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.
Milwaukee expands its LITHIUM-ION system with the new 2602-22 M18 Cordless 1/2″ Hammer Drill / Driver. Featuring a compact and ergonomic design, the new addition to the M18 system claims to be up to 20% faster in concrete than the competition. Milwaukee says that the 2602-20 is the only hammer drill / driver in its class with an all metal gear case, which will provide maximum durability for heavy duty applications.
The Skil 2362 7.2V Lithium Ion Drill/Driver has become one of our favorite screwdriver replacements. With its handy, compact size and enough power to handle many day to day tasks, this tool is a great addition to anyone’s tool collection. Because of its usefulness, it has gained a semi permanent place on our work bench.
NEXTEC 12V Lithium-ion tools are Craftsman’s answer to the subcompact tool category. Featuring a new color scheme that is a fresh departure from the old black and red colors, this line of tools has some unique offerings like the Hammer Head nailer. Since we are on a kick of doing compact drill drivers we figured the NEXTEC 12V 3/8″ drill/driver deserves a closer look also.
Bosch is getting ready to unleash the latest Impact Diver to be added to their Impactor line. This new model will have 1,500 in-lb of torque and will be built on 18V Litheon battery platform. To date this will be the most powerful impact driver that Bosch has to offer and it will rival some of the best offerings from of the competition. You can plan on seeing the new Bosch Model 25618-02 Impactor available on line and in stores soon.
Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation expands its LITHIUM-ION system with the new M18 Cordless 3/8â€and 1/2†Compact Impact Wrenches. The new additions to the M18 line set the industry standard for power, speed and run-time in the compact impact wrench category.
DeWalt redesigned their 9.6V DC750KA cordless drill and the new model offers better balance and an improved clutch system for those do-it-yourself projects around the home. We compared the new drill to its earlier predecessor, the DW952 (the drill more immediately replaces the DW926K-2) and found several distinct improvements which make this new model a pleasure to work with and a definite step up in the 9.6V category.
DeWalt showed us a product that has been on the market for a while, but which is still pretty impressive in its own right. The DC927KL is a 1/2″ hammerdrill/drill/driver that is built for high power, high speed use. The high efficiency motor delivers 425 unit watts at max power to ensure that all drilling and fastening applications are met with plenty of power and speed.
The Craftsman C3 19.2V Compact Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver 11910 is the most recent addition to the already extensive line of the C3 tool system. The latest technology was used to build this compact and ergonomic drill that is 30% lighter and has features normally associated with a full size drill. Standard with a 1/2†keyless chuck, two speed gear box, 24 position adjustable torque clutch and a built in LED work light in the handle.
The do-it-all portable drill that helped to define a market segment! For those big holes saws and auger bits… no problem! For drilling 3/4″ holes in concrete block… no problem! For driving in 1/4″ lag bolts… no problem! For taking the lug nuts off your 18-wheeler… OK, well it can’t do everything. The DeWalt DW988KA Heavy-Duty XRP 1/2″ 18V Hammerdrill / Drill / Driver is the tool for nearly any job. This drill comes with a high-torque motor, three-speed manual transmission, hammer drill setting, and a nifty removable side handle that can be added to the front and rotated 360 degrees to ensure you always have a comfortable grip and maintain control.
The Ridgid R86014 Drill/Driver is a great combination of quality and features. From its very solid construction to the automatic transmission, this drill is a sure performer. What’s more, the lithium-ion batteries reform this tool into something new, stronger, and better than its NiCd predecessors.
