Electric drills.

[TazR6]

I am asking for some advice on a drill.
I am in need of an electric drill. My budget, at a push, is £80.
I would like the highest torque/wattage I can get, with an SDS chuck.
Do "normal" bits locate in an SDS chuck or are special ones needed (or is that just for SDS Plus?)
It will be used for a variety of DIY tasks, from metal drilling to concrete.

Any advice/recommendations would be appreciated.

Thank in advance for your time.

Edited to add,,,, is this one ok do you know? http://www.directbrandtools.com/Detail.asp?qsFullS...

Edited by TazR6 on Thursday 20th January 21:18

[mgtony]

That driil will be good enough for some serious DIY, but it is does not have a SDS chuck. Take a look at the range in Screwfix. Their SDS range start at your price range with thier Erbauer range. Persoally I'd spend a little extra and go for a Bosch or Dewalt if you want a SDS.
SDS chucks only take SDS bits. If you want to use wood/steel bits you can get a chuck adaptor and set the drill to drill only without hammer. Do not use regular masonry bits in tha adaptor on hammer action!

[Simpo Two]

TazR6 said:

I would like the highest torque/wattage I can get, with an SDS chuck.
Do "normal" bits locate in an SDS chuck or are special ones needed (or is that just for SDS Plus?)
It will be used for a variety of DIY tasks, from metal drilling to concrete

I can't make recommendations but:

SDS and SDS Plus are two different fittings.

You can put ordinary drills in an SDS drill but you need a chuck adaptor.

For putting up shelves and drilling modest holes in brick, a normal hammer drill is fine. However if you want to drill 1/2" holes through walls, then SDS is the boy. But an SDS drill is going to be too clunky to drill a precision hole in cabinetry.

I bought my first house in 1987 and my first spare cash went on a Black & Decker hammer drill. I do a lot of DIY but didn't need an SDS drill until 2008 when I fitted the kitchen

[mgtony]

Slightly over budget, but somethin like this:
http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=164258
or
http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=173984
A chuck adaptor will be about another £15, all starts to add up!

[mgtony]

Simpo Two said:

TazR6 said:

I would like the highest torque/wattage I can get, with an SDS chuck.
Do "normal" bits locate in an SDS chuck or are special ones needed (or is that just for SDS Plus?)
It will be used for a variety of DIY tasks, from metal drilling to concrete

I can't make recommendations but:

SDS and SDS Plus are two different fittings.

You can put ordinary drills in an SDS drill but you need a chuck adaptor.

For putting up shelves and drilling modest holes in brick, a normal hammer drill is fine. However if you want to drill 1/2" holes through walls, then SDS is the boy. But an SDS drill is going to be too clunky to drill a precision hole in cabinetry.

I bought my first house in 1987 and my first spare cash went on a Black & Decker hammer drill. I do a lot of DIY but didn't need an SDS drill until 2008 when I fitted the kitchen

John, would I be right in saying SDS is the same fitting as SDS Plus? SDS max is the larger fitting one.

[Simpo Two]

mgtony said:

John, would I be right in saying SDS is the same fitting as SDS Plus? SDS max is the larger fitting one.

Actually you might be right. Bloody marketing.

[mgtony]

Must be better cos it say Plus.

[Simpo Two]

SDS Premium Turbo Digital Ultra Gold De-luxe Extra Plus with Aminopeptides (TM) and Nanoparticles if you please...


(Edited to add aminopeptides. We call it 'continuous product improvement' )


(Edited again to add nanoparticles. My god we're cooking with gas tonight)

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 20th January 22:03

[mgtony]

What about pentapeptides? Everything else I see advertised on the telly has got them.

[TazR6]

Hmmmm. It sure does start to add up.

My absolute maximum outlay is £80. What would you guys get for that price, bearing in mind there will be zero budget for new bits if I spend £80 in a drill?
How do prices for bits compare between SDS and regular plain Jane ones?

[B17NNS]

SDS (Special Direct System) comes in two flavours.

SDS plus



and SDS max



SDS Max is overkill for all but the most serious of tasks.

I've got the old model of this. Gets used most days, not let me down yet.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/30153/Power-Tools/SD...

Edited by B17NNS on Thursday 20th January 22:30

[thesyn]

I did read your budget but over the years I have wasted so much cash on tools...

Just buy a Makita!

[Spudler]

To get a good drill for your budget its worth looking second hand, there's a few of these... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BOSCH-HAMMER-DRILL-GBH-2-26-...
A very good drill.

[mgtony]

What do you plan to use it for? Drilling I suppose, but just a bit of DIY around the house, fitting pipes through walls,using core bits ,concrete drilling,woodwork? I've got a decent cordless drill and can't remember the last time I needed a mains drill.
If it's just general DIY, then the one in your link will be fine.
A set of SDS bits can be had cheaply:
http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;jsessionid=UDEJK...
and they seem to last a while as long as you dont hit steel inside a piece of concrete!

[Simpo Two]

I think the drill in your first post is about right. Hammer action for masonry, normal action for wood, and hopefully variable speed as well for delicate jobs.

Then just buy two sets of drill bits - twist for wood and metal, and masonry for, uh, masonry. If you're going to use the drill a lot buy decent bits; if not, buy cheap bits.

[TazR6]

Thank you for your advice.
It just general round the house stuff, wood, concrete, cores, and a bit of use in the garage on metal.
£80 is my absolute maximum. I cant spend more even if I wanted to as I simply cant afford it.
That second hand one linked above looks ok Spudler. What do you think would be a good price to bid for it? If I could get it below £80, I will be able to get some bits too.
Quite surprised on the price of SDS bits too (thank you for the link).


I hate having to buy on a budget. Especially as its an unplanned expense due to my old faithful Black and Decker burning out on me today when drilling into a lintel at a friends. I can't afford £80 truth be told, but I know that under that they will all be a bit pants and a false economy.

Thank you for the advice. Its appreciated.

[TazR6]

Just noticed the drill on Ebay is collect only. Im in Nottingham so its too far away to justify it.

Another daft question as I think I have the wrong end of the stick. The one in my link in my OP is keyless. Is that another name for SDS, or are they different things entirely?

Edited by TazR6 on Thursday 20th January 23:47

[Simpo Two]

TazR6 said:

It just general round the house stuff, wood, concrete, cores, and a bit of use in the garage on metal.

Cores? That's SDS territory for sure. See http://www.screwfix.com/prods/58494/Power-Tools/SD...


But it's a heavy brute to use, hardly a precision tool.


ETA: A keyless chuck just twists to lock; it doesn't need a chuck key.

SDS chucks have a push-pull action, no key needed.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 20th January 23:51

[TazR6]

Someone else will have to do the cores then. Only through brick for some outside taps and lighting. Nothing too heavy.

Just found this one,,,,, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-PBH-2000-Rotary-Hamm...

Any good?

Edited for misspellings.

Edited by TazR6 on Friday 21st January 00:02

[Spudler]

TazR6 said:

That second hand one linked above looks ok Spudler. What do you think would be a good price to bid for it? If I could get it below £80, I will be able to get some bits too.

If its as described then upto £60-£65ish would be a bargin.
I've got the same drill. Bought it a few years ago as a builders merchant sold a few off seriously cheap. Will tackle any job you throw at it, and i use it on site most days.

ETA There are a couple more on ebay.

Edited by Spudler on Friday 21st January 07:32