I can't seem to find any tool reviews of drills with cords. I have two
battery-powered drills (and several cordless that use another kind of
power entirely) and am not looking for another one of those, but the
only recent reviews I can find in magazines or on the Web are for the
batteried variety.
Specifically, I'm looking to replace my trusty 3/8-inch VSR with maybe a
1/2-inch hammer drill. Maybe I don't need the extra weight and expense
of a 1/2-incher--after all, my old B&D 3/8 has lasted me for going on
twenty years. (I probably shouldn't have tried drilling those 1/2-inch
holes in concrete for the deck.)
What say ye? 3/8? 1/2? Hammer?
Wolf Lahti notes:
>I can't seem to find any tool reviews of drills with cords. I have two
>battery-powered drills (and several cordless that use another kind of
>power entirely) and am not looking for another one of those, but the
>only recent reviews I can find in magazines or on the Web are for the
>batteried variety.
>
>Specifically, I'm looking to replace my trusty 3/8-inch VSR with maybe a
>1/2-inch hammer drill. Maybe I don't need the extra weight and expense
>of a 1/2-incher--after all, my old B&D 3/8 has lasted me for going on
>twenty years. (I probably shouldn't have tried drilling those 1/2-inch
>holes in concrete for the deck.)
>
>What say ye? 3/8? 1/2? Hammer?
I did a test of 3/8" corded drills for Woodworker's Journal last year. Most of
my stuff is packed, so I can't tell you what issue it was. Cover shot was of
the Hitachi. Helluva drill.
If you're doing much concrete drilling, get a hammer drill. For woodworking,
it's not needed.
Charlie Self
"Bore, n.: A person who talks when you wish him to listen." Ambrose Bierce, The
Devil's Dictionary
[email protected] (Jay) wrote
>Wolf Lahti <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>> I can't seem to find any tool reviews of drills with cords. I have two
>> battery-powered drills (and several cordless that use another kind of
>> power entirely) and am not looking for another one of those, but the
>> only recent reviews I can find in magazines or on the Web are for the
>> batteried variety.
>>
>> Specifically, I'm looking to replace my trusty 3/8-inch VSR with maybe a
>> 1/2-inch hammer drill. Maybe I don't need the extra weight and expense
>> of a 1/2-incher--after all, my old B&D 3/8 has lasted me for going on
>> twenty years. (I probably shouldn't have tried drilling those 1/2-inch
>> holes in concrete for the deck.)
>>
>> What say ye? 3/8? 1/2? Hammer?
I say go with a 1/2" hammer drill. You already should have the smaller/lower
torque areas covered with you cordless units, and if you need to do any concrete
work, hole sawing, lag bolt driving or large diameter boring the 1/2 incher will
be just the ticket. I'd take a hard look at Milwaukee Tools.
JP
Wolf Lahti <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I can't seem to find any tool reviews of drills with cords. I have two
> battery-powered drills (and several cordless that use another kind of
> power entirely) and am not looking for another one of those, but the
> only recent reviews I can find in magazines or on the Web are for the
> batteried variety.
>
> Specifically, I'm looking to replace my trusty 3/8-inch VSR with maybe a
> 1/2-inch hammer drill. Maybe I don't need the extra weight and expense
> of a 1/2-incher--after all, my old B&D 3/8 has lasted me for going on
> twenty years. (I probably shouldn't have tried drilling those 1/2-inch
> holes in concrete for the deck.)
>
> What say ye? 3/8? 1/2? Hammer?
My closet flange rotted out in the master bath recently and although
my POS Crapsman 3/8" could drill the holes, it could not drive home
the Tapcons for the new flange. So, I bought the Bosch 1/2"
hammer/drill at Lowes for $99 on sale. This is one sweet drill. It has
two gear settings and can switch between hammer and plain old drill.
The depth stop guage works great and the handle is easy enough to
swivel, but locks down tight.
http://tinyurl.com/35vnl
http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=85867-353-1194AVSRK
I vote for the hammer. It's a 1/2" chuck, you can selectively turn off
the hammer part and its got enough balls for concrete when you need
it. Only thing it lasks for wood use is a clutch to help with counter
sinking.
Like Charlie says, you don't need the hammer feature for woodworking, but I
bought the Ridgid 1/2 hammer drill, and it kicks butt with every material
I've tried, including sheet metal, cast iron, cinder blocks, concrete, tile,
and even wood. It's about the same price as the other quality drills, but
it has a couple of very nice features, and a long power cord. It's worth
checking out, even if you can't find a review.
Kevin
--
=====
Where are those Iraqi WMDs, NOW?
"Wolf Lahti" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I can't seem to find any tool reviews of drills with cords. I have two
> battery-powered drills (and several cordless that use another kind of
> power entirely) and am not looking for another one of those, but the
> only recent reviews I can find in magazines or on the Web are for the
> batteried variety.
>
> Specifically, I'm looking to replace my trusty 3/8-inch VSR with maybe a
> 1/2-inch hammer drill. Maybe I don't need the extra weight and expense
> of a 1/2-incher--after all, my old B&D 3/8 has lasted me for going on
> twenty years. (I probably shouldn't have tried drilling those 1/2-inch
> holes in concrete for the deck.)
>
> What say ye? 3/8? 1/2? Hammer?