Printed on Might 1, 2023
We requested our resident contractor, Alan Roberts, what are the primary varieties of drills. Right here’s the record he gave us… primarily based on being the one drills he’s ever used whereas being an expert contractor for over 20 years.
A. Quicklist: Totally different Drill Varieties
- Cordless compact energy drill (aka drill driver)
- Corded compact drill (aka drill driver)
- Hammer drill
- Affect driver
- Drill press
- Air drill
- Auger
- Energy cordless screwdriver (straight and right-angle)
- Hand/handbook drill
What kind of is looked for most frequently?
Let’s kick off with true story about how having the fitting kind of drills can prevent a ton of labor, ache and frustration.
A dad I do know, who will stay nameless, went to his daughter’s new rental to assist her transfer in. As many younger owners do, she purchased most of her furnishings from IKEA. I’m speaking bed room, eating room and front room furnishings.
This dad confirmed up able to assemble… with no drill. It was his first go at IKEA meeting. The worst half is her daughter was out of city and he needed to go away the following day.
24 hours later, after an all-nighter, the furnishings was assembled. When my spouse heard the story from him, she requested “why didn’t you simply pay for IKEA meeting?
His jaw dropped. He had no concept such a service existed. Facepalm second.
Nonetheless, a drill would have helped tremendously however even for such massive jobs, paying for meeting is value each penny.
Right here’s our epic drill shopping for information setting out the 16 several types of drills.
B. Totally different Sorts of Drills (Detailed Record)
The quantity of drills accessible is quite mind-blowing. All of those totally different drills might be categorized into simply three major varieties: conventional drills, impression drivers, and hammer drills.
Please notice that our record of the totally different sorts of drills doesn’t embrace the several types of drill bits. You’ll be able to try all of the several types of drill bits right here.
1. Cordless compact energy drill (drill driver)
Components of a cordless drill (diagram)
Photograph examples of cordless drills:
DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill Combo Equipment
You received’t go fallacious with the DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill.
Throughout the conventional energy drill class you possibly can select between cordless and rope. Cordless is the way in which to go. That’s what just about everybody buys.
Sorts of cordless energy drills
Cordless energy drill can refer to 2 issues. One method is the totally different options, choices and types for the common compact hand-held drill (drill driver). The opposite refers back to the totally different drill choices that include a cordless possibility (i.e. compact drill driver, impression driver, hammer drill and energy screwdriver).
The cordless all-purpose drill needs to be your first drill buy. Each residence ought to have one when you do any repairs or enhancements round your home. These drills or well-suited for drilling holes, putting in small fasteners in wooden or drywall, and different fundamental residence initiatives.
Most are battery-powered today. Batteries final a very long time per cost. You might have full freedom with the place to make use of it. There actually isn’t any want to purchase a twine drill anymore. I actually wouldn’t.
For fundamental initiatives, a standard drill is likely to be all that you just want. In case you’ll be doing extra heavy-duty drilling, a normal drill might fall brief, and also you may contemplate an impression drill.
2. Corded hand-held energy drill (additionally a drill driver)
The corded energy drill is the cordless predecessor. Whereas most people purchase cordless, the corded selection isn’t ineffective and never with out benefits. Corded drill benefits (over cordless) embrace:
- Quicker rotations
- Extra energy
- Extra consistency
- Gained’t run out of energy
Nonetheless, when you’re shopping for your first drill, get a cordless however you probably have a corded drill kicking round, you may as nicely maintain it.
3. Hammer Drill
Hammer drills are so heavy-duty that they drill shortly and effortlessly into concrete. In addition they are powerful sufficient for demolition, eradicating cussed issues like tile from varied surfaces throughout a rework, and extra.
Hammer drills work with a speedy hammering movement. Whereas each hammer drills and impression drills use concussion motions, the mechanism, and the outcomes, are totally different. A hammer drill is far too highly effective to make a porch railing, for instance, nevertheless it obligatory to lock the railing put up to concrete.
The hammer drill is designed for heavy-duty but everyday-type jobs. It’s a drill with a hefty hammer operate.
