24V Cordless Drill: What to Know Before You Buy

Buying a 24V cordless drill represents a significant expense. True, it isn’t as expensive as a fast automobile or a new condo, but a top quality 24 Volt Cordless drill will still set you back in excess of $350 (approx £225). For many workmen this is a significant proportion of a weekly wage packet. Even if you are buying for a business you still want to see a good return on your investment. You can of course buy cheaper models than this, but sometimes you get what you pay for and buying a power tool is no exception.

(Edit 2015: Black and Decker appear to no longer sell a model in this range, SDS Max or otherwise. Best advice appears to be to check reviews on Amazon for replacement items, but be wary of fake review writers – compare article comment with other comments by same author. A helpful review by real users will often show “verified purchase” and make mention of any problem the user experienced, not just the sales and purchase information!)

If you are buying an item like this then most likely you are looking for max power as well as freedom of movement and flexibility. The good news is that almost any cordless power tool of this rating will supply what you seek. The 24 volt option is still comparatively new to manufacturers and this means that most tools are modern in design, with all the benefits this brings. Accessories may still be limited in some ranges, investigate this before purchase.

What to Look for in a 24v Cordless Drill

Photo by axiepicsLook for a tool that offers rotary stop, or a hammer only setting. On a drill this powerful it would be a complete waste if it couldn’t also be used for chasing or light demolition work. SDS (or SDS Max) is a standard fitting these days on products of this rating, but check and make sure anyway.

Two settings (high and low) are desirable to allow for more choice over power output (rotation speed, torque or hammer impact may be specified separately on certain models). This will aid with control on finer work or on more delicate materials or fixings. Usually lower rotary speeds means higher torque on that setting, but check and see if this is the case. A variable speed trigger is an advantage, but might not be a necessity, depending on how you plan to use your purchase. These beasts are too strong to realistically use as a conventional driver, but that does not mean it should not come with a reverse gear. A reverse function can aid in loosening all sorts of fixings and might save you having to get a cordless impact wrench out to do the job instead.

Any “kit” or accessories type product should include two lithium or ion type batteries and a charger. A case isn’t 100% necessary, but is a nice addition if it comes as part of the price. The reason that two batteries are an absolute must is that with a spare battery you can continue to work using one while the other is on charge. This saves amazing amounts of time as even fast chargers often take two hours to reach full capacity. Although the whole concept of cordless power tools is one of mobility, it is a drag to carry a 7lb or so dead weight around if it needs a fresh battery.

Any way you look at it a cordless 24v drill is a great investment. Most models have double the run time (before battery discharge) of an 18 volt lithium or ion equivalent model. This means more time at the job and less down time. With many models now outputting over 500in.lbs of torque the output is considerable too and compares favourably with the corded tools of yesterday. When the job calls for mobility and power, a professional 24v cordless drill is the right tool for the job.

What is SDS Plus and are SDS Drills better?

By Handyman

What is SDS Plus, SDS Top or SDS Max?

The simplest answer to this question is that they are all types of chuck system used on modern power drills. A chuck is the part of the drill that is used to hold the drill bit and in this case the drill uses SDS drill bits. It is important to note that SDS parts are not interchangeable with other conventional drill bits, or indeed each other, SDS Plus and SDS Max are not interchangeable for example. An SDS Plus drill can be fitted with a special adaptor to use normal rotary bits, though this will normally be at the cost of any hammer action the drill was capable of.

Origins of SDS Plus

The SDS drill system was originally designed by Bosch in 1975. The name SDS comes from the German “steck, dreh, sitzt” (insert, twist, fits). Bosch publicise the system on the international market as Special Direct System, although in German speaking nations it is more commonly known as “Spannen Durch System” (Clamping System).

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Bosch bits are typically classified as HC and a part number. The HC stands for hammer carbide e.g HC FC 2102 is a SDS-plus® Bulldog™Xtreme Rotary Hammer Bit. Carbide adds durability to the bits. Other codes relate to a list of different factors across the accessories range such as spline, taper, diameter, drilling depth and so on.

How SDS Plus Works (also SDS Top and SDS Max)

SDS Plus uses a cylindrical shank to hold the bit, which has indentations down its sides. The SDS tool is inserted into the chuck by pressing the collar back to open the mechanism and inserting the tool. Rotary force is applied via two or three grooves in the side of the shank. The part is allowed to move, thus allowing hammer action, as it is held in place by two ball bearings that run in the closed channels on either side of the shank. The tools bit is released by pressing the collar back toward the drill, or by pressing a release trigger, depending on the model, once this is done the part may then be slid out.

Note: SDS Max uses a locking mechanism rather than the ball bearing rollers employed by SDS Plus.

SDS Sizes and Ratings

SDS Plus is the smallest of the three. The shank is 10mm and inserts 40mm into the chuck. It is rated for hammers up to 4kg.
SDS Top is a rare configuration. It uses a 14mm diameter fitting that inserts 70mm into the chuck. SDS Top is rated for hammers in the 2kg to 5kg range.
SDS Max is a common industrial fitting. It uses an 18mm shank with three open grooves instead of the two rolling balls employed in SDS Plus and SDS Top. The shank inserts 90mm into the chuck. SDS Max is rated for hammers over 5kg.

