7 of the Best Corded Impact Drivers

How to choose the best type of drill for you

Are you confused by the various types of drill on the market? In this short drill buying guide, we’ll dig a little deeper into your choices. You’ll also find some helpful tips and advice on how to choose the best drill for you.

How will you use your drill?

Knowing how you’ll use your drill helps focus your options.

For light DIY jobs around the house, such as hanging pictures, putting up shelves and building flatpack furniture, a drill driver is best. They’re used for drilling into different kinds of material such as wood and metal and for driving screws. They’re so much easier to use compared to traditional, manual screwdrivers, and they get the job done quicker!

For drilling into concrete or brickwork, you’ll need a combi drill with hammer function or a hammer drill. A drill driver doesn’t have the power to handle this type of DIY work.

That’s just a quick overview. Keep reading. We’re about to go into more detail.

4 types of electric power drill currently on the market

An electric power drill typically falls into one of the following categories:

• Combi drill
• Drill driver
• Impact driver
• Hammer drill

Combi drills

A combi (combination) drill is a great all-rounder. You use it for drilling into wood or metal and for driving screws. And when you switch to the hammer action, you can use it for drilling into concrete and masonry.

Whatever material you’re drilling into, always make sure you’re using the correct drill bit.

Pros of combi drills

• A versatile machine with the ability to drill into wood, metal, masonry and concrete
• Can be used as a standard drill, hammer drill or impact driver
• A wide range of choices with prices to fit every pocket

Cons of combi drills

• Usually more expensive than drill drivers and impact drivers
• Lower torque and speed compared to impact drivers when driving screws
• Heavier and bulkier than other types of drill

Drill drivers

Drill drivers don’t have the power or versatility of the combi drill. They’re a good choice for drilling into wood and metal and for driving screws. But they don’t have the power to tackle concrete or brickwork.

For drilling into brick walls or concrete posts, the drill driver is the wrong choice. For light DIY jobs around the home, it’s at the top of the list.

Pros of drill drivers

• Typically cheaper than combi drills
• Use on metal and wood
• Doubles up as a powerful and efficient screwdriver

Cons of drill drivers

• Not suitable for heavy work such as drilling into masonry
• Not as strong as a combi drill

Impact drivers

Impact drivers add a bit of clout when needed. They’re high torque machines designed to do one job only – drive screws. Which they do faster and easier than any machine currently on the market.

With that said, you can use them for drilling but you’ll need a set of hex shank drill bits to match the chuck of the typical impact driver.

Pros of impact drivers

• Ideal for high torque applications
• Awesome screwdriver
• Compact design so they can get into tight spaces

Cons of impact drivers

• Not suitable for drilling masonry
• Not as versatile as combi drills or drill drivers

Hammer drills

Hammer drills are used for drilling into brickwork, stone and concrete. They use a hammering action to provide rapid and powerful blows to the material’s surface. With the proper machine and correct masonry bit, you’ll drill a hole in no time.

Pros of hammer drills

• Perfect for drilling into brickwork, stone and concrete
• Strong

Cons of hammer drills

• Not designed to be used on wood or metal
• Not as versatile as a combi drill or drill driver
• Bulkier and heavier than other types of drill

Which is the right power drill for you?

When you’re buying a drill, always shop around for bargains. There are plenty to be had if you’re in the right place at the right time. Choose a machine that matches the kind of DIY work you do, and always spend as much as you can afford at the time.