With advancements in engineering science in recent years, cordless power tools are a favourite and viable choice for nearly all hand held drilling taxes on most any woodworking project. Cordless power tools come in various sizes and with a number of different features.
What features should you look for when buying a makita power tools?
Begin With the
makita Battery:
When searching a power tools to meet your woodworking needs, the 1st thing to consider is the electric battery. Power tools are currently available in voltages from 9.6 volts the whole way up to 24 volts. The advantage of a more powerful battery translates to additional torque for driving long screws into stronger hardwoods. It also likely means longer battery lifetime per charge.
However, these stronger
dewalt power tools batteries also mean a considerably heavier drill. A 18-volt power toosl is much heavier than a 12-volt cordless drill, and considerably heavier than a corded power drill.
Compulsory Features:
Any cordless drill that you should consider for your woodworking projects should have a number of basic features. These include a rechargeable motor that will allow you to back out any screws that you drill in, a dual-speed motor (with a high and low switch) and an adjustable clutch, that, when adjusted properly, will help keep you from driving screws too deeply into your wood stock.
Additional Features to Consider:
Many cordless drills use a 3/8″ chuck to hold your bits. However, some larger models have a 1/2″ chuck that will allow one to use drill bits of up to 1/2″ in diameter. These 1/2″ models often include a “hammer drill” feature which has little practical application for woodworking, but is great for drilling holes in masonry.
Many recent cordless drill models employ a “smart charger” that will help extend battery life by optimising the way the batteries are charged. On these chargers, when the battery is approaching a “fully” charge, the charger switches to a trickle-charge mode until the battery is maxed.
Many models will also include two batteries with the power tools and charger, which, while it is not a requirement, is certainly a good idea. With two batteries, you can be using one and charging the other concurrently.
How to Choose power tools:
Ironically, a large of the power tools available have all of the features we’ve already discussed on the market. What, then, should you look for to differentiate between these models?
In my mind, there are two major factors to consider when all else is equal. 1st, when you look at the Makita cordless drill batteries, look beyond the voltage. For instance, all 12-volt batteries are not the same. When comparing batteries of the same voltage, the battery with a higher mAh rating (which stands for milliamp-hours) will hold a charge for a longer period of time.
The other factor to consider comes into play when you pick up the drill with the battery installed. Hold the drill in a number of positions, including over your head, as if you were drilling screws into your ceiling. Ask yourself questions like, “How does this drill feel?” “Is it balanced?” “How long could I use this drill holding it over my head?”
If the power tools is just too heavy to comfortably use over your head for at least 30 seconds at one time, then you likely need to look at a drill with a lower
power tool battery voltage (and hence, a smaller size). The drill should be strong, but comfortable to use.
The bottom of the inning line is, if you don’t find your drill comfortable, then you won’t enjoy using it. Find one that feelings good in your hand and you’ll be more likely to put it to good use on all of your carpentry projects.
