Is your cordless drill the most important tool in your box? We only ask because late last year there was a survey conducted by a UK-based DIY store and a major tool manufacturer asking customers to rate their tools by order of importance. Far away customers rated their cordless drill as the most important tool they owned. Not the hammer. Not the screwdriver. Not even the lowly ranch. Survey respondents consistently ranked the cordless drill as the most important tool, bar none.
The survey results surprised a lot of people due to the fact that cordless tools are by and large considered a luxury. In fact, most of us start out by buying a basic set of hand tools capable of doing most of the generic work we need them for. It’s not until we get a little older, and have a little more disposable income, that we tend to embark on the purchase of cordless tools. Interestingly though, when we do by cordless tools the first one that most of us buy is the drill.
Versatility Is Key
One of the reasons we love our cordless drills as much as we do is the fact that they are extremely versatile. Obviously, you can slap a drill bit on it and go to town without having to worry about cords an electrical outlets. But you can also use your cordless drill as a screwdriver, paint mixer, rotary sander, or any other number of possibilities. All you need is a tool that can fit into the Chuck, and enough room to allow it to spin, and you’re in business. The same can’t be said about an electric screwdriver.
And electric screwdriver may be portable and cordless, but it doesn’t have enough sustained power to be useful for anything else. You certainly couldn’t mix a gallon of paint with it, that’s for sure. About all you can do is put in a few screws, and take a few out, before you have to plug it back in to be recharged. That’s not very versatile, and not very useful beyond its original intended purpose.
Check Your Batteries
When it comes to the cordless drill, what separates the men from the boys is the strength and reliability of the batteries. It’s unfortunate, but most of the batteries that come from the factory end up being pretty much useless after the first few months. To get good quality batteries we almost always have to purchase after market ones made by a third-party manufacturer. But that’s the price you pay to have a reliable drill. And reliability is a must.
Nothing is worse than taking your cordless drill to a job site only to have both of your batteries dead within the first 15 minutes of work. Then you’re left to curse the day you purchased that thrill as you’re putting in a dozen screws in by hand. Not cool; right? Right. Do your homework so that you’re sure to get the best and most reliable batteries for your cordless drill.
Brand Names You Trust
If your cordless drill is indeed the most important tool in the box, it makes good sense to only go with a brand name you trust. In other words, Makita is known to make some of the best power tools in the world; Joe’s Magic Tool World is not. So when it comes to buying a new cordless drill, are you going to choose Makita or Joe’s? It’s true that you get what you pay for – think about that before you make your decision.
A brand name tool is much more likely to be dependable, durable, and more than capable of doing the job. A generic tool, not so much. Brand-name manufacturers also tend to offer better warranties on their products than generics. Both things considered, it’s worth it to spend a little more money on a brand name tool. In most cases it’s money you won’t regret spending.
With all of that out of the way let me ask, is the cordless drill the most important tool in your box?
