Cordless Drill Battery Packs

Portable power packs that snap into various cordless tools, ranging in voltages from 3.6V to 36V.

Home repair cordless power tools should use 12V to 18V cordless battery packs.

Cordless battery packs are powered by numerous single batteries of 1.2 volts each.

Older battery packs used cadmium batteries which is both a heavy metal and toxic.

Look for battery packs that use Nickel Metal Hydride for better performance and environmental responsibility.

Take care and dispose of them properly

Cordless Drill Features

THE RIGHT CORDLESS DRILL FOR THE JOB



LIGHT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

REPAIR AND REMODELING

HEAVY-DUTY CONSTRUCTION

Installing drapery brackets; drilling holes for drywall anchors; assembling a barbecue grill; putting new handles on cabinet doors and drawers; removing and replacing door hinges.
Building a storage rack; replacing deck railings and fence pickets; drilling pilot holes and driving screws in hardwood or plywood; making furniture; hanging drywall. Drilling holes for bolts and spikes in pressure-treated wood and landscape timbers; drilling holes in masonry walls; installing decking; drilling into steel.


FEATURES YOU'LL NEED These tasks are quick ones, so a tool with one battery will do.

For drilling holes and driving screws, get a drill with two fixed speeds; variable speed is an option. Also, look for an adjustable clutch.
Go with at least a 9.6V tool; you'll need the extra power. In fact, a 12V drill fits the bill for this job list, but the added power brings extra size and weight.

No question about it — you're in the big leagues. These projects — especially drilling large-diameter holes and driving long screws — demand a high-voltage tool.


NOTES For the best combination of power, portability and price, stay in the 6 to 7.2V range. The Ryobi HP61 is a nifty 6V, two-speed model.

This super-compact tool comes with a built-in level, onboard storage for two bits and a clutch. You also get four drill bits, a dozen driver bits and eight socket drivers.

A comparable tool is the Black & Decker 9099KB ,7.2V.
For these tasks, you'll want variable speed, two speed ranges, a clutch and a T-handle. Be sure to get a second battery so you don't run out of power in the middle of a project.

Drills in this category range from $60 to $140. Two professional-level 9.6V models that have all these features are the Hitachi FDS10DVA and Makita 6222DWLEK ).