Power tools question (drills)

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beer

Lifer
Jun 27, 2000
11,169
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So tonight my girlfriend took me to Sears to pick out a drill. My dad told me to go with a Craftsman, since his lasted him over 15 years and the Black and Decker stuff was made poorly, in his experience. Whether or not it's true is a different matter entirely, but I wanted to avoid the whole I-told-you-so thing and my dad is usually pretty good when it comes to mechanical things like this.

Anyways, I can't decide which drill I want.

Both are corded Craftsmans. One is 6A, 1/2" chuck, the other is 5A and 3/8" chuck. They are both keyless.

I couldn't find anything in the store that required > 3/8" chuck. Even the 1/2" bits had a 3/8" shant. Is there any neeed for the 6A, 1/2" one? I don't foresee myself having to cut through anything more than sheet metal and wood.

5A seems like an insane amount of power considering that the 18V drills accomplish most tasks at a fraction of the power. The 5A drill is about 1/2 the cost of the 6A one. I do intend on getting a cordless drill eventually for lighter-duty stuff.
 
amdskip

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
22,530
13
81
Go with the 3/8" if you do not currently have a drill. You can always get a 1/2" one later if you need it for a project.
 
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cornbread

Senior member
Jan 4, 2001
606
0
0
If you've got the money laying around and you plan to use the drill a good bit, I'd go with the DeWalt 18V cordless with 1/2" chuck. 3/8" would work as well.. If you plan any drilling through much cement/masonry, the hammer-drill option is great as well.
If you don't plan on using the drill quite as much, you might want to stick with the Craftsman though. B&D is ok, but Craftsman is the next step up.
Personally, I do quite a bit of drilling, and love my DeWalt..

One other note though --- I would recommend going ahead and getting a cordless drill as a matter of convenience. 18V would be your best option.
 
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T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
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My Craftsman corded drill (3/8") lasted me for 16 years -- and I just sold it this past summer - and it was still working. The bushings were starting to make a little noise, but I put lots of miles on that drill. I only paid $19.99 for it, too.

Two years ago, I purchased a 16.8V cordless drill that served me well for the past two years. However, the charger no longer works, but the drill and batteries are still fine. Last week, I purchased another Craftsman - a 19.2V "EX" cordless from Craftsman. This baby feature 400 in. Lbs. of torque and was only $90.00 - with a 3.6V screwdriver, a canvas storage bag and a stud sensor. It's the most powerful cordless drill they sell.

Personally, I'd try to get a cordless drill if you can. Working with a corded drill and the "old-style" chuck isn't too much fun. Granted, the cordless drills are a bit more money - but the flexibility that they provide more than makes up for the additional cost.

The last I heard, Craftsman cordless drills were made by Ryobi - which is also apparently making the Rigid power tools for Home Depot, too.

 
B

beer

Lifer
Jun 27, 2000
11,169
1
0
Originally posted by: cornbread
If you've got the money laying around and you plan to use the drill a good bit, I'd go with the DeWalt 18V cordless with 1/2" chuck. 3/8" would work as well.. If you plan any drilling through much cement/masonry, the hammer-drill option is great as well.
If you don't plan on using the drill quite as much, you might want to stick with the Craftsman though. B&D is ok, but Craftsman is the next step up.
Personally, I do quite a bit of drilling, and love my DeWalt..

One other note though --- I would recommend going ahead and getting a cordless drill as a matter of convenience. 18V would be your best option.
Click to expand...

Well, seeing as that it is a gift, I don't want to push it. The bit set she already for me was $30 something, so I don't want a drill >$60. It'd be asking too much. None of the 18V models were in that price range.

But the question remainds, is there any need for a 1/2" chuck?
 
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beatmix01

Golden Member
Jun 22, 2001
1,008
1
0
i have a ryobi 7.2 volt and it works for my needs wonderfully.


now just to put my dremel to some good use
 
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T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
0
But the question remainds, is there any need for a 1/2" chuck?
Click to expand...
Not really -- unless you are doing some heavy drilling that specifically requires 1/2" shanks on the bits. Like you said, many of the larger bits are made for a 3/8" drill anyway. If you need to drill something that would require a bigger bit - and lots more power, you could just get a bigger drill from a tool rental center. I think the 3/8" drill that you are looking at should be fine - go for it, I think it will be a nice gift for you.

 
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cornbread

Senior member
Jan 4, 2001
606
0
0
Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
My Craftsman corded drill (3/8") lasted me for 16 years -- and I just sold it this past summer - and it was still working. The bushings were starting to make a little noise, but I put lots of miles on that drill. I only paid $19.99 for it, too.

Two years ago, I purchased a 16.8V cordless drill that served me well for the past two years. However, the charger no longer works, but the drill and batteries are still fine. Last week, I purchased another Craftsman - a 19.2V "EX" cordless from Craftsman. This baby feature 400 in. Lbs. of torque and was only $90.00 - with a 3.6V screwdriver, a canvas storage bag and a stud sensor. It's the most powerful cordless drill they sell.

