Power Tools for the Home – Electric and Cordless Drills

Arguably one of the most important inventions in modern times, the portable drill has proven to be one of, if not the, most important and useful tool today. In this article I'll offer a few tips on how to choose the right power or cordless drill for your needs.

Choosing A Drill:

Because of its versatility, the electric or battery powered drill is a wise choice for the homeowners first portable power tool. It can drill metal, wood, plastic, concrete, and perform many other operations as well.

The size of the drill is determined by the largest drill shank (the shank is the part of a drill bit grasped by the chuck of a drill) its chuck will accept, which may be ¼, 3/8, ½, or ¾ inch. The ¼ inch size is probably the handiest for the average job around the home or workshop. A drills power varies with size and make but typically ranges from 1/5 hp for the ¼ inch models to as much as 1 ½ hp for the ¾ inch models. There are some heavy-duty hand held models with higher HP ratings, but for everyday use they would be overkill. Speed usually decreases with size (though turning power increases), ranging from about 2000 r.p.m. for the ¼ inch size to around 1200 r.p.m. for 3/8 inch and 600 r.p.m. for ½ inch drills. The larger ¾ inch drills (more commonly used for professional and industrial work) are commonly in the 250-475 r.p.m. range. The slower speeds of the larger drills provide greater turning power (torque) necessary for driving large diameter bits and hole saws. Today there are models that perform in all r.p.m. ranges.

The high speed of the ¼ inch drills equips them no only to drill holes up to ¼ inch in diameter in metal and ½ inch in wood, but also for sanding. Variable speed control is available on most models these days as well as the feature to reverse the drills direction. The speed control lets you select the best drilling speed. Reverse is useful in backing out wood bits from deep holes.

Heavy duty drills of any given size vary more widely in price than do the light-duty models because of differences in bearings, wiring, and other features. For normal home use, heavy-duty features are not usually needed.

Most power drills are equipped with 3-wire grounding cords to protect the user from shock in case of internal electrical damage. Although becoming rare, if you buy a drill with a 2-prong plug, be sure the tool is a type in which the outer shell and chuck are completely insulated from the wiring. Such drill are commonly termed double-insulated drills.

Cordless drills come equipped as kit complete with one or two rechargeable batteries, battery charger, as well as a polyethylene plastic carrying case. The rechargeable batteries manufactured today are a far cry from the earlier attempts in power, longevity, and durability. 12 volt, 14.4 volt, 18 volt, and 24 volt batteries are now the ordinary instead of the exception.

Whatever drill you buy, check the guarantee as well as the availability of parts. Your best bet is to opt for the quality of a reputable manufacturer. Keep in mind that this is a substantial purchase of a toll you can reasonably expect to be in action years from now. Do your homework; pick the right tools for your needs, take proper care of it, and it will take care of you for years to come.