Recommend Me A Drill

[Yorick]

I need a new hammer drill and need some advice. I had a Wickes one for about 25 years, before it bust. I bought a nice looking Bosch one over here and lasted about 2 years. I always thought that Bosch stuff was quality, but seems it's all made in far away cheapo countries.

So what's good nowadays up to about £125. I can get it posted if need be as shops here don't stock everything.

TIA

This my probable source..

https://www.leroymerlin.es/v3/search/se ... =price-asc

[cheb]

Li-ion battery powered drills will do the job just about as well these days, might be worth looking at those too.

[Yorick]

Li-ion battery powered drills will do the job just about as well these days, might be worth looking at those too.

I've got a Makita 18v jobby, but just need something a bit meatier sometimes

[Count Steer]

£125 will get you a Makita 3.3kg SDS mains powered drill. That's meaty.

(I went Makita mains powered for the big hammery jobs. The faff of using an extension lead isn't a problem the few times it's needed).

[DefTrap]

I've got a Makita 18v jobby, but just need something a bit meatier sometimes

And this is the trouble - I think most of us need a big ol' SDS hammer drill 'sometimes'. IMO 'sometimes' isn't enough to warrant spending out on a beefy SDS battery drill when and SDS corded drill is waaaay cheaper.

So - I've got a cheaper Bosch SDS corded and it is fine, more of a faff but for the '# of times I need it it's no great bother.

[Skub]

The SDS mains powered is definitely my choice for heavy duty stuff. Using a big cutting tool without a clutch is a dodgy prospect.

I've an Erbauer,it wasn't expensive,but does the job.

[mangocrazy]

Whatever you get, get a drill with an SDS Plus chuck. The hammer action on those is far better than an ordinary 'chuck key chuck'. You should be able to get one with 3 modes, rotary, hammer and chisel (hammer with roto-stop) in your price range. I'm a fan of Hikoki (Hitachi as was), but any one of Makita, Hikoki, De Walt and Metabo are good. Metabo is probably the best of that bunch, but also the most spendy.

[Yorick]

I've got a Makita 18v jobby, but just need something a bit meatier sometimes

And this is the trouble - I think most of us need a big ol' SDS hammer drill 'sometimes'. IMO 'sometimes' isn't enough to warrant spending out on a beefy SDS battery drill when and SDS corded drill is waaaay cheaper.

So - I've got a cheaper Bosch SDS corded and it is fine, more of a faff but for the '# of times I need it it's no great bother.

I inherited a big clumsy SDS drill when we bought the villa.
I want something in between.

[Count Steer]

I've got a Makita 18v jobby, but just need something a bit meatier sometimes

And this is the trouble - I think most of us need a big ol' SDS hammer drill 'sometimes'. IMO 'sometimes' isn't enough to warrant spending out on a beefy SDS battery drill when and SDS corded drill is waaaay cheaper.

So - I've got a cheaper Bosch SDS corded and it is fine, more of a faff but for the '# of times I need it it's no great bother.

I inherited a big clumsy SDS drill when we bought the villa.
I want something in between.

My Makita is a hammer drill, with a clutch but isn't an SDS. It's just a good, beefy, hammer drill that would be OK with core drills up to a certain size. I don't think there's a lot in between 18v battery and it. It's chunky but quite manageable. (Unlike the SDS it replaced). Going mains power cuts the cost, a lot.

[maccecht]

Makita Sds plus a Jacobs chuck for normal drilling mines 25 years old and done site work and core drilling still going strong.

[ZRX61]

I inherited a big clumsy SDS drill when we bought the villa.
I want something in between.

SDS Plus takes 10mm bits, not the 3/4 or 1 inch etc

[Yorick]

I inherited a big clumsy SDS drill when we bought the villa.
I want something in between.

SDS Plus takes 10mm bits, not the 3/4 or 1 inch etc

Yup. It takes 9.8mm bits. Just it's so big and heavy. Great for heavy jobs.
Too heavy for subtle jobs.

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Often I need to drill into volcanic rock like this wall light I just tried to install.
The 18v Makita barely made a scratch..

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[mangocrazy]

If I was drilling into that stuff I'd start with a really small masonry bit - about 4mm. That wil go through hard material quickly and then you follow up with the actual size drill/hole you want. A small drill bit means the drilling force is concentrated into a small area rather than being dissipated over a wider area. Then when you follow up with the larger bit it has a pilot hole to follow. You get a more accurately sized hole with less chance of the drill bit wandering.

[Yorick]

If I was drilling into that stuff I'd start with a really small masonry bit - about 4mm. That wil go through hard material quickly and then you follow up with the actual size drill/hole you want. A small drill bit means the drilling force is concentrated into a small area rather than being dissipated over a wider area. Then when you follow up with the larger bit it has a pilot hole to follow. You get a more accurately sized hole with less chance of the drill bit wandering.

I had 4mm drill bit. Volcanic rock is tough

[Skub]

Maybe the drill bit is fuckerated in the sharpness department.

[mangocrazy]

If I was drilling into that stuff I'd start with a really small masonry bit - about 4mm. That wil go through hard material quickly and then you follow up with the actual size drill/hole you want. A small drill bit means the drilling force is concentrated into a small area rather than being dissipated over a wider area. Then when you follow up with the larger bit it has a pilot hole to follow. You get a more accurately sized hole with less chance of the drill bit wandering.

I had 4mm drill bit. Volcanic rock is tough

Yeah, I absolutely get that. In our place in France some of the rocks that make up the (half a metre thick) walls are granite or a very close relative.

Buy lots of good quality 4mm drills!

[David]

Those kecks in the door way need gone.....

[Yorick]

Those kecks in the door way need gone.....

My spare pair of work shorts

[Yorick]

Well, my world famous indecision and procrastination finally came to an end yesterday
Felt brave and grabbed this when I was buying some other things.
By 'ell it's got some grunt. Went into volcanic rock like knife through butter
The keyless chuck slipped first couple of times, but my builder mate was here and showed me the knack of it.

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[DefTrap]

I didn't realise you could still get corded Makita stuff