Cordless drills are a staple item in the tool arsenal of both the average weekend warrior and professional handyman. Cordless drills come in a myriad of sizes and Bosch Professional configurations, and it’s common for stores alone to stock more than 50 different cordless drills.

For some, buying one of these “Man Tools” can be a daunting task. One thing is for sure – you don’t want a tool that is unsuitable for your intended task. To help you understand this, I will discuss the different types of cordless drills and drill functions.

Battery type

Traditionally, cordless drills were powered by nickel-cadmium (NICAD) batteries. The main problem with NICAD batteries was the inevitable development of the “memory effect”. The battery packs tend to only accept a partial charge as full and you have a battery with a greatly reduced run time.

Newer lithium-ion batteries (Li-Ion) are available in more and more cordless drills. Li-Ion batteries offer some distinct advantages over NICAD batteries, including no memory effect, longer run times, longer lifespan, and higher output power. In addition, lithium-ion cells contribute less weight than an equivalent NICAD cell.

Drills are available with batteries in different voltage ranges, usually between 9.6 and 24 volts. The higher voltage batteries (18-24 volts) are used almost exclusively in industrial grade hammer drills and impact wrenches.

To be honest, I wouldn’t even consider a cordless drill without a lithium-ion power system. They’re a bit more expensive than NICAD counterparts, but well worth the cost given the additional benefits listed above.

Drill driver

Drill drivers are by far the most common type of cordless drill driver. They are useful for the most common household tasks as well as light construction work . These drills are available with either a 3/8 or 1/2 inch chuck. For most weekend warriors, a cordless drill with a 3/8-inch chuck will do. Drills with 1/2″ chucks offer greater application versatility and more torque, but at a cost of greater weight and volume.

Compact drills

Compact drills are a newer offering since the development of lithium-ion battery technology. Compact drills are basically miniature versions of their drill/driver counterparts. They are useful for both professionals and DIYers who need a drill bit capable of reaching tight areas in light to medium drilling applications. As an added bonus, some compact drill models fit comfortably in your pants or jacket pockets. Finally, many women find these drills much easier to handle than their full-size cousins due to their compact size and light weight.

Impact wrench

Impact wrenches are only used to drive nuts/bolts. They are ideal for auto technicians who need to change tires or do a lot of brake work. Because of the drill bit transfer, they are not usually suitable for applications such as drilling wood. However, some models are available with variable transmissions that allow the user to switch between drilling and driving applications.

Hammer drill

Hammer drills , also known as percussion drills, are the “big daddy” of cordless drills, and some models even match the size and power of their corded counterparts. These drill bits are primarily used for drilling holes in concrete or light masonry work. They are commonly used in Einhell Bohrhammer home construction when there is a need to attach wooden studs to concrete.

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