12 Volt Cordless Drills

Milwaukee 2410-22 Review

Feb 092012

The Milwaukee 2410-22 is rated as our best 12v cordless drill with an overall rating of 9.0. The main reason for the high score is the fact that it has the best power to weight ratio of any 12v cordless models. It has 250 in-lbs of power and weighs in at just 2.5 lbs. Plus it has a compact size that is much smaller than other drills it its class. This makes it an ideal tool for someone that is doing lots of drilling or has to get into some tight spaces.

The 2410-22 utilizes the Milwaukee M12 series of Lithium-Ion batteries. These provide 1.4 Ah of run time, which is slightly below average. However these batteries only take 30 minutes to recharge, so since two batteries are included, you should always have one at full power.

The one common complaint from users of this power tool is the chuck. For several people no matter how much they tighten the chuck, it still comes loose during use and eventually the bit falls out. Despite this problem users on Amazon still give it an average 4.3 stars out of 5.

Overall we really like this drill. There is not a lot of options for Li-Ion batteries in a 12 volt model, which makes this one rare. The performance is outstanding for the weight and is light enough for anyone to use easily. The chuck coming loose is a concern for construction professionals, but for the average home user it is not as big of a deal for occasional use, therefore we recommend this drill.

Specs		12v Class Average
Overall Rating	9.0
Manufacturer	Milwaukee
Model	2410-22
Style	Compact Cordless Drill
Voltage	12
Weight	2.5 lbs	3.4 lbs
Max Torque	250 in-lbs	245 in-lbs
Max Speed	1500 RPM	1285 RPM
Variable Speed	2-SPEED
Reversable	Yes
Chuck Size	3/8″
Chuck Type	Keyless, Ratcheting
Battery Type	Li-Ion
Charge Rating	1.4Ah	1.7 Ah
Charge Time	30 min	60 min
Batteries Included	2
Work Light	Yes
Extra Handle	No
Fuel Guage	Yes
Warranty	5 years	2 years
Price	Check Price	$128.45

Milwaukee 2410-22 12v Compact Cordless Drill

DeWalt DC742KA Review

12 Volt Cordless Drills, Cordless Drills, DeWalt Cordless Drills No Responses »

Feb 072012

The DeWalt DC742KA compact 12v cordless drill scores a 7.8 overall rating. This NiCd model has above average power for the 12v class of drills. It received a solid 4.2 rating from Amazon users and has very few negative complaints. This is also one of the few 12v versions that has a worklight so you can see what you are drilling.

On the downside, while it is a compact cordless drill, it is heavier than most 12v models. It is also relatively more expensive.

While this is a good drill, the cost prevents us from recommending the DC742KA. For the price you can get a good 18v version.

Specs		12v Class Average
Overall Rating	7.8
Manufacturer	DeWalt
Model	DC742KA
Style	Compact Cordless Drill
Voltage	12
Weight	3.8 lbs	3.4 lbs
Max Torque	200 UWO	245 in-lbs
Max Speed	1700 RPM	1285 RPM
Variable Speed	2-SPEED
Reversable	Yes
Chuck Size	3/8″
Chuck Type	Keyless, Ratcheting
Battery Type	NiCD
Charge Rating	1.4Ah	1.7 Ah
Charge Time	60 min	60 min
Batteries Included	2
Work Light	LED
Extra Handle	No
Fuel Guage	No
Warranty	3 years	2 years
Price	Check Price	$128.45

DeWalt DC742KA 12v Compact Cordless Drill

DEWALT DC742KA Cordless 12-Volt 3/8-Inch Compact Drill/Driver Worklight

DeWalt DC742KA Battery and Charger

DeWalt DC742KA Open Carrying Case

DeWalt DC742KA Case

Hitachi DS12DVF3 Review

12 Volt Cordless Drills, Cordless Drills, Hitachi Cordless Drills No Responses »

Feb 072012

We give the Hitachi DS12DVF3 12v cordless drill a 7.8 overall rating. This model is one of our best buys for cordless dirlls under $100. Its performance is solid, yet unspectacular, with 230 in-lbs of torque and 1050 RPMs. It gets great ratings from buyers on Amazon with a 4.2 average rating out of 5 stars. This Hitachi unit features a 22 stage clutch which lets you adjust for the material you are drilling or screwing into.

The kit comes with 2 NiCd batteries and a flashlight which may come in handy. The batteries recharge in just 30 minutes so you will be able to keep working by just exchanging the spent one for the charged one.

We recommend this model for users when price is a concern and for DIY projects that don’t involve lots of heavy duty drilling/driving.

