Popular Woodworking 2000-11 № 118, страница 28

sears merchandise

cordless drills

continued from page 35

thing you don't find on corded drills. The clutch allows you to fine tune the torque of the drill. Why is this important? You can set the clutch to sink screws perfectly flush and then disengage the motor (it makes a clicking sound when it does this). The clutch also keeps you from ripping the head off that solid brass screw. Clutch settings range from none to 24, but we tend to think six settings is plenty for most work. Don't turn a tool down because it has too many settings, but don't buy one just because it has 24.

Chucks

Chucks on drills appear very similar, but closer inspection will show some important differences. To start, a maximum ³/s" jaw opening is standard on most drills under 14.4 volt size. If you are using bits or tooling with larger diameter shafts, make sure your drill offers a V2" chuck. Next, check the construction of the chuck. They can be mostly plastic with metal jaws, half metal and half plastic, or all metal. In most cases the half-and-half chuck is sufficient, but for more durability, an all-metal chuck is best. Finally, take a look at the jaws themselves. Do they close to allow no opening whatsoever, or do they close with a small gap? The jaws should close to hold at least a drill bit. The face of the jaws can also be significant. They can be smooth or ridged; the ridged variety offers greater holding power.

One feature we recommend highly is a keyless chuck. Nearly universal now on cordless drills, the keyless chuck makes changing from bit to driver a simple and toolless job. Keyless chucks are now available in two-sleeve or single-sleeve designs. The two-sleeve variant requires both hands to loosen or tighten the chuck jaws. Single-sleeve mechanisms allow one-hand operation. A built-in shaft lock provides the opposing force. One application where we recommend a keyed chuck over the key

less variety is when using hole saws, auger bits and other larger tooling. A keyed chuck allows you to close the jaws more tightly on a bit, reducing the chance of slippage.

One last feature worthy of comment is an electronic brake. While hardly a deal-breaking feature if not provided, a brake can speed up your work because you don't have to wait for the bit to spin down after each hole.

Chargers

A quick word about chargers. The industry standard is a one-hour charger, which for most applications is quick enough. With most drills being sold with two batteries, it's pretty easy to always have a fresh battery even with a one-hour charger. Fifteen-minute chargers are available as an option on many models, and as a standard item on some. On the opposite end of the scale, some lower cost drill/drivers are sold with a three-hour charger. While this seems a deficit compared to a one-hour charger, if your use of the tool requires less frequent use, a three-hour charger can save you money. Also check on the type of charge being provided. Some chargers require the battery be removed after charging, while others can remain in the charger with a continuous "trickle" charge to maintain full charge. Better charger technology can improve the life of your batteries, and keep your drill ready to use for years to come.

Kits

Last but not least are the cordless kits. While this article is about the drills themselves, many manufacturers offer their drills in kits with at least two batteries, a case and the charger. Many will also add another cordless tool such as a trim saw or jigsaw. These are great deals — if you're looking for a cordless jigsaw. If not, you're still better off just buying the drill. Do hold out for two batteries whenever possible. They come in handy. PW

Circle #151 on Resource Directory Coupon

Pistol-grip drills allow you to put more of your weight in line with the chuck.

40 Popular Woodworking November 2000