Corded drill recommendations

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woytovich

woytovich

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I need to buy a new corded drill. I want one that'll let me do heavy work on the cruisers (frame/bumpers etc) and household stuff too...

I'm thinking 7-8amp with a 1/2" keyed chuck...

I'd like to stay at about $100. This is not for everyday professional use.

Any good/bad experiences? Customer service/warranty experiences are important too...

I'd prefer to spend a BIT (pun intended) more to get a better tool without going over-the-top professional grade crazy. I'd like this to be the last drill I ever buy...

Mark
 
x2 on the choice of Milwaukee for a corded drill. Unless you jump up to Fein Tools which costs too much for an occasional use drill, Milwaukee and Metabo give you the best chance at being happy with your decision for a looong time.
 
I'm considering the Milw. 300-20 or the 299-20.... same drill save for a rubber padded handle on the 300... (I want a keyed chuck)

Looking for a sale or good deal if anyone stumbles onto one...

mark
 
Keep an eye on craiglslist.

I have a B&D "Professional" model, it's nice and has worked well on the few times I've needed it. But the Milwaukee will twist your arm off if you bind the bit.
 
KLF said:
Keep an eye on craiglslist.

I have a B&D "Professional" model, it's nice and has worked well on the few times I've needed it. But the Milwaukee will twist your arm off if you bind the bit.
Click to expand...

Hey Ken...

I had seem a Porter Cable PC700D for cheap ($70 new)... and had the thought that it would be "good enough"

That what the front handle is for: to keep your wrist from getting broken. I am concerned about that I must say. I have a BIG old funky drill with the D handle at the back and no front handle... it WILL break a wrist if you are not careful - it scares me to use it.

Am I right that it's the amps that indicate the torque (in general)?

Mark
 
That front handle is so you can get a good grip before the drill tosses you off the ladder when it binds up! I have one of the Milw. 1/2" drills. IIRC there were a couple different RPM ranges available when I got mine (I chose the lower top speed model FWIW). Probably something you could find on Craigslist, at a garage sale or in a pawn shop too if you're willing to wait.

I know you said corded but my dad has a Ridgid brand 18volt 1/2" cordless drill/hammer drill with one of the best keyless chucks I have ever used (including the high dollar jobs for milling machines). I would recommend one of those too. Not quite as torquey as a Milw. but still plenty powerful.

Nick
 
Hey Nick

I have a basic Craftsman cordless for most of the household stuff and other quick jobs. I am looking for something that will sit above that in the food chain... for jobs that will require all-day use or simply more beef. I also have a med size drill press for stuff I can take into the workshop.

It's my feeling that a cordless is never going to have the functionality of a good corded 1/2" 8amp drill... am I incorrect?

Mark
 
On the cordless idea: I have heavily invested in Makita 18V LXT tools (just picked up the metal cutting saw today). I have the big 1/2" hammer drill, that thing has gobs of torque in the lowest speed range. But, it is heavy, it can get tiresome to hump around for awhile. There are times when you need to do a bunch of big holes, and a good corded drill will just make it soo much easier. Just the thing for running a big hole saw thru a frame, something like that.

I also second keeping an eye on craigslist, something will pop up.
 
Corded drills? Here is my recent experience....

I bought a new Porter Cable and remain unimpressed. The chuck got loose on me and was always hard to tighten. I just drilled three, 1 inch wide hole saw holes into 3/8ths plate today....the drill was smoking and spewing oil by the end. Crap.

I bought a new corded hitachi hammer drill.....the chuck was crap also. I spun many drill bits in there and that chuck had a key.

I am in the market again and will likely spend some money on a higher priced unit, a Milwaukee probably. I really like my Milwaukee grinder and hand held bandsaw. They are stout units.
 
vtcruiser60 said:
Corded drills? Here is my recent experience....

I bought a new Porter Cable and remain unimpressed. The chuck got loose on me and was always hard to tighten. I just drilled three, 1 inch wide hole saw holes into 3/8ths plate today....the drill was smoking and spewing oil by the end. Crap.

I bought a new corded hitachi hammer drill.....the chuck was crap also. I spun many drill bits in there and that chuck had a key.

I am in the market again and will likely spend some money on a higher priced unit, a Milwaukee probably. I really like my Milwaukee grinder and hand held bandsaw. They are stout units.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you could have used a mag drill with annular cutters.
 
2mbb said:
I have a milwaukee "hole shooter" that looks likes it's this one, but it's a few years old so I don't really know if it's the 5amp or 8amp model. It it plenty powerful, though. It feels like it can twist my arms off.

Milwaukee 1/2 Inch Magnum Drill With Keyed Chuck No. 0234-6
Click to expand...

I have had this same 1/2" Milwaukee for almost 10 years. Very happy with it. That screw in handle is nice and handy.
I also bought the right angle attachment for it.
 
Makita-6013BR-rw-94402-160700.jpg


it will out last you , and break your wrist if you ask it to .

my favorite feature is that it is great for drilling holes for trailer hitches you just put a jack under the handle and jack up . it drills the holes as fast as you can move the jack .

did i mention its cheap .
 
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