I think for occasional use and something that'll last, I'd go for corded. And they're much cheaper for the same quality.
[...]its the batteries that are expensive. So if you pick a manufacturer you can get a one and a couple of batteries then you can get other tools from the same manufacturer as naked versions (ie without batteries) at a reasonable price and then just use the batteries you already have.
I'm also thinking seriously about getting a drill and an impact driver, as continuously swapping between pilot bit, clearance bit, countersink and driver on the current project is getting a bit tedious!
I have a couple of these (Well, not De Walt but, in terms of performance - identical)
<Snippety-Snip!>
continuously swapping between pilot bit, clearance bit, countersink and driver on the current project is getting a bit tedious!
Found a picture where you can see what's going on: https://www.s10supplies.co.uk/product/dewdt7601qz-dewalt-dt7601-8-sa-connector-with-holder-pozidriv-no-2/
Found a picture where you can see what's going on: https://www.s10supplies.co.uk/product/dewdt7601qz-dewalt-dt7601-8-sa-connector-with-holder-pozidriv-no-2/Thx Kim.
<Snip>That's it!
So the thingy can be swapped end for end between drilling and screwing?
J
I'm already fighting power tools being designed for bigger hands than mine,
Found a picture where you can see what's going on: https://www.s10supplies.co.uk/product/dewdt7601qz-dewalt-dt7601-8-sa-connector-with-holder-pozidriv-no-2/Thx Kim.<Snip>That's it!
So the thingy can be swapped end for end between drilling and screwing?
J
I probably wouldn't use it loads, but when I do it'll be proper timber constructions and metalwork.
Of all your thoughts, nikki, this one caught my eye. I once had a battery-powered drill and because I only used it occasionally I nearly always got caught with flat batteries (both of them, I had two). If your usage will be only occasional I wonder whether a corded drill will be the better choice. If you mean it gets regular light use then I don't envisage a problem.
I'm already fighting power tools being designed for bigger hands than mine, and I find corded tools add extra weight and pull where I don't want it. I don't often have a power outlet near where I'm working either, so it's cordless for me.
Nor does mine.
But if it something that I'm going to be doing all day, I'd rather use the Bosch - which I tend to view as a bit sacrificial/expendable - as opposed to the Makita which comes through the till at five or six times that which the Bosch does.
My 18v makita LXT drill has no issue drilling masonry...
Makita was just shy of £240.00 - incl; 2 x batteries, smart charger & case.
Bosch was around £40.00.
Exaggeration was there, albeit not in vast amounts.
My Bosch battery drill (Post no.4 in this thread) will drill 8 mm holes in brick of breeze block with no problems. It will also drive screws and is small enough for my wife and adult daughter to use.
Bigger holes in brick, or where real concrete is involved, and the beast of an SDS impact drill is needed. That is mains powered, and I almost always use it two handed. The SDS impact drills have an impact weight inside, with a mechanism to repeatedly launch that at the back of the drill bit. It is much bigger and much more effective on concrete than the hammer action of some drills. If the drill can have the rotation turned off while still hammering, in my experience it's got to be one of the impact types.
While battery impact drills exist, they are big, heavy and expensive, and probably terrible a driving screws. If you need to drill big holes in normal brick, or you need to drill concrete or the blue bricks, you can't do it with any everyday drill that will also drive screws.
While battery impact drills exist, they are big, heavy and expensive, and probably terrible a driving screws. If you need to drill big holes in normal brick, or you need to drill concrete or the blue bricks, you can't do it with any everyday drill that will also drive screws.
I was surprised to see tradespeople buying up the Parkside power tools in Lidl until a builder friend explained that they're good enough to use as worktools but cheap enough to consider disposable when they go to Great Toolbox in the Sky.
