New Drill

[J4CKO]

I need a decent drill, I have a Bosch mains one that has no speed control and a cheapo cordless which is ok but slowly dying, want one to do everything really, so a powerful cordless with a hammer action that comes with two batteries.

Budgeting up to £200

[smn159]

Mikita drill and impact driver.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Makita-BHP458-BTD146-Cord...

add a couple of batteries (I've found generic eBay ones to be OK) and a charger

Done.

[kambites]

Hammer actions on cordless drills are all pretty rubbish, in my experience. I've one of the higher end Matika ones and it's a great drill for most things but it's utterly hopeless for masonry beyond lightweight breeze blocks. My mid-range corded Matika SDS drill doesn't even seem to notice masonry materials that the cordless drill wont get through at all.

I went in expecting to need two batteries and have never bothered with a second. I've never managed to flatten my (4.3Ah) battery in a single day of work and that includes very heavy use whilst finishing the interior of our extension. Even if you manage to flatten it somehow, it'll recharge in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.



Mine is a Makita DHP459 and I've been extremely impressed with it (except for its inability at masonry, which isn't what I bought it for anyway). The only slight down-side for domestic use is that the charger is very noisy. I've got a number of other tools which use the same battery too and whilst they're not cheap (especially considering they come without battery or charger) they are all very good.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 18th May 12:13

[wolfracesonic]

In the best PH tradition I'll recommend something you haven't asked for: One of these Bosch SDS pneumatic and one of these Hitachi drill driver You may be able to get something similar, cheaper if you shop around. The hammer action on cordless drills is usually pretty useless unless you are just drilling into really soft bricks and blocks, whereas SDS rocks!

[nyt]

I have this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/DeWALT-DCD985N-cordless-c...

It does everything I ask. I haven't reached for the mains drill since I bought it.

It is heavier than Dewalt's 'lesser' drills; I guess that metal construction is heavier.


Note that the above is 'body only' - you'll need batteries and a charger.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEWALT-DCB107-Li-Ion-Mult...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dewalt-DCB183-XJ-Li-Ion-B...

Note that larger 4ah & 5ah batteries are available. The 2ah do the job for me and are lighter. One can be charging while the other is in use.

[j4ckos mate]

Id get a £50 quidish rechargerable

you invariably know when your going to use it the night before so charge it up
Ive knocked nails in and done allsorts with mine its covered in paint glue and cracks and bashes.
Still the best one ive had

[V8RX7]

kambites said:

Hammer actions on cordless drills are all pretty rubbish

My mid-range corded Matika SDS drill doesn't even seem to notice masonry materials that the cordless drill wont get through at all.

Mine is a Makita DHP459 and I've been extremely impressed with it (except for its inability at masonry, which isn't what I bought it for anyway).

I suppose it depends what you're expecting, I have one of the better Dewalts (on a par with you Makita I'd have thought) and I'm happy to use it for masonry drilling for rawl plugs.

I'll admit I bought a cordless SDS which is at least twice as quick which I'll use if I'm drilling more than say 20 holes.

Quality (or lack of) drill bits do make a big difference though.

[roofer]

Hammer drills are pretty useless at anything above medium density block, a percussion drill with SDS is the way to go.

And as I was taught many moons ago, let the tool do the work, never push hard when drilling. I have one drill bit that's lasted 20 years, it's been sharpened 178 times and is an inch long now, but it's good as new

[Jonesy23]

For a battery combi I went with a Bosch - you can get the GSB 1800 from Screwfix which is actually a GSB 18V-LI with a different sticker (as shown by the normal number still being on the product plate) for less than they sell exactly the same thing under the GSB 18V-LI label for.

There is a brushless version, costs more, less torque.

Seems to work fine for general drilling and screwing use, not really tried the hammer action but it'd be OK for normal light duties.

For heavier stuff I've got a Bosch GBH 2-28 DFV SDS which has a swappable chuck. Deals with most stuff & the default for anything masonry or similar as it's just so much easier than using a normal hammer drill.

