Cordless drill buying Advice - 2 options

obi604

Hi,

Im planning on buying a drill for general DIY around the house.
I have narrowed down my cordless hammer drill choice to these 2 options, both are the exact same price.

Option 1 - challenge xtreme

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/7114339/Trail/searchtext%3E18V+DRILL.htm

• Maximum torque 20Nm.
• Drilling capacity for wood 20mm, steel 8mm and masonry 13mm.
• Lithium Ion Battery

Option 2 - Worx

http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10152&catalogId=14551&langId=111&searchTerms=WORX+WX369.3&authToken=

• Maximum torque 50Nm.
• Drilling capacity for wood 38mm, steel 13mm and masonry 16mm.
• Ni-Cd battery

The main difference between the 2 is that the Challenge Xterme has a lithium ion battery versus a Ni-Cd battery in the Worx.....................but the Worx has over twice the torque of the Challenge Xtreme.


Any tips to guide me in the right direction?

mikehammer67

i'd rule out the 2nd one anyhow it's old ni-cd battery technology-useless

i wouldn't bother about using hammer action on those drills either

i would use a more powerful cordless or mains drill for that job

drunkmonkey

Don't buy either of them if you can stretch to the DeWalt drill in B&Q it's about €119 but its worth every penny. http://m.diy.com/mt/www.diy.com/nav/fix/power-tools/drilling-screwdriving/drilling/cordless/-specificproducttype-combination_drills/DeWALT-18v-Combi-Drill-and-2-batteries-10668127?noCookies=false&action=detail&tab=rev&un_jtt_redirect

kennethsmyth

Go a tenner dearer and get the best of both worlds.

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/7114346.htm

I have had the worx drills before and found them pretty good, it is also possible to get additional batteries online.

mikehammer67

yes worth an extra 40 easy i'd say if the budget stretches

2 batteries and better drill

obi604

mikehammer67 wrote: »

i'd rule out the 2nd one anyhow it's old ni-cd battery technology-useless

i wouldn't bother about using hammer action on those drills either

i would use a more powerful cordless or mains drill for that job

Are ni-cd batteries really that bad ?

obi604

kennethsmyth wrote: »

Go a tenner dearer and get the best of both worlds.

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/7114346.htm

I have had the worx drills before and found them pretty good, it is also possible to get additional batteries online.

Thanks, I want to keep it under 100 euro

mikehammer67

obi604 wrote: »

Are ni-cd batteries really that bad ?

i would say so

you have to be careful how you charge them


i think it's recommended not to let the li-ion discharge fully but they can be topped up at random

obi604

mikehammer67 wrote: »

yes worth an extra 40 easy i'd say if the budget stretches

2 batteries and better drill

Which one are you on about here ?

mikehammer67

obi604 wrote: »

Which one are you on about here ?

the dewalt for 120 wid 2 batts

Zimmerframe

obi604 wrote: »

Are ni-cd batteries really that bad ?

No they are not that bad, if anything they will probably last longer and are more tolerant of poor care than lithium ion.

The main advantage of lithium ion in an application like a cordless drill is lithium ion has a much slower self discharge. i.e. if you charge up the lithium ion drill and leave it in the box for weeks, it will be ready to drill, whereas the ni-cd drill will probably be fully discharged.

Wouldn't buy either of the two drills you mentioned, the Worx is the better though. The DeWalt mentioned is fine, but don't confuse it with the better DeWalts, its a plasticky drill, and comes with puny 1.3ah batteries, but fine for DIY.

This is a nice drill, but as always the price goes up. This one is nearly €100 more than your original plan. :pac:

http://www.toolstop.co.uk/dewalt-dcd785m1-18v-xr-li-ion-2-speed-combi-drill-1-x-4ah-battery-p64378

obi604

thanks for the replies, but im just an occasional DIY'er

Im not working on a building site or anything

mikehammer67

Zimmerframe wrote: »

No they are not that bad, if anything they will probably last longer and are more tolerant of poor care than lithium ion.

The main advantage of lithium ion in an application like a cordless drill is lithium ion has a much slower self discharge. i.e. if you charge up the lithium ion drill and leave it in the box for weeks, it will be ready to drill, whereas the ni-cd drill will probably be fully discharged.

Wouldn't buy either of the two drills you mentioned, the Worx is the better though. The DeWalt mentioned is fine, but don't confuse it with the better DeWalts, its a plasticky drill, and comes with puny 1.3ah batteries, but fine for DIY.

This is a nice drill, but as always the price goes up. This one is nearly €100 more than your original plan. :pac:

http://www.toolstop.co.uk/dewalt-dcd785m1-18v-xr-li-ion-2-speed-combi-drill-1-x-4ah-battery-p64378

steady on like..........they're not better than li-ion


they may have a better cycle durability if discharged properly as far as i can see

Zimmerframe

mikehammer67 wrote: »

steady on like..........they're not better than li-ion

steady on you.. and read what I wrote

I never said they were better, I am quite aware that they are not.

I said they are not that bad, if anything they will probably last longer and are more tolerant of poor care than lithium ion.

The rest is also accurate, ni cads will last longer as in lifespan and they are more tolerant of poor care i.e left discharged.

keithdelahunty

I have the Xtreme & not great drill, I have had issues with charging

obi604

Took Kenneth's advice from earlier and bought the worx 18v with the lithium ion battery

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/7114346.htm

Now I know some of you may tut at this, but its just needed for general DIY chores, nothing major.

I had a quick read through the manual but couldn't see any details on charging guidelines.

2 questions in regrad to these lithium batteries

1. How long should the battery be charged for on the very first charge?

2. How long should the battery be charged for after the first charge?

obi604

Anyone on the above?