Cordless drills with brushless motors have been gaining a lot of ground in the consumer segment for cordless drills. The entire success is a result of the convenience and efficiency that this new-breakthrough technology offers, as consumers have realized the advantages that brushless motors have, over the conventional designs with brushed motors. Cordless drills with brushless motors are becoming the preferred choice for people that are not looking for anything heavy-duty and would want to prioritize convenience, efficiency, and functionality. The added advantage of low operational cost and long service life is also something that appeals to consumers across the entire segment. The best brushless drills of 2022 would certainly be a much-needed addition to your tools and would come in handy for various day-to-day tasks as well.
Modern drills are equipped with multiple features and offer several variations, which might make it slightly tricky to choose the one that suits your requirements and needs. This guide covers everything, from the benefits of a drill to choosing the best brushless drill in 2021, which will make the purchase process easier for you.
Brushless motors are the latest breakthrough in the segment of cordless drills. The brushless technology improves the performance of drills and makes them more reliable, as well as durable. Here are the benefits that the brushless technology has, over a regular cordless drill.
To begin with, drills with brushless motors are usually more portable. Compared to conventional technologies, brushless motors are less heavier and more compact in size, due to which the entire drill can be packed into a smaller body.
Enhanced portability significantly improves the convenience with which you can carry the tool and operate it, which is why brushless technology is gaining popularity at a very quick pace.
Brushed drills require carbon brushes to create movement and the downside of this method is that the brushes would need to be replaced. On average, carbon brushes can last for about 50 hours of use, after which they will need to be replaced.
On the other hand, brushless motors, as suggested by the term itself, do not use brushes, hence you will not have to replace them. This makes drills with brushless motors easier, as well as cheaper, to maintain.
As discussed above, brushed motors use carbon brushes to create friction, movement, and heat, which increases the pace of wear and tear. The excessive heat causes damage to both the motor and the battery. Moreover, brushed drills also require air vents to keep the heat from accumulating within the drill, making them vulnerable to dirt and debris, which can also cause damage to the motor and decrease its efficiency.
On the contrary, cordless drills with brushless technology do not generate excessive heat, nor do they require air vents, which keep the motor, batteries, and other parts protected. With reduced exposure to heat and dirt, brushless motors are more durable and would last much longer.
Given the lack of mechanical limitations caused by carbon brushes, drills with brushless motors are more energy-efficient, as they’re able to translate input into more power. The inherent efficiency advantage of brushless motors would also reduce the energy consumption, improving the battery life of your cordless drill.
Brushless motors are designed to create more power, speed, and torque. Brushless technology does not use brushes to create friction, which means that there’s nothing in the drill that is going to slow it down and make it difficult for the motor to generate torque and power.
A cordless drill with a brushless motor comprises multiple components and can include multiple variations for most of the components. Here is everything that you need to know about the components and features before you can buy a cordless drill with a brushless motor
The clutch in cordless drills is supposed to disengage the drive shaft upon reaching a preset level of resistance. By adjusting the torque, the clutch is there to make sure that you don’t overdrive or snap a bolt/screw.
Ideally, you should go for a drill that offers at least 24 clutch settings, in order to accurately adjust the power that the drill operates with. This will help you protect the screws, as well as the motor of your drill.
The speed of a cordless drill is measured in RPM or revolutions per second. The speed at which you should operate your drill depends on the material that you’re drilling on. Higher RPM would be suitable for harder materials and vice versa.
You should look for a drill that allows you to adjust the RPM to at least 2 different levels. Most drills allow you to switch between 300 RPM and 800 RPM, depending upon the task at hand.
Some drills come equipped with an LED light, to help you operate your tools with accuracy and precision. Working in the dark without adequate light can also be a cause of injuries or damages, which can be avoided by using drills that come with LED lights.