A particular kind of hammer drill, the rotary hammer drill or the SDS (Particular Direct System/Slotted Drive System) drill, is extra industrial than a normal hammer drill. Whereas it does use rotary movement like a drill, its major operate is its hammer means. The rotary hammer drill is a much bigger, extra highly effective model of the hammer drill.
Sorts of hammer drills (variations):
a. Rotary Hammer Drill
b. D-handle
Supply: Lowe’s
The D-handle drill is a rotary hammer drill that has a uniquely formed deal with. Heavy-duty drilling with a D-handle software can enhance your management and reduce fatigue.
Every of a majority of these drills has a task to play in carpentry, development, and all kinds of residence initiatives. Suppose past reworking whenever you consider the varieties of drills you may want. Maybe you need to do initiatives in and round your property to extend security, or perhaps you’re constructing shelving methods. No matter you need to do, there are drills to assist.
4. Affect Driver
An impression driver is designed for heavier work than a standard drill. The motive force does rotate like a daily drill, however after they meet resistance, they drive fasteners into the floor with a sequence of speedy pounding actions.
This sort of drill is helpful for greater initiatives comparable to constructing fences, decks, and extra.
Drill vs Affect Drill vs Hammer Drill
5. Drill Press
While you get tremendous critical about your initiatives, you possibly can degree up and purchase a drill press.
A drill press is a stationary drill with a lever that pulls the drill bit down into your wooden, steel or no matter you’re drilling into. It’s highly effective. It’s exact. It’s costlier.
Along with the three major drill varieties, there are a selection of different drills. Some, just like the brace, are extremely specialised. Others, just like the reversible drill, fall into one in every of three principal classes of drills however have a function (comparable to reversibility) that make them stand out.
6. Air Drill
The one cause to purchase an air-powered drill is energy. Air instruments ship extra energy; that’s why they exist and folks purchase them. Nonetheless, electric-powered drills are catching up.
7. Auger
The auger isn’t usually thought of when occupied with drills, however a drill it’s. It drills holes into the bottom (filth, ice, snow, and so on.). Landscapers and many householders have an auger.
There are two principal varieties of augers. One is an auger bit that you just connect to a daily drill. The bit is smaller and is nice for smaller holes. The opposite is a full auger software designed for creating bigger holes. It’s additionally way more highly effective. It’s also possible to purchase a hand-held auger.
8. Energy cordless screwdriver
It is a nifty software as a result of it’s compact, cheap and nice for screwing in screws. No twine. No fuss. Simple to make use of.
You should purchase a variation of this with the right-angle cordless screwdriver. Right here’s an instance:
9. Guide-powered drills
a. Primary handbook drill
This handheld drill is ideal for drilling in small or tight areas the place common drills can’t maneuver. It’s light-weight and easy for fundamental duties.
Supply: Sears
Hand drills are quick and environment friendly, designed to carry out fast jobs whenever you don’t need to arrange a bigger drill. They’ll bore holes and drive screws into wooden, plastics, and comfortable metals.
b. Breast Drill
Supply: Highland Woodworking
Breast drills are much like hand drills. A breast drill is provided with a plate on the tip that’s positioned in opposition to the chest. Your torso helps maintain and applies stress to the hand-powered drill whilst you function it. Though a bit outdated, breast drills are nonetheless bought and used.
3. Brace drill
Supply: Amazon
The brace is a hand drill designed primarily for woodworking. It offers you management over the velocity and stress, and it produces clear, easy holes.
Watch the brace in motion to understand its finesse and accuracy.
The right way to Drill a Sq. and True Gap with a Brace and Bit (video)
d. Push Drill
Supply: Sears
A hand-powered push drill is a precision software utilized in woodworking. When a drill, impression drill, or hammer drill is just too cumbersome or too highly effective for effective work, a push drill delivers wonderful outcomes.
C. Drill Manufacturers and Corporations
There’s number of firms that make and promote drills. Right here’s chart setting the drill model reputation.
D. Energy Sources for Drills
Supply: Amazon
All drills, whatever the kind, have an influence supply. There are 4 principal sources of energy for drills.
