Cordless Drills Reviews

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Cordless Drills Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cordless Drills Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Cordless Drills, Impact Drivers, Cordless Combo Kits Editors of Consumer Reports Dec. 2007		Consumer Reports puts a grand total of 67 cordless drills and impact drivers (plus two cordless screwdrivers) through objective tests in this review. Editors don't test many pocket drivers, nor are many lithium-ion drills included. Still, given the plethora of models available, this is an excellent review. An online interactive tool is especially useful because you can show only the cordless drills or drivers with high ratings on the tests and features that matter most to you – including run time, charging time, handling and noise, as well as speed and power.
2. Popular Woodworking	Lithium-Ion Drills Editors of Popular Woodworking As of June 2008		This is a head-to-head comparison of eight 18-volt lithium-ion cordless drills. Tests include the number of holes drilled per battery charge, the number of lag screws set, and how hot the motor and battery are at the end of run time (which affects battery life). The rankings also take weight, comfort and ease of use into account, along with the cost of replacement batteries. The lowest-ranked and least expensive cordless drill tested, the Skil 2835-02, doesn't have enough torque to sink 3-inch lag screws, but editors say it's still a good buy for homeowner use just for drilling holes. A June 2008 review tests the compact 12-volt Milwaukee 2401-22 impact driver, noting only a minor drawback.
3. Fine Homebuilding >> Details/Subscribe	Yes, You Need a Cordless Impact Driver Michael Maines July 2008		A professional designer/builder tests 12 cordless lithium-ion impact drivers on the job for several months, using each for a variety of tasks. This review is especially useful because it not only picks the top two cordless impact drivers, but explains why in ways that really make sense. Details are given about four other impact drivers as well. The only gap in the review is that the six drivers that didn't make the cut aren't listed.
4. Tools of the Trade	Cordless Drill/Drivers Brent Hull As of June 2008		The comparison reviews at this site are thorough, based on both objective tests and practical jobsite use. This review tests and compares 15 half-inch cordless drill/drivers, mostly 18-volt models, including three that use lithium-ion batteries. In addition to objective tests of both drilling and driving, testers use the cordless drills at jobsites installing millwork. A June 2007 review tests right-angle drills, and an earlier Jan. 2007 review, "Lithium-Ion Hands On," covers all the lithium-ion tools. A Jan. 2008 single-product review praises the Festool C12 cordless drill.
5. Taunton's 2008 Tool Guide >> Details/Subscribe	18v Cordless Combo Kits Andy Beasley and Editors Sept. 2007		Ignoring lithium-ion-powered cordless tools, this review compares nine standard 18-volt cordless combo kits that include a drill (or hammerdrill) and circular saw. Both cordless tools in each kit are run through objective tests for power and endurance. Unfortunately, it turns out that the best circular saws aren't in the same kits as the best cordless drills. This review also reports on a survey of over 9,000 readers of Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking.
6. Popular Mechanics >> Details/Subscribe	Balance of Power: Best Cordless Screwdrivers: Comparison Test Roy Berendsohn June 2007		This review compares nine cordless screwdrivers for drilling holes as well as for driving screws. For the ultimate comparison of driving power, editors even try to drive 2.75-inch lag screws. The editors also evaluate each cordless screwdriver for overall comfort and ease of use; some slip in the hand or require downtime for recharging. The Hitachi DB3DL gets top ranking here despite an inconveniently placed trigger and a body hinge that's judged to be not rigid enough.
7. Journal of Light Construction >> Details/Subscribe	Lithium-Ion Cordless Kits Andy Beasley Apr. - May 2007		This review puts all the cordless tools in eight 18- to 36-volt lithium-ion kits through exhaustive objective tests. In addition to hammerdrills, kits include circular saws and reciprocating saws. This review provides a head-to-head comparison of the Bosch and DeWalt 36-volt cordless tools, and is especially impressive since the author is careful to duplicate some testing procedures used in an earlier review to compare NiCad cordless tool kits. A May 2007 update covers two Panasonic lithium-ion cordless tools.
8. GetWoodworking.com	Cordless Screwdrivers Reviewed Editors of Practical Woodworking Feb. 9, 2007		This article compares eight cordless screwdrivers, testing them by driving 2-inch #10 screws into soft wood without pilot holes. The voltage of the models tested covers a large range, from 3.6 to 12 volts. Editors pick two cordless screwdrivers -- the Bosch GSR (available in the U.S as the Bosch PS20-2 10.8-volt Pocket Driver) and the Metabo Powermaxx -- as best, but describe all the models in detail.

