Can you buy quality cordless drills for under $100?

Martin Cordless Drill reviews March 28, 2017March 28, 2017makita 18v drill 0 Comment

If you’re searching for a cordless drill that’s both affordable and powerful, then the Makita XPH102 18V LXT cordless drill with lithium-ion battery deserves a second look.

While it’s not the most powerful or most efficient tool in its range, for around $100 it has a lot to offer that you’d only find on a tool that costs 3 times as much (sometimes more).

Makita got a little high-tech with this 18-volt drill. The on-board Star Protection computer is the brain box of the unit. These controls protect the drill from getting too hot, overloading and over-discharging, so even a novice user can give it a lot of abuse without worrying about damaging it.

Torque, speed and compact

Out of the box, this hammer driver/drill combo from Makita offers a combination of both torque and speed – all in a size that’s compact enough to store easily at home or take with you off-site.

And compact it is. This drill weighs a mere 3.4 pounds with its battery on board. This translates over to reduced fatigue while you work, since it doesn’t weigh you down. What’s more, the drill measures just 7.75 inches in length, making it easy to handle (and subsequently, easier to reach tighter areas where a bulkier tool might find it tough to fit).

The Makita’s ½ inch size and our-pole motor offers an intimidating 480 pounds of maximum torque, and it runs between 1,900 rpms or 28,500 bpms at its highest setting. That’s a lot of power in such a compact driver/drill, so you’ll find yourself reaching for it time and time again for a variety of different tasks and projects.

Versatility

..so you can run it as a hammer driver/drill or a driver/drill – your choice – and it works with a variety of different materials, easily handling basic jobs with wood and masonry or tackling harder applications with concrete or metal.

Extreme Protection Technology

.. benefits us because this drill is specially designed to resist dust and water. The drill’s ‘Extreme Protection Technology’ makes it all possible. This may not be extremely important if you’re using it at home for basic renovations or small projects, but if you’re using it for heavy remodels or working with it in the capacity of a contractor on a busy job site or under extreme conditions, this can be a real lifesaver that expands the useful service life of your equipment.

Battery performance

Makita has really made strides in the past few years when it comes to expanding its 18-volt lithium ion lineup, and this drill/driver epitomizes that expansion. The unit’s battery offers the fastest charge time in its class, so you can keep it fired up and ready to go. This translates to more time spent working and less time spent waiting for a charge.

The secret here also lies in the rapid charger that works with a built-in chip in the battery to control temperature, voltage and current. Better yet, buy a second battery and you’ll always have a spare when you just have no time to wait.

Shine a light on the subject

One last thing to note about this XPH102 drill – it has on-board LED lights, which is something that’s not unheard of but by no means standard within the industry. These lights make it easier to see what you’re working on, so if you’re putting together a project in a dark garage or basement, you have extra light on hand without dragging out a clamp light or work light.

hammer drill — **hammer driver/drill combo WITH BATTERY**

3 year warranty

For the price and the many features this Makita XPH102 18V LXT Cordless Drill with lithium-ion battery offers, it really is hard to resist. And with Makita’s 3-year limited warranty (which covers the drill, battery and charger), you also get peace of mind with your purchase.

We’ve sourced the best prices from Amazon

The ‘no-nonsense’ 20v drill from Dewalt

Finding a drill/driver for less than $100 that actually delivers the power and performance you need is no small feat. But that’s just what you get with this 20volt drill.

DEWALT has a huge reputation in the industry to uphold, so you can be sure right from the gate that it’s not going to slap its name on anything that doesn’t live up to its standards, including this hardworking drill.

Let’s run down the bells and whistles that makes this combination drill driver one to consider.

If you’re looking for a drill that doesn’t drag you down with it (yes, we’re looking at you, clunky drills of yesteryear), this DEWALT model may be just the prize you’ve been eyeing.

The drill’s ergonomic handle ensures that you retain control of the tool during use without any effect on your comfort level.
It’s super compact, so it can fit easily in tight spaces that you’d have trouble accessing with a different tool. That adds versatility to your toolbox, which is invariably a good thing.

That said, this drill is pretty much a no-nonsense tool. It doesn’t have a lot of fancy buttons to fool with. It just performs its utilitarian function like the jewel it is and is a real workhorse.

Specs

The motor offers 300 unit watts out, so you can use it for light and medium-heavy jobs without falter.
It has a high-speed transmission that runs at 2 speeds, so you can use it for a host of different drilling and fastening applications.
This drill’s build quality is hard to beat. It feels super strong and solid in hand. This is a rugged tool that can withstand abuse and keep on ticking. If not, there’s a 3 year limited warranty on the drill. So DEWALT definitely puts its money where its mouth is.

