The original cordless drill had neither a motor nor a battery. There was a hand drill in my father's workshop long before he invested in an electric drill with a cord. The first battery-powered drill was the tool that started off the cordless revolution which eventually caused all sorts of tools to become available in cordless models. Some types of tools are more suitable to cordless use than others. Usually those tools that move around a lot in use and do not require large amounts of electricity are the best candidates for battery power. So, the electric drill, by its very nature, was the first tool to get a battery.

          When you are using a drill at many different locations, it’s a real pain to have to drag a cord around with you. At first, cordless drills weren’t very powerful and the batteries didn’t last that long. For a while, that was an excuse for woodworkers to resist the upgrade to cordless. Today’s cordless drills, especially in the 18 Volt class are both powerful in terms of torque and their lithium ion batteries are long-lasting. The new chargers are fast and so, with two batteries to switch off, it’s hard to run out of juice.

 

          So where do different models of cordless drills stand apart from one another? Actually, in several areas, the most important being tool weight and twisting power or torque. It used to be a rule that if you wanted more power and/or longer battery life, you had to accept heavier tool weight in your drill. While this is still true, in a general sense, important inroads are being made by major cordless drill manufacturers to turn this equation around.

          Tool weight is important in a cordless drill or impact driver because these are tools that you hold out at arm’s length all day and while 5 to 10 pounds may not sound like much, each weight increase from drill to drill counts for a lot at the end of a long day on the job, even if your name is Hercules.

           Power is important because cordless drills are often used to drive screws even though there is a better tool for that job: the impact driver. Most 18 Volt cordless drills come with half-inch chucks and if you have ever drilled a deep ½” hole in hardwood, you know the need for power. You might even find yourself driving a large Forstner bit which is a lot more than 1/2". You don’t want to buy a drill that will bog down on the job.

           A cordless drill is the kind of tool that a woodworker uses the most and so it is important to put on your thinking cap to make sure that you are buying the right one for your needs.

          Battery size, expressed in amp hours is another important consideration. All Lithium Ion, 18 Volt batteries are not alike in terms of size, weight or how long they will last between charges. That goes for battery chargers, as well. A half-hour battery charger, as opposed to a one-hour charger can make a real difference if you are constantly changing batteries on your cordless drill.

           When you comparison shop cordless drill brands, you will note that drill power ratings and drill weights are all over the place. So are the prices. You can save by buying a factory-reconditioned cordless drill but don’t buy an underpowered drill with a small battery just to save money. Don’t buy an overweight cordless drill just because it has a bit more torque than its lighter competitor. Get the cordless drill you really need. You will thank yourself later.

           Be sure to check out the SIDE-BY-SIDE-COMPARISON CHART of cordless drills at the bottom of this page, after the reviews. It will make shopping comparison fast and easy. If you see an “n/a” in the chart, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a figure that could have gone into that slot. It just means that the cordless drill manufacturer did not supply it.

           We will only be looking at 18 Volt cordless drills in this review. We want to compare apples with apples and not apples with with oranges. If tool weight and price are your most important considerations, many of these same manufacturers make 12 and 14.4 volt cordless drill models. These smaller drills usually have 3/8” chucks. That review will have to wait for another day.

           Heat kills batteries and so Bluecore batteries are designed with cooling rods built in which are claimed to increase battery life by about 50%. This powerful cordless drill has a 1/2" metal chuck for one-handed drill bit changes and a 28+1 clutch for precision screw driving.

           Torque developed by this drill is rated at 600 Inch-pounds. There are two speed ranges: 0-45 RPM and 0-1800 rpm. Drill weight is 6.6 Lbs. The kit package includes the cordless drill, (2) 18 Volt Bluecore batteries, a 9.6 to 24 Volt battery charger, a magnetic drill bit holder, a Phillips drive bit, a side handle and a carrying case.

Approximate Street Price New: $237. Reconditioned $220.

           Dewalt claims that its XRP Batteries have a 40% greater run-time than standard cordless drill batteries as well as longer life. It further states that the motor delivers 450 UWO (Unit Watts Out) of max power for superior performance. A patented 3-speed, all-metal transmission matches the drill to the job at hand for correct speed and better battery run-time. The half-inch ratcheting chuck keeps drill bits from slipping out. The package includes the drill, a 360-degree slide handle, (2) 18 Volt XRP batteries, a one-hour charger and a kit box.

Approximate Street Price: $237. Reconditioned: $220.

