Recommendations for a light-duty cordless drill / driver

Hi keylevel what is your budget? I would recommend looking at an entry level twin pack of 2 batteries, charger, a drill and an impact driver? Don't be put off by the name, impact drivers are much better at screw driving than a drill. :)

Two friends both bought Makita 10.8v sets of a separate drill and driver and both thought they were excellent. Small but powerful. A new improved? range appears to have been introduced and I have no idea what they are like.


While drill manufacturers have introduced drill bits  to be used in Drivers I have tried them and did not like using  them, while they work the rotary hammer action of the driver seems at odds with drilling and they were slower than a normal drill. A separate drill is still in my view much better.

I recently purchased the Dewalt DCD796 combi drill (70Nm Max Torque). I have been very pleased with it and is great for drilling, cutting holes and hammer drilling (masonry). It is very powerful, but disappointing that it does not come with a side handle. If using one handed I have to turn the clutch down so it does not rip my arm out of its socket.  It is a bit big and heavy for driving, maybe with a smaller battery it would be better - I have the 4Ah version.


For driving I still prefer my small Bosch 12V (10.8V) driver, for all day use you can't beat it. The new kit (GSR 12 V-15 FC Set) looks great. It is NOT the impact version and still copes well with big/long screws into wood. I would not get an impact for driving screws mainly because the lack of clutch on a impact driver and they are slower. Having said that some of the kits are extremely good value for money.

May be of use; some of the items may not be UK listed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb4oseUFFBE

Dewalt is the commercial brand of Black & Decker. I have found their products satisfactory with the exception of a belt sander which expired in a shower of sparks during its first and only job.


Makita have been entirely satisfactory except that my battery-powered drill/diver has a wobbly chuck.


Hikoki (ex-Hitachi) has also been entirely satisfactory.


There hasn't been a decent british drill since Wolf. ?


I would say: first, you get what you pay for; second, that any of the tradesman's brands that you can find at your local tool merchant (or Elex) will do the job.

A UK REVIEW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wn-DppJlDo

 

Item featured not from Merkeland these days but

Techtronic Industries, a Hong Kong company whose brands include AEG, Hoover, Vax, Ryobi Power Tools and Milwaukee

I did a fair bit of research into all this when I was buying my power tool set a few years ago - wanted to get the best possible equipment for the money I was spending.


In the end it came down to a choice of 2 - Milwaukee or Makita.


Milwaukee are super tough, will last a hell of a long time and strong as steel, downside is - they're super heavy, like steel.


Makita are more lightweight, reasonably priced barebones equipment and the 4Ah and 5Ah batteries last really well between charges (in drills, they don't last quite so long with angle grinders and saws, just as they require so much more grunt)


So I ended up going with the 18v Makita 4Ah set for about £800 which came with pretty much all I needed. No regrets! I've used them fairly well over the past 4 or 5 years or so and nothing has gone wrong or broken apart from the carry bag, which was replaced without any hassle.


I think most drills nowadays are going to be pretty sturdy, the only ones I generally tend to stay away from are Ryobi and after hearing DeWalt going a bit downhill. 

Bosch, Makita, Milwaukee and Hilti are all really good as far as I'm concerned, but if you need something basic, then DeWalt, Ryobi and others are going the do the job just as well.

Thanks all, off to see what I can find after the feedback you've given.


Must try not to spend too much ?


Chris