Inexpensive Cordless Drill/Screwdriver with Chuck for lightweight drilling.

Belenus

Hi, I want a small cordless drill/screwdriver with a chuck for a specific one off job.

I will be drilling about eighty small pilot holes in softwood and MDF for 3.5 x 25 mm and 3.5 x 40 mm woodscrews.

I want a drill that will drill the pilot holes and then insert the screws. I could probably insert the screws without a pilot hole but I prefer to drill one.

I have a mains powered corded hammer drill for drilling into brickwork, walls etc but that has no screwdriver function and is a bit too large in size for the job.

Most of the small cordless screwdrivers I have seen have a hex fitting and not an adjustable chuck and most of the tools with a chuck are more or less the size and power of my existing drill.

Is there any particular make or model you can recommend? It doesn't need to be an expensive long lasting professional tool as it may never be used again after this job.

Battery life isn't too important as I will do the job over several days.

Thanks

daivid

For your intended use I would go corded. I have no experience of this one https://www.toolstation.com/einhell-te-1d7501-750w-corded-impact-drill/p41365 but it seems it would do everything you ask at a reasonable price and would most likely still work if you brought it out of the cupboard for another one off use in 10 or 20 years time.

grumbler

For this particular use the OP doesn't need an impact driver and can buy a cordless Bosch for extra fiver -

 However, I'd prefer a smaller one -

Similar one without impacts can be found cheaper, especially if not Bosch.

This one is £35 and fits all OP's requirements -

daivid

grumbler said:

For this particular use the OP doesn't need an impact driver...

Correct, though the drill I linked has standard drill function and screwdriver function so doesn't have to be used in hammer drill mode. As it is corded it won't run out of battery and will probably last for decades of light use.  Their may be cheaper corded options, if not your £35 suggestion would be ideal if they are certain not to use it again, though once owned they may make use of it given the convenience.

knightstyle

I have had a Lidl one for several years, cheap and good battery life.

Norman_Castle

Belenus said:

I have a mains powered corded hammer drill for drilling into brickwork, walls etc but that has no screwdriver function and is a bit too large in size for the job.

Most of the small cordless screwdrivers I have seen have a hex fitting and not an adjustable chuck and most of the tools with a chuck are more or less the size and power of my existing drill.

I've used a mains hammer drill for small holes, have you tried on scrap wood?

Hex drill bits are available for chuck less tools although if you already have drill bits buying these will be an extra cost.

Example,

 

Or a small hex chuck would work, example, you might find cheaper,  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hex-Shank-Keyless-Drill-1-4-Inch-Bit-Chuck-Adapter-Converter-Quick-Change-Tool-/223774728640

Belenus

Thanks for all your suggestions. Very useful.

Belenus

Norman_Castle said:

Norman, are those Hex Drill bits available with a 7.35 Hex to fit a Parkside (Lidl) cordless screwdriver.

I can only find 6.35 hex drill bits.

grumbler

I am not sure about 6.35/7.35, but usually these drill bits have the same size as standard screwdriver bits. Is it 1/4"=6.35mm?

I'd be surprised if your screwdriver didn't take standard bits.

Norman_Castle

I'm pretty sure there's only one size for screwdriver bits, 6.35mm. Where have you got 7.35 from? It might be a typo in your Lidl instructions.

Belenus

I had a rethink and decided that it isn't necessary to buy a combined drill/screwdriver. If I bought one I could spend a lot of time swapping drill bits and screwdriver bits.

I will use my existing drill and drill bits to drill the holes. I bought a Parkside cordless screwdriver from Lidl yesterday for £18. It works just fine. I can drill the pilot hole with the drill and then insert the screw with the screwdriver without messing around swapping bits.

The Parkside tool is definitely 7.35 mm. It states that in the manual and the 6 screwdriver bits measure 7.35 mm. I have a 6.35 mm hex drill bit and that is too small.

I have no idea why Parkside have used 7.35 mm when everything else appears to be 6.35 mm. Perhaps to encourage people to buy Parkside drill bits.

Anyway it doesn't matter to me. I have what I need for only £18. Even if I never use the Parkside tool again it was well worth it for this job.

Thanks again for all your comments and questions. It is appreciated.