On this test, the numbers for the 12-volt drills are pretty low — so if you’re looking to bore a lot of holes, it’s probably best to stick with the 18-volt drills. For the most part, all of the 18-volt drills felt strong starting this test off with a new battery, and although it did score second-to-last here, the Ryobi felt the strongest out of the gate. There’s also the breakthrough feel — how well the spade bits are able to exit the opposite side of the lumber without snagging and seizing. Not only did Milwaukee absolutely trounce the competition, but the spade bit moved from one side of the lumber to the other with almost no snags.
Those looking for a more affordable DeWalt drill may want to consider the DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill with its 300-UWO rating and ability to reach 1,500 rpm. Every once in a while, we get a product that is not up to our usual standards. It could be a manufacturing paint flaw or damage from a return shipment.
The DCD771C2 got off to a pretty good start in our drilling performance test, which is worth 35% of its total score. Most dewalt tools vary in the amount of torque and speed they produce. Aside from corded and cordless, the biggest differentiators among DeWalt’s drills are speed and power. Ahead, learn more about how DeWalt rates its drills and other characteristics that are important to keep in mind when shopping for the best DeWalt drill. A good pick for most homeowners, the DCD710S2 is a great value drill for basic jobs at home. Our experts like it for its lightweight accessibility and the added perk of its carrying bag for storage and transport.
There’s no doubt that Yellow and Black is one of the most popular, so we’re highlighting the best DeWalt drills we think you should consider. If you’re unsure if your drill has enough power to match the auger you have or want, check out this handy guide. The DCD771C2 did redeem itself a bit by including two batteries, so you can at least always have one on the charger while you are working and by charging faster than average. It takes less than an hour — 58 minutes — for the included charger to completely recharge a dead battery. The DCD771C2 finished out with a solid performance when drilling through the steel sheets.
UWO is a value created by DeWalt, so one won’t find it being used to rate any other brand of tool. As for performance, this drill is rated to deliver 404 UWO and speeds of up to 1,650 RPM. Total control over performance is provided by a variable speed trigger, two speed settings, and 15 clutch settings. My corded DeWalt delivers speeds of up to 2,500 RPM with just a variable speed trigger to control it. XR lithium-ion batteries provide 33% more capacity over standard packs, so you shouldn’t have to worry about your tool lagging in the middle of a job. It’s been said that the torque of this model is great, but you will want to make sure you’ve tightened the drill bit plenty to avoid the drill spinning around the bit—particularly smaller ones.
Whereas a corded drill is tethered to a 120-volt outlet, one can take a cordless drill virtually anywhere. However, the battery adds weight, so cordless models typically weigh more than corded drills. DeWalt’s line of cordless drills includes conventional 12-volt and 20-volt drills and specialty angle and hammer drills. Power through the day with dewalt circular saw the FLEX 24V 1/2” 2-Speed Compact Drill Driver, a lightweight and compact cordless drill built to conquer hard-to-reach spaces. This compact drill is 17 percent more compact than its larger counterpart, FX1151, and ideal for reaching up to work between studs. It’s also 22 percent lighter weight than FX1151 for less fatigue when working overhead.
They have a chuck or collet that accepts the bits and a switch that activates the tool motor to drive the bits. These tools are mainly used for holemaking and fastening but are sometimes used with attachments for cutting, mixing, or grinding. Pistol-grip drills place the user’s hand behind the chuck to steady the tool and control pressure on the bit. Right-angle drills set the bit at 90° to the tool body to access corners and reach into tight spaces. Joist and stud right-angle drills are larger and more powerful than general purpose right-angle drills.
The DeWalt DCD771C2 is in the middle of these two drills in terms of list prices, but it did the worst in our battery life performance tests of this group. However, it is the best at driving in this trio and better than the Porter-Cable when drilling, though the M18 did a bit better dewalt tool than both in our harder drilling tests. In selecting the best of DeWalt’s collection of drills, we considered a variety of criteria. Although DeWalt is considered to be one of the premium brands in power tools, its collection of drills covers a surprisingly broad price spectrum.
This drill’s high-speed transmission delivers two speed settings (zero to 550 or zero to 2,000 rpm), letting users choose the level of performance needed for various applications. In addition to this useful feature for keeping tabs on tools, this hammer drill also boasts pro-level power with its ability to reach speeds of up to 2,000 rpm and a UWO of 820. It’s powered by DeWalt’s XR lithium-ion batteries, which provide 33 percent more battery life than standard batteries.