Mr Skill

These days an amazing variety of different power drills are available for different jobs, and homeowners often wonder about the necessity of getting Plumber Quotes at all. Trust me, one burst pipe above the bedroom ceiling on Christmas Eve cured me of any further desire to tackle advanced plumbing jobs again – and then I still had to endure criticism and Find a Plumber too.

This is not to say that small plumbing jobs are beyond the reach of the average home handy girl or handy man. I’m thinking here of plumbing-in a washing machine or extending a garden tap. Both will inevitably involve making holes through which pipes will pass, or where screws will hold things down. The question is, which electric drill is best?

Plug-in drills are available in a wide variety of power ratings and their price varies accordingly. I don’t see much point in buying down, and I have left a few worked-out drills behind me to prove the point. So buy something decent in the 600W power range with a name that you can trust, and that’s not made in an obscure country either.

I dislike the clutchless drills so popular these days. True, there is no chuck key to lose, but equally there is a fair chance of chucks locking up or not tightening properly. A sales clerk once thoughtlessly remarked that my hands were getting old. My response included buying elsewhere and never shopping there again.

A cordless drill with re-chargeable battery is a handy tool to have around the house, and I would personally not be without one. What they may lack in power is compensated for by their convenience. However please forget about drilling into brick or concrete using one. I have yet to see a professional Plumber in London using one either, which says a lot in itself.

Before choosing an electric drill I recommend you first hold it in your hand. Is it well-balanced? Does it feel right? Does the chuck work easily? Finally, make sure that the motor speed is both variable, and reversible (for stuck bits) and that there is an impact option too. A power drill should be a reliable friend for life – choose yours carefully.