Corded Elec Drill Recommendations?

[Kent A Bathurst]

My neighbor is a classic very nice, friendly, helpful, guy with many excess thumbs and no need for high-tech high-class tools - just some basic, reliable, no-frills stuff.

He needs to replace his dead Brand X 3/8" corded electric drill. I am too far removed from this plane of consciousness to be of much help. Went through with him what he wanted to be able to do, and it boils down to "When I need to drill the occasional hole in something, I want a drill to do it." He feels he doesn't need cordless or hammer [those projects bring in the next-door skill set], and I agree. No heavy use. No heavy lifting.

There must be some solid 3/8" corded drills out there at a reasonable price. Keyless chuck or not. With his requirements, it'll last 20 years. Not looking to find the cheapest product, looking for a solid value.

He thinks I know all this stuff - in my DNA or something. He doesn't know I "go away to think about it" and post on the Creek. Help me look good, eh?

Thanks

Kent

[Myk Rian]

I've found this one to be very good.
http://www.ryobitools.com/catalog/power_tools/drills_drivers/D46CK

[Will Overton]

I've had this Milwaukee for a few years and it has plenty of power and good top speed.

http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-0201-20-8-Inch-Drill-Keyless/dp/B00005Q7AE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1274656927&sr=1-4

[Rich Neighbarger]

+1 for the Milwaukee.

[Don Jarvie]

Craftsman, fairly cheap and good products.

[Paul McGaha]

Milwaukee.

[Brendan Plavis]

I have an old Craftsman that actually works quite well. Its not fancy, it growls like a beast when you hit the trigger, and it lacks torque control(I use my cordless for removing screws/adding screws) but, it works very well, if you can control it[my cordless cannot drill(the chuck usually loses the bit...(its a crappy Coleman... epic phail) so I use it to drill, and if I have the right positioning to lean against it to drive screws.] But then again, the drill is probably from the late 80s.... its older than I am....

I have also heard good things about the Skil ones.... but usually that is for the 18Volt cordless....

[scott vroom]

+1 Milwaukee w/a keyless chuck

http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-0201-20-8-Inch-Drill-Keyless/dp/B00005Q7AE/ref=sr_ob_4?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1274659935&sr=1-4

[Aaron Berk]

+1 on the Ryobi clutch driver, super cost effective!

I've had mine going on 3yrs now. It's ALWAYS performed as advertised and I consider it my BEST low buck tool. It comes with a nice long power cord to boot!:)

[Steve Griffin]

Something tells me that the $113 dollar millwaulkee might be over shooting the target.

I bettcha a $60 corded drill would outlast the gentleman you are so kind to help out.

I'm not particularly a Dewalt fan, but my 10 year old $59 Dewalt drill has probably drilled deeper than the BP oil rig-- with less problems.

http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWD110K-8-Inch-Pistol-Keyless/dp/B0012KN1I0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1274667710&sr=8-2

-Steve

[Bruce Elasik]

Milwaukee 023320 Magnum 5.5-Amp 3/8-Inch Drill with Keyless Chuck
it even comes with a second set of brushes----excellent drill--- i paid eighty something a few years ago at amazon

[Von Bickley]

I've had this Milwaukee for a few years and it has plenty of power and good top speed.

http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-0201-20-8-Inch-Drill-Keyless/dp/B00005Q7AE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1274656927&sr=1-4

I agree with Will........ This would be a super nice drill.

[Terry Sparks]

"He needs to replace his dead Brand X 3/8" corded electric drill."


With that in mind, I would think just about anything on Craigslist should do.

No need to over think the problem.

[Kent A Bathurst]

Something tells me that the $113 dollar millwaulkee might be over shooting the target......I'm not particularly a Dewalt fan.........

Steve - correct re $113. I'm not particularly a DW fan either, but I have their 1/2" hammer drill that is going strong after 8 yrs, but with only moderate use. I loved your line about Deepwater Horizon :p.

Other responders: the Milwaukee site shows 0240-20 under new products. $60 at 'zon or 'depot. Similar features to your suggestion - perhaps lighter-weight guts, looking for a price point? Any comments? I have Milw cordless and have been happy (had 2, but one just cashed out after 8 yrs).

The Ryobi is intriguing - hadn't considered them - not much top-end speed, but then - how how in the heck would he ever know? I like the clutch, but then - how in the heck would he ever know? I like hearing the "good, solid, tool" comments.

Here's where I am:
Ryobi - Pro - clutch, price. Con - handle design, top speed
Milw + DW - Pro - pistol handle design (I like being able to get my arm + shoulder right in line with the chuck for driving screws. But then - how in the heck would he ever know?). Con - no clutch.

And for you Craftsman guys - he is currently in possession of my backup-to-my-backup drill - 25 yr old C'man. I use it only 1x per year. One of his less-endearing traits is a congenital inability to return borrowed tools, so if I do nothing, he will have a replacement drill. And - when Sears cheapened the C'man power tool line about 15 +/- years ago, they lost my power tool business forever - burned me badly on a POS router. No going back. (kept wrench + rachet biz, tho)

A lot of good input - thanks much.

Any final observations, guys?

[Will Overton]

I have never seen the 0240-20 but the specs and price look pretty good. The only things it doesn't seem to have is a trigger lock, which to me would be inconsequential. I reading, the $113 one mentioned something about double gearing. I'm not sure, but that 'may' provide more torque at a given speed.

Just like Bosch has the reputation for the best jig saws, Milwaukee has always had that reputation with corded drills. The $60 one you found would probably be a perfect replacement.

Milwaukee has a 5 year warranty on its drills also.

[Harold Burrell]

This is the only drill I have (no kidding):

http://www.lowes.com/pd_295379-79992-DR350FD_4294857546_4294937087?productId=1208733&pl=1&currentURL=/pl_Corded%2BDrills_4294857546_4294937087_

It actually works quite well.

[dan sherman]

Add another point to the Ryobi tally.


+1 on the Ryobi clutch driver, super cost effective!

[Van Huskey]

The only one here I have actually used is the Dewalt Steve mentioned and I can recommend it. I use it basically as a pocket hole drill since I almost always use a cordless for light and medium duty drilling/driving.

[Ron Kellison]

Don't overlook the Ridgid 3/8" corded drill Model R7001. Very good drill for the price. Steel gears, keyless chuck, lots of torque. Priced somewhere around $60. The orange color makes it easy to find in the sawdust!

Regards,

Ron

[Brendan Plavis]

I am bound to get an earful for this one, but, I have read that alot of people actually enjoy the Harbor Freight Drills..... But This is merely from what I hear and read, not personal experience.... the upside.... about 3 of those is the equivilant of a single DeWalt....

[Kent A Bathurst]

Harold & Brendan.......

You should be ashamed of yourselves. :D

Points awarded for having the........a-hem....."brass" to go public tho. ;)