Types Of Drills – Choose the Right Tool for the Job with Our Guide to Power Drills

Have you ever wanted to drill a hole and hang a painting only to be frustrated for not having the right tool to do so? A power drill can be helpful in this and many other situations, so if you are an avid DIYer or love home improvement projects, you’ve come to the right place.

We are going to help you pick the best power drill for the job based on quality, versatility, and popularity.

Importance of Using the Right Drill for the Job

A power drill works based on an electrical motor that turns a changeable drill bit to drill into materials such as plastic, metal, or wood. A power drill has several different pieces that go into making it work. That includes the power trigger, the reverse switch, and the handle.

Choosing a drill that’s not right for the job can result in a number of problems, including inconsistent power for the job, a cord that can get in the way of finishing the project, a tool with a battery that makes it too heavy to manipulate, and an awkward design that makes it difficult to use.

What to Consider When Buying a Power Drill

Your Budget

As you can imagine, the price of a power drill will vary depending on the drill and what exactly it can do. You can find power drills that cost as low as $30, with more expensive models coming from respectable brands that can cost more than $100.

Establishing a budget is important but you have to understand the limitations as well: choosing to spend as little money as possible might end up getting you a poorly constructed power drill.

Warranty

Knowing about the warranty coverage for a power tool is important because it shows how much a manufacturer stands by their products and gives you a better idea on the average lifespan of the power drill you’re thinking of buying.

Note that some manufacturers will offer different warranty coverage for the tool itself and a separate coverage for the battery or the charger.

Corded or Cordless

It’s really important to be able to understand the advantages and limitations of corded and cordless drills because you might end up choosing the wrong tool for the job otherwise.

Drills that are corded are typically more powerful and lighter in weight than their cordless counterparts. They are, however, noisier and limit your mobility due to the power cord that’s always in the way of your work.

Cordless drills, on the other hand, are indispensably useful, but they are big, heavy instruments with a short lifespan and clear power limitations.

Battery Chargers

The best chargers use a 3-stage charging process, sometimes known as a multi-stage charge. The three-stage technique is used by both lithium and nickel-based battery chargers. However, they operate in somewhat different ways. These three stages are called bulk, absorption, and flat:

• During the bulk stage, the battery will charge up to 80 percent. The charger maintains a constant current and voltage level.
• In the absorption stage, voltage is constant, but current decreases until the battery is charged 100 percent.
• In the float stage, the current and voltage are reduced to a very low level, maintaining the battery fully charged until you’re ready to remove it.

Battery Type and Life

The Ah rating for a battery is translated into Amp hours, meaning that batteries that have a higher Ah will allow the power drill to run for longer.

Batteries that come with drills normally have a capacity of 1.3 or 1.5Ah. That should work for most projects, but not all of them. Models with capacities ranging from 3.0 to 4.0Ah deliver much more power for the same price.

What Job Do You Need It For?

As you’re about to learn further in this article, there are many different types of power drills which are suitable for different kinds of jobs. That means that you need to know what you’re going to use the power drill for in order to determine which type is the best one to buy.

What Are The Main Types of Power Drills

Next up, we’re going to explore the main types of power drill so that you can see what they do, which is the best product in the category, and what you can use these drills for.

Drill Driver – Best for project versatility

There are two modes of operation for a drill driver: drilling and screw driving. There are normally at least two speeds on it. If you want to drive screws at low speeds with a low-speed setting, you’ll find a torque selection ring which is located next to the chuck. You can adjust the torque in order to determine how much force the tool needs to use.

We Recommend this Drill Driver: DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill / Driver Kit

With a lightweight and compact design that allows it to fit into small spaces, this DEWALT cordless drill and driver kit is one of the best products out there. High-speed transmission is available in two speeds (0-450 rpm and 1,500 rpm) to accommodate a wide range of drilling and fastening operations.

It is possible to complete a wide range of tasks with the 300-unit watts out (UWO) power ability provided by this high-performance motor. The 1/2″ single sleeve ratcheting chuck has a strong bit gripping strength and is ideal for small bits.

Hammer Drill – Best for chipping concrete

A hammer drill, also known as a hammer drill driver, is constructed in the same manner as a drill. There’s nothing more to it than a hammer mechanism that shakes the bit back and forth, chipping away at the concrete. This happens while the motor is turning the bit.

Most hammer drills allow you to choose between three different drilling modes: the drill-only mode, hammer drilling, and driving with the clutch. This means you can turn off the hammering mechanism and use the drill driver as you would any other type of drilling tool.

Our Choice for Best Hammer Drill: DEWALT DCD996B Hammer Drill

 

Featuring a heavy-duty ratcheting nitro-carburized metal chuck, as well as a high-efficiency brushless motor that provides up to 75 percent more runtime than compared to a brushed counterpart, this 20V MAX Cordless 1/2 in. Hammer Drill is ideal for a variety of applications. With a 3-mode LED that provides light in dark or restricted situations, it outperforms the previous model by a factor of 20.

You also get the FlexTorq IMPACT READY attachments, which are now available in the ToughCase+ system. Offering an optimized storage solution for your drill bits, it features a clear lid so that you can see the inside of the case with ease.

Rotary Hammer – Best for big holes

A rotary hammer is a heavy-duty power tool, similar to a drill or chisel, that can perform extensive operations, like drilling and chiseling hard materials. Some people confuse it with a hammer drill, but instead of a specific clutch, rotary hammers have a piston mechanism. It makes their blows stronger, allowing them to drill larger holes much faster.

