Anti-Kickback feature: stops the motor if the bit binds up.While not all features are necessary, some can really help you finish up jobs much more quickly. Today, drills include lots of features-many of which we find very helpful. Most of us prefer certain brands’ handles over others. ErgonomicsĪdditionally, the ergonomics and handle design of a drill can greatly impact user comfort, and it’s a good idea to try holding different drills in-store to find the one that feels best for you. If a drill weighing 4 pounds represents 100% power and a second drill weighs 3 pounds with 90% of that power, we’ll take door #2 every time. We aim to use the smallest and lightest drill that can effectively complete the task at hand. We find them easier to maneuver in tight spaces and they cause less fatigue when working overhead. We generally prefer the most compact and lightweight drills possible. The test concludes when the drill completes the final, heavy-load task, taking into account any bit changes or human errors. However, we do not test every drill for every possible task, as some drills are not capable of certain jobs.Īdditionally, we use our PTR Drill Test Track, which simulates real-world conditions and assesses a drill’s control and ability to handle medium and heavy loads. We test in various materials, including concrete, wood, and metal, to gauge a drill’s performance in light and heavy-duty tasks. Performance is our top priority when evaluating drills. Milwaukee Cordless Drill Buying Guide – What We Look For Performance If instead, you already use M18 tools, the extra $100 or so gets you into a more robust product with greater drilling capacity. While we love these two SDS-Plus and SDS-Max models, we don’t particularly recommend the M12 SDS-Plus rotary hammer (2416-20) unless you’re exclusively using 12V Milwaukee tools. The only downside might be the price: $1099 for the kit with two 12Ah batteries. Keep in mind that if you don’t need quite this much power or One-Key features, the Milwaukee 2717-20 SDS-Max rotary hammer might also fit the bill. Lastly, you get One-Key integration that lets you track the tool and provide inventory control. Use it with a Milwaukee High Output 12 Ah battery and this tool runs much cooler than the 9.0HD battery that came with the previous model. You also get a nice trigger lock, and AVS shock absorption reduces vibration to your arms. The AutoStop E-Clutch stops the tool quickly when it runs into a bind-up situation (like hitting rebar, for example). On top of the sheer power, we love the 2718-20 because it adds several key features. This monster tool puts out 8.1 foot-pounds of impact energy-about doubling Milwaukee’s best SDS-Plus rotary hammer drill. Our pick here falls squarely on the Milwaukee 2718 SDS-Max rotary hammer. Moving up to the Best Milwaukee SDS-Max drill, you find support for larger bits and hole sizes. Lastly, we also like the 5-year warranty-which you’ll see on all our recommended Milwaukee tool picks. That stops the drill during a bind-up event before it damages your wrist. It also now features AutoStop technology. That means you gain some serious productivity during rough-ins. This is one of only a very few drills that can drive a 2-9/16″ wood boring bit at High speed. More importantly, however, it optimizes that torque for speed. Now, the Milwaukee 2903-20 brushless drill has 1,400 inch-pounds of torque. However, we know that most users probably don’t need it. Secondly-we know Milwaukee Tool will eventually add the $50 premium version with Milwaukee ONE-KEY technology. First, we have a separate (but similar) pick below for the best Milwaukee hammer drill, so this pick assumes you don’t really need that function. Our pick comes as a result of several factors. Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2903-20 Cordless Drill Driverīased on our testing, the 4th-generation Milwaukee 2903 drill steals the show for the best Milwaukee brushless drill.

Northern tool milwaukee cordless drill