Drill / Driver for Home Use

[Trustmeimadoctor]

I have the 796 and it's good fancy the 996 tho cos it's better even tho I won't use it to its potential

[Calza]

The drill my uncle donated to me 6 years ago (a 30 year old bosch job) has had it's final smoke and went to heaven.

Now I need a replacement... it's only for DIY but I seem to do a lot of the stuff. I have no other power tools so no "eco-system" to consider. I have two questions:

1 - Do I need an impact driver? I'm not sure? (Also not sure anyone else can answer this )
2 - What should I get? Budget is around £150 - maybe a bit more if I can get a set, and I need it..

[snotrag]

1. Yes.

Everyone who owns an Impact driver will tell you this.

[Flibble]

1. Yes you do (I thought I didn't, but I did).
2. Twin packs are available at around that price, for example:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcz298d2t-sfgb-1...
https://www.screwfix.com/p/makita-dlx2020sw-18v-3-...

These are just from a quick google, you can probably find them cheaper.

[megaphone]

You only need an impact driver if you are screwing a lot of long screws into wood. Anything else then a standard combi drill will work fine.

I always recommend Erbauer, it will be fine for DIY, has a hammer action for red and brown plugs. Good value and as good as any 'pro brand'. We use them on our firm.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-ebcd18li-2-18v-...

Or if you do want an impact, then get a twin set.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-eid18-li-ecd18-...

Edited by megaphone on Monday 2nd November 10:59

[goingonholiday]

You said no ecosystem but might be worth a look at einhell at wickes, currently throwing in a free 4Ah battery and charger with each tool. I've found their stuff to be pretty good!

Echo the impact driver comments, found mine really useful.

[dickymint]

megaphone said:

You only need an impact driver if you are screwing a lot of long screws into wood. Anything else then a standard combi drill will work fine.

I always recommend Erbauer, it will be fine for DIY, has a hammer action for red and brown plugs. Good value and as good as any 'pro brand'. We use them on our firm.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-ebcd18li-2-18v-...

Or if you do want an impact, then get a twin set.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-eid18-li-ecd18-...

Edited by megaphone on Monday 2nd November 10:59

We use impact drivers for virtually any size and type of screw. Also for all bolts up to and including 12mm thread (16mm socket size) all heavy use. Combi drill has more or less been relegated for drilling and tapping threads. I would weep if I had to go without an impact driver!

[megaphone]

dickymint said:

megaphone said:

You only need an impact driver if you are screwing a lot of long screws into wood. Anything else then a standard combi drill will work fine.

I always recommend Erbauer, it will be fine for DIY, has a hammer action for red and brown plugs. Good value and as good as any 'pro brand'. We use them on our firm.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-ebcd18li-2-18v-...

Or if you do want an impact, then get a twin set.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-eid18-li-ecd18-...

Edited by megaphone on Monday 2nd November 10:59

We use impact drivers for virtually any size and type of screw. Also for all bolts up to and including 12mm thread (16mm socket size) all heavy use. Combi drill has more or less been relegated for drilling and tapping threads. I would weep if I had to go without an impact driver!

The bloke above is doing DIY, I doubt he'll be fitting 12mm bolts. . A combi will do all the above and more...and quietly.

Edited by megaphone on Monday 2nd November 14:42

Edited by megaphone on Monday 2nd November 14:44

[JimbobVFR]

megaphone said:

The bloke above is doing DIY, I doubt he'll be fitting 12mm bolts. . A combi will do all the above and more...and quietly.

You are of course correct, I'd have said the same myself.

Then I bought an impact and combi twin pack and completely changed my mind, one of my most used tools and something I definitely wish I'd bought earlier.

[Ynox]

Impact driver is a no brainer. I was sceptical also and got one before a project using a load of timber lock screws. Probably gets more use than my Combi now.

I've got a load of Makita LXT tools I've bought over the years. Buying into a system might make sense.

