Power tools

Axminster AW-240CD The Axminster is a slimline machine with a comfortable rubberpadded handle and a smooth textured body. It’s supplied with two batteries, a one hour charger, a set of twist drills, and a set of screwdriver bits all housed in a sturdy carrying case. On board is a two speed gearbox and a maximum speed of 22,400rpm. The 13mm chuck is a high quality Rohm single handed design. The side handle is fully adjustable, though there is no depth stop. There’s a 17-position torque ring and a separate ring to control the hammer setting. On the rear of the main body a pair of double-ended screwdriver bits are stored and there’s also a built-in spirit level to help keep your holes horizontal. The battery itself clips onto the base of the handle and has an illuminated charge meter incorporated to gauge the state of the battery.

In use the Axminster was a little disappointing. Under load the battery power dropped significantly, though it did recover. Also the casing is not as robust as it might be and it could be felt twisting in the hand.

Summary: Considering the price, this is quite a lot of drill for the money, however its performance is not really comparable to the other machines here. Okay for the occasional user.

Milwaukee V28 PD I know that this feature is supposed to be about 24V combis, but I just thought that I would squeeze this Milwaukee into it. After all what’s four volts between friends? This combi is from Milwaukee’s new V28 range. These tools are all powered by a 28V Lithium Ion battery. These use the most sophisticated battery technology and are similar to those used in laptop computers and cellular telephones. They are powerful, have a long life, and can be charged at any time as there is no ‘memory’ effect. However they are more expensive than other batteries.

The V28PD is certainly a machine built for the professional. It’s supplied with a case, a pair of batteries, a one hour charger, a side handle and a rather clever belt clip with a quick release attachment. However make sure that your belt is secure, otherwise your trousers might end up round your ankles.

A twenty position torque ring is fitted along with a secondary ring to select the hammer or drilling settings. A Rohm one-handed chuck is supplied and there is a two speed gearbox with an 1800rpm top speed. The main handle is comfortably shaped and rubber padded on both sides. There is storage space for two double-ended screwdriver bits on the body and on the left hand side is the bracket for the belt clip. The battery slides onto the base of the tool and may be inserted from the front or the rear that both alters the balance of the tool and can improve access for certain jobs. There’s an LED charge indicator on the front of the battery.

Summary: A tireless performer. The enormous battery seems to provide limitless power and copes with any job. It’s also a comfortable, though heavy, tool to use. Overall, a spectacular machine.

Erbauer ERB82240 Here’s another tool from the budget end of the market. The Erbauer range is exclusively marketed by Screwfix Direct and offers competent tools at attractive prices. The ERB82240 is a striking looking tool with a textured rubber main handle and a small adjustable side handle. It’s supplied with a pair of batteries and a one hour charger, housed in a plastic storage case. There’s a two-speed gearbox with a maximum speed of 1200rpm. The torque ring has 24 settings and incorporates the hammer and drilling settings.A bullseye level is fitted to the rear of the body and a straight level is fitted to the top, so there is no excuse for inaccurate drilling. On the base of the main handle is a magnetic pad that is useful for holding small screws or screwdriver bits. The sizeable battery clips onto the handle and there’s also a wrist strap for added security.A pair of doublesided screwdriver bits are stored in the handle. The chuck is a Jacobs 500 series with a 13mm capacity.

In use the Erbauer is impressive. It powers through hard material with little difficulty and is generally comfortable to use, though it has rather a short side handle, which those with large hands might find uncomfortable.

Summary: The whole machine feels robust and reliable. It’s supplied with a two-year guarantee and its price certainly makes it an attractive proposition.

Ryobi CRH-24ORE Here is another 24V SDS drill. It’s very similar, though fractionally larger than the DeWalt. It’s supplied in a large storage case with a pair of batteries, a one hour charger, and a plug-in keyless chuck incorporating a screwdriver bit socket. The whole machine is nicely styled and well balanced. The main handle is rubber covered and so is the front of the machine,making it comfortable to hold without the side handle. The side handle is adjustable and incorporates a simple depth stop. The battery slides onto the front of the body and is quick and easy to fit. On the lefthand side is the switch that controls the hammer setting. A small spirit level is built into the top surface to help keep your drilling horizontal. The SDS chuck has a sprung collar that holds the bits firmly in place and the standard keyless chuck plugs into it with an adapter. If the chuck is removed from the adapter the screwdriver socket is revealed allowing standard hex bits to be used.

Summary: The Ryobi is a pleasure to use. It’s comfortable to hold and powers its way through concrete without pause. Screwdriving performance is good too, though it’s best suited to putting large screws into hard timber.

Makita BHP 460 The Makita is a surprisingly small machine, though stands on an enormous 3.3Ah battery. It’s also supplied with a smaller, and lighter, 2Ah battery, a large one hour fan-cooled charger and a sturdy storage case. The machine is beautifully finished with a smooth solid blue plastic body with a softgrip insert in the handle.A large side handle is also supplied and this incorporates a useful depth stop. The main torque ring has 16 settings and there’s a secondary ring for selecting the drilling modes.A single-handed, rubber-covered keyless chuck is fitted and there is a two speed gearbox with a maximum speed of 22,500rpm. As always on Makita tools a small screwed cover on either side of the body is used to allow owner brush changes. On the base of the handle are storage slots for two double-ended screwdriver bits.

In use the Makita is another tough performer. It doesn’t quite have the power of the Milwaukee, but is still a very competent machine. Personally I prefer it with the rather lighter 2Ah battery, though obviously the larger battery gives more power and greater run time.

Summary: Top quality machine that’s finished to very high standard that should satisfy the most discerning user.

DeWalt DW004K2C The DeWalt DW004K2C is a sophisticated machine powered by a massive 24V 2Ah NiCd battery. It comes with 24V 2AH NiCdf batteries, a keyless chuck with SDS adapter, a set of SDS drill bits and an intelligent 1hr charger, all housed in a sturdy carrying case. It may be used for drilling all materials and also, with the hammer action switched off, can be used for screwdriving, though there is no torque control.

The DeWalt is a compact and well balanced machine with a rubberised main handle on the rear and the battery pack attached in front of it. Because of its weight and size, the battery slides into place from the front and is securely locked in place. Above it is the selector switch that controls the hammer action. A secondary handle is mounted on the nose and this may be rotated around the body to suit both left and right handed users. A depth stop is also fitted. The large rubber power trigger is mounted in the main handle and controls the variable speed motor. Chargers themselves do not normally need much explanation, however the DeWalt is a somewhat unusual beast. Because batteries charge best between certain temperatures, the charger has a built in fan to cool hot batteries, and can also warm cold batteries. When the desired temperature is reached, charging starts. A battery will be fully charged in about 1hr. After the initial charging the charger switches into ‘refresh’ mode. This helps balance or equalise the charge in all the individual battery cells and consequently ensures that the battery is always working at full capacity.

Summary: Aimed at tradesmen who have to work in locations where power is either limited or inconvenient to use. Would benefit anyone who wants a powerful drill and no cable.