well made. While many heavy duty homeowners will like this tool, we think that many budget conscious contractors can also benefit from its no-nonsense approach to driving and drilling.
Take something that is good and make it better. That’s what Hitachi did with their new WH10DFL 12V Peak Lithium Ion Micro Impact Driver. This impact driver is also part of the KC10DFL 12V Driver Drill and Impact Driver Micro Combo Kit. Features like a smaller size, lighter weight, better batteries and more power are just a few of the improvements that make this new tool stand out. In a market with many new tools in the sub-compact category, it can be a tricky endeavor to add value and good features.
Take something that is already good and continue to make it better. That’s what Hitachi did with their new Hitachi DS10DFL 12V Micro Drill Driver. This drill is also part of Hitachi’s KC10DFL 12V Driver Drill and Impact Driver Micro Combo Kit. Features like a smaller size, lighter weight, better batteries and more power are just a few of the improvements that make this new tool stand out. In a market with many new tools in the sub-compact category, it can be a tricky endeavor to add value as well as good features.
When you hear the name Porter Cable, thoughts of quality tools usually come to mind; so when we heard about the new PC180DK-2 18V cordless Drill/Driver Kit we were pretty excited to check it out. This cordless drill/driver kit comes complete with two Ni-Cad batteries, a “fast” 60-minute charger, carry case and double-ended bit. As we began to remove the drill from its packaging we quickly noticed its quality, like the gray hard-molded ABS plastic body with black overmolded rubber grips. The tool has a decent heft to it that seemed to convey a rather robust build quality. This is a tool that is ready for business.
When we picked up the Milwaukee 2601-20 M18 drill we immediately noticed its serious heft. Weighing in at 4 lbs, this is not a light-duty model that you’ll want to reserve for assembling furniture and pre-drilling holes for shelves. This is a heavy-duty tool that can certainly hold up to commercial use. It also weighs much less than Milwaukee’s V28 line of tools – which makes it a good fit for professionals who want as much power as they can get without having to look like circa-1984 Arnold Schwarzenegger to carry the tool around all day long.
The new Milwaukee M18 1/4″ Hex Compact Impact Driver (2650-22) delivers impressive torque for its size. The new 4-pole frameless motor not only reduces the size of the tool, it also maximizes its efficiency to increase battery life. This is an incredibly nimble tool that will prove itself to be invaluable in the field for professionals; though its higher price tag will make it a bit of a stretch for the average consumer.
More muscle and extra features are what help define the new DeWalt flagship DCD970 18-Volt 1/2-Inch XRP Lithium-Ion Hammer drill. […]
