Professional Tool Reviews for Pros

Menu
Breaking
Worx Electric Lawn Edger WG896 DeWalt Dual Trigger Bandsaw DCS379 Save 53% on a Milwaukee 6.0Ah Battery/Inverter Combo! Red Wing Traction Tred Lite BOA Work Boot Review Ingersoll Rand DXS Impact Wrench Review 2236QTiMAX

Cordless Drill Reviews & Impact Drivers

We spent hundreds of man-hours on cordless drill reviews and impact drivers with hands-on objective testing. We also rated the most powerful cordless drills through head-to-head comparative testing. All 12V, 18V (20V), and 36V models go through our testing rig, and we rank them for their respective categories. When Pros want to upgrade their systems it’s often difficult to know where to go. While you may have your favorite “color” or brand, we seek to help you understand the competition. We understand the tendency for Pros to choose favorites. Our cordless drill reviews and our impact driver reviews seek to avoid bias by using standardized testing methods. Without an objective testing source, you may find yourself purchasing a tool that can’t get the job done. Pros Can Trust Our Cordless Drill Reviews We not only test power, we look at run-time, vibration, and ergonomics. The best cordless drill for one may not be the same for another. Our drill and driver reviews take that into account, testing various torque and speed scenarios. Our individual cordless drill reviews are thorough, and break down the build quality, features, feel, and performance of each tool.

Porter-Cable PCL180CDK-2 18V Li-ion Drill Kit Review
0

Porter-Cable PCL180CDK-2 18V Li-ion Drill Kit Review

by Clint DeBoer

Porter-Cable has been upgrading its initial line of 18V tools that are both forward and backwards compatible with their entire line of 18V NiCad and Li-ion batteries. The new PCL180CDK is Porter-Cable’s second-generation 18V drill, this time compact in nature and making use of their latest Li-ion batteries. We tested it on a variety of products and really liked how Porter-Cable seems to be bringing a lot of innovation from some of its sister companies to bear in its more affordable models. The result seems to be less expensive tools that have a high degree of build quality and features. While we were surprised to find it still missing some of the more common features like battery-level indicators, yet the PCL180CDK remains a very well-engineered, lightweight tool that is a great addition to the Porter-Cable 18V lineup.

Makita 18V LXDT01 Brushless Motor Impact Driver Kit Preview
0

Makita LXDT01 18V Brushless Impact Driver Kit Preview

by Clint DeBoer

Makita has just released its newest 18V LXT product, the Lithium-Ion Cordless 3-Speed Brushless Motor Impact Driver. That’s a mouthful, but the name is also incredible informative. First off, you know it’s a Makita, so it’s built by pros, for pros. On top of that, it utilizes a brushless motor – and that really brings the level of build quality and power capability to a new level. Brushless motor technology has proven to provide a ton more usable torque in tools like hammer drills and impact drivers and wrenches. While brushless technology isn’t new, even for Makita, the company’s new LXDT01 impact driver is built to be both powerful and efficient. So efficient, in fact, that it gets up to 20% longer battery life per charge.

Bosch PS11-2A 12V Angle Drill
0

Bosch PS11-2A 12V Angle Drill Preview

by Clint DeBoer

Bosch doesn’t like leaving things alone – and it rarely considers anything “good enough”. That’s apparently what happened when they developed the new PS11-2A 3/8″ Angled Drill. Bosch took their existing 12V Max I-Driver and mated it with the chuck of their newest PS31-2A 3/8″ 12V Drill/Driver. Now you get a 3/8″ drill that has a 5-position articulating head. The adjustable head allows the standard keyless chuck to move from 90 degrees to 180 degrees in 5-steps, providing almost limitless flexibility for when you find yourself working in close quarters.

Bosch DDS181 Compact Tough Drill/Driver Review
0

Bosch DDS181 Compact Tough Drill Review

by Clint DeBoer

We don’t normally romance our tools, but it’s hard not to fall in love with Bosch’s new DDS181 Compact Tough Drill/Driver. It’s sleek, ergonomic, and will literally run all day long on one battery. The design is new from Bosch and the tool presents itself as a super-compact drill/driver that will run seemingly forever when set to work on fasteners or drilling pilot holes in dimensional lumber or furniture. This compactness and power come at a price to be sure, but with the benefits, it’s actually still a pretty good value for professionals looking to get the most dependability, features, and power-to-weight ratio out of their tools.

