Best Reviewed
Cordless Drills
- Best cordless drill for homeowners Milwaukee 2410-22 *Est. $150
- Budget cordless drill Porter-Cable PCL120DDC-2 *Est. $90
- Professional cordless drill DeWalt DCD760KL *Est. $220
- Cordless impact driver Milwaukee 2450-22 *Est. $140
- Cordless combo kit Porter-Cable PCL212IDC-2 *Est. $135
Get info about new reports and updates
- Low price
- Compact, lightweight
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Budget brand
- Only one speed
- Slow drilling
- No LED task light
- Slow charger (1 hour)
- Max. speed 600 rpm
Using 12-volt lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, the 12-volt Ryobi HJP002K cordless drill makes some improvements on the preceding model, the Ryobi HJP001K. The newer drill incorporates a clutch for reasonable control. It's also more compact than the earlier model and weighs less -- 1.8 pounds -- compared to 2.3 pounds for the earlier drill. This budget drill still doesn't build in a light, though, and the charger is rated at 60 minutes. Owner-written reviews say it's fine for light tasks, and objective testers recommend it as a budget buy for use as a screwdriver. Surveys of consumers and professional builders rank Ryobi toward the bottom as a brand. Reviews prefer the better-ranked Porter-Cable PCL120DDC-2 (*Est. $90) budget drill.
The Ryobi HJP002K is covered in an excellent and up-to-date comparison of subcompact drills in Taunton's 2012 Tool Guide. We found older comparison tests at Popular Mechanics and Tools of the Trade (which covers the preceding Ryobi HJP001K model). Owners also review it at HomeDepot.com, though some of the reviews published there may refer to the preceding model. A brief Woodworker's Journal review notes some features without any testing. Ryobi as a brand is covered in the 2010 survey of cordless-drill buyers at J.D. Power and Associates.
Our Sources
1. Taunton's 2012 Tool GuideDetails/Subscribe
This annual tool guide from the publishers of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding includes a comparison test of eight 12-volt cordless drills, including the Ryobi HJP002K. To find the best models, testers use the drills to build outdoor slatted tables, renovate a staircase and remodel a bathroom.
Review: Tool Test: 12-volt Cordless Drills, Editors of Taunton's 2012 Tool Guide
Compared with six other subcompact drill-drivers, the Ryobi HJP002K is slow, "but it slogged along." It has a useful magnetic bit tray, but the design is still not up to date -- using a chuck that requires both hands to tighten.
Review: 7 Small Drills Bore It Out: Tool Comparison Test, Roy Berendsohn, Oct. 1, 2009
More than 40 owners give the Ryobi HJP002K drill reasonably positive reviews. Owners like the drill's light weight, but its capabilities get mixed reviews here.
Review: Ryobi 3/8 in. 12-Volt Cordless Lithium-ion Drill Kit, Contributors to HomeDepot.com
4. Woodworker's JournalDetails/Subscribe
This brief blog article doesn't report any testing or even actual usage, but notes that the Ryobi HJP002K is lighter and more compact than preceding Ryobi cordless drills.
Review: Ryobi HJP002 12-volt Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver Kit, Editors of Woodworker's Journal, Feb. 23, 2010
The preceding model, the Ryobi HJP001K, is compared with eight other subcompact Li-ion cordless drill/drivers based on job site use as well as objective tests in the workshop. The Ryobi ranks last because it lacks an adjustable clutch -- a feature added to the newer HJP002K. The chuck is also criticized as hard to tighten, and the drill lacks a light.
Review: Tool Test: Compact & Subcompact Drill/Drivers, David Getts
6. J.D. Power & AssociatesDetails/Subscribe
Ryobi ranks near the bottom in this large customer-satisfaction survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, which covers 10 cordless drill brands. Overall satisfaction is average, above only Black & Decker and Skil.
Review: 2010 Cordless Drill/Driver Satisfaction Study, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, June 2, 2010
7. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Based on current prices and earlier objective tests, this ConsumerReports.org blog post briefly discusses three cordless drills, including the earlier Ryobi HJP001K.
Review: Top Gear for Dad: Our best-performing Father's Day gifts, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, June 18, 2009
The newer Ryobi HJP002K isn't reviewed here, but the earlier Ryobi HJP001K is named a "budget buy" with a perfect 5-star rating, based on hands-on testing of several cordless drills. The review reports that the batteries recharge in only about 40 minutes.
Review: Expert Review: Ryobi 12-Volt Compact Cordless Drill HJP001K, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, May 19, 2008
This forum post consists of photos of the internal workings of the Ryobi HJP002, plus photos of the drill with and without a battery pack on a weight scale. One photo shows the drill with battery weighing 2.8 pounds, but this conflicts with lab tests of an earlier model done elsewhere.
Review: Topic: A LOOK INSIDE RYOBI'S HJP002 12v Lithium Drill/Driver, "JC", Sept. 17, 2010
Cordless Drills Runners Up:
6 picks including: Amazon.com, Fine Homebuilding…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, Lowes.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, Sears.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com…
2 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…
2 picks including: HomeDepot.com…
2 picks including: HomeDepot.com…
1 pick including: Amazon.com, Journal of Light Construction…