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Advantages of SDS Plus

Unlike a normal chuck where the hammer force must be absorbed by the chuck itself and SDS chuck allows the bit to move freely back and forward. This allows for a more powerful hammer action that does not destroy the tool. This system reduces the vibration experienced by an operator when drilling in masonry. Most SDS Plus drills also come with a feature called “rotation stop” or “hammer only”. This setting allows the use of accessories such as a chisel type bit for chasing cable runs, stripping plaster and light demolition etc.

The SDS system is an extremely durable, powerful and versatile development for power tools. It has become almost the defacto standard for light industrial power tools and for good reason.

Handyman

Makita Power Tools – Cordless SDS Hammer Drill

By Handyman

Makita Power Tools – Cordless SDS Hammer Drill

After discovering how good Makita power tools really are I admit that my aging corded SDS Plus hammer drill might have competition. I freely admit a bias for cordless power tools and my current SDS Plus drill is corded. It is a Kress (German) and came from a UK store called Wickes. While it performs admirably and has lasted over ten years, I still hanker after a cordless drill.

Improvements in battery technology mean that the old slowing effects you used to get as a battery neared the end of its charged are almost absent. Modern cordless drills are almost as powerful as my old corded drill is and so a lack of power is not a consideration as my old drill has never held me back. So it seems I can get the freedom of a cordless product and not lose a great deal in terms of performance it looks like a purchase is coming…

So what drill would I choose?

Makita 18 volt LXT Li-Ion Battery 7/8 Inch SDS Plus Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill

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This Makita cordless drill looks like being everything I want. I don’t need anything to do heavy demolition so a larger capacity drill is unnecessary. This kind of energy output will easily enable me to quickly chase walls and strip plaster if I need it, as this SDS Plus drill also has a non-rotary, hammer only setting.

Here are the manufacturers details.

Product Description – Makita 18 volt SDS Plus Cordless Hammer Drill

Makita 18V LXT Li-Ion 7/8″ SDS-Plus Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill Kit FREE 18V LXT 3-Speed Impact Driver with Purchase Makita 18V LXT Li-Ion 7/8 Inch SDS-Plus Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill Kit features: Triple Mode Switch for rotation only, hammer with rotation, or hammer only. Double speed drilling with synchronized RPM and BPM for increased efficiency. Built-in torque limited clutch disengages if the bit jams. Chisel rotates 360° with 40 different locking positions to give you the best working angle. Compact design at only 16-1/8″ long and weighs only 7.1 lbs. for reduced operator fatigue. Comes with a 3 year warranty on the tool and a 1 year warranty on battery. The tool kit includes 2x LXT Lithium Ion batteries rated at 3.0 Amp hour, with a 45-minute smart charger. Tool case, BHR240Z (Tool Only) Capacity Steel 1/2 Inch Wood 1 1/2 Inch Concrete 1 Inch No Load RPM 0 -1,100 Blows/Min.(BPM) 0 – 4,000 Impact Energy (Joules) 1.9 Battery (Ah) 18 Volt Length 16 1/8 Inch Net Weight (.lbs w/battery) 7.0

Makita also have a tool only version if you do not need a battery or charger.

Makita 18V LXT Li-Ion 7/8 Inch SDS Plus Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill (No Battery, Tool Only)

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This product offers a significant saving over the full kit version.

Product Description

Makita 18V LXT Li-Ion 7/8″ SDS-Plus Cordless Rotary Hammer (No Battery, Tool Only)

Capacities: Steel: 1/2″, Wood: 1 1/2″ Concrete: 1″

No Load RPM 0 -1,100. BPM 0-4,000 Impact Energy (Joules). 1.9Ah 18 volt battery (Amp/hour). Length 16 1/8″ Inch. Net Weight 7.0lbs (with battery).

Final Considerations – Spare Battery, SDS Plus Accessories

If you are like me you will want a spare battery or two to go with your new power tool. Although the first package comes with two batteries I might still be tempted to buy a third, especially if there is more than one Makita cordless tool being used.

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What is a drill without drill bits? These bits are Dewalt, but I have used them and found them excellent. As SDS Plus is a standard fitting they are of course compatible with the Makita SDS Plus Hammer Drill.

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Product Description – SDS Plus Drill Bits

The DeWalt DW5470, 5 Piece, SDS-Plus Drill Bit Set

Features: An improved flute design that pulls dust quickly for faster drilling. PILOT POINT tip starts holes on contact for greater accuracy. Serrated titanium carbide tip provides extreme durability. Fits all rotary hammer drills that use SDS Plus Shank Bits. The DeWalt DW5470 Includes: 3/16, 1/4(2ea), 3/8, 1/2 bits in a smart plastic case.

Handyman.