Cordless Drill/Driver Buying Guide

Cordless drills/drivers should be included in any list of required do-it-yourself tools. The applications and uses are endless and they are extremely simple to use. If you're going with the convenience of cordless you can use the tool to drill holes and easily change bits to drive screws with the added bonus of not having to look for outlets near your workspace.

We've written this handy buyers guide for choosing a drill/driver that works best for you. We'll start with drill/driver features and then move into applications and cost.

Grip
Drill/drivers are setup as a pistol grip with the trigger activating the tool. These grips can vary in size, surface material and comfort. It's important to get a good feel for the tool before purchasing it. Grab the drill and move your wrist around and even hold the tool above your head. Note how heavy it is and if it feels awkward to move in any direction.

The grip should also be secure and the surface should be of a non-slip material. DIY work leads to sweaty palms and you don't want your drill slipping from your hand.

Also feel for the drill/driver directional button which should be near your thumb and easily depressed with one finger in each direction.

Clutch
The clutch is the adjustable dial located at the end of your drill just before the area where your drill bit attaches which is the chuck. The clutch serves as a backstop that disengages when too much resistance is felt and gives you control so you don't strip a screw or overdrive it once your screw is tight. The motor will also last longer with a properly adjusted clutch.

You may see clutch settings from 10-28. Usually the higher setting the better as it allows you to really fine tune the settings for drilling tiny screws to larger and heavier screws. Most clutches will also have a drill setting that will lock the bit into place and drive the motor at full power.