need a new corded drill

[EddieWalker]

I find that the biggest problem with small corded drill is the in the keyless chuck system. They all seem to be junk. I have a DeWalt and a Bosch that I'm disapointed in. Neither would get really tight, and the DeWalt just froze up on me. I can't even get it to loosen up with a large pipe wrench and the vise to hold it in. The Bosch always needs retightening.

I bought a DeWalt paddle drill about ten years ago for mixing mortar and concrete in five gallon buckets for small jobs. It's wore out several mixing paddles and more buckets then I can remember. It's been a very good drill. It has a chuck, so I can get it good and tight, and it's geared for mixing.

For just about everything else, I rely on my cordless Makita 18v drill. I mix paint with it all the time and us it for almost all of my drilling except when it's really tight, then I use a spade bit in my Makita 18v impact driver. It's mostly for screws, and it isn't very smooth when drilling holes, but its so much shorter then the drill that I can get it into spaces nothing else will fit.

My next corded drill will probably be a Makita. I have a few Milwaukee products and the ones that last are super heavy, the others failed quickly. I rate Milwaukee about the same as DeWalt. OK for home handyman use, and cheapy tools for employees on a crew, but not something I want to rely to make a living.

 

[DFB]

OK, 1/2" chuck, 8+amp because I fried my 5amp, not sure about rpm's, but 2 speed variable would be good. Extra handle a plus, price up to about $150. I do try to buy quality, still using my Craftsman circular saw bought while in college, 40 years ago.

Lots of stuff out there!

It's your money


Dewalt offers this beast in a mid handle design

Has the maximum features you asked for...
10 amp
2 speed
1/2 chuck
twin handle
hammer drill
<$150 price range

Dewalt DWD525K 10 Amp 1-2 in. VSR Mid-Handle Grip Hammer Drill Kit

Plus it comes with a case

And ACME has the keyless chuck drill only model DWD215G for $10 less


CPO also has a Bosch 2 mode rear handle hammerdrill

Bosch HD19-2 8.5 Amp 1-2 in. 2-Speed Hammer Drill with Case


Still under $150 Acme lists another Milwaukee similar in design to the 7.5 amp 5378
A 9 amp 2 mode hammer drill with Anti Vibration System and a rear handle design
Milwaukee 1/2-Inch Hammer Drill | Acme Tools


And Hitachi has a 8.3 amp 2 speed rear handle with 1/2 chuck (3/4 is max hole size for concrete)
HITACHI-DV20VB2 | Acme Tools

In the 7.0-7.5 amp range you could probably find several VSR drills under $100.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I have a few Milwaukee products and the ones that last are super heavy, the others failed quickly. I rate Milwaukee about the same as DeWalt. OK for home handyman use, and cheapy tools for employees on a crew, but not something I want to rely to make a living.

I wonder if there is a difference between old and new. My 29 year old Magnum 1/2" drill has been worked hard for years and is still perfect. I have a even older Milwaukee Sawzall same thing still perfect. I have a 20 year old Hole Hawg used for large holes in framing and with a six inch auger for drilling post holes. Still like new. These are all top quality and made plenty of money when I was a working bloke. These days I am 99% cordless but for corded tools my decades of use says Milwaukee is fine. Only thing I ever replaced is cords I put 25 ft cords on everything much easier to work with. Pre-cordless that is.