Page 1 of B&Q:Cordless Hammer Drill-£20

B&Q have got a offer on at the moment on their Performance Power Drills:
14.4 volt Cordless Hammer Drill/Driver in a 4-fold case which includes 166 accessories, drill bits, star bits, hex bits etc etc.
Charge time 3-5 hours.
Model Number: FMTC 144HD4F

I was looking at getting a cheap 12 volt drill for £20, but this was more powerful and had a load of extras.
This was also recommended by one of the house diy magazines(can`t remeber which one). Had quite a few in the Talke, Stoke branch. Just up from the tool section on the right at the end of the aisle.

I`ve seen similar ones here:
http://www.diy.com/bq/category/category.jhtml?CATID=62362

They are up for about £35-£40

Cheers

This item was edited on Monday, 3rd February 2003, 22:08

You really need a one hour charge. Don`t be fooled by the "Hammer" part of the add. Most of these cheap "Hammer" drills are no good for anything but soft brick....if your lucky.

I agree with Paull, cordless hammer drills aren`t a patch on proper mains-powered ones.
For much the same price you can probably get one with one hour charge and if you want if for any more than just the odd job, you also want two batteries.

Try some of them out too, check for weight and balance of the drill - what feels comfortable for you to hold.
Other features worth having:
- Two speed gears
- Adjustable torque settings
- Electric brake
- Check for maximum speed - don`t be misled by voltage figures.

If you really want a hammer drill, buy a mains-powered hammer drill, or if you want something really heavy duty, go for a SDS drill - quite cheap these days... try Screwfix.

If you wan`t a vey good cordless drill go for a 24V hammer with two batteries and a 1 hour charge. Screwfix have got a Ferm branded one for about £60 at the moment, but I think the Power Devil and NuTool versions are almost exactly the same. They can be picked up from about £40, I know Woolworths and Maplin have had versions about this price.

For what it is worth, I have had the Ferm version for about 18 months and I have had no problems whatsoever. Infact I have not had to resort to my mains drill in all that time, including fixing a long fence to a wall and putting down decking. The 1 hour charge and a spare battery means you will always be ready.

Don`t skip on the volts! Go for the 24V version.

All good advice. The higher the voltage the better. And I`ve not used a cordless that comes close to a mains one. Having said that they`re fine in breeze block etc. Seem to get used to the slower rpm and then use a mains one and they`re like the proverbial hot knife through butter.

Ste

I used to have a Makita 9.6v which cost me £120 at the time and lasted me 10 years with just one battery, when I was a Carpenter.
I sold it when the battery died and a new one was about £40!!

I have a cheap one now which hardly ever gets used as I`m no longer a Carpenter.

See it for what it is. £20 for a Cordless Drill with hammer which will do fine for most people, is a bargin. Maybe you can get one better for £40 but thats not £20.

Just thank "Shoes" for the find.

Not knocking the find Micoman... it doesn`t interest me personally, but thanks anyway Shoes!

All I was saying is don`t get carried away with the fact that it`s sold as a `hammer` drill. Sure, it will get through block and soft brick, but not much else. In fact anyone needing the hammer facility will almost certainly needs to buy a mains drill as well - suddenly not quite such a good deal. If you don`t need a hammer facility, then a £10 cordless drill from Focus or Woolies will also do the job fine. Horses for courses really.

I`ve got an old Panasonic 9.6V `pro` cordless of similar vintage to your Makita. One of the two battery packs has died, but I still use it in preference to my 12V, two battery pack B&Q £40 special of two years ago! I would personally never be without a two-battery pack drill - I`ve run the charge down on one pack far too many times to have just the one. Again, down to what you`re using it for...

Anyway, just so there`s no uncertainty - £20 for a cordless hammer drill is a bargain no matter which way you look at it - so thanks for posting Shoes.

I bought one and missed the fine details. that it is two speeds 360rpm and 1250rpm.
that would be ok. but it`s not variable speed from zero upwards. that meens that all thoughs screw driver attachments are going to be tricky to use, that is anless you theink you can screw a screw in at a rate of 350rpm. doing it by hand with a scewdriver is only about 20rpm

Makro have a nutool 24v hammer action with 2 batteries, think it`s 1 hour charge but not sure.
Getting 3 for myself and friends.

Offer starts today 04/09/04 @ 9.30am. Just £20+vat (approx £23)

But this one also says "2 mechanical speed with hammer action".
I , therefore, have to assume that it is not variable speed.
It does seem strange that it comes with a couple of scewdriver bits though.

Chris Muriel, Manchester.