when do you use a 3/8ths corded drill?
bubbajames
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
And what brand do you prefer? I have 2, A quantum pro black and decker, and an old Sears Industrial. Bought new,I believe I paid 25 dollars each on clearance. I use them very little anymore, since I have a drywall gun for drywall, a 1/2 inch drill for most drilling, a few cordless drills…
Are you guys shelving yours as well? When do you find these tools usefull?
Replies
I've got a 1/2 inch RAD for mixing thinset. Other than that, I don't think I've seen a corded drill in quite a while. Especially a 3/8ths one.
The RAD is a Milwaukee by the way.
Edited 11/8/2007 9:50 pm ET by TBone
I find my Milwaukee corded drills very useful when the batteries on the cordless have died. Much betterer for hole saws, especially 2" and up.
Got over 20 corded drills and only 10 or so cordless.
Anytime I drill steel other than sheet metal I use corded (or drill press),
anytime I need to drill more than 5 or 6 holes at a time
drilling studs for electrical or plumbing routing
some drywall
holes for tapcons
door lockset installs
Driving 3/8 lagbolts
anytime a corded drill and outlet is closer than cordless drill
Have bought a few HF cordless drills just for the keyless chucks, replaced most key chucks on corded drills with keyless.
Have an old Sioux 3/4 chuck, 300 RPM drill that is used only for 5/8" or bigger holes thru 10" logs or trepanning for split ring timber connectors.
I have a lightweight 3/8" Skil corded drill which is seldom needed. But this week I got it out to drill a bunch of holes with my new Kreg pocket screw jig. Used the cordless for driving the screws. Nice to have both for that work.
I have a low amp high rpm Makita for drilling shelf pins and pocket holes. Then there is a 2500 rpm dewalt for driving long torx screws, most repetitive drilling.
While carpenters all around me are using cordless drills, there are often times when the lack of cord doesn't make up for slower speed or lighter weight. I'll bet a 3/8" corded drill beats an 18v cordless two to one on speed of just about any of the more demanding tasks.
Why can't someone make a corded drill that stops as fast as a cordless?
Good building
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Never.
I have a Ridgid corded drill that I'm about to donate to the Habitat for Humanity Restore.
Since I got my Makita 18V LIon drill with better features, better control and hammer drilling capability, there's no reason to drag a cord around.
I have a corded 3/8" Makita right angle that I use in tight quarters - and surprisingly frequently. It is less than 3" from the back of the gear case to the front of the chuck and with some stubby drills, I can get in between studs that have only 6" between them to drill through for wire chases. I like it a lot. The only problem I have found is that with the shortened keyed chuck it takes a while to open up or close down the chuck for different sized bits.
For most other drilling in wood, I now generally use my Makita impact driver with hex shanked bits for anything under about an inch and a half.
>>...Makita impact driver with hex shanked bits...<< Did you know Makita is marketing a chuck for their (or anybody else's) impact driver? Has a hex shank. Saw it at HD.
Don't have to use the pricier hex shank drill bits.
I will probably buy one for piloting cabinet stiles during installs - shorter overall tool length when used with impact driver.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Battery drills are great, very convenient, love the clutch and brake but they lack power and speed. You can't beat a corded drill when it comes to things like larger bits, pre-drilling for deck screws, driving larger fasteners. I didn't realize just how much faster they are until a helper and I worked side by side pre-drilling for deck screws, I left him in the dust with his big Dewalt, easily three times faster.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Any High-speed cutting... and pumping the oil outta the boat engine. Batteries don't last long enough.
B&D Pro, 25 years old and just replaced the cord last year.
Liberty = Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.
American Heritage Dictionary
I've got an old Rockwell 3/8 corded drill I bought at FBS about 1969 or 1970, I've replaced the cord and part of the handle (dropped by a clumsy co-worker).
Still going strong.
Ran through two sets of batteries on a Rigid building a picnic table last year, 2x SYP and Robertson NoCorode No. 8s from McFeely's. Wound up finishing up with a 3/8 drive speed handle and a bit adapter.
Engineering guys at work prefer DeWalt 18v cordless, FWIW (general industrial maintenance around a hospital).
Hey Leon,
You're right about that old Rockwell 3/8" corded drill. I have one I purchased around 1978 and it just won't die. Also, great balance on that drill. These days my old Rockwell gets less use since I purchased a new Bosch 3/8" cordless. Just as well to let the old fella have a rest now and then.
Chip Tam
My Craftsman was purchased in 1972 or 1973.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
Hey, Chip --You're right, they won't die, although I lucked out when I took it into the local service station for the new cord and handle replacement. I think I got the last squirreled part they had.Manager offered me fifty bucks for it and I laughed at him.Built a set of bunk beds for the kids in 1988 that's still going strong somewhere, although I was told the ladder finally gave out after three sets of kids used it to get into bed and as a jungle gym.
Leon
When I have a lot of repetitive drilling, like predrilling holes in steel roofing
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I've got an old Craftsman, probably paid $17 for it originally. Best basic VSR drill ever made, but it needs to be plugged in. (And, as a result, it hasn't been out of the storage box in 15 years.)
Edited 11/9/2007 7:39 am by DanH
Anyway, about 15 years after I bought the first Craftsman I had need of a second and bought the exact same model number. Not even close to the first.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
Years ago I worked for a HVAC service company for a couple of summers. My boss would buy the craftsman corded drills when they went on sale. Treated 'em like disposable drills almost. Though the same drill was on the truck for both summers, we never killed one when I was around.TFB (Bill)
I had a 3/8" Makita for years and years, I finally dropped it enough times that the handle cracked.
I replaced it with a DeWalt because I could not find a Makita (I was in a hurry). The DeWalt seems OK - time will tell.
I use 3/8" corded for repetitive drilling, steel, Speedbore bits, and any time there is a lot of drilling to be done in one location.
Cordless is great for convenience and portability but corded is still faster and more powerful in a generally more compact tool.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I have a Porter Cable corded 3/8 drill from around 82. It doesn't come out of the case much anymore except for running hole saws and self feeders if it's more than just a few. The gear boxes in the cordless tools can't take the heavy abuse IMO. I couldn't even think about telling you how many holes it drilled in cast iron, steel and aluminum. Power tapped thousands of holes from 10-32 all the way up to 1/2-13.
Funny thing about corded tools is they work every time you plug them in and they don't loose power halfway into the job. I still love my cordless drills but would never get rid of that corded tool. It has served me well.
Since you asked...
On the job I use a corded Milwaukee (Sioux) Close Quarters drill that ALWAYS has enough juice to get the job done.
I also carry a corded Milwaukee 1/2" right-angle for heavy-duty holes and mixing compounds
I have a corded DeWalt rotary hammer for masonry drilling.
In the shop I have an old corded Craftsman Commercial 3/8" holstered in a tomato juice can nailed to the side of the bench. I keep an eight foot extension cord on it and it reaches just about anywhere in the shop. I also keep and ancient corded industrial Miller Falls electric screwdriver suspended from the rafters on a piece of aircraft cable that retracts it out of the way when not in use. I will break down and cry if it ever dies. ;-)
I carry 10', 25', 50' and 100' extension cords and do not mind laying them out and coiling them back up.
I tried a cordless one one time and fussing with the batteries was a pain. Plus, they do not have the power to do some of the tasks I do.
I am too old to change, besides, I like the feel of the Milwaukee close-quarters one.