Cordless Drills Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cordless Drills Ratings Comments on Reviews

9. Workbench Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Tool Reviews Editors of Workbench Magazine Feb. 2007 and earlier		Reviews of cordless drills and drivers in this woodworking publication include several small comparison reviews, but the newest models aren't covered here. A roundup review compares seven 14.4-volt cordless impact drivers, testing their capacity to drive large fasteners and drill holes, as well as rating their battery life and noise level. Editors also test a 12-volt, 15.6-volt and 18-volt impact driver. Some of these reviews have a unique point of view -- for example, one review specifically uses female testers.
10. Wood Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Wise Buys: Our Editors Test Palm Drivers Editors of Wood Magazine Nov. 2006 - May 2007		In this review, three different editors at Wood Magazine test lithium-ion palm-size cordless drivers by driving 2-inch drywall screws into a pine 2x4 without pilot holes. A review update in the May 2007 issue gives a perfect five-star rating to the Bosch PS10-2 I-Driver. Earlier reviews include tests of cordless impact drivers, but four editors each test a different model with different screws, making comparisons difficult. Drills are tested for torque, run time, chuck grip or slippage and clutch consistency.
11. Fine Woodworking >> Details/Subscribe	Cordless Screwdrivers Do One Thing Very Well Asa Christiana and John White July 2006		This review compares two cordless screwdrivers, the 10.8-volt lithium-ion Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver and the 9.6-volt NiCad Ridgid R81030, based on objective tests. The Ridgid is the favorite for big construction jobs because of its superior power and ability to work in tight spaces, but the Bosch Pocket Driver is so much lighter that editors give it top rating for workshop use. Other reviews cover the Skil iXO and the Bosch I-Driver PS10-2.
12. Wired Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Test: Workhorse Cordless Screwdrivers Chuck Cage June 2007		This review tests four cordless screwdrivers across a full range of power and price, rating them on a ten-point scale based on the number of screws they can drive per charge, along with factors like charging time, ease of control and overall comfort. Pros and cons are given for each. Descriptions are brief, but the main limitation of this review is the small number of models tested.

Cordless Drills Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cordless Drills Ratings Comments on Reviews

13. ToolMonger.com	Hands On: Ryobi One+ 4-Piece Lithium Power Tool Kit Sean O'Hara April 10, 2008		This single-product review of the four-piece Ryobi lithium cordless tools (including a drill/driver) is detailed and well-illustrated, covering a week of testing by several staff members. A June 2007 review compares two cordless screwdrivers, and the site includes a buyer's guide for cordless drills. Readers add comments on the reviews published here, with several complaints that the Milwaukee V18 is too heavy and that the 9.6-volt DeWalt DC750KA neither performs nor lasts well.
14. Amazon.com	Cordless Tools > Drills Contributors to Amazon.com As of June 2008		This retailer sells cordless drills and drivers from quite a few major brands and makes the owner-written ratings and reviews especially easy to browse. When you sort the list by average rating you can see the number of reviews on which the average rating is based – important for judging its credibility.
15. Sears.com	Cordless Drills Contributors to Sears.com As of June 2008		Owner-written ratings and reviews of the cordless drills, drivers and kits sold here are easy to browse. You can sort the list to put "top rated" models first. There are loads of cordless drills listed here, many of which only have one or two reviews so far, but a few stand out.
16. HomeDepot.com	Cordless Drills Contributors to HomeDepot.com As of June 2008		Home Depot publishes owner-written ratings and reviews of the cordless drills and impact drivers sold here, but doesn't show the average rating until you click on a specific product. Some models haven't accumulated any reviews yet, but several stand out for high ratings from ten or more owners.
17. Lowes.com	Cordless Drills and Drivers Contributors to Lowes.com As of June 2008		Lowes doesn't let owners write full reviews of the cordless drills and drivers sold here, but does publish owner-written ratings, including detailed ratings for design, features, quality, value and ease of use. Often the sheer quantity of owners rating a specific model makes up for the lack of detailed comments, and many cordless drills and drivers have been rated here, including quite a few light pocket drivers.
18. Northerntool.com	Cordless Drills Contributors to NorthernTool.com As of June 2008		This retailer site is a good place to see owners' ratings and reviews of pro-level cordless drills and impact drivers. Many cordless drills have accumulated a significant number of reviews here. Reviews of impact drivers are harder to find since they're mixed in with heavy-duty impact wrenches.
19. Toologics.com	Bosch Tools: Small in Size, Big in Power: Bosch PS40-2 Pocket Impactor Ben Jackson July 26, 2007		This is one of the first reviews we found of the 10.8-volt Bosch PS40-2 impact driver. Editors note that although it weighs just 2.2 pounds, it's actually more powerful than the 18-volt Bosch drill/driver. User comments are often very useful; readers weigh in on the review of the Milwaukee 2601-22 compact drill, with some preferring the similar but lighter Makita compact lithium-ion drill. Readers also debate the merits of the new Ryobi lithium-ion tools.
20. Popular Science >> Details/Subscribe	Best of What's New 2006: Bosch Litheon 10.8v Pocket Driver Editors of Popular Science 2006		This brief review by Chuck Cage tests the 10.8-volt Bosch Pocket Driver, finding that it drives twice as many screws as a similar cordless driver using NiCad batteries. Another Popular Science review, written this time by Mark Clement, recommends the Festool C12 cordless drill because of its brushless motor, compact size, light weight and power. However, Clement documents no testing or comparisons.