          Makita has developed an “LXT” series of cordless tools that can delver the power of an 18 volt cordless drill with a tool weight of a 12 volt cordless drill. This drill is one of them. Part of the secret of this lightweight power is a Makita-built 2-part motor that delivers 560 Inch-pounds of torque in a tool that weighs just 4.6 Lbs. The Lithium Ion batteries made for this drill deliver 5-times lower self-discharge for use any time and 16 firm holding contact terminals for constant high power. The brushes on this cordless drill are externally accessible for easy changing.  Three speed ranges mean this drill will always be perfectly suited to the job.

           Two built-in LED lights illuminate your drilling location clearly even in the dark. A 45 minute charger is included which features a built-in fan to keep your batteries cool while they are charging. A chip is built into each battery that communicates with an on-board chip in the Optimum Charger during the entire charging process. Included in the package is the cordless drill, (2) batteries, the cordless drill battery charger, screwdriver bits, a carrying case and an operator’s manual.

Approximate Street Price: $330. Reconditioned $250.

           This cordless rill is one of a new “M-18” Series of cordless tools being sold by Milwaukee. As such, it delivers more power, more run-time and better ergonomics than previously available. The Milwaukee 4-pole frameless motor delivers 650 Inch-pounds of torque to handle just about any job thrown at it.  At only 9 1/4" long, this compact performer weighs 5.3 Lbs.

           The single-sleeve metal chuck has carbide jaws for a better grip on your drill bits. Also included are a battery fuel gauge and an LED light. Included in the kit are the drill, 2 batteries, a charger, side handle and a carrying case.

Approximate Street Price: $340. Reconditioned: $270.

          With an overall length of only 8 1/2", the Porter Cable contender fits into tight spaces and weighs only 3.8 Lbs. It has two speed ranges and a single sleeve chuck. The included 30-minute cordless drill battery charger means quick recovery for the included lithium batteries. An LED light is included. The kit contains the cordless drill, 2 batteries, the charger, a double-ended bit tip and a soft-sided carrying case.

Approximate Street Price:  $200. Reconditioned: $70.

           The two-speed Autoshift transmission on this cordless drill shifts between two speed ranges (0-450 and 0-1450 RPM) automatically as the need arises, eliminating the need to shift the gears manually. This can be manually over-ridden, leaving the cordless drill in the high speed range if so desired. The single sleeve chuck holds bits securely and tightly. The die-cast metal gear box insures longer life and an LED light shines on the work area.

          The clutch has 24 positions and battery recharge time is 20 minutes or 45 minutes, depending on which battery size you are using. The kit includes the cordless drill, (2) batteries (smaller size), a charger, contractor bag and operator’s manual.

Approximate Street Price: $200. Reconditioned: $150.

           This cordless drill also has an Autoshift transmission. Speed ranges are 0-450 and 0-1500 RPM. The one-hour charger has a diagnostic read-out function. The included lithium ion batteries are physically smaller than normal to save on weight. One battery of each size is included. The package contains the cordless drill, the one-hour charger, (1) P-104 lithium ion battery, (1) P-103 lithium ion battery, a tool bag and an operator’s manual.

Approximate Street Price (Reconditioned): $140.

 

 

SKIL 2895LI-04 LITHIUM ION 1/2" CORDLESS DRILL

 

           The lithium ion batteries that come with this cordless drill hold their charge for up to 18 months in storage. The Skil 2895LI-04 cordless drill features an all-metal drive train and a 20+1-position clutch. It has removable bit storage, a level and a bit index. The included cordless drill battery charger is ENERGY STAR compliant. A charge meter allows for continual use. Included in the kit is the cordless drill, (2) lithium ion batteries, the cordless drill battery charger, (2) double-ended bits and a carrying case.

Approximate Street Price: $190. Reconditioned: $80.


© 2010 PerfectWoodworking.com

SIDE-BY-SIDE-COMPARISON CHART
	Battery	Chuck	Clutch	Torque	Speed	Drill	Charge	LED	Street	Recond-
	Type	Size	Pos.	(In.-Lbs.)	Ranges	Weight	Time	Lights	Price	itioned
	(18 V)					(Lbs.)			New	Price
Bosch	Bluecore	1/2"	28	600	2	6.6	30 min.	n/a	$180	$170
Dewalt	Li-Ion	1/2"	22	n/a	3	6.25	1 hr.	1	$237	$220
Makita	Li-Ion	1/2"	25	560	3	4.6	45 min	2	$330	$250
Milwaukee	Li-Ion	1/2"	24	650	2	5.3	n/a	1	$340	$270
Porter-Cable	Li-Ion	1/2"	24	325	2	3.8	30 min.	1	$200	$70
Ridgid	Li-Ion	1/2"	24	450	2	n/a	20/45 m.	2	$200	$150
Ryobi	Li-Ion	1/2"	n/a	n/a	2		n/a	n/a	n/a	$140
Skil	Li-Ion	1/2"	20	400	2	2.86	n/a	N/a	$190	$80