The 2415-21 Milwaukee M12 3/8″ Right Angle Drill Kit makes it easy to drill holes and install fasteners in tight spaces thanks to its compact head size, a 3/8″ ratcheting chuck and a locking spindle. Milwaukee is all about making certain tasks easier and this drill is ideally suited for cabinet installers, furniture builders and anyone else that has to work in confined spaces.
Milwaukee M12 Right Angle Drill Features
A little while back, the folks over at Milwaukee sent over the 2415-21 Milwaukee M12 3/8″ Right Angle Drill Kit for us to test and review. Needless to say, we have had this tool in our shop for a good while now. The reason it has taken us a while to write up this review is because, like many specialty-type tools, we need specific applications to test them, and they do not come up every day. You see, the 2415-21 Milwaukee M12 3/8″ Right Angle Drill is not meant to be a regular drill replacement but is rather a specialized use kind of tool. It is one of those types of tools that before you use one, you might think, “when would I ever use that?” but after a few uses, you then say to yourself “How did I ever work without it!”
The 2415-21 Milwaukee M12 3/8″ Right Angle Drill Kit came in the normal Milwaukee cardboard box retail package. Inside the box was a soft-sided zippered carry case, one 12V lithium-ion battery pack, 30-minute quick charger, and the right-angle drill. The right-angle drill is constructed in a very similar way to the rest of the M12 line of tools. The main body of the drill is composed of a tough red colored ABS plastic, and about 75% of the drill body is covered with black rubber overmold. This rubber overmold adds a convenient grip in awkward positions, but also helps to protect your workpiece from damage.
The gearbox behind the chuck is metal, and so is the gearing inside to help ensure long life. The 3/8″ chuck has a plastic outer shroud, and it features a ratcheting tightening so that you can be sure to get a good “bite” on your bits. The trigger is paddle style, where you use most of your fingers to control the variable speed of the drill. Just below the trigger is a flip switch that controls the direction of the drill and also, when it is placed in the middle position, locks the trigger from being depressed.
On the back side of the grip are the variable electronic clutch settings that go from 1 being the lightest setting to 10 being the highest. One notch past 10 and you lock the drill into a drilling mode which turns off the electronic chuck. Like most of the other M12 line of tools, this drill also has a built-in battery level meter and integral LED work light that shines light in the area you are going to be working on. The battery fits into the very end of the handle and helps to complete the grip area. The overall balance of the tool is good, and it actually had a decent heft and solid feel to it.
Milwaukee M12 Right Angle Drill Testing and Use
Testing the 2415-21 Milwaukee M12 3/8″ Right Angle Drill was pretty easy. We started in our testing lab with our normal torque and speed tests. According to our electronic torque meter, our average readings showed 94 in-lbs of torque, which is only 6 in-lbs of torque different than what the manufacturer specifies. For our speed test, the average reading from our electronic Laser tachometer was 807 RP,M, which is 7 RPM higher than what the specifications on the box stated. While our results are slightly different than what the manufacturer states, the overall testing confirms that the drill falls well within the specified parameters.
For our field testing, we used the drill for several projects. The first of these was to install kitchen cabinet drawers, pull handles, and knobs. This was handy because, in this particular kitchen job, the cabinets and drawers were fixed and full of kitchen wares. With the compact head of the drill, it was easy to reach inside the drawer and install the screws through the backside into the new handles. We did have to get used to the electronic chuck. While most standard drills will make a clicking noise and the bit will stop spinning when the clutch is activated, with this drill, a red colored LED light flashes, and the drill simply stops spinning.
It took us a little bit of time to get used to the clutch settings, but once we figured it out, it worked pretty well. We would rather have a regular clutch, but due to the size constraints of the right-angle drill, this is simply not possible. The one feature that we did find very useful was the locking spindle. The locking spindle pretty much makes up for the shortfalls of the electronic clutch. What happens is that when the drill is not spinning, the chuck is automatically locked into position, and it allows you to use the drill just like a wrench or screwdriver to essentially hand-tighten the fastener.
We also used the drill to install over-the-range microwaves, where you have to install the long screws that attach the microwave to the bottom of the cabinet. Normally, you would have to remove the shelves in the cabinet to drill and tighten the screws with a regular drill. With the right-angle drill, it was a cinch to install the microwave.
We were slightly disappointed that the 2415-21 Milwaukee M12 3/8″ Right Angle Drill Kit only came with one battery, but we quickly saw that the single battery was more than sufficient to handle all the tasks that we used it for, and most of the tasks we could imagine.
Conclusion
The 2415-21 Milwaukee M12 3/8″ Right Angle Drill Kit is one of those tools that is designed for specific tasks and may not be for everyone. If, however, you are into working with cabinets, furniture or other specialized projects, then it is a no-brainer to have one for when you get into those tight situations. This drill is not designed for installing giant fasteners or drilling huge holes but is designed for finesse and compactness.
For our Performance rating, we gave the tool an 8/10 since it fills a gap in the market where there are not a whole lot of choices for exactly this type of tool, and it does a pretty good job of combining features and functionality in a compact size. For our Value rating we gave the drill an 8/10 since, feature for feature, it ranks among the better values on the market.
