The Evolution of Drills: A Test of Power and Precision

When it comes to choosing a drill, there are many options available, but few people stop to think about the differences between the less expensive and high-end models. In this article, we will delve into the world of drills, exploring their history, design, and performance.

The Early Days of Drilling: Hand Brace Drills

The first drills were hand-powered, using a combination of manual labor and simple machines to achieve the desired outcome. One such example is the hand brace drill, which was used in the early 20th century. This primitive device consisted of a wooden or metal frame with a handle attached to it, and was powered by a person's arm muscles. The user would wrap a rope or cord around the handle, generating power as they turned the drill. While not exactly efficient, hand brace drills paved the way for the development of more advanced drilling technologies.

The Advent of Electricity: Cords and Power

As electricity became more widespread, drill manufacturers began to incorporate motors into their designs, making it easier to use these devices. The introduction of electric cords marked a significant shift in the evolution of drills, allowing users to power their tools without having to rely on manual labor. This innovation also led to the development of cordless drills, which would later become a staple in the world of power tools.

Battery-Powered Drills: A New Era in Efficiency

Today's drills are powered by batteries, which pack a significant amount of energy into a compact package. These advancements have made drilling easier and more convenient than ever before, as users no longer need to worry about finding an electrical outlet. Battery-powered drills offer a level of portability and flexibility that was previously unimaginable.

Testing the Drills: A Contest of Speed and Skill

To get a better understanding of how these drills perform in real-world situations, we decided to host a contest. Two participants, Jack and Eric, were given a piece of 4x4 pine wood and challenged to see who could drill the most screws into it within a 30-second time frame. While both competitors showed some skill, the results revealed that the type of drill used was the key factor in determining success.

The Lightweight Drill: A Versatile Tool

Jack's choice of a lightweight 12-volt drill proved to be a smart move, as it is well-suited for smaller tasks such as hanging shelves or pictures. This compact drill is perfect for everyday use around the house, but may not have the power required for more demanding projects.

The Heavy-Duty Drill: A Contractor's Best Friend

Eric's 24-volt drill, on the other hand, was designed with heavy-duty applications in mind. This powerful tool would be capable of handling even the toughest drilling tasks, making it an ideal choice for professional contractors or serious DIY enthusiasts.

Understanding the Science Behind Drilling Performance

To gain a deeper understanding of how drills work, we consulted with our dynamometer, a benchtop testing machine that measures torque and RPM on every drill. Torque is the product of the force applied to rotate an object from a distance, and it is this measure that determines a drill's ability to handle tough jobs.

Using the Dynamometer: A Precise Measurement

The dynamometer allows us to provide precise comparisons between drills, taking into account their torque ratings. By understanding these numbers, users can make informed decisions about which tool to choose for specific tasks. For example, if you need to use a drill for heavy-duty applications or large-scale projects, look for one with high torque ratings.

Tips and Tricks: Choosing the Right Drill

With so many options available, selecting the right drill can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you make an informed decision:

* Check the grip to ensure it fits comfortably in your hands.

* Hold the drill over your head, as some tasks may require awkward positions for extended periods.

* Consider using a drill with a brushless motor, which can provide more life and efficiency.

Conclusion

Drills have come a long way since their humble beginnings, evolving from hand-powered devices to battery-powered tools that offer unparalleled convenience and performance. By understanding the history, design, and performance of drills, users can make informed decisions about which tool to choose for specific tasks. Whether you're a seasoned DIY enthusiast or a professional contractor, selecting the right drill is crucial to achieving success in your work.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enI don't know about you, butwhen I go into a hardware storeto buy a drill, thereare a lot of choices.I wonder if there's anydifference between the lessexpensive and high-end drills.Luckily, I knowsomeone who can helpme drill down on this question.This is where we test drills,something Consumer Reportshas been doing for decades.And you can see theevolution of drills here.This is how they used to do it.What do you call this?This is a hand brace drill.This is how they did itbefore we had electricity.And then somebody gottired of doing this--And then said how aboutwe try electricity----make it a littleeasier on people.So you get the cord.Right?I haven't seen thesecords in a while.This is what they used formost of the 20th century.Right.And now, we're onbattery powered drills.So all that energy ispacked into this battery.Yeah--A little easier to use.Very handy.You don't have toworry about whereyou're going to plug it in.Now that we've seen howwe got to modern drills,let's put them to work.So this here is apiece of 4x4 pine.And what we'regoing to do, Jack,I thought we'd havea little drill down.A drill down?What's--Yep.--a drill down?Have a little contest tosee how these drills compareto one another.I like contests.I think I'm going to beat youat this contest, Mr. Eric.The challenge is to seewho can put the mostscrews into this pieceof wood in 30 seconds.Ready for this, Jack?Choose your drill.I'm going to choose this one.I'm gonna choose this one.1, 2, 3.Looks like you're strugglinga little bit over there, Jack.Hey, listen-- in my owntime, at my own pace.2.This is much moredifficult than I thought.27, 28, 29, 30.That's it, time's up.Wow!2, 4, 6.There was no way I wasgoing to beat you, man.Well, let me tellyou something, Jack.It's not you.It's the type ofdrill, actually.You know what?I like that answer a lot, Eric.It may not havebeen my skill levelthat put me in second place.It's also about choosingthe right tool for the job.I grabbed the lightweight12-volt drill.That's for, like, smallerjobs-- hanging shelves,hanging pictures,that sort of thing.Great for probably90% of the thingsyou want to do around the house.Eric's drill is more powerful--a 24-volt drill, the kinda contractor would use.You could build a wholehouse with this thing.So what makes one drill morecapable of driving a screwhome than another?This is our dynamometer,the benchtop testingmachine that we use to testtorque and RPM on every drill.Torque is the product ofthe force applied to rotatean object from a distance.The more torque a drillhas, the more twistingforce it candeliver, which meansit can handle tougher jobs.Let's fire it up.What the dynamometer does ismeasure the twisting force thatstops the drill from turning.As soon as I put the batteryin, the dyno is going to start.And it's going to startreading the level of torqueon that machine.OK.All right.Are you ready?I'm ready.Are you ready?Here we go.All right.You can hear it screechingas it turns in one direction.Meanwhile, this powerfulmachine slows it downto a grinding halt,measuring the drill's torque.All right.What do these ratings say?The ratings that wetake with this machineare what allow us to give veryprecise comparisons from onedrill to the next.I can tell you exactlyhow much torque a drillis capable of delivering.That's what you want to know.Many people thinkthat drills aregood for making holes in wallsand tightening and looseningscrews.While that's true, moderndrills have all sorts of uses.For example, ifyou're a teenagerand want to borrowthe family car,score some points bygetting your handson one of thosebuffing attachments,and give the car afirst-rate waxing.It might get you behindthe wheel of that car.Oh, wow.That looks really good.I might actually let youborrow the car today.Yes!Here are some ideas tohelp you decide whatdrill might work best for you.Check the grip to see if itfits comfortably in your hands.Hold the drill over yourhead because, remember,some jobs might requireyou to hold the drillin an awkward positionfor some time.And consider using a drillwith a brushless motor.Generally speaking, you mayget more life out of it.And to really rubin my defeat, Erichas one last little job for me.Well, that was prettyconfident of youthat you were going to win.You never reallystood a chance, Jack.But Eric betterremember-- when itcomes to drill challenges,what comes around,goes around andaround and around.\n"