Our Rec for Best Rotary Hammer: BOSCH 11255VSR Bulldog Xtreme Rotary Hammer

The BOSCH 11255VSR is a powerful rotary hammer that operates in one of three available modes: rotary hammer, hammer-only, and rotation-only. It is equipped with a variable speed trigger that includes the reverse feature, making it easy to use and quite accurate.

The D-handle design allows you to get a firm grip and maneuver this large tool with ease. It’s powered by a 7.5-amp motor that juices up the rotary hammer so that it can deliver 2.0 feet/pounds of actual impact energy. Also, it integrates a dust collection system to make it easier to clean up after having drilled those larger holes faster.

Impact Drill – Best for: handling bolts and screws

Similar to a cordless drill, an impact driver delivers constant force through rotational motion to drive a screw, thus saving its short-term bursts of power when it encounters resistance.

If you are working with wood, you are going to need an impact drill for heavy or long screws or bolts. Additionally, impact drivers are lighter and easier to operate than hammer drills. Impact drivers are more efficient compared to the average compact drills at handling big fasteners.

Our Choice for Best Impact Drill: DEWALT 20V MAX XR Impact Driver

DEWALT equipped its impact driver with brushless motors and Li-Ion batteries, which provide higher run time and capacity over the basic models. The impact driver has three speed settings that are designed to accommodate various applications.

Increasing the precision of the movement in speed 1, specifically for precision applications, is enhanced with greater control. It comes with three integrated LEDs that operate at a 20-second delay so that you can get the best visibility without shadow interference.

This impact drill has a lightweight and compact design, so working in small spaces won’t be problematic anymore. The brushless motor is here to ensure the product benefits from a longer lifespan.

Core Drill – Best for: making large holes in concrete

A core drill has a design which allows it to remove a piece of material in the shape of a cylinder, which makes it comparable to a hole saw. It is one of the more uncommon drill types. It’s essentially a huge motor that’s occasionally mounted on a frame to keep it steady during drilling. Instead of grinding out the entire hole, it rotates a core bit, which is the cylinder we talked about earlier.

We Recommend this for Best Core Drill: BLUEROCK TOOLS CORE DRILL Model 4Z1

When it comes to drilling large holes in concrete, this core drill by Bluerock Tools is one of the best products out there. It has a maximum drilling diameter of four inches and can operate at two different speeds: 950 and 2,100 rpm.

With its ease of use and lightweight design, it’s designed to be more portable compared to other similarly priced products. It has a water hose assembly that uses metal fittings which allow for wet drilling. A hold-down switch is also included for automatic use so you can comfortably drill with this thing.

Ground Auger – Best for: making holes in the ground

The ground auger goes by many different names, including post-hole auger, earth auger, or earth drill. It is a large tool which is specifically designed for making holes in the ground. Powered by either gas or electricity, both types of fuel are used to run a powerful motor.

It has a very aggressive drill bit which is basically a large vertical metal rod that has a blade attached on the lower side. This model can also cut or scrape the soil, making it often a more efficient alternative to using a shovel.

Our Pick for Best Ground Auger: Landworks Earth Auger

The Landworks ground auger draws its power from an electric brushless motor with 320 rpm output. This particular auger uses battery power, which means no smog and a lower noise output. On a full charge, the auger can drill about 30 holes at 88.8 watts per hour and around 60 holes at 177.6 watts per hour but using a 4Ah battery instead of a 2Ah one.

It has a three-planetary gear mechanism that increases transmission efficiency. The auger measures 30 inches in length and is constructed using steel with a carbon coating for instead durability. The blades are made from alloy steel.

Power Screwdriver – Best for lightweight applications

Also known as an electric screwdriver, the power screwdriver is a portable electric instrument that lets you effortlessly screw and unscrew. It is constructed with a magnetic bit holder situated at the tip of the screwdriver’s head, but there are also models where the head is fitted with a quick-release device. The bit holder lets you insert the correct bit in only a few seconds.

Our Rec for Best Power Screwdriver: BLACK+DECKER 4V MAX Cordless Screwdriver

When you want a versatile power screwdriver, the BLACK+DECKER model is here to impress. It has a 2-in-1 design which allows you to use it as either a screwdriver, a flashlight (because of its powerful LED light integration), or even both.

The handle can be adjusted to three positions, making it easy to work in difficult angles. Because it’s lightweight and compact, this tool is extremely easy to maneuver. The tool is equipped with a 4V battery that can be recharged and used time and time again.

Drywall Screwgun – Best for installing drywall sheets

Drywall pros and do-it-yourselfers alike will find a drywall screw gun to be a highly handy equipment. With a few minor exceptions, a drywall screw gun performs in a manner similar to a conventional drill.

First and foremost, it is equipped with a dedicated semi-permanent Phillips head bit.  Most drywall screw guns are equipped with an adjustable depth gauge which keeps the screw from diving in deeply and pulling the paper backing away.

We Recommend this for Best Drywall Screwgun: DEWALT 20V MAX XR Drywall Screw Gun

DEWALT is so good at making power tools, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that another one of their products found its way into this list. This little tool right here operates at a maximum of 4,400 rpm, delivering speed and performance similar to that of a corded screwgun.

The nose cone can easily lock in place, allowing you to benefit from three different screw depths. You can also remove it without compromising the screw depth. It comes with a brushless motor that delivers performance as expected from such components.

The Bottom Line on Power Drills

As you can see, there are many different power drills to choose from, so you really have to know what you need from this type of tool in order to determine which type works best for you. If you want to learn about different must-have tools you need for your home, we have plenty of other related content available.

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