Drill recommendation

[lokpikr999]

I currently own this drill https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/ ... details/46 but I want to get a higher caliber one.I am thinking a DeWalt,but they offer so many different models,I have no idea which one would be best.So I would highly I appreciate it if someone would give me a recommendation for a high quality a cordless drill suitable for general locksmithing purposes.


Thanks in advance.

Alex.

[Divinorum]

I use a Makita 18v and have never had a problem with it. I could have gotten a dewalt but would have paid a lot more. Honesty the Makita is nice and works really well as a general purpose locksmith drill. I bought the kit that came with the charger, 2 batteries, a regular drill, an impact drill, and a portable light.

[KPick]

I've heard a lot of great things about a makita drills. They are very durable.

[cledry]

Make sure it is a hammer drill. You will encounter mortar filled steel door frames, need to use tapcons and other anchors for thresholds and safes.

Whatever you choose I would think about expandability. We have 5 service vehicles, each has the following battery operated tools, sawsall, jig saw, circular saw, hammer drill, torch & impact driver. All use the same 18 volt battery. We happen to use Ridgid brand and have had good luck. All the tools have been beat on, dropped, used in rain etc. and I think we had a few batteries fail but nothing else.

As a locksmith you would probably use these tools on a regular basis, but you can do without most of them too, but it makes the job take longer. Once you use them you might wonder how you managed without them.

Just a typical day last week I installed a couple of vertical rod exit devices with outside trim on the active door. I used the drill and jigsaw to cut the steel door for the trim. I used the hammer drill to drill the concrete for the cup strikes. The cup strikes needed cutting so I clamped them in my vice and used the sawsall to trim to size. The impact driver was used to screw any parts that weren't through bolted.

I also carry a lot of corded tools that I use, such as a die-grinder, angle grinder, belt sander, door planer, high speed hammer drill, Dremel, reciprocating tool, two routers. Not all of our trucks carry the corded tools though.

[Sinifar]

Dewalt, 18 volt. It works, it will drill about 6 - 2 1/8" holes in doors before needing to change the battery - also a Dewalt "sawzall". On my second set of batteries, they lasted about 5 years, be sure to bring them inside during freezing weather, like overnight. Batteries like these rechargeables don't like being frozen. As far as hammer drill, Bosch corded. Nothing like 1/2 drill power to blast thru stuff.

Just our tools.

Sinifar

[2octops]

We've been abusing Dewalt 18v XRP stuff for years. Batteries last longer if you plug the charger into the wall instead of your inverter unless you have a true sine inverter.

1/2" chuck hammer drill for most things but I like the 1/4" impact for fasteners more than the drill. The angle grinder is nice but very loud and eats batteries. Normally I just use a regular plug in version unless it's something small but to much for a Dremel. Never seen anybody wear out a XRP drill in under 5 years unless they abuse it worse than we do. The anvil on the impacts normally last about 2 years. We keep 4 batteries on each truck and replace them every year or two.

A good corded 1/2" hammer drill is a must depending on what you work on. Bosch, Milwaukee, Rigid, Metabo, etc.

If you go with Dewalt, order a dual battery charger. It makes life much easier than just having the single.

[1mrchristopher]

A few months ago I replaced my Ryobi with a dewalt, DCD980M2 one of the new 20v lithium. In hindsight, hammer function would have been nice to have as well. That said, it's a beast. Good sharp hole saw and you can pop out a hole in a metal or wood door in no time. My Ryobi was a true exercise in aggravation: 30 minutes and 2 batteries for one hole (granted it was 6 years old). A word of warning regarding lithium batteries: If you are used to being able to eek out enough juice to finish driving that last screw by pausing when the motor winds to a halt, and then pulling the trigger again for a brief jolt of energy, give up that notion. When she stops spinning on lithium, you're done. Just throw it on the charger and grab the next battery. I've been very pleased with it's performance.

[Jburgett2nd]

Anyone have experience with Black and Decker?

[Squelchtone]

Anyone have experience with Black and Decker?

well if you're hanging a picture frame, or doing some arts and crafts projects around the house, that will do just fine.



they're consumer grade equipment.. probably not a good thing for a working locksmith to buy for starting your business.

[Jburgett2nd]

Thats what I thought, I was checking out the B&D Matrix has interchangeable heads, impact driver, buzzsaw etc.

[Yorkie]

I've used Makita gear pretty much my entire working life and never had any problems their service and warranty is excellent for any replacement parts (mainly chucks).

Ive just bought some of the ryobi ONE + gear and for the price it's excellent and the fact that you can buy just the tool or battery separately as you need them works for me.

If you want to get really posh have a look at the festool gear, it's expensive but man is it good:)

Note: I'm not a locksmith, I work in the entertainment industry as a production carpenter but I imagine I use the tools for similar jobs. Drilling/cutting wood steel plastic etc etc


Ta

Yorkie

[billdeserthills]

Anyone have experience with Black and Decker?

well if you're hanging a picture frame, or doing some arts and crafts projects around the house, that will do just fine.



they're consumer grade equipment.. probably not a good thing for a working locksmith to buy for starting your business.

Black & Decker actually owns DeWalt, Kwikset, Weiser and Baldwin
They are experts in the field of cheapening companies

[Jburgett2nd]

I wish could drop 200$ for a Milwaukee m18

[1mrchristopher]

Good tools are a necessary investment. My first install with a professional series cordless drill cured me of ever trying to use inexpensive hardware store bonus buy outfits. $200.00 is not a bad cost at all, and trying to do the job with something inferior is going to end up costing you in the amount of time it will take.

[billdeserthills]

Actually last month I installed a deadbolt with my dewalt corded drill and I'm done using the cordless dewalt I have, if I can help it. The cordless drill
seemingly has almost zero power, when compared to the corded drill. In fact I had a couple more installations since then and I'm much happier using
the corded drill & extension cord and getting done twice as fast! I'll tell ya something else, here in Arizona it gets soo hot that I have to replace at least
two cordless 18vt batteries Every Year. I am tired of wasting money on that drill, as it is only good to have every once inawhile when no power is
available, and even then you have to baby the thing to get much out of it.