1. Electrical energy (Corded Drills)
Supply: Amazon
A corded drill gives limitless energy to your drill so you should use it till you might be completed with it quite than utilizing it solely till the battery is depleted. Usually, a corded drill has extra energy/pressure than a cordless drill.
Whereas it’s handy to have the ability to proceed to drill with out stopping to recharge or substitute the battery, it may be inconvenient to cope with lengthy extension cords or having to seek out an electrical outlet.
Study corded energy drill fundamentals, together with makes use of, specs, and working ideas and strategies, from The Residence Depot. This beneficial data will provide help to select the fitting corded drill to your wants.
2. Battery (Cordless Drills)
Supply: Lowe’s
Battery-powered drills will let you transfer about freely whereas drilling. You don’t should wrestle to discover a energy supply to plug into, nor do it’s a must to wrestle with lengthy cords that may hinder your work. Drawbacks embrace much less energy than a corded drill and restricted battery life that may minimize your mission brief.
Totally different drills use several types of batteries. Drills are engineered to run on energy generated by one in every of 5 battery varieties: alkaline, lithium-ion (Li-Ion), Li-iron disulfide, nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cad), and nickel-metal hydride (NIMH).
As you weigh your choices and contemplate the varieties of drills accessible, use this useful information from Lowe’s for data on utilizing cordless drills.
3. Air (Pneumatic Drills)
Supply: Sears
A pneumatic drill is powered by compressed air. Energy from an air compressor is forceful and regular. Whereas the ability is great, pneumatic drills aren’t as widespread as electrical and battery-powered drills as a result of outdoors of business and industrial websites, air compressors aren’t sometimes used.
Only for enjoyable:
Dental drills and jackhammers are each pneumatic drills.
4. Guide
Guide drills are powered by muscle—your muscle. Hand drills are manual-powered. Some use a pushing movement, others use a crank movement, whereas others nonetheless use a twisting movement (just like the hand drill pictured instantly above).
Guide-powered drills are designed to be used in small areas or for woodworking initiatives needing management and finesse.
E. Sorts of Drill Motors
Supply: Amazon
The motor, equipped by electrical energy, battery, or air, powers your drill. All energy drills have one in every of two motor varieties: brushed and brushless. There after all are technical, and mechanical variations between the 2. Right here, we’ll check out the sensible variations so you possibly can decide whether or not efficiency or value is extra essential to you.
1. Brushed Motor
Supply: Lowe’s
The brushed motor is the unique drill motor. Its major benefit over the newer brushless motor is value. Drills with brushed motors are cheaper than these with brushless motors.
2. Brushless Motor
Supply: Amazon
Maybe you noticed that the brushed-motor drill appears fairly much like the brushless-motor drill. We did this deliberately to spotlight the truth that you possibly can’t inform by taking a look at a drill what sort of motor it has. It does turn out to be extra apparent whenever you use the drills.
Brushless motors boast larger effectivity and extra energy technology. They run cooler, are lighter in weight, and have a smaller dimension than brushed motors. Which means that a drill with a brushless motor is simpler to carry and works sooner than one with a brushed motor.
F. Extra Particulars to Contemplate When Selecting Out a Drill
Not solely are there many several types of drills, however totally different drills even have totally different options. When you’ve narrowed down the kind of drill you want, the ability supply you like, and different key parts, you possibly can flip your consideration to the little particulars—options and extras—to slender your preferences so you possibly can finally choose the drill greatest suited to you.
1. Drill Options
We’ve listed the primary options you will see on energy drills. No drill has all the options, so begin by on the lookout for these components you suppose you’ll use probably the most.
a. LED Mild
Supply: Instruments in Motion
Some drills are outfitted with a built-in LED mild that can assist you see in areas with inadequate lighting.
b. Adjustable Aspect Deal with
Supply: Lowe’s
Drills with an adjustable aspect deal with will let you personalize the place to maximise consolation.
c. Lock-On Change
Supply: Amazon
Some drills possess a lock-on function. With lock-on, the drill will solely begin when it’s engaged, saving battery energy and lowering extraneous noise.