Not sure what warranties the other suppliers have, Bosch is 3 years on the tool if registered + 2 years on the batteries for defects or if you just wear them out.

[dazwalsh]

In a strange U turn from makita which i would have suggested for years try the erbauer stuff from screwfix, you can get a 2.0ah cordless driver, impact driver, 2 batteries and a mains sds drill for your budget. Replacement 2.0ah batteries are only 20 quid too rather than 50+ for the makita ones.

I was suprised how good the kit was, especially the impact driver but like above, your not going to find a cordless solution that does it all, you need a seperate mains sds for the heavy stuff.

[dogz]

I've got a makita bhp458, now dhp458. It's been powerful enough for doing most tasks I need. It's got a metal gearbox so should last a longtime. I guess it will come in your budget with a single battery.

I wouldn't choose anything else unless it's got to do really heavy work. I'd then choose a Bosch BGH 36 VF-LI which is probably double the price

[kambites]

V8RX7 said:

I suppose it depends what you're expecting, I have one of the better Dewalts (on a par with you Makita I'd have thought) and I'm happy to use it for masonry drilling for rawl plugs.

I suppose if I'm putting in a single plastic Rawl plug in an easily accessible place (something like hanging a picture) I'd use my cordless drill. Anything awkward (like up a ladder) or more than one hole and I'll dig out the SDS drill and an extension cable.

Anyway in answer to the OP brand probably doesn't make much difference but if you're going to use it a lot you want a metal gearbox and a brushless motor.

[Simpo Two]

You need three drills.

1) A small handy cordless job (li-ion) for mobile work and tight corners

2) A mains hammer drill for normal work

3) A fk off SDS drill (the kind that looks like a grenade launcher) for big stuff.

[battered]

Simpo Two said:

You need three drills.

1) A small handy cordless job (li-ion) for mobile work and tight corners

2) A mains hammer drill for normal work

3) A fk off SDS drill (the kind that looks like a grenade launcher) for big stuff.

Exactly this. Get keyless chucks, they are ace.

[INWB]

You get what you pay for and having the right tool is a joy to use and makes your standard of work easier and faster.

I have:

Makita cordless impact driver for basic stuff (very good for 20mm holes through joists for example)
Makita pro cordless hammer drill for general stuff (not some of the low end crap models they churn out)
Makita cordless SDS for heavy stuff including general breaking, chiselling etc

I tend to buy bare Japanese imports as they will save you dramatic levels of money (my impact is the top of the range and very powerful and yet was only £40 more than the low level junk)

Saying all that if you just do occasional and infrequent DIY then just about any brand will do these days. I had a B&D drill for years that lasted and did the job (just). Ebauer sometimes is spoken of well.

[mcpiston]

Expensive I know but Milwaukee gets my vote. I bought a 12 volt 3amp PD drill lately and I find it excellent. Above post is correct. Mains drill for the heavy stuff and cordless for everything else.

[Simpo Two]

battered said:

Get keyless chucks, they are ace.

Yep, good point.

[hairyben]

With £200 on the table nothing cordless will have the grunt (for masonry work) of even a budget mains drill.

Like said a mains SDS and a cordless make a great combo

don't worry about brands too much at this price point, midrange stuff like erbauer is fine for occasional use.

18v is considered the benchmark but TBH I went for 14v panasonic stuff last time and rarely want for more.

Another option to consider is you can get a twinpack with impact gun for not so much more that a drill+2 batts which is incredibly usefull.

[GnuBee]

Simpo Two said:

You need three drills.

1) A small handy cordless job (li-ion) for mobile work and tight corners

2) A mains hammer drill for normal work

3) A fk off SDS drill (the kind that looks like a grenade launcher) for big stuff.

Scope Creep in classic PH stylee...

OP want's a drill for £200 - we're still on a single page before we've escalated to 3 separate drills I'd like to suggest 4) a large piling rig for when the SDS just won't do the job

[Simpo Two]

And a bench drill!

If I could only have one, it would be (2) the mains hammer. That was enough for me for 20+ years and much DIY.