DeWalt DCD985L2 20V MAX Premium Hammer Drill Review
0

DeWalt DCD985L2 20V MAX Premium Hammer Drill Review

by Thomas Gaige

With almost 500 in-lbs of torque, a three-speed transmission, ratcheting chuck and a new level of ergonomics, the new DeWalt DCD985L2 20V MAX Lithium-ion Premium Hammer Drill kit is a must-have tool. This new five-pound drilling and driving machine can handle just about any fastener, drilling, and hammer drilling application you can think of. With the smart battery technology of the 20V MAX platform and the built-in electronics, you can be assured that your cordless DeWalt tools will last and preform better than the current 18V tools. We suspect that this drill will quickly become the tool of choice for many of the tradesmen and contractors that opt for the new 20V MAX lithium-ion battery platform.

DeWalt DCD740C1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Right Angle Drill Review
0

DeWalt DCD740C1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Right Angle Drill Review

by Thomas Gaige

While not used everyday, the DeWalt DCD740C1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Right Angle Drill could prove to be a lifesaver for getting into super tight spaces thanks to its small head size. If you ever have to put in a screw or drill a hole in a place that is almost out of reach, then you know the value of a good right angle drill. The DeWalt looks like a good choice since it has a two-speed transmission, a compact head size and a more ergonomic handle which means better ease of use. Carpenters, cabinetmakers and installers, woodworkers, remodelers, electricians and plumbers will surly be the first in line to grab one of these once they start to show up in stores. The 20V MAX cordless tools combine smart tool and battery technology with the durability that many trade professionals have counted on for years.

DeWalt DCD785C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Hammer Drill Review
0

DeWalt DCD785C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Hammer Drill Review

by Thomas Gaige

The new DeWalt DCD785C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Hammer Drill packs a lot into a small package. With plenty of power and speed, it is actually a few pounds lighter than most hammer drills we’ve tested. If you occasionally need to drill into concrete, yet want extreme versatility, then this drill is ideal for you. Since it is so lightweight, you can use it overhead just about all day long and not get tired. Also, thanks to its fast charging lithium-ion battery packs, you probably will never have any down time either. With a 1/2″ ratcheting chuck, variable speed motor and a two-speed transmission, you have the flexibility you to do many different drilling and driving tasks. We are pretty sure that professional contractors, electrical and mechanical tradesmen will quickly make this compact hammer drill one of their go-to tools.

DeWalt DCD780C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Drill/Driver Review
0

DeWalt DCD780C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Drill/Driver Review

by Thomas Gaige

The DeWalt DCD780C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Drill/Driver shows off that bigger is not better by demonstrating that power, speed and features can be combined in a small package. This drill is ideally suited for anyone that has just about any kind of drilling and fastening requirements – within reason, that is. Equipped a 1/2″ ratcheting chuck, variable speed motor and a two speed transmission, you will have the flexibility you need to do many different drilling and driving tasks. Since it weighs in at a very manageable 3.4 pounds, even extended overhead work can be done with less fatigue.

Makita LXFD01 18V LXT Cordless 1/2" Driver-Drill Kit Preview
0

Makita LXFD01 18V LXT Cordless 1/2″ Driver-Drill Kit Preview

by Clint DeBoer

Makita optimized their power-to-weight ratio with its new LXFD01 18V LXT Cordless 1/2″ Driver-Drill. This Li-ion powered drill is actually based on the company’s BDF452 18 volt Lithium-Ion driver-drill, except that they altered three things. They made it more powerful. Next, they cut off some weight. Lastly, they trimmed some off the length to make it shorter. How this worked out is that Makita was able to add 30 more in-lbs of torque, take off 0.2 pounds of weight, and reduce the length by 7/16 of an inch. Those numbers aren’t exactly stunning, but considering the popularity of its former tool, any improvement is going to be well-received by seasoned Makita users. 6WZV5TB6VEMN

MENU