DIY Experts Series: Power Drills

Welcome to the DIY Experts blog series! This series aims to highlight our in-store experts and allow them to share their knowledge on all things DIY. Each month we'll be posting fresh content on a range of topics such as seasonal projects, creative weekend projects, tool features and much more!

To begin, we have Edward O'Connor. Edward has worked in our Tralee store for 6 years overseeing the DIY section, with his main focus being power tools. He has over 30 years experience in the construction trade, and feels this has been a great advantage to his career in Woodies. Today, Edward will be sharing some invaluable information about power drills and what to look out for when choosing your tool.

Brushless Drills

A common question I always get instore is 'What is the difference between brushless and brushed drills, and which one should I choose?'

The standout difference between brushless and brushed drill motors is that brushed drills are made of carbon, while brushless ones use magnets to generate power. This allows brushless drills to produce less heating and provide better performance. They also require significantly less maintenance then its brushed counterpart. This is part of the reason why brushless drills have become so popular with both DIY'ers and professional users.

Another reason they have become so popular to the everyday user is the longer life span. This is due to the fact that brushless drills can draw air in to cool the motor and this regulates power unlike drills that have bushings.

Batteries

Choosing the right battery for the task at hand is vital. The common choices are between a 2Ah and a 4Ah battery. Battery capacity is measured in amp hours. This shows how many amps that battery can deliver in an hour. A 2 amp battery on a full charge should run for within two hours depending on the task. This battery would be ideal for domestic use where there is less power demand.

This means a 4 amp battery provides power for twice as long as a 2 amp one. However, it's important to note the type of the job you are doing. For example, a 4Ah battery is going to be between 30-40% heavier than a 2Ah. If you had a DIY job which required climbing ladders, that will take a toll on you over time.

I will always ask the customer what sort of job they are doing, whether that is a home project or building related. The more information you have the better advice you can give them.

Batteries can often be switched out amongst a range of tools, allowing you to chop and change to suit your work needs.

Torque

Measured in Newton Metres (NM), torque is the force that enables an object to rotate. It is a good indication to how powerful your drill or impact driver will be.

With many drills offering the ability to increase or decrease the tools torque, a common question I hear from customers is 'Why would I want my drill to be less powerful?'. In reality, there are various occasions when less is more when it comes to torque. Varying the torque level gives you more control, allows your tool to be more versatile and lastly, allows you to complete a wider array of jobs using the same drill.

All this information is usually on the side of every drill. It's important to know this before purchasing to ensure you have the right tool for the job!

Warranty

I always advise customers to check the warranty when buying a drill. Ideally there would be no need, however the unexpected can happen and the drill could break down within the time of a warranty.

For example, the DeWalt 18v brushless drill is a one year warranty with Woodies, however customers can get a 3 year warranty if registered with DeWalt within four weeks of purchase. It's so important that customers retain a receipt of purchase and register their product once they have bought it.

We hope you enjoyed the first instalment of our DIY Experts series. Keep an eye out over the coming weeks for more insightful content from our instore experts!

In the mean time, shop DIY & Building to get stocked up for any upcoming projects!