Unless you are drilling concrete frequently, there's no point specing your main electric drill around it. The same way it's pointless to spec your every day electric car, round your once a year 1500km holiday drive. You aren't going to get away with the same drill you use to put a 3mm hole in wood, then follow it up with a wood screw, as you would for putting a 20mm diameter 200mm deep hole into solid concrete. For many of us, the holes in concrete are rare, and the easiest option in that case i to hire an SDS+ drill for the job, or maybe borrow one off a friend.I agree. I would just point out that cheap mains SDS drills are so little money that they make hiring less attractive.
Life's too short for shit tools.
J
My Bosch battery drill (Post no.4 in this thread) ...
I assumed that it was general agreement that a monster drill for big holes through real concrete will be shit for 5 mm holes in wood, simply due to the monster drill's size and weight.Life's too short for shit tools.
J
Not sure if your comment is directed at this commentMy Bosch battery drill (Post no.4 in this thread) ...
<Snippety-Snip> ......and one of those useful doodads from upthread should sort me out.Let me know if you have any luck with that, and if so - where from.
Oh dear!All the others I've seen are nudging towards thirty quid.
I haven't looked for them yet, but will let you know if I spot something that looks good. What sort of price are you aiming for?
FFX have the same one Jurek linked to for "estimated delivery by 28th April" at £18.99
https://www.ffx.co.uk/Product/Get/Dewalt-Dt7601-Xj-5035048052372-8-Sa-Connector-With-Holder--Pozidriv-No.2
They also have a set with four different size drills for £25.90
https://www.ffx.co.uk/product/Get/Dewalt-Dt7612-Xj-5035048031810-Quick-Change-Accessory-Set
The 5ah last forever but are also quite heavy and if I'm up a ladder, I'd much prefer a 2ah stuck up its rear.
The 5ah last forever but are also quite heavy and if I'm up a ladder, I'd much prefer a 2ah stuck up its rear.
That was pretty much my reasoning (although budget was a big factor too!). My experience with 1.5Ah batteries is they stop about half an hour before I'm ready to!
2Ah batteries at £12.99 and 4Ah batteries at £24.99 seems to favour buying several 2Ah ones rather than the 4Ah. The slight premium cost is probably worth the ability of being able to charge a battery whilst using another and the lower weight.
The Germans now have a standard for batteries for tools. You can swap batteries between tool manufacturers and you can even have 3rd party batteries. Brilliant.
Unfortunately so far mainly only German companies are signing up for this led by Metabo.
https://www.cordless-alliance-system.com/
I doubt that Makita etc will sign up unless the EU force it as once you have propriotary batteries it locks you in to that brand.
Maybe time for a letter to Makita customer service... Maybe they'll make a CAS adaptor.
I have a couple of these (Well, not De Walt but, in terms of performance - identical)
<Snippety-Snip!>
continuously swapping between pilot bit, clearance bit, countersink and driver on the current project is getting a bit tedious!
https://tinyurl.com/s4nfptx3 (https://tinyurl.com/s4nfptx3)
It might not be obvs from the picture, but this will let you drill a pilot hole, counterbore it, countersink it and fasten the screw without ever having to loosen the chuck.
It's very fast in action.
I've been using them for about 30 years.
ETA - I've just placed an order for the De Walt one as the corners of the hex shaft which goes into the chuck on my one are, after 30 year's use, somewhat rounded.
ETFA - This:
https://www.montanabrandtools.com/products/modular-drill-and-driver (https://www.montanabrandtools.com/products/modular-drill-and-driver)
Is closer to the one I have - it has the advantage of an allen key located in the hex shaft, for undoing the grub screw which retains the pilot drill bit. It has a further advantage that the screwdriver bits are magnetically retained (so easily swapped), and do not rely on a grub screw to keep them in place.
... I did also come across a guy on eBay (https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/jacobadapters) who seemed to be making custom adapters ...
The reviews of that adapter are not promising!
Most local people say that core drills won't touch the local blocks. The main hire place won't hire them out anymore.
Those blocks sound like they need a diamond core drill (used in non hammer mode) and a bit of water - the slurry does as much cutting as the drills surfaces. Resist temptation to turn on the hammer mode - that destroys the high spots of the diamond grit.