What battery drill should I buy? The choice is bewildering.

[jimseng]

Hello

I'm building a house and it is a bit embarrassing having to borrow the carpenter's tools all the time. I'm was looking at the Dewalt DCD805 because it seems compact and has a hammer action for the occasions when I need it. I know this is a ridiculous "how long is a piece of string" question but I thought I would try.

I'm not looking for something that can drill a hole through the stonework but I don't want to buy a cheap thing off Amazon and throw it away in a years time. I was thinking the DCD805 with two smaller batteries might be easier to hold than a single bigger battery. But that exclude Makita and all other makes. 
Anybody got a pointers or know of any super deals I can find?

[SimonD]

First things first - what jobs are you looking for the drill to do?

[Mr Punter]

For brands, Dewalt and Makita are good but cheaper brands like Erbauer and Titan can perform well.  You will need more than one decent capacity battery and make sure it will fit any other tools you are considering.  Go for 18V and batteries at least 3.0Ah.  If you get stuff from Screwfix or Toolstation it is easy to return them if they fail.

[JohnMo]

If you do battery powered stick with one brand so batteries can be swapped tools.

 

Brands mentioned above are all good. But get a drill for drilling and a proper impact driver for screws and bolts, makes life so much better. Impact driver doing screws is a world of difference from a drill doing screws.

[Square Feet]

I sold my soul to DeWalt some years ago and I haven't regretted it.  The batteries last forever and stay charged even if you don't use them for a couple of years. The tools are very robust and well made and purr along like a sewing machine. You can pick up second hand tools and they will still work fine, even if the outside shows them to have had a hard life. They hold their value well for selling on later if you find you no longer need them.  Some of the more simple tools like torches and sanders you can get aftermarket versions of that will work fine with the DeWalt batteries. As others have said - pick a good brand and stick with them.

[saveasteading]

50 minutes ago, Square Feet said:

pick a good brand and stick with them.

Agreed. Batteries are expensive.

 

It's not an easy answer as you could spend thousands easily.

 

I've been borrowing deWalt recently. And it is generally the high spec, so hundreds each.  When I can't borrow I use my own Einhell stable.* The difference is apparent but both have their place.

That drill you mention isn't top end so more diy than professional. But maybe that's what suits.

You also have to consider weight. If you have a big drill with heavy battery it becomes a burden in a long day.

Some tools need big batteries or always 2 more on charge.

 

So yes try that. I'd also consider one with SDS. It depends what you want to do.

 

The own brands are not such a great bet. I have 3 I really should throw out because they are broken down, out of alignment or just a pain to use.

But I bought a Titan circular saw and a heavy breaker. The latter cost the same a 2 weeks hire: but is nowhere near as good as a hired one.

 

There you are: not an answer. Tell us what jobs and how intensely used and it would become clearer.

 

Btw joiner has switched from deWalt battery nail gun back to Paslode. But he's nailing hundreds a day.

 

* currently with free battery from Wickes, so very good value for my work intensity. I've got 7 or 8 things and never a problem.

[jfb]

If you are building a house (and the carpenter isn’t doing all the work!) I would buy something like this

https://www.powertoolworld.co.uk/makita-dlx2145tj-18v-cordless-twin-kit-dhp458-combi-drill-dtd152-impact-driver-inc-2x-5-0ah-batts?msclkid=c28c1d2772531c166a9b74d834fed778&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Standard Shopping - Scored High&utm_term=4583795297990677&utm_content=Makita&gclid=

 

only a very brief look around and there are many options but both impact and normal drill are pretty useful and two batteries seems essential to me. 
I prefer makita to DeWalt but that was partly because the old dewalt battery design always meant they fell out easily - at least they’ve improved that!

[Mike]

5 hours ago, jimseng said:

I'm was looking at the Dewalt DCD805 because it seems compact and has a hammer action for the occasions when I need it.

I've got a non-hammer action version of this - the DCD791 - but that's because I have a dedicated D25133 mains hammer drill for heavy drilling and light breaking. As well as an ancient DW907 12V drill/driver that is ideal for driving regular screws. I've not yet had the need for an impact driver.

 

My mains tools are a mix of Dewalt, Makita & Bosh but, as suggested by others, for cordless it's a good idea to stick to one brand and use the batteries between the various tools (though you can now buy converters to mix-and-match them). I have 5Ah & 5.5Ah versions for the extra duration, despite the extra weight.

