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 ).