Cordless and Corded Drills

The majority of workshops will no doubt be home to one or both, cordless and corded drills. Whether it is simply to drill holes or drive screws and fasteners, drills are essential for home improvers and trade professionals alike.  They are a handy friend for quick projects around the home – I’ve even used mine to stir paint! (mind you, that drill was ready for the scrap heap at the time).

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The main function of a powered drill is to ease the stress of manual application.  It certainly comes in handy if you have to screw a multitude of bolts.

To assist you on your quest for the right cordless or corded drills, including hammer drills, we’ve written some posts to help you out.

Should I Buy a Cordless or Corded Drill?

This all depends on what your intention is.  Corded drills are going to have a lot of power and you won’t have the heft of the battery in your hand.  This weight can make jobs tiring with extended use.  Nonetheless, cordless drills can still be used in big projects like deck building as well as small, jobs like assembling furniture and other fixtures.

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I personally think cordless drills are a must have item around the house.  I am a fan of both types though and use a corded drill when I want extra grunt work.  If you were only getting one type, than I’d opt for a cordless as it’s definitely more versatile.  Just remember to ensure that it is charged.

Are Corded Drills Better?

When people ask me this, I think they mean, are they more powerful.  If so, then yes.  They are. They’re also more leaner and lighter than their cordless cousins.

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Obviously they are less convenient if access to a power source is a problem and they can be quite noisy.  But the upside is that you won’t run out of power once connected, which is definitely a pain in the cordless ones. Cordless drills are likewise heavier and bulkier too.  Their biggest advantaged is mobility so it really comes down to what is your preferred method of operation.

Are Cordless Hammer Drills as Good as Corded?

Generally if you’re after a hammer drill, you need it for heavy duty use.  A corded hammer drill are the better option as you can easily drive holes in masonry, such as a concrete board like Hardiebacker.  A cordless hammer drill still have their uses – better for all purpose drilling including into brick or the mortar between the brick.

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Their are plenty of good reviews that support the purchase of both cordless and corded as it really depends on what you’re buying it for. Cordless hammer drills are good and work fine (so they are good), but I don’t believe they are as powerful as their corded counterparts.

What is the Best Drill for Masonry?

The best drill for masonry are definitely hammer drills. This is the tool you need for going through concrete and masonry and you can do other jobs too, like put up shelves or securing guttering in place.  They are also known as impact drivers as they can impact and penetrate a hard surface including concrete block walls.

Can You Use a Regular Drill to Drill into Concrete?

Yes it is possible to drill into concrete and some rotary drills pack a fair bit of torque.  For the most part a standard rotary drill will take longer to drill into concrete than a hammer drill and sometimes friction will cause unwanted heat and the drill bit can break. Therefore it is recommended that you keep the drill bit cool to avoid this.