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Electric drills - what to ask before you buy

If you're thinking of buying a electric drill, but you're not sure what questions to ask, here are some suggestions. The questions will help you decide what type of power drill is best for you.

Click on a question below for more information.

1. Corded or cordless: Should I get a plug-in electric drill (with a cord) or a cordless one?
2. Charging: How long does it take to charge a cordless electric drill?
3. Comfort: Is the electric drill comfortable to hold?
4. Chuck: What kind of a chuck does the electric drill have?
5. Speed: Does the electric drill have variable speed?
6. Reversible: Is the electric drill reversible?
7. Hammer function: Does the electric drill have a 'hammer drill' function?
8. Clutch: Does the electric drill have an adjustable clutch setting?
9. Accessories: What accessories can I get for the electric drill?

1. Should I get a plug-in electric drill (with a cord) or a cordless one?

Cordless drills

• These use rechargeable batteries - meaning they can run out of charge.
• The voltage of the cordless drill's battery determines its power. A cordless screwdriver could have around 2 volts, but most 'real' drills range from around 10-24 volts. Most domestic drilling can be done with a cordless 12 to 14 volt drill.
• If the cordless drill has a higher voltage, it will likely also be bigger and weigh more, which may make it tiring to handle for large jobs or frequent use. Weight can vary from under 1.5 kilos to over 4.0 kilos.
• The more powerful cordless models can pretty much equal the torque (twisting force) of the corded drills, but again, more power means bigger and heavier.
• Lightweight cordless models are great for repetitive work as they are less tiring to use.

Corded (plug-in) electric drills

• These don't depend on batteries for power.
• The power of corded drills is generally measure in amps.
• Better suited for difficult or long jobs as they don't run out of power.
• Most domestic drilling can be done with a corded drill with a 3/8 inch chuck.
• Not so good on the roof (or in the paddock) as it will require a long extension cord.

2. How long does it take to charge a cordless electric drill?

• Find out how long it takes to charge the battery. They can take from one to eight hours to charge.
• Recharge the battery before it runs out completely.
• Once the battery is charged, you'll have to remember to remove it from the charger pretty much immediately to avoid over heating and possible damage. It is likely there is no indicator to show that the battery has reached full charge, so you'll have to keep an eye on it.
• Batteries tend to lose their charge even when they're not being used, so check that your battery is charged before the weekend if that's when you plan to use it.
• The length of time that the cordless drill battery remains charged will depend on many things including whether it is being worked hard; whether it is working constantly; whether it was fully charged at the start of the job, and even the temperature.
• Some cordless drills come with an extra battery - make sure it's charged too.

3. Is the electric drill comfortable to hold?

Try it in the shop. Look for smooth edges and a good fit for your hands. Is it balanced, or awkward to hold? Is it too heavy?

There are three basic electric drill shapes:. See which one suits you best:

• T-shape - the most populer
• Traditional pistol grip, and
• Right angle, for awkward spaces.

4. What kind of a chuck does the electric drill have?

The chuck is the part of the drill that grips the drill bit.

The size of the chuck will determine the size of the drill bits that you can use. The range is generally 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch. A 3/8 inch chuck will accept a wide range of accessories and suit most domestic applications.

You can get chucks which must be tightened with a key, or keyless chucks, which can be tightened by hand. The keyless one is a lot quicker, and you won't lose the key. Try changing a drill bit a couple of times in the shop to see if it's easy or awkward.

5. Does the electric drill have variable speed?

Variable speed will make life easier. You can use higher speeds for softer materials and lower speeds for heavier materials. Lower speeds are also better when using the drill as a screwdriver so that you have more control of the depth of the screw. Variable speed is particularly useful if you are drilling a range of different materials.

Check out that the variable speed changes smoothly.

6. Is the electric drill reversible?

This is really necessary if you plan on using it as a screwdriver. Find out how easy it is to reverse the direction.

7. Does the electric drill have a 'hammer drill' function?

The hammer drill function means you can choose to make the drill 'hammer' when it is drilling, which is partcularly useful when drillilng masonry.

In rotary hammer drills, this function is always on.

8. Does the electric drill have an adjustable clutch setting?

Having an adjustable clutch setting means the motor will disengage if the load on the drill is too much. A good option for novice drillers... It can stop the drill from stripping the screw head, and can also be used to drill multiple holes to the same depth.

9. What accessories can I get for the electric drill?

You can put an incredible range of attachments onto your electric drill. For example:

• Specific drill bits are available for drilling through wood, metal (high speed steel bits), concrete and brickwork (masonry bits), tiles and glass.
• Screwdriver bits
• Sanding and buffing attachments.
• Hole saws
• Storage case
• Paint mixers

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