The most common types of drill

Whether you are a homeowner looking to make some home improvements or a tradesmen looking to upgrade your toolbox, you will need to consider the different types of drill and their suitability to your everyday requirements. There are four main types of drill, each offering their own advantages and drawbacks.

Cordless drill

Cordless drills are popular among homeowners and professionals alike, and are often used for smaller, everyday tasks – like putting up a new picture, assembling a kitchen table or hanging a door. Cordless Dewalt drills like the DC727N are popular because they can be used with minimal effort, with no trailing cable and weighing only 2.2kg. Cordless drills are often less powerful than their corded counterparts, despite innovations in Lithium-Ion battery technology, making them less suitable for use on harder materials for extended periods of time.

Rotary drill

Rotary drills are the regular T-shaped drills that can be found in the garden shed of most DIY enthusiasts. They are usually designed ergonomically, with easy to reach triggers and depth gauges for effortless operation. Many rotary drills are smaller and less powerful, making them ideal only for use with soft woods. However, high performance Dewalt drills like the DCD785M are designed to drill up to 13mm into metal and masonry, making them equally suitable for commercial and industrial applications.

Percussion/hammer drill

A percussion/hammer drill offers extra performance with a drill bit that hammers the work surface up to 40,000 times per minute. This means they can produce a lot of sound and vibrations during operation, but also allows for quicker and deeper drilling – even through tough materials like concrete or metal. For example, the DCD785 Dewalt drill boasts a maximum depth of 38mm in wood, and 13mm in steel and masonry. Certain hammer drills utilise a pneumatic action, which provides a considerable amount of force but can make the drill difficult to handle during smaller jobs. This makes them more popular amongst builders and tradesmen, although many similar Dewalt drills are very affordable for homeowners and professionals alike.

Angle drill

Angle drills feature a main drill bit that is positioned at 90 degrees to the rest of the body of the unit. This makes them a favourite amongst plumbers and electricians, as they are ideally suited for working in tight and confined spaces. Models like the D21160 are particularly popular, as this Dewalt drill is lightweight enough to use in awkward positions, as well as featuring a full body paddle switch that supports the natural shape of the hand. With other advanced features like a variable speed trigger and high torque for drilling larger holes, this angle drill is ideal for tradesmen but less common for home DIY enthusiasts.

Do you own a power drill? Which type of drill would you benefit from most?