 

When I was without my tools a couple of years ago I did hire a Makita cordless drill/driver. It worked perfectly well but the motor made an annoying whine, so you might want to road-test a brand you're not familiar with.

 

Edited 19 hours ago by Mike

[jimseng]

I knew this decision wouldn't be easy.

First:

5 hours ago, SimonD said:

what jobs are you looking for the drill to do?

I don't know until I have to do it. I am building a house but up to now it has been the carpenter and stone mason doing most of the work, I haven't been so involved in the actual practical side of things. But now we are moving on to the inside, which is pretty much a shell and I am getting into running in cables and becoming more hands on. The first thing I had to do was drill a hole through from the first floor to the ground through 100mm of wood and then OSB. I realised a £50 DIY job from B&Q would struggle so I decided to look into getting something a bit better.
I'm also going to fit my kitchen (off the shefl base units + frontage) and my house is a timber frame with stone cladding so not really looking to drill through masonry walls

I appreciate the point about getting a drill and impact driver. The Makita DLX2145TJ 18v LXT Cordless Twin Kit that @jfb posted was more than I was intending to spend, but I am trying to narrow down what would be a long term investment and what would turn out to be a waste of money in the long term.
There is this on ebay and local to me:

With a couple of 4 amp hour batteries and a charger this might be in the region of £130 which is more my price range.
it's a minefield! 
I appreciate everyone's thoughts and contributions.

[MPH243]

I have Makita 18v Lxt but the guys I mainly work for are DeWalt, there is not much difference between them. Get a couple of 4 or 5ah batteries and a make sure it's a fast charger what ever you go for.

 

My Dad has a cheap angle grinder and garden 6 inch chainsaw and blower all work well for occasional use.

 

I also have a Makita Lxt lawnmower, strimmer and hedge cutter so it's worth thinking about when you have finished what garden tools as batteries tools are so much easier and you have the batteries.

[Mike]

2 hours ago, jimseng said:

I appreciate the point about getting a drill and impact driver.

For the range of things you're planning, the Dewalt DCD805 you identified seems a decent all-round choice. You're not planning to put up rafters, joists, decking or the like, so no particular need for an impact driver.

[saveasteading]

The tool I use most, by far,  is a drill with settings for speed and torque. Light weight is a boon.

The hammer option is not ideal except for very easy material like lightweight blocks.

Having seen inside a broken drill, the hammer option is quite primitive.

Hence sds for any serious masonry drilling and the cost may save days of struggling. What is your time worth?

 

If you are doing lots of timber cutting then I think a bench saw may be justified and perhaps mains power isn't a handicap. For boards you must have a circular saw,  or jig saw.... and on it goes.

[MikeSharp01]

2 hours ago, jimseng said:

With a coupbattele of 4 amp hour batteries and a charger this might be in the region

That, plus the two 5A batteries. Is what I started with built a whole house with them and no issues. 

[jimseng]

This looks like a good deal to me:

https://www.angliatoolcentre.co.uk/bosch-gsb18v-21-plus-gdr18v-160-twin-pack-with-2x-2-0ah-li-ion-batteries-supplied-in-l-boxx-pid49483.html

 

[Onoff]

Makita 18V LXT. 

 

Then you can expand but also easily buy cheaper clones that take the Makita battery. 

[dpmiller]

Don't buy the Bosch.

[canalsiderenovation]

After using a lot of my dad's Milawaukee stuff I swear by them.... we gradually replaced a lot of our stuff and if you will need gardening items their strimmer and leaf blower is brilliant too with interchangeable batteries with drill, impact driver etc... (at the moment if you buy the leaf blower for about £120 you can claim a free 5ah battery, and repeat and do the same for the strimmer which is about £150 and claim a free battery too).

[SimonD]

7 hours ago, jimseng said:

don't know until I have to do it.

Welcome to the club - you're embarking on a serious n+1 journey here. There will always be another tool you need, of course!
 

7 hours ago, jimseng said:

but I am trying to narrow down what would be a long term investment and what would turn out to be a waste of money in the long term.