d. Depth Gauge
Supply: Amazon
A drill with a built-in depth gauge guides you as you bore into the floor of the wooden, plastic, steel, or concrete that you just’re working with. You might be assured that you’re drilling far sufficient down with out going too far.
e. Electrical Brake
Supply: Sears
A drill that has an electrical brake stops rotating instantly whenever you launch the set off quite than step by step slowing and coming to a cease.
f. Cellular App Built-in
Smartphones meet good drills. Some drills are high-tech and sync wirelessly to your smartphone. With the connection, you possibly can customise your drill’s efficiency. You’ll be able to enter a number of packages after which choose the one you want for every job. With this know-how, your drill is immediately prepared whenever you want it and the way you want it.
g. Reversible
Supply: Amazon
Reversible drills can swap the path of their rotation, sometimes with a single push or slide of a button. That is helpful when it’s worthwhile to take away screws or different fasteners. The drill’s total functioning is much less exact in a reversible drill than a non-reversible mannequin.
2. Drill Speeds
Hand Drill vs. Energy Drill—Velocity Race
All varieties of drills might be fairly quick, even these which might be powered manually. After we’re involved the velocity of a drill, we’re most frequently referring solely to energy drills. While you’re searching for the fitting energy drill, you could have choices relating to the velocity. The velocity you want is set by the job you’re doing.
a. One velocity/single Velocity
Some drills, like this one, have just one working velocity.
b. 2- or-3 Velocity Drills
Supply: Amazon
When utilizing this velocity kind, you possibly can manually choose your velocity. A few of these drills can function in low or excessive modes, whereas others have an extra medium setting.
Within the above image, the two-speed management slide is on the highest of the drill.
c. Variable Velocity Drills
Supply: Lowe’s
This sort of drill reacts to the job and adjusts its velocity as you’re employed. It has a variety of speeds that interact robotically to offer correct torque within the second.
d. The Chuck
Supply: Sears
The drill chuck is the piece on the entrance of the drill that holds the bit or different attachments and rotates whenever you function your drill. When a drill is described as ¼”, ½’’ , or every other dimension, it’s the chuck that’s being referenced. The quantity represents the diameter of the opening and the bit dimension it holds.
A drill can have a number of chucks of various sizes. Some drills include one chuck. Others, nevertheless, don’t embrace a chuck. Chucks are bought individually from most shops, on-line and brick-and-mortar, that promote drills.
For almost all of energy drills, chucks are available three kinds: keyed, single-sleeve keyless, and double-sleeve keyless. There’s a fourth kind, known as the hammer chuck, that’s used solely with SDS hammer drills.
Merely put, a key holds a chuck securely in place. A keyless chuck is far simpler to make use of however isn’t fairly as safe as a keyed chuck.
Supply: The Residence Depot
Within the above picture, the black part is the important thing that matches into the holes within the chuck.
Supply: Sears
3. Drill equipment
Along with built-in function choices, most drills have the capability so as to add varied equipment to boost their operate.
a. Constructive Stops
Supply: Amazon
These little gems assist be certain that you drill to precisely the fitting depth. These cease your drill whenever you attain the depth you’ve chosen, thus stopping you from over-drilling.
b. Miscellaneous Multi-Objective Attachments
Supply: Amazon
Do extra together with your drill than boreholes and insert or take away screws and different fasteners. Add each enjoyable and oomph to your cleansing duties. Cleansing brush attachments allow you to loosen up on the elbow grease whereas cleansing extra deeply and effectively. Plus who wouldn’t need to clear with an influence drill?
Supply: Amazon
You’ll be able to even buff your automobile together with your drill. Think about a clear, shiny automobile with out exhausting your self within the course of of creating it that method.
Are you having a lot enjoyable together with your drill that you just’re on the lookout for inventive methods to make use of it? Why not combine some paint? Sure, you possibly can even use an influence drill to totally combine paint.
To actually be impressed, watch The right way to Stir Paint with a Drill
G. Greatest Sorts of Drills and Their Makes use of for Numerous Jobs, Supplies and Tasks
Virtually each DIY mission requires a drill sooner or later, however not all drills are proper for each job.
Relying in your mission, you may want a brand new drill or a brand new bit to get the outcomes you need.
