If you shop at Home Depot, you've probably seen this manufacturer's products, with their signature yellow-and-black branding. ![]() Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to play Once you've perused our picks, read on for more expert advice on shopping for power tools. We divided the list into brands geared toward DIYers and those aimed at professionals. For good measure, we also gathered insights from Roy Berendsohn, senior home editor at Popular Mechanics, our partner publication, as well as other experts in the field.īased on those inputs, below are the 10 brands to consider as you build out your arsenal of power tools. That raises the question: Which brand is right for you? Having tested hundreds of tools over the last decade from all the major players, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab are here to steer you in the right direction. No wonder home centers and hardware stores have aisle after aisle of power tools. ![]() And a capable circular saw is the only way to cut through large pieces of lumber, short of sweating for hours over a handsaw. A high-powered pressure washer can blast away stains from decks and driveways in a fraction of the time it takes to tackle them manually with a scrub brush and elbow grease. A trusty cordless drill will help you speed through a range of projects, from hanging shelves to assembling furniture. You're going to want to buy a little more drill than you think you might need, but don’t go too crazy, either.You don't need to be a remodeling contractor or professional woodworker to appreciate the many benefits of power tools. Purchasing power: There’s no shortage of great deals on corded drills, hammer drills, and specialty tools. Most corded drills are variable speed to help you better drill a combination of materials. Choose a chuck with a larger capacity diameter if you expect to routinely drill large holes.įunctions: Corded drills may or may not be equipped with a hammer function for drilling concrete and stone. The more amperage they draw, the heavier the work you can expect to do with them.Ĭhuck size: Corded drills will have a 3/8, ½-inch, 5/8-inch or ¾ inch chuck. Corded drills come in a range of motor capacities from 6 to 13 amps. Where the drill’s size might pose a problem, see the specialist sidebar for right-angle drills.Īmperage: Amperage is the flow of electrical current. Where to use it: Use these anywhere you need to make a hole, and especially in places where the drill’s size will not limit its usefulness. Since they are not equipped with a clutch, they are not designed to tighten or drive fasteners. These drills are traditional products and are often used for heavy-duty applications in drilling holes in wood, concrete, and steel. What it is: A drill powered by a 120-volt motor and a conventional 3-jaw chuck. Purchasing power: There’s no shortage of great deals on cordless drill/drivers, hammer drills and specialty tools. Choose a product with a larger chuck diameter if you expect to routinely drill larger diameter holes. The larger the battery’s amp hours, the longer you can operate a cordless drill.įunctions: Cordless drills are always equipped with a clutch that allows the tool to drill or drive, but it may also be equipped with a hammer function that allows the tool to drill a hole in concrete or stone using a carbide-tip masonry bit.Ĭhuck size: Cordless drills are equipped with two different size chucks, 3/8 inch or ½ inch. Increase the voltage and you can drill larger diameter or deeper holes, drive larger screws or tighten a bigger nut.īattery size: This is measured in amp hours. The larger the battery/motor voltage, the heavier work these tools can do. Mechanical insight: Four things determine the work that these tools do.īattery voltage: It ranges from 8 volts all the way up to 60 volts with 12-volt and 18-volt the most common voltages. ![]() Where to use it: Use these anywhere you need to make a hole or drive a screw, set a nut or tighten a small bolt. ![]()
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