Specs		12v Class Average
Overall Rating	7.8
Manufacturer	Hitachi
Model	DS12DVF3
Style	Standard Cordless Drill
Voltage	12
Weight	3.3 lbs	3.4 lbs
Max Torque	230 in-lbs	245 in-lbs
Max Speed	1050 RPM	1285 RPM
Variable Speed	2-SPEED
Reversable	Yes
Chuck Size	3/8″
Chuck Type	Keyless, Ratcheting
Battery Type	NiCD
Charge Rating	1.4Ah	1.7 Ah
Charge Time	30 min	60 min
Batteries Included	2
Work Light	No
Extra Handle	No
Fuel Guage	No
Warranty	5 years	2 years
Price	Check Price	$128.45

Black & Decker HPD12K-2 Review

12 Volt Cordless Drills, Black & Decker Cordless Drills, Cordless Drills No Responses »

Feb 072012

The Black & Decker HPD12K-2 12v cordless drill rates a 6.0 overall. While the power is severely lacking in this model with just 175 in-lbs of torque, it is a good value for the money. At under $70 this unit is cheaper than most cordless drills. It also get surprisingly good ratings on Amazon with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

One of the biggest negatives on the HPD12K-2 are the NiCd batteries which can take up to 3 hours to fully charge. They also have lower than average charge rating of 1.2Ah.

We only recommend this cordless drill for the most simple drilling needs around the house and when price is a concern.

Specs		12v Class Average
Overall Rating	6.0
Manufacturer	Black & Decker
Model	HPD12K-2
Style	Standard Cordless Drill
Voltage	12
Weight	2.8 lbs	3.4 lbs
Max Torque	175 in-lbs	245 in-lbs
Max Speed	1200 RPM	1285 RPM
Variable Speed	2-SPEED
Reversable	Yes
Chuck Size	3/8″
Chuck Type	Keyless, Ratcheting
Battery Type	NiCD
Charge Rating	1.2Ah	1.7 Ah
Charge Time	180 min	60 min
Batteries Included	2
Work Light	No
Extra Handle	No
Fuel Guage	No
Warranty	2 years	2 years
Price	Check Price	$128.45

Makita 6271DWPE Review

12 Volt Cordless Drills, Cordless Drills, Makita Cordless Drills No Responses »

Feb 072012

We give the Makita 6271DWPE 12v cordless drill a 7.5 overall rating. This model is a bit old and uses NiCd batteries. The performance is about average for 12v cordless drills. This version comes with a flashlight and 2 batteries which power the drill and flashlight. There is enough power to handle most basic tasks, but will not handle demanding drilling jobs.

Since this is an older model, there are much better options out there to buy. You can get an 18v compact li-ion cordless drill for nearly the same price. Therefore we do not recommend this product.

Specs		12v Class Average
Overall Rating	7.5
Manufacturer	Makita
Model	6271DWPE
Style	Standard Cordless Drill
Voltage	12
Weight	3.3 lbs	3.4 lbs
Max Torque	250 in-lbs	245 in-lbs
Max Speed	1200 RPM	1285 RPM
Variable Speed	2-SPEED
Reversable	Yes
Chuck Size	3/8″
Chuck Type	Keyless, Ratcheting
Battery Type	NiCD
Charge Rating	1.3Ah	1.7 Ah
Charge Time	60 min	60 min
Batteries Included	2
Work Light	No
Extra Handle	No
Fuel Guage	No
Warranty	1 year	2 years
Price	Check Price	$128.45

Ridgid R92008 Review

12 Volt Cordless Drills, Cordless Drills, Ridgid Cordless Drills No Responses »

Feb 072012

The Ridgid R92008 12v cordless drills scores an 8.1 overall rating. It features a super compact design that easy to handle and very lightweight at just 2.2 pounds. The lithium-ion batteries provide enough power, 240 in-lbs and 1300 RPM, to handle most basic homeowner tasks.

The R92008 is not recommended for heavy-duty drilling.

Specs		12v Class Average
Overall Rating	8.1
Manufacturer	Ridgid
Model	R92008
Style	Compact Cordless Drill
Voltage	12
Weight	2.2 lbs	3.4 lbs
Max Torque	240 in-lbs	245 in-lbs
Max Speed	1300 RPM	1285 RPM
Variable Speed	2-SPEED
Reversable	Yes
Chuck Size	3/8″
Chuck Type	Keyless, Ratcheting
Battery Type	Li-Ion
Charge Rating	1.4Ah	1.7 Ah
Charge Time	30 min	60 min
Batteries Included	2
Work Light	LED
Extra Handle	No
Fuel Guage	No
Warranty	3 year	2 years
Price	Check Price	$128.45

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