On this article, we’ll have a look at the perfect varieties of drills for some widespread supplies you may must work with.
Greatest Kind of Drill for Screws?
Screwdrivers take a very long time and a variety of vitality to function, in comparison with a drill.
The very best drills for driving screws are cordless drills with adjustable velocity management. An impression drill is even higher for lengthy screws since a hammering motion and elevated torque makes it simpler.
Greatest Choice for Concrete?
Drilling into concrete is a standard requirement for DIY initiatives, however concrete is far tougher than wooden or drywall. To penetrate the concrete and create a gap, it’s best to use a hammer drill or a rotary hammer.
Many multi-purpose cordless drills have a hammer operate that you should use to drill into concrete. A hammer drill makes use of vibrations in coordination with the twisting motion of the drill to interrupt up masonry and concrete.
A rotary hammer is a heavier-duty model of a hammer drill that’s used solely for masonry and concrete functions. With a rotary hammer, you possibly can drill bigger, cleaner holes into concrete.
Glorious Drill Kind for Stainless Metal?
You need to use a normal multi-purpose drill for stainless-steel, however you’ll need to swap out the bit.
Stainless-steel is extremely onerous and can blunt and resist regular metal drill bits. As a substitute, you want a tougher bit that can chunk into stainless-steel.
In response to Grainger KnowHow, the greatest bit for stainless-steel is Cobalt (HSCO). A bit with 5-8% cobalt blended into the metal is tough sufficient to drill into stainless-steel successfully.
Greatest Kind of Drill Alternative for Brick?
A hammer drill has the vibration essential to drill into masonry.
When drilling into brick, use a hammer drill or a rotary hammer when you want bigger holes.
Nice Drill for Steel?
Commonplace multi-purpose drills can be utilized with steel, however common drill bits aren’t onerous sufficient to penetrate steel. If you wish to drill into steel, you want a distinct drill bit.
The commonest and efficient drill bits for steel are titanium and cobalt.
“Steel” can seek advice from all the things from copper to stainless-steel, so there may be some variance in what you may want.
For softer metals, like copper or iron, a metal bit coated in titanium will do the trick. For hardened metals like stainless-steel or tempered metal, it’s higher to go together with cobalt, which is mixed into the metal as an alloy, giving it a larger hardness and resistance.
For Plywood?
Plywood is a comparatively comfortable materials that’s straightforward to drill into, however you possibly can profit from utilizing a bit that’s straightforward to place and received’t tear up the encircling wooden.
A wood-twist drill bit is designed to cleanly drill holes into plywood and chipboard.
What’s the Greatest Kind of Drill for Tile?
Tiles should not solely very onerous, however they’re additionally liable to cracking and fragmenting, which makes drilling into them a tough activity.
To drill into tile or related supplies like porcelain you want a really onerous bit.
In response to Bosch DIY, diamond-ground Carbide-tipped drill bits are excellent for many comfortable to medium density tiles.
It’s essential to use stress rigorously whereas drilling to keep away from cracking the tiles.
For tougher, high-density tiles and drilling into porcelain, you’ll need a diamond-tipped drill bit. These are costlier than carbide-tipped bits however are tougher and simpler.
If You Can Select Solely One Drill for Your Residence, What Kind Ought to You Get (All-Objective)?
A normal cordless multi-purpose drill is ideal for many residence functions.
While you run right into a job your drill can’t deal with, contemplate renting or shopping for a specialised drill:
- hammer drills
- impression drivers
- screw-guns
- right-angle drills
- rotary hammer drills
What’s the Greatest Kind of Drill for Aluminum?
Aluminum is a comparatively comfortable steel, so you should use a titanium-coated drill bit. Nonetheless, in accordance with TTPdrills, because of the low melting level of aluminum, a cobalt bit will work higher.
H. Choice-Making Concerns
Now that you just’re accustomed to the primary drill varieties, different accessible drills, and the main points like options and equipment, you’re able to proceed to the following step: making a shopping for choice. Taking particular issues into consideration will provide help to with that call. First, although, here’s a very temporary recap of energy drills mixed with their goal.
