Cordless drill advice

[Deleted User]

My drills are both 35-40 years old, but I've no intention of changing them because the design of today's drills is all wrong. They are a struggle to hold because they have the handle at the back with all the weight cantilevered in front of your hand. My drills have the handle under the centre of gravity, so they feel lighter and easy to hold even though they are actually heavier.

Jonesya

I can't see a battery drill lasting you 20 years, I think you'd be lucky to get 5+ years out of the original batteries certainly not 10 years, at which point you'll find new batteries are either no longer available or probably uneconomic and you'll find need to scrap the drill.

If you want 20 years of occasional use, go corded.

[Deleted User]

Jonesya wrote: »

you'll find new batteries are either no longer available or probably uneconomic and you'll find need to scrap the drill.

You could always build a mains power supply for it.

Gloomendoom

jack_pott wrote: »

You could always build a mains power supply for it.

I added a cord and a cigarette lighter plug to one of my old 12v cordless drills. It's still useful.

jonny2510

Given all the replies (thanks), I'm wondering now whether it would be best to get a corded drill for now that can be my go-to, which should hopefully last. Then if/when I have any projects that will require a lot of drilling/screwing, I could look to buy a cordless drill then specifically to do the job.

People have mentioned budget, and I have no idea. I'm happy to pay as much as a I need for a drill, and don't want to pay any more! There's no point in getting something really cheap that will break in a year or two, and no point getting something over-expensive which I'll never use to it's full capability.

With that in mind, I've found these two that I'm considering:

The Bosch PSB 650 RE Hammer Drill - which at £60 seems a fair price, has lots of good reviews and comes with case etc.

Also looking at Bosch Professional GSB 13 RE Corded 240 V Impact Drill - which is £64 (though would cost £80 with case), is 50W less powerful (at 600W), though is part of the professional range - so maybe this won't make much difference.

To be honest, I can't see much difference between the two. One is listed as hammer, the other impact (not sure if this makes any difference). One is professional (and has 50W less power). One is green, one is blue!

Any thoughts?

henry24

I have the green hammer drill can't fault it when drilling into anything very hard, I also have a cordless for most jobs just because of the time it takes to get the corded drill and extension out.

Norman_Castle

Unlikely the 50 watts will make any difference. Its possible for the blue drill to have higher output from a different motor or gearing. Compare the capacities if you have specific needs.

Green drill £50 here http://www.uktoolcentre.co.uk/products/bosch-psb-650-re-percussion-drill.html?SID=776967&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9afOBRDWARIsAJW4nvyaV3lLHbZCg3H5-Uy6h3lH8t4N3tGnk7pT5gENzWD5y6iUVpqcRLYaAq2xEALw_wcB#ProductTab4

https://www.johnlewis.com/bosch-psb-650-re-impact-drill/p231769542

Strider590

There is only one cordless drill you should ever consider IMO, a Makita.

They're not cheap, mine was £180 and its the mid range tool (£500+ for the pro stuff), but the difference from my old £50 24v B&Q drill is like night and day, no burning smells, the chuck is straight and true (so your holes are exactly the expected size), it lasts longer on a charge (and charges in 15mins) and it'll go through brick in seconds without having to lean on the damn thing.

Downside (sort of) in drill mode without the torque clutch it's easily strong enough to break your wrist, where my old drill would just grind to a halt and make an awful electrical/humming noise.

Obviously you don't know until you try one, but I must have used one for less than 10 minutes before i'd decided I needed one.

Cheap tools = false economy.

Risteard

Strider590 wrote: »

There is only one cordless drill you should ever consider IMO, a Makita.

The correct answer is Hilti. However they will not sell to DIY.

Warwick_Hunt

Strider590 wrote: »

There is only one cordless drill you should ever consider IMO, a Makita.

They're not cheap, mine was £180 and its the mid range tool (£500+ for the pro stuff), but the difference from my old £50 24v B&Q drill is like night and day, no burning smells, the chuck is straight and true (so your holes are exactly the expected size), it lasts longer on a charge (and charges in 15mins) and it'll go through brick in seconds without having to lean on the damn thing.

Downside (sort of) in drill mode without the torque clutch it's easily strong enough to break your wrist, where my old drill would just grind to a halt and make an awful electrical/humming noise.

Obviously you don't know until you try one, but I must have used one for less than 10 minutes before i'd decided I needed one.

Cheap tools = false economy.

Go on then show us a £500+ drill driver. Yours will be classed a a trade drill.