The plastic chuck allows for easy loading of bits up to ½-inch in size, so you can easily switch out bits without too much trouble. The chuck provides super tight strength and has a ratcheting, single-sleeve design, so your bits stay put until you decide it’s time for a change.

For labor-intensive jobs, the battery on this DEWALT drill is hard to beat. It holds a lot of charge, so you can work, work, work without stopping for a recharge or switching out the battery.

Need to install 400 galvanized screws? It’s no problem for this drill. When the battery begins to drain, this drill doesn’t give up like some other models. It holds on to its power till the bitter end, so you can keep on keeping on with no performance fade whatsoever.

dewalt 20 volt drill — *a no-frills workhorse kit WITH 2 batteries*

This unit comes with 2 count them, 2 batteries. This is a nice little touch from Dewalt since it eliminates the need for a second purchase among heavier users. Use one while the other charges; you’re always ready for action with a spare in hand.

It’s also nice to see this packaged with a contractor’s bag for easy storage, even if you’re not a contractor yourself. This keeps everything you need for the drill together, which is a real timesaver when you need to dig it out and get to work. The included charger can be tucked into the bag until needed, or you can hang it on the wall if you want (it has pre-drilled holes for easy mounting).

All in all, this is a miniature beast of a drill in a small, no frills package.

(we’ve sourced the best prices from amazon)

What’s the best drill for tiny awkward spaces?

Martin Cordless Drill reviews March 28, 2017March 29, 2017Milwaukee 18v 0 Comment

milwaukee cordless — *Milwaukee 2702-20M 18 1/2 compact brushless hammer drill driver*

Don’t let the tiny price tag of the Milwaukee M18 System 2702-20M 18 1/2 compact hammer drill/driver fool you.

This mini workhorse of a drill is just the thing for light to medium applications, whether you’re drilling holes for cables and wires or using it with a hole saw.

This is the perfect tool for overhead work and hard-to-get-at spaces

Let’s get one thing out of the way: this is the most compact 18-volt hammer drill available on today’s market, bar none.

No hammer drill is smaller, but why is smaller a good thing, at least sometimes?

Smaller and more compact means that the hammer drill gives you lots of control and balance, so you can wield it like an extension of your arm when you’re working in tight spaces.

What’s more, if you’re doing overhead work, such as drilling a hole for wiring for a new light fixture or a ceiling fan, you want to have a compact drill in hand (for obvious reasons). For this feature alone, this Milwaukee drill is worth owning, even if you have a larger drill that works for most jobs.

Weight

Just how small is this drill? It tips the scales at 3.9 pounds, and that’s with the battery pack on board. It measures just 7 3/8 inches in length. When it comes to shrinking a powerhorse drill down into a small package, we think Milwaukee is spot on with this model.

Now let’s talk motor. This unit’s motor is a brushless model, so it’s more than 50 percent more efficient than similar drills with brushed motors – and it runs up to 50 percent longer and has up to twice the useful service life. Couple that with the drill’s Redlithium battery and what do you have? Reduced trips to the included charger, so you can keep on working when similar drills have already made their last fading rotation.

Redlithium batteries

And speaking of the REDLINK battery – this is not your grandpa’s battery, not by a long shot. This smart battery offers advanced overload protection, which is important when it comes to shoring up the life of the battery and your tool overall. It monitors the temperature of the battery, so there’s no overheating or overcharging, both of which can result in shortened battery life and added (unnecessary) expense.

These batteries are built for the long haul, which is why Milwaukee made them available in this package. When it comes to pack life, these batteries stand down any current batter on the market, so you can have confidence that your tool is going to be ready to work when you are.

Now you may be thinking that reduced power consumption from the battery pack may also equal less powerful delivery and lessened torque.

Not true of this Milwaukee drill, which offers up to 500 pounds of torque and runs at up to 1,800 rpms. The drill’s all-metal gear case is another big draw for this model. It’s super durable and tough, so it can handle the rough-and-tumble use you put it through without breaking a sweat. The 1/2-inch meta chuck ensures maximum shock and impact resistance. Concrete, masonry, wood…it handles it all.

milwaukee m18 — *milwaukee hammer drill kit*

The package that this Milwaukee drill comes in leaves nothing wanting. You get the drill, two batteries, a charger, and a hard-side carrying case, which is a nice touch to help you stay organized or for taking the show on the road when the occasion calls for it.

One last thing. This drill is part of the M18 System from Milwaukee. If you’re not familiar, this line has more than 125 tools to choose from, many of which use the same battery packs, so you can interchange them if you need to – or build a collection.

Verdict

A gift for overhead work. At around $100 this is a great addition to the tool kit for those tight, difficult-to-work-in spaces.

Tradiesmate.com

Month: March 2017