Choosing the Right Drill for Your DYI Job

How do you know which drill to get? There are so many choices, and it’s really confusing. Which features should you look for in a drill? What size of drill is the best choice for your needs? The answer depends on what kind of work you will be doing with the drill. In this blog post, we’ll give you some tips on choosing the right cordless or mains-powered power tool that can help make your job easier.

Drills are crucial parts of any do-it-yourself kit, so choosing the right one suits your needs the best is very important.

You are sure to find a drill that suits your requirements, no matter what the job is, you just need to know what the options are. Read on!

Cordless Screwdriver

This is a rotating device that can drive forward and backward and is powered by a battery. In addition to installing and removing small screws, it is perfect for fine pilot hole drilling. This drill bit holder fits hex bits (quarter-inch ) for drill bits and drivers.

The compact design of cordless screwdrivers makes them very versatile in areas where larger drills are inconvenient. Their batteries are recharged by plugging them into a wall outlet. There are 2.4-12.0 volt models available. Higher voltage models have the added benefit of longer runtimes and are better suited to heavy work. Lower voltage versions are best for light jobs, while the higher voltage models are better suited to heavy work with longer runtimes.

Large screws and holes should not be driven or drilled with these tools and they should only be used for light applications. For fine work requiring small screws to be driven into softwoods, they are an excellent alternative to small regular screwdrivers. For electronics repairs, they can also be very useful.

If a job involves multiple screws, these are excellent alternatives to painful hand muscles you get using regular hand screwdrivers.

One of the main advantages of a simple, two-position cordless screwdriver is that it allows for easier access and greater control. 

 Cordless Drill Driver

Batteries power this rotating device that can be set to rotate forward or backward, and its speed and torque can be adjusted. The chuck can be opened and closed around a drill bit or driver. 

With adequate features and power, you can complete the majority of screwing and drilling jobs with this multi-purpose tool. They are compact and easy to use and come with battery packs that make them more portable.

These tools use cradle charging to make them more convenient. Higher voltage versions last longer and are more powerful, but lower voltage versions are right for light-duty work.

For drilling into light masonry, some come with a hammer function. Torque settings reduce damage to the screw head by setting the power to the correct level. Any toolbox should have a cordless drill because they can be used anywhere.

Furthermore, they can be used to fasten screws in hardwoods and softwoods, as well as metals and plastics. Using this device, it’s easy to drill holes into plaster for hanging objects, taps, or tap holes for doorknobs and taps. You can also easily install doors and replace hinges with it.

No matter how big or small the project is, they are extremely useful. There is a hammer function included in many cordless drill drivers. By using the hammer function, it is able to drill through masonry in order to hang items such as pictures and drive screws into the wall.

The magnet feature is another handy feature for holding spare drill bits, etc. while not in use, this is a very convenient feature.

Cordless Drill Driver Recap:

The cordless drill is the best multi-purpose tool and should be in everyone’s toolbox. They are portable, easy to use, come with all of the features you need for drilling into metal or masonry and can be used anywhere without having to worry about power outlets. With a range of voltage and torque settings, there’s a cordless drill for every job.

It is a good idea to get yourself a quality drill and drive bit set as well to compliment the cordless drill driver.

Example Product:

The Makita’s 18V brushless drill driver is an excellent workhorse. In addition to being extremely reliable, it is powerful and can handle all the typical tasks. With its clutch feature, this machine can help you drive in screws without over-tightening them.

Cordless Impact Driver

This is a rotating screwdriver driven by a battery that is used to drill holes and drive large screws. The drill applies high amounts of torque and impact with every bit holder rotation. The drill bits and drivers are held in place using a hex bit holder (quarter-inch). 

Featuring a compact, lightweight design, they are capable of handling driving situations that are most demanding.

Drill drivers with rotary impact mechanisms produce more performance and torque. No matter what tough materials you’re dealing with or how long the screws and bolts are, you will have sufficient power to do the job.

The portable cradle chargers come in 18V and 12V models and rely on a battery pack. You can drive screws faster using higher-voltage models as they are significantly more powerful.

Because of their high torque, they cannot be used for small screw driving situations. In addition to being less versatile than cordless drill drivers, they are not stand-alone devices. A job like landscaping, building a deck, or drilling pipes can be done with these types of drivers.

This makes them ideal for installing big quantities of screws and bolts or for the installation of long screws in pergolas and decks or for the removal of corroded bolts and nuts that are stubbornly stuck in place.

The fact that they make such a big and tedious task so much easier to do cannot be overstated. If you’re planning any type of repair work on your roof or cladding, then this tool is an absolute must.

If you need to drive coach screws into sleepers, these are great tools to use. With the right driver and adaptor bit, you can even handle installing bolts and nuts.

They can also be used to drive longer screws or to impact frozen nuts from bolts. In larger workshops, larger sizes are also available. 

Cordless Impact Driver Recap:

 This tool is great for driving screws and bolts but also impacts frozen nuts.

