By:  Beth Knott

If I had to pick one power tool to tell you to purchase, it would be a cordless drill/driver.  Cordless drills are really two tools in one...they drill holes using drill bits and they drive screws and other fasteners.  You'll see when you head to your hardware store or home improvement center to purchase one, the choices are practically endless.  Let me try to cut through the clutter for you and give you some solid information to make your choice a little easier.   

First things first:  Why do you need a drill?  You need to determine the kinds of projects that you'll do.  If you're like most women out there, you'll be using it to hang pictures, assemble furniture, maybe do a few woodworking projects; smaller tasks like that.  If that's the case, bigger is not necessarily better for you.  Bigger generally means more power, but it also means heavier on your arm and your purse.

Now, if you've become a Hands On Woman, and you decide to to tackle an addition to your house or some other big project, that's when you might need a bit more voltage and even a brand that is considered "pro" or heavy usage.  I'm going to tell you about both!

Lower voltage drills, anywhere from 3 volt (usually more of a cordless screwdriver) to 9.6 volt are fine for light use like hanging most pictures, assembling craft projects and driving small screws.  They just don't have the juice needed for bigger jobs.  If you're going to buy only one, I'd buy one with a little more power.

Mid-range drills, like 12 volt and 14.4 volt drills (although fewer 14.4's are on the market these days) are going to be a safe bet for most people.  These drills cover a wide range of home maintenance duties, including drilling most materials, driving screws and woodworking projects. 

Here's what you really want to know about mid-range drills.  Women tend to prefer them over higher voltage drills because they provide enough power for most jobs without all the weight!  And what woman wants to carry around extra weight?

Drills above 14.4 volts...Generally 18 volt to 24 volt, are considered professional or high-use drills. Although, a lot of serious DIY'ers use them as well.  And for those really ambitious Hands On Women out there who want to drill into tougher materials, such as metal or brick, you'd want one of these with a kickin' set of bits.


Now, while I'm not going to recommend any particular brand (check out our tool reviews for that), there are features other than voltage that contribute to the price difference in cordless drills.  For instance Ridgid® and Bosch® and other higher priced brands market their drills for the professional or the avid DIY'er.  Their guts are made to take the abuse of a contractor and the jobsite.  Sometimes they have a longer run time (even 2 hours or more), a quicker charge time for the battery, more torque and multiple speed settings. 

Brands like Skil®, Ryobi® and Black & Decker® are priced more for the average consumer.  Just be sure to look for 2 or more speeds, and an adjustable clutch.  Also check the packaging to compare run times and how long it takes the battery to re-charge.


Bet you're wondering what the heck speed has to do with a drill, and by the way - whaddya mean by torque??  Well you need more speed and lower torque to drill into tougher materials...like hard woods.  But to drive screws into those types of materials, you need lower speeds and more torque.  When you have to finesse the torque, an adjustable clutch is key.  So...if you can afford it, variable speed and adjustable clutch are worth having. Either way, learning to "feather" the trigger will keep you from stripping out so many screws.  Feathering means that you pull the trigger lightly at first, and let go...then do this again until you find the right speed that won't strip the screw or let the drill get away from you.   Just use a light touch and you'll be fine.

You'll see all kinds of features on drills from lights, to a magnet to hold the bit, to laser levels and more.  This is strictly a matter of preference and return on the investment for you.  You will be changing the driving bit from Phillips to flathead, so it's nice to have easy bit storage.  Other than that...you make the call.

I doubt if this will apply to most of you, but if you do plan to be drilling into brick or other masonry materials frequently, you'll want to look for the hammer icon on the drill...that indicates you're buying a "hammer drill".  The one shown is Hitachi's, but any hammer drill will have some similar type of indicator.  You'll only find it on the higher voltage tools and the newer Lithium Ion batteries, which can be a bit pricey. 

Now I just mentioned Lithium Ion, and you've probably heard of it...but what difference does it make?  Lithium Ion and NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) are the batteries currently used to power cordless tools.  Lithium Ion is all the rage in the contractor tool market because the batteries last much longer and weigh noticeably less. Regular users are now getting in the groove as well, now that most brands (including lower priced brands) have Litium Ion available.  You can get a Lithium Ion drill that has 18 volts of power, yet weighs the same as a mid-range NiCad, like a 12 or 14 volt model.  Even smaller and lighter yet are "pocket drivers".  Some manufacturers make 10.8 to 12volt LIthium Ion pocket drivers, which have a lot of the punch of a much bigger drill, without the size nd weight.  They're compact, but are available with adjustable clutches and work lights.


So to sum it up...most Hands On Women who just want to get some work done around the house, need no more than a 12 or 14.4 volt standard cordless drill.  Just be sure to get the adjustable clutch and at least 2 speeds.  When you shop for the drill, make sure to check it out with the battery attached.  You won't know how the grip or the weight will feel until you hold it in your hand.  I can't strees how much these attributes make a difference in your long term satisfaction wih this purchase.  Sometimes the store will give you grief about it, but be insistent!  I have found that some brands are much easier than others, especially for our smaller hands.

Please send in questons about drills, or let us know what projects you use your new drill to complete!  Happy Hands On Dirilling and Driving.  Search Chick's Picks for videos and reviews of the drills we've found out there.