When I started looking for a new power drill I really didn’t think it was going to be any big deal. I mean, it’s just a power drill. There are tons of them, so just pick one, right? That’s what I thought, but it didn’t turn out to be quite that simple. There are so many similarities and differences between models and manufacturers that sorting through all the information I found became quite a project – a project I decided to share with all of you.
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a cordless drill, so I wrote a bunch of articles to help me figure it all out and then put them all together in one place so you can figure it all out without going through everything I had to. Each section below will guide you to the information you’re looking for so you can figure out what you really need in a drill, what you really want in a drill, and how to find the one that’s perfect for you.
The first step in the process of finding the right cordless drill is determining if a drill is actually what you need. The standard drill/driver you’re thinking of is only one member of an entire family of power tools that ranges from screwdrivers to impact drivers. There are hammerdrills as well, but if you need one of those, you probably already know that, so let’s just stick to the basics. This post (When To Use Which Tool) explains the different uses of power screwdrivers, drill/drivers, and impact drivers so you can determine which one you actually need. Once you have that information, you can move onto additional posts that will help you find just the right tool.
Once you’ve figured out which tool you need, the next step is to determine how much power that tool needs to have. I know what you’re thinking – you’re thinking you want all the power you can get! We all get a little crazy and power hungry when it comes to tools – I mean, it’s just human nature – but when you think about it logically, more power isn’t always the most practical. I know, I know, who needs logic? Right? Well, when it comes to power tools, logic really does come in handy, so check out this article (How Much Power and Torque Do I Need) for information that will help you figure out how much power you actually need.
After you’ve determined what kind of tool you need and how much power you need it to have, it’s time to start narrowing down the choices. But where do you start? You start right here (Weight-Size-Handling-Ergonomics). This article discusses the differences in physical attributes you will want to consider when choosing your new power tool. We’re talking about how big you want it to be, how heavy or lightweight, how well it handles, and whether or not it’s going to make your hand cramp up or your arm twitch uncontrollably before you get your projects completed. Check it out and see what gems of wisdom you can uncover.
I know you don’t want to put all this time and effort into finding the perfect tool, spending more than a few of your hard earned bucks to get it into your hot little hands, and then have it laugh at you, sputter, and die before you get your money’s worth of work out of it. You could turn it into a rather stunning paperweight for your workbench, but what is more likely to happen is that you’ll want to throw it against the wall or run it over with your car, and then you’ll probably blow a tire and have to spend more money to replace that, and it will just be a big mess. So before you run the risk of having to deal with all that, check out this article (Durability) and find out what you need to consider to determine how durable your new tool will be before you buy it.
After you’ve figured out everything your new power tool needs, it’s time to get to the fun stuff – the special features and accessories that make a good tool a great tool. I’ve checked out some of the most common “extras” you’ll find included by manufacturers to entice you into buying their products. They all sound completely awesome, and some of them are, but some of them are more of an awesome waste of time, space and energy. Find out which ones I’ve determined are the good, the bad, and the useless right here (Drill Features).
To give you something a little bit off the beaten path to check out before you go, I’ve thrown in some information on a really cool tool that you might have always wished you had but didn’t know even existed! Did you know there’s a “Right Angle Drill” that has a chuck situation at a 90 degree angle to the drill head for getting into those tight spots you could never reach? I didn’t, but now I do and you do too! Check out this article (When and How to Use a Right Angle Drill) to find all about them.
Check out my reviews on the 10 best drills, drivers and cordless tool kits.
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