Best Cordless Drill Reviews

Whether you buying a cordless drill as a Christmas Gift, planning to replace a damaged power drill or getting a cordless drill for outdoor work with the flexibility of carrying the tool anywhere your work requires you to be, this review is intended to help narrow your research to find a power cordless drill that is suitable for you. Know the facts before you buy.

Some of the popular cordless drills are Milwaukee 2691-22, Makita BDF452HW and Dremel 8000-03. These are among the best cordless drills available in the market today.

Older cordless drills use nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries. NiCd batteries requires longer charging time, have internal short-circuiting and self-discharging problems that limits battery service life. NiCd battery contains cadmium which is a toxic heavy metal and it is harzardous to the environment.

Major drill manufacturers, like Milwaukee and Makita, have moved into lithium ion batteries. Lithium ion batteries require very short charging time (approx 20 mins or less), longer life, lighter in weight and able to hold the charge for about 2 years when not in use.

It is important to know that the cost of battery replacement is not cheap. So, here's a little tip for taking care of the batteries. First, it is recommended to recharge the battery only when it is drained. When the battery is fully charged, do not leave the battery on the recharger for long period of time as this may burn out the battery or may reduce the battery life.

With the advancements of cordless drills, there are many voltages you can consider for your application and 18V cordless drill is the most common.

It is important to use the right tool for the right job. For example, it doesn't make sense to use a standard electric drill for brute hammer drilling purpose on hard building materials.

When choosing cordless drills, these are the main things you would normally consider:

* drill size
* charging time
* long battery life
* high speed torque
* ergonomic grips
* drill configurations

For this article, I have handpicked 3 of the best and popular cordless drills with reviews of what the users like about the tools as well as their complaints.

So, let's dive straight into their feedback.

Milwaukee 2691-22 18-Volt Compact Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit

This Milwaukee 2691-22 cordless drill kit has over 110 reviews and it scored a high rating 4.5 out of 5 stars where 79 of the reviewers gave it a 5-star ratings.

Majority of the reviewers are very pleased with the light weight, robust construction, long lasting and fast charging slim batteries, balance, sturdy feel and ergonomic design. The reduce in fatique is noticeable after a day's work as mentioned by a customer. One of the users also like the idea that it is able to run using bigger XC batteries that supply a lot of extra life for their work. The battery life level indicator lights is one of their favorite feature which their other older drill makers didn't have. The battery hold the charge very well and can last for about 4 hours of continuous work.

For the not so great reviews - a customer who bought a refurbished battery with driver set complaint that the high speed setting on the drill didn't work at all and used up one-third of the battery power after drilling for 3 sets of hinges for his doors. Another user suggested that the cordless drill should have a setting between first and second gear. A user experienced problem with the switch stucked to the first gear and couldn't use the 2nd gear. There is also comment that the batteries got fairly warm after a period of using. The drill does not come with a belt hook, drill wobbles and hard to switch between high and low settings, as one user wrote. One of them mentioned that the batteries do not operate with other M-18 cordless tools.

Milwaukee 2691-22 Key Features & Specifications

* The Milwaukee M18 2-tool combo kit includes the Milwaukee M18 lithium-ion 1/2-inch compact drill/driver, M18 lithium-ion 1/4-inch hex compact impact and convenient contractor bag.

* Compact drill/driver delivers 400 in./lbs. of torque; weighs 4 pounds; 7-3/4-inches long

1/4-inch hex compact impact with 4-pole frameless motor delivers 1400 in./lbs. of torque

* Lightweight durability, built-in LED lights, battery fuel gauges and variable-speed triggers

* Backed by the confidence of a 5-year warranty, the M18 2-tool combo kit is the essential tool arsenal for the enduring professional

* Includes: (1) M18 1/4-Inch Hex Compact Impact, M18 1/2-Inch Compact Drill/Driver, (2) 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion batteries 48-11-1815, 30-minute Charger and Carrying Case.

* Featuring adjustable speeds ranging from high speed RPM of 1-1,800 and low speed RPM of 0-450, the M18 lithium-ion compact drill driver allows you to apply concentrated power for accuracy and professional results

* The M18 drill driver has 24 clutch settings

* Other features include a battery fuel gauge, which displays remaining run-time

and a bright LED light for pinpoint illumination on dark jobsites.

