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Sherry Lee

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Posts
2,228
Location
Phoenix, Az.
What sort of drill do you prefer? If I use my husbands I don't have control over it because my hands are small. If I use the small 3.6 volt type, they don't last long at all & it's a pain recharging the battery all the time.

Whatever I replace this one with I'm thinking of getting two of them.....one for a drill bit and the other for the phillips bit. That's another 'pain'.......changing out the bits.

I'm working on my "efficiency goal" today.....can you tell?
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Thanks for any and all thoughts.
 
Here's what my also-petite-sister-in-law/business partner and I have:

Hitachi 14.4V cordless. Came with two batteries so one sits in the charger while the other is in use. Changing the bits has never been a problem or nuisance. I can't remember what we paid... but it seems to me it was in the $100 range. It didn't come with many bits so we bought a small kit that is working out fine.

We love this drill. It has served us well and a friend actually prefers ours over her pricier Makita. How did we ever live without it?!

Hope this helps!
 
I use a 12v Dewalt. As to the drill bits, get one of the holder thingy's that sits in the drill, you just pop the bits out of the holder when replacing, you do not have to unscrew the holder. The holders are usually magnetic and that will magnetize your bit and help keep your screw from going wayward.

Can't remember the last time I used a slotted screw on anything either.......
 
Its called a "quickchange" - magnatized. I have two small portable screwdrivers, one craftsman, one black & decker; one holds the phillips head in the quickchange and the other has my drill bit for pre-drilling. Quick and easy to change out if needed. I plug them into their charger when I leave on saturdays and they are ready for the following week.
 
Whatever drill you choose, check out FrameTek's drill bits. They come in a set, which has sizes to fit the screws we typically use.

The best part is that they come with adjustable stops, which keep us from drilling through the front of a frame. Tell me you've never done that. :rolleyes:
 
My feminine side uses a Black and Decker drill that has a quick-release attachment so you can keep a drill bit and a Phillips head (or any kind of) screwdriver bit loaded at the same time for very quick exchange. That saved me many hours when building a fence and installing the boards with deck screws.

They come in many voltages (with corresponding weight and power) and extra rechargeable battery packs are available so you don't have to wait for recharge.

For shop use, though, I use a B&D power screwdriver (also with extra batteries.) It is very light and has plenty of power to pre-drill frames. I also use socket bits in various sizes to drive screweyes (or I would if I actually used screweyes.)
 
We use the Harbor Freight, fluorescent Orange drill/drivers which are less difficult to misplace. Whichever is on sale at the time. 14.4 v or 18 v variable speed, with no-key chucks. It's more economical to purchase 2 @ $39.99 each than to buy a spare battery @ $29.99 each. They must use EverReady batteries because they just seem to go and go and go. If they are not on sale for $39.99, just wait a week or two.

They are a bit large for smaller hands though.
 
Originally posted by Jim Miller
The best part is that they come with adjustable stops, which keep us from drilling through the front of a frame. Tell me you've never done that. :rolleyes: [/QB]
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Uh...I can't tell you that, Jim. Doncha HATE it when that happens? We put a v-nail all the way through yesterday...rush job too...piggy-backed it (swear we looked!). I don't s'pose anyone's never done that either??
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Sherry-
My favorite "table drill" is the Makita 6041D.
hmgdToolsCordlessDrills_and_Screwdrivers6vMakitaMakita_38_Cordless_DriverDrill_6041DW-resized200.jpg
It is 4.8v cordless. The battery is built into the handle and it recharges with an external power block that just plugs into a socket on the drill. This drill is small, well-balanced, and not too heavy, and despite the seemingly low voltage rating it has great torque. As for changing the bits, it has a high quality standard chuck, in which we keep one of these quick-change holders:
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Rick
 
Has anyone seen these double chucked cordless drills they are advertising on TV?? They have a right angle mounted double chuck that pivots from one chuck to the other. You can put your drill bit in one chuck and your phillips screw bit in the other and just flip them back and forth.

Price is the only thing keeping me from buying one. I haven't seen the informercial lately but it seems like they were close to if not over a hundred bucks.

Framerguy

Edit: Oh, I almost forgot, I use a lightweight 7.2v Ryobi cordless hammerdrill that I bought when they closed them out at the local Lowes store. I did what Rick suggested and bought 2 to get an extra battery. They were only 20 bucks and they are plenty powerful enough for anything I have to screw in the frameshop.
 
my problem is not what drill to use...but how to keep them from falling off my ladder onto a cement floor below. YAWP! Lost two $100 drills this way.
Not a very happy camper, but I can't blame it on the drills. Someone dropped me on my head that way I think I would be slightly re-arranged too..ha!
 
Rick,
Your Makita is similar to my husband's good 'ol Black & Decker (at least by style). That is very awkward for me; gets away from me easily (not a GOOD thing).

Looking for a steamlined, easy to control POWER tool, without having to constantly change a battery.

Thanks for your help.....those pictures are SO helpful!
 
What you really need to do is to go into a store that has several and see how they feel in your hand. Check for balance and weight. Make sure the trigger fits your hand/finger. You definately want a variable speed in the trigger. A lot of the lower volatge ones are straight on/off, perhaps with a high and low range. If you are having trouble with the torque just don't use so much trigger (on a continuosly variable trigger). I like to have a high/low torque option as well. In the low range the torque available is much higher but the bit moves slower....think of a car in first gear vs fourth gear. I have a 9.6 volt Makita, a 9.6v Makita hammer drill, a 18V craftsman (feel the power!), a couple of 3/8' corded drills, a drywall gun, a 1/2" Makita (corded). Still want to get a 1/2" SRS hammer drill (great for concrete, not so good for picture frames)....Oh, have I mentioned I also do renos on the side?

James
 
Sherry,

I think you would like mine from Sears. Not heavy, no trigger, just a button that you push while it is in your grip, the same for reverse. It can be angled like the other drills or straight up and down (I use it vertical) I'm 5'2" so for me to use the gun style, I have to leverage myself up over the table and work; with the ones I have, I just stand in place and push the button and apply downward pressure. These just plug into a charger cord, no battery packs. Pretty much disposable if they die or the magnetics go.

Check Sears, they have several in different sizes and voltages.

my 2 volts!
 
"Your 2 volts" Elaine.......that's FUNNY!

Thanks everyone for your great input!! There sure is a lot of diversity in the study of drills.

Now I'm going shopping to try out Easter bonnets and hand drills. :D
 
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