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Drill-driver – which one to choose and what to consider when choosing?

A professional drill for every material, often equipped with an impact function, is an essential piece of equipment not only for the handyman but also for professional installers and specialists. Like a screwdriver, it speeds up work and makes tightening screws and bolts easier. So is it worth investing in both tools, or should you opt for a universal drill-driver? In many cases the latter solution will work better. But what should you pay attention to so that the purchased model meets all requirements?

Key parameters of a drill-driver – what to look for when choosing?

Which drill-driver will be best? To find the answer to this question, you should familiarize yourself with the basic parameters of the device. What should you pay particular attention to?
  • Type of motor. A brushed electric motor, although cheaper to produce, wears out faster, which involves the costly replacement of brushes. If you use power tools frequently, it's better to opt for brushless motors, which provide longer, more reliable operation and greater comfort (lower weight).
  • Voltage. A drill-driver can run on 12, 14 or 18 V batteries. The higher the voltage, the greater the torque and power of the device.
  • Battery capacity is another important parameter. A drill-driver can only be used for a limited time. A large battery capacity will provide energy for long hours of work, while small batteries require constant charging.
  • Torque determines the capabilities of the device. There are two types of torque: soft and hard. The former describes drilling in soft materials, when force increases with depth. Hard torque increases gradually and determines the ability to drill in hard materials.
  • The rotational speed of mid-range drill-drivers is from 1.5 to 2 thousand revolutions per minute. Higher speeds provide greater comfort and speed up the work.
  • Don't forget to check what materials the individual components of the device are made of. Plastic components wear out faster and are not able to carry heavy loads.
  • Additional functions are useful in special cases. The ability to set the available power will protect you from damaging a thread. Meanwhile, the impact function facilitates drilling in hard materials such as masonry, concrete or brick.
  • Additional equipment also matters. A suitable charger for the batteries, durable bits or a bag that makes it easier to carry the device to the workplace.
Before purchasing a drill-driver you should carefully consider what parameters the chosen model should have. They will affect not only the comfort of working but also the durability and reliability of the tool.

Drill-driver with impact or without?

A small model for home use will cope with simple tasks. It is usually used occasionally, so work efficiency is not of great importance. People who use power tools more often have higher requirements. They drill into hard walls or concrete much more often, and work efficiency is very important. In their case a hammer/impact drill-driver will be a good idea. Why? The drill bit or screwdriver bit rotates during operation. The impact provides additional reciprocating movement of the tip. Thanks to this a drill-driver with an impact function handles medium-hard and hard surfaces (drilling in concrete) better. Mechanical impact is based on the operation of two gears that cause the additional movement of the tip. This is a cheaper solution but also less effective. It will work in the case of medium-hard materials. Not all drill-driver accessories will work well with a given type of impact. An electropneumatic model requires the use of an SDS-type chuck, which enables the additional reciprocating movement. Such drill bits can also work with a drill-driver with mechanical impact, but their effectiveness will not be greater than that of universal tips. If you care about the reliability of the tools, a brushless impact drill-driver is a good idea. A modern motor design provides maximum performance.

Why is a cordless drill-driver the best?

Mobility is usually the most important factor. A cordless drill-driver is light and does not require a power source at the workplace. For this reason it is easier to reach hard-to-access places. Such a model will also be useful in the garden or at the initial stage of construction where there is no power connection yet. When buying, pay attention to the voltage provided by a given battery. Batteries of 12 V, 14 V and 18 V are available on the market. Power tools at 12 V are intended for household applications. A professional brushless drill-driver is most often designed for 18 V power. The drawback of batteries is their limited capacity. With eight hours of work there is a high risk that the battery will be completely drained. What then? The answer is drill-driver sets with two batteries. Such an energy reserve usually lasts a full day of intensive work. Additionally, you don't have to interrupt your work to charge a depleted battery. It is also possible to add to the set yourself. A battery for a drill-driver can be purchased separately, after first checking whether it fits your line of power tools. Often the same battery can power not only the drill-driver but also other devices, such as an impact wrench, angle grinder, etc. Importantly, screwdriver bits and drill bits fit all models of drill-drivers. Therefore one set of bits will work for many years, provided the tips are made of durable material.

Author: Paweł Sokołowski

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Extended warranty up to 4 years

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