Rate Cordless Drill Driver - starterzip63’s diary

Cordless drills used to be laughable compared to corded drills, but in recent years, cordless drills have attained a level of power comparable to their corded.

Find the best 18V cordless drill for your money. Compare ratings on over 100 18V drills with reviews on Makita, Bosch, DeWalt and more.

In last year s Spring 2013 Best Cordless Drills roundup, Milwaukee s M18 Fuel drill driver was our top recommendation. Ridgid s 18V X4 drill was runner up, Craftsman s XCP received special mention, and Milwaukee s M12 lineup was recommended in the 12V Li-ion category.

The question is still the same: I m looking for a new cordless drill, what do you recommend., but our answer is now a little different.

A lot has happened in the 14 months since last year s recommendations. Most notably, there are now many more brushless drills out on the market. For this 2014 edition of our cordless drill recommendations, there are a few new categories to help you determine which is the best cordless drill for your needs and budget.

As with last year s recommendations, these are based on what I feel are the best picks out of all the cordless drills and drivers I have tested and used. Consider it a list of which cordless drills I would buy today if I needed a new drill.

Since drill drivers and hammer drills often share much of the same parts and features, many of these drill/driver recommendations could apply to hammer drills as well.

Do you agree with these recommendation. Disagree. Please let us know in a comment.

Best 18V: Milwaukee FUEL

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL brushless drill kit, 2603-22CT, is still our top cordless drill pick. It s built with a powerful and efficient brushless motor that delivers high torque and long runtime. Even though the M18 FUEL cordless drill is built for power, it is still compact and relatively light, making it more comfortable to use than other heavy duty drills.

If you want maximum power and runtime, pair the brushless drill/driver with Milwaukee s M18 XC extended capacity battery pack. But if you ask me, the M18 FUEL drill is plenty powerful when equipped with their smaller and lighter compact Li-ion battery pack.

Buy Now via Home Depot

Editor s Choice 18V: Bosch

Bosch s 18V DDS181 cordless drill has become my favorite drill to use, possibly because it s one I personally own. It s not the most powerful drill on the market, but it delivers solid performance and is very comfortable

The new Bosch DDS182, which was introduced as part of Bosch s brushless cordless drills and drivers launch, delivers longer runtime and is surprisingly compact, but I still find myself favoring the brushed motor DDS181.

Because the DDS181 drill/driver is not the latest and greatest brushless model, its price has come down quite a bit in recent months, making it a good contender as a top lower-budget recommendation as well.

Buy Now via Amazon

Best Budget 18V: Hitachi

Hitachi s DS18DSAL 18V drill/driver kit might look a little unconventional, but it s a tried-and-true design that s powerful, user-friendly, and very affordable. It might not be the latest and greatest cordless drill, but it delivers good performance at a fantastic price.

Hitachi released a new budget model for 2014, DS18DGL, which has cleaner lines and a quieter color scheme. You can save a few bucks by going with this kit instead of DS18DSAL, but there are a couple of tradeoffs, such as lower torque and lower capacity Li-ion battery packs.

Buy Now DS18DSAL via Amazon

Buy Now DS18DGL via Lowes

Runner-Up Budget 18V: Ryobi ONE

Ryobi s One line of 18V NiCD and now Li-ion tools are prosumer models that DIYers and some professional users are quite fond of. Their mid-range and higher-tier cordless drills are quite capable and are very affordably priced.

Whole Ryobi One drills are not exceptionally impressive, but they do allow for easier entry into the One lineup, which contains some very practical and innovative offerings.

If you re looking for just a budget drill, you could do better, such as with the Hitachi drills mentioned above, and even the Bosch. But if you re looking to slowly grow your power tool kit, Ryobi s One drill/driver Li-ion version provides an excellent gateway.

Buy Now via HomeDepot

Special Mention 18V: Dewalt Premium 3-Speed

Very similar to Dewalt s brushless premium hammer drill, the DCD990 drill/driver is a relatively new heavy-duty 3-speed drill. Although I have never been very fond of Dewalt s 20V Max 3-speed drills, due to their large sizes and heavy weights, their bulk is not for naught. This drill packs in a lot of punch and is more compact than previous generations, which is makes it a great upgrade for fans of Dewalt s 3-speed Li-ion and XRP NiCd cordless drills.

Best 12V: Milwaukee FUEL

Milwaukee s M12 tool platform has become our favorite 12V-class compact cordless tool power lineup, so it should be no surprise that their M12 FUEL drill driver is our top 12V pick.

The Milwaukee M12 FUEL drill driver is the most powerful 12V-class drill we ve seen, and it can even deliver greater torque than a lot of entry-level 18V-class drills currently on the market. A brushless motor means you can expect great runtime, and Milwaukee redesigned the grip and housing for better balance and comfort.

The 2403-22 kit comes with both compact 2.0Ah and extended capacity 4.0Ah battery packs.

Runner Up 12V: Bosch Brushless

Bosch s PS32 brushless drill/driver also launched with the brand s initial wave of brushless drills and drivers, and is proof that brushless doesn t have to mean expensive.

The new cordless drill is compact, light, reasonably powerful for its size, and it sports a new chuck with auto-locking feature. The PS32-02 kit comes with 2 2.0Ah Li-ion batteries that, when combined with the brushless motor s higher power efficiency, means phenomenal runtime.