Again, depending on exactly what you're going to end up doing, here's a list of priorities:

1. as you've already realised - drill/driver 18V

2. maybe an impact driver - I say this because I'm in the trade and despite doing lots of work with a wide variety of materials, I hardly ever touch my impact driver any more. This is for several reasons; a) noise, b) control when you want a good finish, c) a decent drill driver with a torque limiter will do 95% of what an impact driver will do. I currently just have a 10 year old cheap Erbauer impact driver that sits there for the odd thing - like driving in a bolt into concrete, or 5-6mm dia 150mm screws into timber.

3. if you're planning on lots of smaller jobs like building a kitchen and even driving plasterboard screws etc. a smaller 12v screwdriver - I use one of these for about 60% of all drill/driver work and have one with multiple heads for bits and drills and an angles driver bits for good reach into cupboards.
4. sds drill for masonry
5. multitool - these things are just the best and most versatile of tools, almost a must have (I have a particular 18v Bosch version which has the lowest vibration levels in the industry and so is a pleasure to use)

 

After this you're looking at the various saws etc. but that's another story entirely.

 

What I have are 2 18v Bosch professional drill/drivers, one of which is 12 years old still going strong as are the original batteries that still fit all the newer tools (always check backward compatibility with manufacturers and their battery systems) - one will have drill bits, the other hole saws and sometimes changed out for heavy duty screwdriver jobs. I then have a 12v Bosch professional one with the multi attachments but mostly used as a screwdriver. Then I have a big 18v Bosch professional sds drill and a Bosch Professional multi-tool. These are the ones that are always to hand. All of these are running on either 2ah or 5ah batteries that are now at least 6 years old up to more than 10 years old. The only problem I've had with any of these tools is when I was drilling a steel beam and some metal swarf got sucked into the motor of the older brushed drill/driver and it cut out a few time randomly and then it's fine again. 

 

For whatever reason some people seem to dislike Bosch but I've had Bosch Professional stuff for more than 25 years and never has one of their tools died on me or caused me a problem yet. Can't say the same for some Milwaukee tools I tried just 3 years ago except for the little mini disk cutter which has been absolutely fabulous.

[Onoff]

Stick to one brand if you can.

 

 

[Onoff]

[canalsiderenovation]

Forgot to add but this is what we have ....

 

https://www.toolstation.com/milwaukee-m18-bpp2c-502c-heavy-duty-twin-pack/p47877?store=null&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22664293152&gbraid=0AAAAAD-vLcVUzKER4MNywPqth7KCoEYmz&gclid=Cj0KCQjw77bPBhC_ARIsAGAjjV9Pwod4w61Bs5RcXbO41vaWZPh_DcX0gFknTzdcIpwv6c8Iqe76UdkaAgdjEALw_wcB

[saveasteading]

9 hours ago, SimonD said:

Bosch Professional stuff for more than 25 years 

Likewise I have an ancient drill, like a machine gun. It is mains powered. It makes the most beautiful whirring sound and drills almost effortlessly. It comes out of the box for precision work in hard material.

Herr Bosch was on Radio 4 once, explaining very openly that their cheapest drills are for occasional diy with a limited life, and both performance and lifespan increase with price.

Edited 2 hours ago by saveasteading

[saveasteading]

I'm coming to realise that tools need to come in  a customised box.

I've got several that came in cardboard boxes but

1. They don't go back in without disassembly,  2. The accessories are at risk of loss. 3. They fall apart eventually.

 

What value the customised plastic box?  £5? Yes I'd pay that, although some of my own brand ones aren't good either.

 

Does anyone know a source of good storage boxes?

 

[Nestor]

4 hours ago, Onoff said:

Cannot fault the Makita range, stay with the same battery system if possible.

Have 30 + Makita tools and batteries, recently purchased the 100mm pruner, again excellent.

[SimonD]

21 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

Does anyone know a source of good storage boxes?

 

You are going to gasp in horror, but this is my absolute favourite tool storage box (now bear in mind they're being used almost on a daily basis). It's something that does just work. https://hultafors.com/en-gb/products/tool-bucket It's been so popular, they now sell a tool organiser to go in the bucket. I have 6 of these buckets 😲 I've even had customer say what a good idea as their other trades are coming in and out with loads of boxes. For example, one of mine just has the drill/driver/screwdrivers with bit sets and a drill roll, the other with have the sds & multi-tool etc. While I'm working away I'll have an empty one where I throw bits of rubbish as I go, including pipe off cuts, old screws etc. and then it's brilliant for the odd emergency when I'm removing old pipework where I can grab the bucket to collect the always expected run out of water from said pipework.