Drill recommendation

mr.b-campag

I need a drill for a non cycling application (my other half want me to drill some holes in cans and use them as plant pots). Since I guess I might use it for a cycling application at some point, any recommendations on what to buy and what bits I might want on it? And should I get one that has a dremel as well? Not looking to spend much, and will probably just get something off the 'bay, but I've no idea how powerful a machine I need and what brands are decent etc.

TIA.

masjer

https://lidl.co.uk/p/quick-fixes/parkside-12v-cordless-drill-bare-unit/p50798
It comes with drill bits too. Useful as a screwdriver as well as drill.
You'll need to buy a battery/charger £11.99.
They're surprisingly good.

mr.b-campag

Thanks Masjer. I'll probably just go on the 'bay, but will bear that brand in mind.

whyamihere

I've got one of these: https://www.diy.com/departments/mac-allister-18v-1-5ah-li-ion-cordless-combi-drill-mscd18-li-2/3663602798446_BQ.prd

It has a surprisingly good hammer setting should you need to drill into walls at any point, comes with a battery and charger (which that Lidl one apparently doesn't, so beware of that) and the battery is the same as the brand's impact driver. I've just installed a new kitchen using this drill and the driver with no issues. No drill bits or anything included, but they aren't too dear for basic ones.

MattFalle

oxoman said:

If you want a quality battery drill for a reasonable price I'd recommend the dewalt range. I've been using them at home and work for last 10yrs or so and they certainly take the abuse. No need for the all singing all dancing top of the range ones either. Personally I'd be asking myself how much actual use its going to get.

just about to say DeWalt

I have a Makita - we use them at work - and, tbh, can't fault it.

this is the sort of tjing you spend a couple of quid on and get something fairly powerful - small and cheap just break, don't last and don't do the job properly.

pangolin

Also have a makita, 18v brushless combi. It's been good. You'll mostly just get people telling you what drill they have (providing it hasn't exploded and can actually drill).

Worth comparing battery prices and the prices of other common tools as with most brands you're stuck in their ecosystem when you need something else.

masjer

The point is aldi, lidl ones are cheap and would put holes in several hundred cans. Cheaper still is a 240v mains drill. The aldi /lidl often have a 3 year guarantee and have actually lasted better than a pro/industrial Bosch I had.

pblakeney

masjer said:

The point is aldi, lidl ones are cheap and would put holes in several hundred cans. Cheaper still is a 240v mains drill. The aldi /lidl often have a 3 year guarantee and have actually lasted better than a pro/industrial Bosch I had.

Horses for courses. I've had a Bosch corded since 1995 and it still does the job.
I could "upgrade" to cordless but it's not worth it for the amount of use.

pangolin

masjer said:

The point is aldi, lidl ones are cheap and would put holes in several hundred cans. Cheaper still is a 240v mains drill. The aldi /lidl often have a 3 year guarantee and have actually lasted better than a pro/industrial Bosch I had.

Yep for drilling holes in cans, very true

shirley_basso

I have this and it's been pretty faultless so far. I'm a fairly useless DIY person, but I haven't found it to do anything I need to. For drilling plant pots it will be perfect then when you become a DIY ace you can upgrade.

https://www.homebase.co.uk/black-decker-2-speed-18v-cordless-combi-drill-with-kit-box-bcd700s1k-gb/12826726.html

Our handyman swears by the Makita - no idea what he has but something like this

https://www.powertoolworld.co.uk/makita-dhp481z-18v-lxt-brushless-combi-drill-body-only
or
https://www.screwfix.com/p/makita-dhp453ste-18v-5-0ah-li-ion-lxt-cordless-combi-drill/487KG

daniel_b

whyamihere said:

I've got one of these: https://www.diy.com/departments/mac-allister-18v-1-5ah-li-ion-cordless-combi-drill-mscd18-li-2/3663602798446_BQ.prd

It has a surprisingly good hammer setting should you need to drill into walls at any point, comes with a battery and charger (which that Lidl one apparently doesn't, so beware of that) and the battery is the same as the brand's impact driver. I've just installed a new kitchen using this drill and the driver with no issues. No drill bits or anything included, but they aren't too dear for basic ones.

Spooky, I was going to post almost exactly this earlier - I bought the same drill from Screwfix, but for a tenner more you get two batteries.
https://screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-mscd18-li-2-18v-1-5ah-li-ion-cordless-combi-drill/317fx

My previous drill was a bosch from about 2008, which was pretty poor, and led me to believe that all battery drill were that poor - drilling into a wall with it was a real challenge.

I was amazed by the hammer action, it REALLY works, and I'm in a house with solid brick walls, not just breeze blocks, it still takes effort, but it does get there.

Probably the best tool, DIY or bike maintenance wise, I have bought in many years.
Already had plenty of drill bits, and screwdriver bits, and as an electric screwdriver it is also really good.

navrig2

Consider 2nd hand pro drills/drivers. I got a Bosch set from a local joiner who was upgrading. They have been well used but are still very reliable. I had to replace the charger which is probably why he was replacing the set. He couldn't afford to be let down on the job. The pros rarely will use their tools to failure and will replace when there is plenty of amateur life left.

Go for 18V minimum if you want some oomph.

me-109

If you don't do much, then at least with a corded drill you don't have to worry about the battery going flat between uses or having to charge it for an hour or two just to do your 'quick' job. They're cheaper, like-for-like.
Having said that, I recently got a Ryobi cordless drill which has sat weeks without use and still seems fine.
Always useful to try in the hand. For me the balance of some just seemed wrong. Try with the battery in place. Larger batteries give longer life but no more power, but they seriously add to the weight. Worth considering two smaller batteries if you think you may do a bit of sustained work.

shirley_basso

If you are doing bit of DIY here and there, a corded drill is a PITA as the cord never quite reaches where you want it to.

Thats why I went cordless - and I use it maybe once or twice a month. It's not hard to charge from time to time.

laurentian

No idea on price comparisons but I first saw a RYOBI cordless drill when a mate bought one. Over the next couple of years I saw more and more trades on sites I go to using Ryobi kit - I took this to be a sign that they were a decent quality.

These were the first manufacturer that I saw who used a common battery across all of their range which is a bloody useful thing

masjer

Is the parkside (or aldi) pro quality--No. Op wants to drill plant pots cheaply.
Thing is, you could buy 5-6 parkside drills to 1 Dewalt. You can then leave one permanently set up as a screwdriver, one countersinking, and one drilling, which saves time.
Performance wise (not durability) you decide.
https://youtu.be/jXDBOWe6bG0

DeVlaeminck

Agree - a cheap cordless drill is fine for the use the OP wants it.

I did buy a decent drill (corded Makita) a few years ago but that was because my cheap cordless just couldn't drill into my garage brickwork when I wanted to put bike hooks up.

I actually find corded is fine - maybe if you were using it every day using an extension lead would be a pain - I know battery powered tools have come on a lot but certainly when I bought mine most reviews were you got more bang for your buck from corded.