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Makita BDF452HW 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch Driver-Drill Kit

This Makita BDF452HW cordless drill kit has over 270 reviews and it scored a high rating 4.5 out of 5 stars. 180 reviewers gave it a 5-star rating.

Customers who bought the Makita BDF452HW model and gave positive reviews are impressed with it being ultra light weight, comfortable grip, solid chuck and high torque for its size. The battery life is satisfactory and the batteries are physically small with charging time that takes 15 minutes which live up to what the drill maker claims to be. They also mentioned that the automatic LED lightsource is a handy feature. The reviewers are also amazed by the drill power it delivers for such a compact cordless drilling tool, it has a lot of power even at its first gear and few of them highlighted to be careful when holding the device.

On the negative side, some customers complaint that they experience runout/wobbling problems and not able to drill precise holes with this drill. One of the customers expected that the kit should have a screwdriver bit holder but it was not included. There are quite a number of comments from users having problems of defective batteries and its durability. One of them mentioned about the noisy fan sound from the recharger and don't like bulky charging device.

Makita BDF452HW Key Features & Specifications

* Makita-built 4-pole motor delivers 450 in.lbs. of Max Torque and 285 in.lbs. of PTI Torque

* Variable 2-speed design (0-400 & 0-1,500 RPM) covers a wide range of drilling and driving applications

* Compact design at only 8" long and weighs only 3.5 lbs. for reduced operator fatigue

* Built-in L.E.D. light illuminates the work area

* Ergonomic shape fits like a glove with even pressure and easy control

* Soft grip handle provides increased comfort on the job

* Makita Lithium-Ion battery provides longer run time, 5x lower self-discharge (for use any time) and 16 firm-holding contact terminals (for constant high power)

* 15-Minute Rapid Optimum Charger communicates with the battery's built-in chip throughout the charging process to optimize battery life by actively controlling current, voltage and temperature

* 15-Minute Rapid Optimum Charger has a built-in fan to cool the battery which helps produce more lifetime work

* Accepts Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion battery for even longer run time

* The charger earned the ENERGY STAR® label for meeting the strict energy-efficient guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US Department of Energy (DOE)

* 3-year warranty on tool and 1-year warranty on batteries and charger

* 2 ea. 18V Compact Lithium-Ion Battery (BL1815)

* 1 15-Minute Rapid Optimum Charger (DC18RA)

* Tool Case (824774-7)

* Tool Belt Clip (346034-2)

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Dremel 8000-03 10.8-Volt Lithium Ion Cordless Rotary Tool

There are about 140 reviews gathered for Dremel 8000-03 cordless rotary tool, it scored a 4.5 of 5 stars. The Dremel 8000-03 received a 5-star rating from 95 reviewers.

The customers like the versatility of it being able to cut, sand, polish and grind other than using it for drilling purpose. Most of them like it being comfortable to hold, its compactness and has plenty of RPMs and torque just like the corded version. Battery lifetimes are very good, and the "fuel gauge" seems to be reasonably accurate. Battery charge times are quite short. Some commented about the handy variable thumbwheel speed control, and the Dremel 8000-03 cordless drill kit has almost all the accessories they need. Many of the customers are loyal customers.

The downside of the Dremel 8000-03 cordless drill is that it is a little heavy and a little under powered. The tool automatically shuts off under load and requires restart as mentioned by one user. One of the reviewers suggested that the case needs improvement because it has a false bottom with holes in it that allow the small pieces to drop into the holes. The attachments aren't clearly labeled in any way as to what their intended purpose is. One of the customer commented that the battery died after 3 years of usage.

Dremel 8000-03 Key Features & Specifications

* Compact Multi-Function Tool Saves Time and Effort

* Cordless Design for Easy Portability

* Comfort grip housing for easier handling and better tool control

* Weigh 13.92 Ounces

* Lithium-ion battery holds charge while in storage for two years so light is always ready when you need it

* Variable speed from 5,000 to 35,000 rpm to match the proper speed required

* High capacity 10.8V Lithium-ion battery for longer run times

* Includes 40 genuine Dremel accessories

* Carrying case, and instruction manual

Check purchase details at => amzn.to/d0PBEU