[xerawh]

I second the erbauer kit


I came onto this thread a few months back and was really confused. Initially bought the cheaper DeWalt twin pack and ended up returning it shortly after as the chucks started wobbling.

Finished the job with the erbauer kit which handled much better and was just as good. Trigger action is slightly different (small delay) but something you get used to very quickly.

I think for DeWalt, Makita etc it makes sense if you're spending more and doing serious work (ie it's your job). For the occasionally DIY person, erbauer kit seems from my experience good (if not better) for that price point.

[megaphone]

JimbobVFR said:

megaphone said:

The bloke above is doing DIY, I doubt he'll be fitting 12mm bolts. . A combi will do all the above and more...and quietly.

You are of course correct, I'd have said the same myself.

Then I bought an impact and combi twin pack and completely changed my mind, one of my most used tools and something I definitely wish I'd bought earlier.

Don't get me wrong, impact drivers have their uses, they are great for driving screws into wood, it is what they where designed for. If the guy above thinks he will use one, then he should get a twin pack.

[megaphone]

xerawh said:

I second the erbauer kit


I came onto this thread a few months back and was really confused. Initially bought the cheaper DeWalt twin pack and ended up returning it shortly after as the chucks started wobbling.

Finished the job with the erbauer kit which handled much better and was just as good. Trigger action is slightly different (small delay) but something you get used to very quickly.

I think for DeWalt, Makita etc it makes sense if you're spending more and doing serious work (ie it's your job). For the occasionally DIY person, erbauer kit seems from my experience good (if not better) for that price point.

It is very good kit and good value. I've had them all, Makita, AEG, Bosch, Dewalt etc, All very good. We now only use the Erbauer kit, and save ourselves ££'s. I also have some of the gardening tools, just swap the battery and off you go, again very good.

Only downside is you can't be big Charlie big banana down the pub when you're playing power tools top trumps.

[CAPP0]

My trusty and ancient DeWalt is now at death's door; the last of the 3 batteries gives out after about 5 mins use, and the drill itself runs at whatever speed it feels like, sometimes fast, often much slower.

Is the received wisdom still that Erbauer is best bang for the buck for the home user? And if so is this a decent deal? I'm still not sure why I need a small impact driver (I have a large one for car stuff) but well, if you've all got one, I want one too

ETA: or for an extra £10 I can still be Charlie Big Banana, it seems? Main difference I think is that the Erbauer is brushless and the DW isn't?

Edited by CAPP0 on Monday 28th December 14:41

[Carbon Sasquatch]

If you put screws into wood then you need an impact driver

[kambites]

Impact drivers are great, but for most light DIY use probably overkill.

[CAPP0]

With typical PH budget creep, I now see that I can get the Erbauer pair for £149 or a brushless DeWalt pair for £189. Worth the extra or not?

[Carbon Sasquatch]

With the same number of batteries with similar capacities ?

It also kind of depends on whether you're stopping there or looking to buy more tools - once you have enough batteries, the bare units are usually reasonably priced - except the DeWalt compressor, but I bought one anyway.....

[CAPP0]

Carbon Sasquatch said:

With the same number of batteries with similar capacities ?

It also kind of depends on whether you're stopping there or looking to buy more tools - once you have enough batteries, the bare units are usually reasonably priced - except the DeWalt compressor, but I bought one anyway.....

Good point, thanks, the Erbauer batteries are 2AH, the DW are 1.5AH - that probably settles it I think!

I have some other Erbauer tools (router and plane) which whist not cordless have been very good.

[dazwalsh]

Erbauer all the way, i use their kit refurbing houses so they get lots of abuse, more than good enough for DIY.

Their cordless SDS hammer drill is also very very good for the price, buy it separately as you will already have the batteries.

Then of course you might as well get the multi tool too, a variety of uses. A worthy adition to any tool kit.

Then maybe the bluetooth radio, the jigsaw and angle grinder, topped off with the battery adapter to turn batteries into USB chargers. You know it makes sense.