Personally, I'd try to get a cordless drill if you can. Working with a corded drill and the "old-style" chuck isn't too much fun. Granted, the cordless drills are a bit more money - but the flexibility that they provide more than makes up for the additional cost.

The last I heard, Craftsman cordless drills were made by Ryobi - which is also apparently making the Rigid power tools for Home Depot, too.
Click to expand...

Is it Rigid that makes some of the best drills next to Dewalt, or is it Milwalkee?
 
C

cornbread

Senior member
Jan 4, 2001
606
0
0
Originally posted by: Elemental007
Originally posted by: cornbread
If you've got the money laying around and you plan to use the drill a good bit, I'd go with the DeWalt 18V cordless with 1/2" chuck. 3/8" would work as well.. If you plan any drilling through much cement/masonry, the hammer-drill option is great as well.
If you don't plan on using the drill quite as much, you might want to stick with the Craftsman though. B&D is ok, but Craftsman is the next step up.
Personally, I do quite a bit of drilling, and love my DeWalt..

One other note though --- I would recommend going ahead and getting a cordless drill as a matter of convenience. 18V would be your best option.
Click to expand...

Well, seeing as that it is a gift, I don't want to push it. The bit set she already for me was $30 something, so I don't want a drill >$60. It'd be asking too much. None of the 18V models were in that price range.

But the question remainds, is there any need for a 1/2" chuck?
Click to expand...


Nah, you can get by just fine with a 3/8" for most household projects.. 1/2" is nice to have, but 3/8" would be better for you, especially considering the money factor..It'd be better to get a better quality 3/8" than a lower quality 1/2", when you probably wouldn't use the 1/2 much anyways.. So follow amdskip's advice :p
 
R

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
12,493
18
81
Do not get the 1/2" drill. It is designed for turning the larger bits and more than likely is about 600 RPM which is unsuitable for smaller bits in most cases.
 
MedicBob

MedicBob

Diamond Member
Nov 29, 2001
4,151
1
0
Personally get a Dewault or a Milwaukee drill if you can. Craftsman drills are ok. Everything depends on what you plan on doing and how often you plan on doing it. Light to medium use, craftsman. Use on a daily basis, Dewault or Milwaukee.

I agree with your dad, stay away from Black and Decker. 3 drills, 1 palm sander, and 2 recharging bases later in under 1 year, I will never buy another Black and Decker powered tool again.

Bob
 
B

beer

Lifer
Jun 27, 2000
11,169
1
0
Originally posted by: MedicBob
Personally get a Dewault or a Milwaukee drill if you can. Craftsman drills are ok. Everything depends on what you plan on doing and how often you plan on doing it. Light to medium use, craftsman. Use on a daily basis, Dewault or Milwaukee.

I agree with your dad, stay away from Black and Decker. 3 drills, 1 palm sander, and 2 recharging bases later in under 1 year, I will never buy another Black and Decker powered tool again.

Bob
Click to expand...

This will be very light use. Maybe a few times a year. I have some uses for it as an engineer, but I deal with mostly electronics. The only use I'd have of it now is for projects that involve mechanical interfaces such as robotics. But, it's something I should have, because IMO I'll use it enough over the course of several years that I will need to have one.
 
B

beer

Lifer
Jun 27, 2000
11,169
1
0
Originally posted by: Ronstang
Do not get the 1/2" drill. It is designed for turning the larger bits and more than likely is about 600 RPM which is unsuitable for smaller bits in most cases.
Click to expand...

OK, thanks. That's a good thing to know...
 
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thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
9,024
118
106
My 12v Craftsman has been able to do everything I have ask it to do sofar. Mostly light duty stuff but I did help build a storage building with it and drilled out two big hardend steel motor mount bolts on my van. The bolts took awhile and I did use up one battery to do it but it did it.

Anyway I think 12v cordless would be fine for most things and mine was $50.
 
B

beer

Lifer
Jun 27, 2000
11,169
1
0
Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1
There was an informative video about powertools which was posted a while back, that might be of use.
Click to expand...

Benny Bannasy showed me all the Satisfaction that power tools could give me :)
 
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T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
0
Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
My 12v Craftsman has been able to do everything I have ask it to do sofar. Mostly light duty stuff but I did help build a storage building with it and drilled out two big hardend steel motor mount bolts on my van. The bolts took awhile and I did use up one battery to do it but it did it.

Anyway I think 12v cordless would be fine for most things and mine was $50.
Click to expand...

Actually, on "Black Friday" - Sears was selling the 14.4V Craftsman cordless drills for $44.00. This was their special price between 6:00 A.M. and Noon. That was an excellent price for those who got in on the deal. When I visited my local Sears, they had hundreds of the drills out for purchase.

 
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