If you re looking for the latest and greatest 12V tool, and favor smaller size and weight over maximum torque, then Bosch s PS32 is a great alternative to Milwaukee s M12 FUEL drill/driver.

Best Budget 12V: Bosch

When I reviewed the Bosch PS31 drill/driver nearly four years ago, I knew that better drills would follow, and they have. Even so, the PS31 remains one of my favorite compact drills to recommend. It s inexpensive, especially when on sale, and well-featured for DIYers and professional users who have light to medium-duty usage demands.

The PS31 remains a great value, especially since you can now get it as part of a 2-battery and double L-Boxx kit PS31-2AL1A for about 130.

Buy Now Bosch L-Boxx Bundle via Amazon

Runner Up Budget 12V: Milwaukee

Milwaukee s updated M12 brushed motor drill kit, 2407-22, dropped in price to 99 last November, and it seems to have stayed there since.

Bosch s basic PS31 kit PS31-2A sometimes drops from 129 to 99, but only during certain times of the year. If their special 130 L-Boxx bundle is priced higher than you were looking to spend, this Milwaukee M12 kit is your best option for just under 100.

There s nothing particularly spectacular about this drill, but it s capable, durable, reliable, and is engineered with similar ergonomics as Milwaukee s premium FUEL models. It s a solid model that s nicely priced.

If I weren t such a fan of Bosch s L-Boxx toolboxes, this would probably be my top budget drill recommendation instead of the Bosch special bundle kit.

Related: Also check out our Best Cordless Impact Drivers recommendations.

Related Posts.

See ratings reviews for the top 10 best Cordless Drill comparison. We ve reviewed the leading Cordless Drill from Black Decker,DEWALT,Bosch,Skil.

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Jun 12, 2014

2015 Power Tools Guide

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We ve seen the future, and it s cordless. That s our verdict after testing these powerhouse drills.

Roy Berendsohn

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We ve seen the future, and at least as it pertains to drills, it s cordless. That was our take after testing six new 20-volt drill drivers. These tools can be equipped two ways: with a large battery for long sessions of boring holes or driving screws, or with a small battery that decreases their weight and bulk. Regardless, they have an astonishing ability to bore and screw. To evaluate these machines, we used a 1-inch-diameter spade bit and made holes in Douglas fir2 x 8s; then we drove 3-inch-long lag screws into pressure-treated 4 x 4s of southern yellow pine. Finally, we examined the tools performance after leaving them in an unheated garage for several days. All the equipment met or exceeded our expectations for performance and value.

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Black Decker LDX220SBFC

Ranking: 1/2

Price: 90 one battery

Holes Bored: 21

Lags Driven: 94

Amp-Hours: 1.3

Weight: 3.02 lb

Likes: Lifting this petite power tool in his right hand, tester Joseph Truini said, This is a great home-repair tool. It s lightweight and compact. That sums up the B D, but we also like its slim, comfortable handle and its smooth-operating 10-position clutch.

Dislikes: We d like a second battery, and a battery gauge would also be nice.

Gregg Delman

DeWALT DCD980M2

Ranking: Best Overall

Price: 230 two batteries

Holes Bored: 117

Lags Driven: 360

Amp-Hours: 4

Weight: 5.02 lb

Likes: DeWalt is our choice for brute strength and speed. We were surprised by its gusto even after it was left in a cold garage. But all of that power is useless without control. The DeWalt has 22 clutch settings and three speed settings. Our final like: Its -inch chuck is equipped with carbide jaws that resist wear.

Dislikes: None.

Panasonic EY7460

Price: 400 two batteries

Holes Bored: 116

Lags Driven: 320

Amp-Hours: 3.1

Weight: 5.30 lb

Likes: The Panasonic feels so solid that we suspect it s the most durable tool here. When you combine those features with its precise trigger and its authoritative power, you have an ideal tool for heavy-construction projects.

Dislikes: The drill seems to run forever on a single battery charge, but we d still like to see a battery gauge on it.

Craftsman 16496

Ranking:

Price: 120 one battery

Holes Bored: 28

Lags Driven: 82

Amp-Hours: 1.5

Weight: 3.31 lb

Likes: Strengths are power and versatility the tool is a part of the Bolt-On line, machines with a battery-powered motor on a pistol-grip base, and various power heads that snap-fit onto it.

Dislikes: There s a rough front edge that rubs on your hand when you turn the chuck. It could also use another battery and a battery gauge.

Kobalt KT300A

Ranking: Best Value

Price: 160 two batteries

Holes Bored: 34

Lags Driven: 202

Amp-Hours: 2

Weight: 4.40 lb

Likes: The Kobalt is a lot of drill for the money, and it proved to be a capable lag driver perfect for deck construction. We also like its generously sized belt hook, highly visible battery gauge, and the clip for hex-shank bits that fastens onto the drill s side. It s a relief to see a tool with an understated design.

Porter-Cable PCC600

Price: 150 two batteries

Holes Bored: 26

Lags Driven: 127

Weight: 3.53 lb

Likes: This tool combines decent power with helpful features such as a battery gauge and magnetic bit holders. Satisfying hole-drilling and lag-driving numbers don t tell the whole story it drives fasteners and bores holes quickly, and its light weight and compactness make it a natural fit if you use a drill holster.

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