Milwaukee 2410-22

Bottom line

Based on objective comparison tests of power, speed and convenience, reviewers recommend the 12-volt Milwaukee 2410-22 for homeowners and professionals (like woodworkers and electricians) who want a lighter cordless drill. It has features like a built-in battery gauge and an all-metal chuck, rare attributes for a 12-volt drill.

Power

Best for light-duty and small jobs. With the 12-volt battery in the handle, Milwaukee's 2410-22 is both compact and lightweight, an ideal combination for homeowners and professionals like cabinet makers, and for overhead jobs. A major consumer organization rates it as one of the best light-use drills, praising its fast charge time, handling and speed. 

Popular Woodworking gives it an Editor's Choice award, saying, "It powered through the 1-inch holes and amassed a whopping 49-1/2 driven lag screws. And there is plenty of torque to do the job." They add that it is "well balanced and comfortable in your hand."

Reviewers at ProToolReviews.com are equally positive, saying, "We really liked the fact that not only does it have a variable speed trigger, but you can shift the speeds on the drill as well." They give the Milwaukee 2410-22 a performance score of 10 out of 10 because it "performed flawlessly on all our tests."

Experts say the 2410-22 is one of the most powerful 12-volts available, but if you need more torque or a longer run time, consider an 18-volt cordless drill like the DeWalt DCD780C2 (*Est. $210).

Battery life

About average. Popular Mechanics tests battery run time by drilling half-inch holes and driving 2-1/2-inch screws until the battery runs out. The 2410-22 performs in the middle of the pack for both, according to their test results.

Recharge time

Batteries ready in half an hour. The kit includes a rapid charger, which charges batteries in 30 minutes. The charger also has an LED display that shows how much time remains before a full charge.

Features

Includes task light and metal chuck. The 2410-22 includes a trigger-activated LED task light , which many users say is very handy for illuminating dark spaces. Reviewers also like the battery gauge on the side of the drill, which shows how much life is left before the next charge. In Popular Woodworking's comparison with five other 12-volt drills, the Milwaukee is the only one with a battery fuel-gauge. It is also the only drill in the group with an all-metal chuck.

Owner complaints include the chuck on some units not running true or gradually loosening its hold on a bit, but the main disadvantage is a relatively large handle that can be cumbersome for some.