Mains Drills

For a workshop tool with real punch, you need a mains drill. We pick the best buy

Auto Express Car Reviews

August 2005

Corded drills are still king when it comes to car work. These devices now give today's buyer top performance at the lowest prices ever. And, ironically, the great deals offered by manufacturers have come about due to the success of rival cordless tools.

As the battery-powered versions have improved, makers have loaded less popular mains products with goodies and slashed prices.

If you are loosening the odd trim screw in your car's cabin, a cordless tool is best. But for making holes to fix an amplifier in the boot, or buffing or sanding bodywork, the constant power of a mains drill is preferable.

These products offer more punch, too; even budget tools have motors found only on top-spec kit just a few years ago. So which is the best?

Power is crucial here. While these tools can be used for tasks such as buffing, our test involved drilling a 10mm hole into 12mm plate steel. We then stripped paint with a wire brush.

Points were given for comfort, keyless chucks, and long leads. Drills with gears to channel output into torque or speed also scored, as did those with a separate speed control and a case. We looked at warranty and price, too.

Verdict

Buyers wanting a drill for the occasional bit of DIY work should look no further than the Worx WX10HD. It's a capable all-rounder and great value for money.

If you plan to use your tool more frequently, how-ever, the Makita HB2071F offers premium quality and extras such as a speed selector. In third place, Challenge's MD6536 doesn't pack quite the same punch as the Worx, but is still a decent performer.