The component that holds the drilling bit onto the drill machine is known as the chuck and it is placed at the front of the drill. Firstly, the chuck that comes with your drill should properly fit onto the drill and should not be wobbly/loose at any cost. Secondly, chuks are usually size-specific and can only be attached to specific-sized bits. You need to consider the nature of the tasks that you’ll be doing with your cordless drill and choose the size of the chuck accordingly. Most cordless drills are equipped with a chuck size of either 10mm or 13mm
The power that cordless drills generate is measured in volts. A higher voltage rating means that the drill is capable of generating more power; however, a more powerful drill would also be heavier and would consume more battery. Consequently, going for the most powerful drill out there with the highest voltage rating is not always the best idea.
Cordless drills with brushless motors can usually be found within the range of 12V to 34V, with exceptions. The choice of voltage rating depends entirely on what you intend to use the drill for. If you cannot anticipate your needs for drill power, you can opt for an 18V or a 20V cordless drill, to be on the safe side.
As far as the batteries for cordless drills are concerned, Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) and Lithium-ion (li-ion) are the two most popular choices.
NiCad batteries are relatively cheap and durable, with the ability to withstand around 1000 charge cycles. The downside of these batteries is they’ve got a poor energy density, which means that they will need to be recharged more often. Moreover, there are concerns regarding the disposal of these batteries as they’re not considered safe for the environment.
On the other hand, Li-ion batteries have been gaining more popularity because they are more powerful, lighter, and safer for the environment. These batteries can also hold a charge for longer periods of time, making li-ion batteries the best choice for a lot of people out there.
The 18V cordless drill by the Makita Store is one of the leading options available in this category. It comes with a brushless motor, capable of delivering a maximum of 440 inches pounds of torque and an additional run-time of over 50%, on a single charge. The BL motor optimizes battery usage and ensures efficient utilization of energy by adjusting the torque and RPM in accordance with the requirement of the task.
This 20V GOXAVEE cordless drill is amongst our top 5 options in this category because it is an efficient, reliable, and a durable tool for multiple tasks including vehicle maintenance, DIY projects, and home maintenance/renovation. This drill is equipped with an electronic BL motor which is more powerful and offers up to 57% longer run-time on a single charge. It can produce a maximum torque of 440 inches lbs and can be operated at 2 different speeds (600 RPM and 2000 RPM).
The cordless drill by the PORTER-CABLE store is one of the best products that you can purchase right now. This drill packs a powerful brushless motor with 370 UWO, which is suitable for heavy-duty operations, and offers 2 levels of speed at which it can be operated (430 and 1700). The impact driver that comes with it can be used to drive large fasteners, with a torque of 1400 inch lbs and can operate at 2700 RPM.
The drill/driver kit by Dewalt is one of the best products that we can recommend, if you’re looking for a durable, reliable, and an efficient product. This drill comes with a brushless motor that can deliver up to 57% more run-time, compared to a conventional brushed motor. This drill packs XR Li-ion batteries that provide 33% more capacity. It is equipped with 2 seed settings for high-speed transmission and you can switch between the 500 and 2000 RPM modes.
TECCPO’s cordless/brushless drill/driver kit is a great option in the segment for cordless drills with brushless motors. This drill packs a BL motor capable of delivering 520 inches lbs of torque, with 57% more run-time compared to the brushed drills. It offers speed control up to 2 different levels (400 RPM and 1500 RPM), allowing you to adjust the speed in accordance with what you require.
A: The charging times usually depend on the type/model of the specific drill that you’re buying; however, it is a good idea to go for the one that comes with a fast-charger.
A: Contrary to the brushed drills, cordless drills with brushless motors do not require maintenance at frequent intervals; however, it would be a good idea to keep it clean and dust-free.
A: The battery timing of a cordless drill with brushless motor depends on multiple factors including the ampere hours of the battery, power, and type of the battery. In order to minimize uncertainty, you should definitely keep at least 2 batteries, so that your drill doesn't run out of batteries halfway through a task.