Popular Woodworking 2009-12 № 180, страница 26
battery on the Ridgid, you pinch the battery from front to back. Even with the difference in how the batteries are replaced, the operations to change out the power sources are equally smooth and easy. Shine-on LED Another feature that most drill-drivers have -and all the tools in this test have as well - is a light emitting diode (LED). And because these tools are great for enclosed areas, the LED differences should be discussed. The standout LED is on the Makita driver. It is brighter than the others in the test. And more important, the LED comes on when the trigger is slightly depressed. The Makita LED also stays illuminated for 10 seconds after the drill stops, then it fades to off. The Ridgid LED is the second brightest. It, along with the Milwaukee LED, is noticeably angled upward when compared to the others. The Milwaukee tool is the only one with a fuel-gauge light to indicate battery power. As the trigger is depressed, the LED shines, and for a period of two to three seconds, a fuel gauge light illuminates with one to four dots, depending on the remaining charge. Which Drill-driver to Choose Choosing a 12-volt drill-driver should not require that you give up on the tool's ability to be a workhorse in the shop just because you need to work in tight areas. But comfort is also a concern with repeated use. So which drill driver do you choose? The Editor's Choice award goes to the Milwaukee 2410-22. It's the overall best tool. It powered through the 1" holes and amassed a whopping 491/2 driven lag screws. And there is plenty of torque to do the job. The 2410-22 registered a lowly 105° motor temperature and scored near the average in battery temperature (138°). Excessive heat should not shorten this tool's life. The Milwaukee drill-driver is well balanced and comfortable in your hand. The rotation switch and speed selector are easy to use without being switched inadvertently. Also, the Milwaukee single-sleeve chuck is the only all-metal chuck in the group. But if the $149 price tag on the Milwaukee drill is too steep for your budget, take a look at our "Best Value" drill-driver. Hitachi claims this honor with the DS10DFL. The test numbers for the Hitachi drill are good, but are still behind those posted by An onboard fuel indicator. The Milwaukee 2410-22 drill-driver is the only tool tested that includes a battery fuel-gauge indicator. One to four lights illuminate to show the amount of charge remaining in your battery. Milwaukee's drill-driver. The tool is comfortable in small to medium hands, but large hands may Hnd issues with it. The Hitachi drill-driver is about $40 less expensive than the 2410-22 and is considerably lighter. And I particularly like the old-school battery/base design. PW Glen is a senior editor of this magazine, the author of several woodworking books and the host of several woodworking DVDs. Contact him at 531-513-2690 x11293 orglen.huey@fwmedia.com. Glen is a senior editor of this magazine, the author of several woodworking books and the host of several woodworking DVDs. Contact him at 531-513-2690 x11293 orglen.huey@fwmedia.com.
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