Types of Hand Drills
- Many different types of hand drills are available for different projects.Hand yelow drill isolated image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
Hand drills are a dime a dozen with so many for sale in hardware and building supply stores across the country. Some different types of hand drills are available, however, with some very distinct purposes and uses that are specifically made for field use application by carpenters, steel workers, mechanics and a whole list of other professionals. Knowing which hand drills are for what uses is very helpful when looking for the right tool for the right job. - Rotary drills are used to attach screws and bolts.Electric drill with a drill on a white background image by terex from Fotolia.com
Rotary drills provide the basic function of attaching screws and bolts to other materials. They come in 1/4-, 3/8- and 1/2-inch chuck size. The chuck size refers to the drill bit base that will fit in the drill head which is tightened and held into place by the chuck.
Most modern rotary drills are cordless and have variable speed controls to protect the motors and gears from burning out and ruining the drills.
They range in size and torque output based on the job the drill is designed to perform. Basic household drills for small do-it-yourself projects do not have the same amount of torque as an industrial drill that is used everyday.
These drills range in price from $25 to $200 in 2010, depending on the functionality, durability and battery type. The two battery types are standard DC voltage batteries and lithium ion batteries. Lithium ion batteries last three times longer than standard batteries and do not run down as the battery power is drained. Instead the power is distributed equally until the battery cannot distribute power anymore. - Hammer drill bits are used with a hammer drill.drill image by Andrey Rakhmatullin from Fotolia.com
A hammer drill is basically a rotary drill with a reciprocating head that is made to pound through concrete. This tool acts as a jack hammer and a drill all in one and is designed specifically for drilling through concrete.
These drills start around $50 and can reach over $500 in 2010 for industrial models. Some of the industrial models double as small jack hammers. - Impact drills come in a variety of sizes. The larger impact drills are made specifically for tightening and loosening bolts and nuts. The ones that you see on television at NASCAR races are operated on air compressors. Others use standard 120 volt electricity or a DC battery on cordless models.
Impact drills work by engaging extra gears only when pressure is applied, which takes the torque and distributes it into the drill head, allowing easier tightening and less chance of wrist injury from the drill catching once tightened. Until this torque point is reached, it spins like a regular rotary drill.
These drills come in smaller versions and have become common in professional hand drill size models because they are easier to use than standard hand drills.
The impact drills cost between $80 and $300 in 2010, depending on the torque adjustment features and whether the drill is powered by air or electricity.
