Cordless Impact

Cordless Impact

Cordless Drill Power

About a year ago, I bought a 18v Coleman cordless drill for about $10 after some discounts from HSN. What I did quickly find out was that if you are planning on doing light and occasional drilling or screwing, a Coleman or other basic duty cordless drill will probably get you by. But a big problem with cordless drills is the batteries usually only last 2-4 years, even if you don't use them. So, you probably want to think of a cordless drill as disposable, and expect to replace it every 3-4 years. Using cordless drills improves convenience, safety, and speed for most of my jobs, and unless I'm drilling large-diameter or very deep holes, my cords stay in the van. Whether you are building a deck,drilling through steel and concrete or putting together the swing set for the kids, I would say that a cordless drill is right for you. Most cordless drills features an optimized cooling system, a spindle lock and a soft grip on the trigger for comfortable drilling use which all goes towards making that sometimes arduous DIY task a little more bearable.

Cordless Drills in Use

With the Dewalt cordless combi drill with a single touch, you can shift quickly and easily "drill" to "driver" mode, locking out the clutch for superior drilling. After owning this drill for six months and using it on a number of projects, I couldn't be happier. Powerful and rugged Ive used the 12v version of this drill for years and got this as a 2nd to have a drill and driver without swapping bits all the time. But if you plan on having your batteries last all day, boring holes in a variety of materials, sinking a variety of lengths of screws into limitless materials, then buy a quality drill like this or perhaps a Makita. Though this Makita drill costs significantly more, the power and endurance of the battery is amazing. My test is to hold the drill as though you're using it just above eye level and see how long you can hold it there.

Cordless for the weekend DIY'er

I think a good combination for the weekend putterer is to get a light drill like the Hitachi (or the Makita I mentioned if you can find it) for routine stuff, and apply any money saved toward a good corded drill for meatier jobs. Manufacturers can make lighter cordless drills with the same power as earlier models, or make more powerful drillsat the same weight as earlier models. One drill has a dual charger that charges two batteries at once. Remember though - high voltage isn't the only mark of a capable drill.

What others are saying

While reviews say most pro-level cordless impact drivers work well, they praise this innovative Panasonic impact driver because it adds a clutch to keep it from stripping screw heads. But you may not want to pay the $200 or more which is typical for most cordless drills with that feature if your home to-do list doesn't include larger projects or heavier-duty drilling. If you're looking for a drill that even the professionals would envy, set your sights on Bosch's 38636-01 36-volt Brute Tough cordless drill/driver kit. This is especially nice on this powerful cordless, which has a bit of kick to it. Even low-end cordless drills can drive most screws. A must for the avid handyman, if you haven't already then I would definitely say look in the cordless section next time you are buying hardware.

About the Author

Paul Disley lives and breathes
DeWalt Drill
s and in his spare time puts up shelves.

CLC 5021 Polyester Cordless Impact Driver Holster $9.99 Polyester Cordless Impact Driver Holster - 5021

DeWalt® - Cordless Impact Wrenches $399 Energy-saving impact wrenches cordless. DeWalt® power tools with heavy-duty cordless impact wrench kits include frameless motors with replaceable brushes for extended durability and life Allows access into tighter areas and reduces user fatigue Textured anti-slip comfort grip provides ease of use Comes in 1 piece per standard pack

24-Volt Cordless Impact Wrench by Joe's Racing for Jeep $236.99 1/2 in. drive impact gun;Two batteries;Charger and case 24-Volt Cordless Impact Wrench by Joe's Racing for Jeep

Rockwell RK2800K 18V Cordless LithiumTech Impact Driver $149.99 18V Cordless LithiumTech Impact Driver - RK2800K. LithiumTech Battery Pack. 30 Minute Charger. (2) 2-in Driver Bits. Soft Carry Bag

Bosch 25618-01 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion Impact Driver with FatPack Batteries $279.99 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion Impact Driver - 25618-01. (2) 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion FatPack Batteries - BAT618. Charger. Belt Clip. Case