Cordless Drills Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cordless Drills Ratings Comments on Reviews

21. Toolsnob.com	Hitachi DB10DL 10.8 Volt Lithium Ion Micro Driver Drill Editors As of June 2008		This weblog publishes single-product reviews of cordless drills and impact drivers -- useful since they often cover pros and cons of new models. For example, the review of the Ridgid compact lithium-ion drill notes that although it weighs about the same as the equivalent Makita drill, the Ridgid feels lighter because it's better balanced.
22. How Stuff Works.com	ConsumerGuide: Drills Editors of HowStuffWorks.com As of June 2008		Quite a few of these single-product reviews of cordless drills are based on brief tests in 2007, but so many models are picked as a "best buy" that the reviews don't help much to narrow your choice. Each review also summarizes pros and cons for each drill.
23. ToolCritic.com	Drills Editors and Contributors to ToolCritic.com As of June 2008		This site publishes owner-written ratings and reviews of cordless and corded drills, though most models listed here haven't accumulated a significant number of reviews. When the editors (former Yahoo! employees) accumulate enough information to make their own judgment, they post their own evaluation separately as a letter grade (A to F).
24. Rockler.com	The Makita 14.4 Volt Cordless Impact Driver Editor of Rocker.com Apr. 11, 2007		This single-product review evaluates the 14.4-volt Makita BTD130FW cordless impact driver in the lithium-ion LXT series, with special praise for the efficiency of the four-pole motor, the battery charging system and the way the driver makes fastening feel effortless.
25. The Power Tool Geek	Buying Advice - Cordless Drills for Women Brian Marks Feb. 20, 2006		This site is good for keeping up with the latest cordless tools and understanding the technology, but actual tests and comparison reviews are rare and quite informal, and "power tool geek" Brian Marks hasn't reviewed any cordless drills or drivers since 2006.
26. Contractor Talk	Ryobi 18v Driver Review Contributors to ContractorTalk.com As of Jan. 2006		A forum contributor provides a detailed review of the 18-volt Ryobi impact driver, reporting on a range of tests that show its power limitations. The reviewer is sold on the ease of using an impact driver, but opts for a better pro model. Other contributors vouch for impact drivers by Hitachi and Ridgid.

Cordless Drills Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cordless Drills Ratings Comments on Reviews

27. Cordless-Drills.net	Cordless Drill Reviews Editors of Cordless-Drills.net As of June 2008		This site briefly reviews just about every cordless drill available, with specific pros and cons that would seem to indicate actual testing or, at least, information from some credible source. However, there's no information at all about the site's staff, sources of information or review process, damaging credibility.