It’s available in a cordless version with the right adaptor bits. You can even use it to install long screws or coach bolts, which makes this the perfect type of power drill for installing decking boards!

Example Product:

Makita 18V LXT Brushless Impact Driver XDT16.

Corded Hammer Drill

For drilling, these are powered rotational devices running on mains electricity. Switched mechanisms can also be used to engage rotation as well as percussive action. Their chucks are designed to accommodate either driver or drill bits. 

If you are doing D.I.Y. work on bricks, concrete, masonry or any other hard substrate, a hammer drill is all you need. A rotating drill bit is also percussive, meaning it can chip away at the material you wish to remove.

The drill bit rotates at a variable speed depending on how hard you press the trigger. They are usually equipped with a keyless chuck for quickly changing drill bits by hand.

With a side handle, the drill is more stable and easier to control. Corded drills still offer the value of continuous drilling, even if cordless has caught up in many ways.

When they drill large holes or use holesaws, their abilities shine through. Don’t use them for driving in small screws because all the power makes this difficult. They are not suitable for fine screwing applications.

Bricks, light masonry, mortar, concrete blocks, and lightweight studs can be drilled with them. The hammer function can be turned off to allow them to drill through plastic, metal, and wood. As well as installing anchors on slabs, footings, and concrete piers, they can be used to install wall plugs on bricks in order to hang objects. 

Concrete can be drilled through with a hammer drill. Install post supports to support the deck bearers when you build a deck on top of concrete. A hammer drill will be necessary.

Spend a little extra on a hammer drill when purchasing a new power drill because it is essential for drilling into brickwork or masonry.

Corded Hammer Drill Recap:

If you are a homeowner, homeowner, or DIY enthusiast with few power drilling needs and need to drill into brickwork and masonry occasionally, then get the cordless hammer drill. If you’re building a deck on top of concrete and need to drill into brickwork or masonry for a significant project, spend the extra money to get the corded version of the hammer drill so that you can have more power without needing to recharge batteries.

Corded Rotary Hammer Drill

This type of drill uses mains (non-battery) electricity for rotational drilling that has a hammering action. The drill can be operated in three modes: drill, hammer drill, and just hammer. This drill bit or chisel is held in place by a quick-connect chuck. 

Compared to regular hammer drills, they provide greater impact energy, and they are also capable of chipping and chiseling masonry. Their durability makes them a good choice for heavy-duty applications. Its high performance and ability to switch between a rotational drill and chipping function set it apart from regular hammer drills. In chipping, they work like mini jackhammers. Since they possess immense power, these powerful tools make screw installation and drilling difficult.

The chisel is perfect for removing old tiles from walls, floors, or even masonry surfaces, and is also a powerful and versatile tool that is perfect for drilling holes in masonry.

They make the task of drilling masonry, akin to drilling a hole through butter – sort of.

Corded Rotary Hammer Drill Recap:

Corded rotary hammer drills are powerful tools that provide a high-performance, long-lasting drilling, and chipping experience. These models offer an excellent balance of power and versatility. They’re ideal for heavy-duty applications such as demolition work or masonry drilling. The corded design is not only portable but also offers the convenience of not having to worry about battery life.

Disadvantages of corded rotary hammer drills: these models are not as portable as their battery-powered counterparts, and they also tend to be a bit heavier than other power tool designs.

Drill Press 

Drill presses are rotating machines used to bore holes in a workpiece or stand. The tool can be lowered to the workpiece and is usually set up with a counterweight. The drill bits can be inserted by opening and closing the chuck, and attachments have shanks, like sanding drums. 

Due to their static nature, drill presses are superior to hand-held drills when it comes to drilling accurately into metal, wood, and plastic. Thanks to the depth lock and drill table that is adjustable, countless drilling tasks can be accomplished.

Featuring a feed wheel, adjustable drilling depth, and a tilting table for accuracy and efficiency during repetitive work. As a result of the steel column, table, and base, the operating area is rigid and precise at all times.

Because of being fixed in place, they cannot be utilized for many do-it-yourself projects around the house. If you cannot place the object on their table, you won’t be able to use this type of drill.

A drill press is what you need if you want to drill multiple holes of uniform size, depth, angle, and shape, as well as counterbore, countersink, deburr, and ream and tap holes.

When drilling precision is needed in the workshop, they can be very helpful. The drill press should be able to run at different speeds and adjust the drill depth for the perfect hole every time.

Whenever precision, speed, and pressure are needed in repetitive drilling, this tool is just what the doctor ordered. They come in several sizes: The bench mount small drill press, the bench mount pedestal drill press, and the bench mounted full-sized pedestal drill press.

Drill Press Recap:

If precision is needed, the drill press can help. It can run at different speeds and adjust to the desired depth every time. The three sizes are bench mount small drill press, pedestal mounted full-size drilling machine, or bench mounted pedestal drill press.

You should have this tool for any type of repetitive drilling that needs precision.

You might consider a small bench mount small drill press for smaller jobs where you need to fine-tune the work and get a more detailed, accurate design or hole placement with your drilling.