DEWALT DC823KA 18V Cordless XRP 3/8-in Impact Wrench Kit $249.99 18V Cordless 3/8" Impact Wrench Kit - DC823KA. (2) 18 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

DEWALT DC841KA 12V Cordless XRP 3/8-in Impact Wrench Kit $229.99 12V Cordless 3/8" Impact Wrench Kit - DC841KA. (2) 12 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

DEWALT DC845KA 12V Cordless XRP 1/4-in Impact Driver Kit $229.99 12V Cordless 1/4" Impact Driver Kit - DC845KA. (2) 12 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

DEWALT DC820KA 18V Cordless XRP 1/2-in Impact Wrench Kit $249.99 18V Cordless 1/2" Impact Wrench Kit - DC820KA. (2) 18 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

DEWALT DC821KA 18V Cordless XRP 1/2-in Impact Wrench Kit $299.99 18V Cordless 1/2" High Performance Impact Wrench Kit - DC821KA. (2) 18 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

DEWALT DC835KA 14.4V Cordless XRP 1/4-in Impact Driver Kit $239.99 14.4V Cordless 1/4" Impact Driver Kit - DC835KA. (2) 14.4 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

DEWALT DW059K-2 18V Cordless XRP 1/2-in Impact Wrench Kit $319.99 18V Cordless 1/2" High Torque Impact Wrench Kit - DW059K-2. (2) 18 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

DEWALT DC825KA 18V Cordless XRP 1/4-in Impact Driver Kit $249 18V Cordless 1/4-in Impact Driver Kit - DC825KA. (2) 18 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

DEWALT DC830KA 14.4V Cordless XRP 1/2-in Impact Wrench Kit $239.99 14.4V Cordless 1/2" Impact Wrench Kit - DC830KA. (2) 14.4 Volt Cordless XRP Batteries. 1-Hour Charger. Kit Box

Bosch IWH181-01 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion 3/8-in Impact Wrench $299.99 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion 3/8" Impact Wrench - IWH181-01. (2) 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion FatPack Batteries - BAT618. Charger. Belt Clip. Case

Bosch 25618-02 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion Impact Driver with SlimPack Batteries $219.99 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion Impact Driver - 25618-02. (2) 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion SlimPack Batteries - BAT609. Charger. Belt Clip. Case

Black & Decker BDID1202 12V Cordless Impact Driver with 15 Accessories $69.99 12V Cordless Impact Driver - BDID1202. (2) 12V Batteries. Charger. (15) Hex Shank Accessories. Kit Box

Bosch HTH181B 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion Impact Wrench (Tool Only) $239.99 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion Impact Wrench (Tool Only) - HTH181B. Tool Only - Battery and Charger Sold Separately

Bosch 24618-01 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion 1/2-in Impact Wrench $279.99 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion 1/2" Impact Wrench - 24618-01. (2) 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion FatPack Batteries - BAT618. BC630 Charger. Belt Clip. Case

Milwaukee 2652-20 18V Cordless M18 1/2-in Square Impact Driver (Tool Only) $119 18V Cordless M18 1/2-in Square Impact Driver (Tool Only) - 2652-20

Panasonic EY6588CQ 9.6V Cordless Impact Driver $217.95 "Panasonic EY6588CQ Brand New Includes One Year Warranty, The Panasonic EY6588CQ 9.6V, cordless impact driver is a lightweight and easy to handle tool. The tool weighs only 3 pounds and is 6-7/8 inches long, easily fitting in between floor joists and rafters. Equipped with a sure grip handle, the EY6588CQ features a rubber insert for optimal comfort while working. A 1/4-in. hex quick connect chuck ensures super fast setup. EY6588CQ Features: 9.6V Ni-MH 1/4"" Cordless Impact Wrench, Lightweight, Compact Size, High Power - 650 in.lbs. of Torque, 15 Minute Charge, Variable Speed Control - 0-2200 RPM, 1/4"" Hex Quick Connect Chuck, Ergonomic Design w/ Sure Grip Handle, Replacement Battery Pack: EY9086B"