How do you choose a cordless drill?
Choose a cordless drill
You can use cordless drills for driving screws and drilling. Which cordless drill you need depends on your job. Ask yourself the following:
- How much screw force do you need?
- How much drill capacity do you need?
- Which speed settings do you need?
- How much Ampere does the battery need to have?
- How many batteries do you need?
- Which bits and drill bits do you need?
How much screw force do you need?
We also call the screw force of a cordless drill torque, which we express in Newton meter (Nm). The higher the number of Newton meter, the easier it is to drive in screws in hard materials. For light screwdriving jobs, a 25Nm torque is enough. You can perform most screwdriving jobs in and around the house with a torque between 25 and 50Nm. Want to perform heavy screwdriving jobs for a longer time? Choose a cordless drill with at least a 50Nm torque.
How much drill capacity do you need?
The drill capacity of a cordless drill indicates how large the holes that you drill in wood, metal, or stone are. The larger the drill capacity, the larger the holes you can drill are. You can perform most drill jobs with a drill capacity between 26 and 36mm in wood. Want to drill holes in stone? You need an impact drill, hammer drill, or combi hammer. With these, you can perform most basic jobs with a drill capacity of at least 13mm in stone.
Which speeds do you need?
Most cordless drills have 2 speeds. The first setting has a low speed and a high torque. You can use this for screwdriving jobs. The second setting has a high speed and a low torque. You can perform drill jobs with this. Without this function, the cordless drill is too fast to drive screws and too slow to drill holes. You can set the speed with a slider bar on the drill.
How much Ampere should the battery have?
How much Ampere (Ah) your battery needs depends on your usage. The higher the Ampere, the longer you can work on 1 battery charge. Do you use the cordless drill for a longer time? You need a battery with 3.0Ah or more. This way, the battery isn't empty before your job is done. Do you perform light and short jobs every now and then? A 1.0 or 2.0Ah battery is enough.
How many batteries do you need?
While a cordless drill works on 1 battery, it's useful to have an extra battery. While 1 battery charges, you can keep on working. This means you can work without interruptions. Batteries are also often part of a battery platform. You can use the same battery with other (garden) tools of the same brand and voltage.
Which bits and drills do you need?
You can't drive screws and drill without the right accessories. Did you choose the wrong bit? The cordless drill will spin on the screw head. The result is a useless screw and a worn out bit. For drilling, it's also important to choose the right drill bit so it doesn't break. Use a drill bit with the right measurements and for the right surface. Do you want to get started with different screwdriving jobs and drill jobs? Choose a complete bit and drill bit set.