The right way to Select a Energy Drill
1. Know Your Objective
“No person who purchased a drill really wished a drill. They wished a gap.” — Perry Marshall
That assertion makes an excellent level. Consider why you need a drill, and the choice will turn out to be much less overwhelming.
- Why do you want a drill?
- Will you utilize it for restricted varieties of initiatives, or will you be doing a range?
Are you constructing issues comparable to a fence and gate, will you be fastening gadgets into concrete or brick, or will you be woodworking? Or maybe you’ll be doing all three plus one thing totally different altogether. Your goal will let you know what kind of drill you want.
Only for enjoyable:
Drills can be utilized for unconventional functions, too. Did you ever consider fishing together with your drill?
Fishing with a Energy Drill
2. Drill Price Chart
Drills range in worth. The extra heavy-duty the drill the costlier it’s. Nonetheless, a heavy-duty industrial SDS hammer drill may look comparatively cheap. A better look may reveal that you’re solely shopping for the drill. Nothing else is included, together with the batter, chuck, and bits. You’ll incur extra bills buying these requirements.
Every kind of drill has a basic worth vary.
a. Cordless hand-held drill
Cordless drills value between $40 and $300. I’m positive there are some that value extra however $200 to $300 will get you an excellent cordless drill.
b. Hammer drill value
- Hammer drills vary from round $60 to $3,000
- Rotary Hammer Drills (SDS Drills) value between $50 and $1,700.
b. Affect driver value
The approximate vary of impression drivers is $60 to $1,000
c. Drill press value
The approximate value vary is $60 to $1,200.
Device Tip Fundamentals: Energy Drills
Associated: The right way to put a screw into brick
The place to purchase drills
The very best on-line shops to purchase drills are:
Sources:
Continuously Requested Questions
Are you able to drill a gap in a ceramic pot?
Sure, you possibly can drill a gap in a ceramic pot with a typical drill bit. It’s simpler to drill a gap in unglazed ceramic than in glazed ceramic. Glazed ceramic is what you will see in most shops. It’s onerous for the bit to seize the pot to begin the opening.
Are you able to drill a gap in glass?
You’ll be able to drill a gap into glass with a drill bit that’s between 1/8-inch to three/32-inch. You need to watch out with the quantity of stress you apply, or you might crack the glass.
Are you able to drill into brick?
Sure, you possibly can drill into brick, however you will need to use a mortar or masonry drill bit. These metal bits have been constructed to drill by these specific varieties of supplies.
Are you able to drill into concrete?
Sure, you possibly can drill into concrete with a rotary drill and masonry bit. Nonetheless, it will be greatest when you have been cautious to not burn out the drill motor. You additionally need to concentrate, so you don’t destroy the bit.
Are you able to drill by steel?
Sure, you possibly can drill by steel, however you will need to use a drill bit particularly meant for steel, comparable to a small twisted drill bit. Additionally, it will be greatest when you drilled at a sluggish velocity.
Are you able to drill forged iron?
Sure, you possibly can drill by forged iron, however you will need to use a drill bit meant for steel. Forged iron is simple to drill by as a result of it’s extra brittle than different metals.
Are you able to drill by tile?
Sure, you possibly can drill by tile, however you want a specialist drill bit. An everyday and masonry drill bit isn’t robust sufficient to drill by the onerous floor of the tile. It will be greatest when you used a diamond-tipped or carbide-tipped drill bit.
How do hammer drills work?
A hammer drill is a well-liked energy software that mixes pulsating hammering with a rotary movement. The pulsating hammering movement helps the drill minimize by the materials.
Can you are taking drill batteries on a aircraft?
Sure, you possibly can take drill batteries on a aircraft, however you will need to carry them in your carry-on baggage. It additionally have to be in a particular battery bag. The battery have to be turned off.
Can drill bits be sharpened?
Sure, drill bits might be sharpened. Nonetheless, you have to be cautious and sluggish when sharpening your drill bit.
Do drill sharpeners work?
Sure, a drill sharpener does a reasonably good job placing a pointy edge in your drill bits. So long as you don’t want to drill exact holes, they will help you get a pointy edge.