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" Remember when we were happy with those old 9.6-volt cordless drills? Sure, you still needed your plug-in tool for the tough stuff, but, face it, cutting the cord was one of the best ideas to come down the pike in quite a while. Then, just as we were wondering where to buy fresh battery packs, 12-volts came along. Now here was power-enough torque to drive serious deck screws and even lags if we didn&amp;#039;t push it. Buy new 9.6-volt battery packs? Heck, might as well get a new 12-volt drill.  By then, we were hooked. And like the classic addict, we needed a bigger hit each time. Sure, some of us jumped at the 14.4-volt teasers, but down deep, we all knew what we were waiting for-the big ones-the 18-volt go-anywhere, do-anything drill/drivers. Then we&amp;#039;d be happy.  Well, here they are. But before you dip into next month&amp;#039;s grocery money to buy one, take some time to evaluate your needs against what these tools offer. There&amp;#039;s no question that they&amp;#039;re big and powerful. On the other hand, an ordinary 3/8-in. corded drill will blow the best of them out of the water. And then, you just might want to bide your time. DeWalt has already introduced a 24-volt drill and a big Bosch model isn&amp;#039;t far behind.  Basic Features All of the tools we tested are reversible, variable-speed drills with two speed ranges. Cordless drills need low- and high-speed ranges to make the best use of minimal power\u2013the low range provides more torque for auger bits and more control when driving screws, while the high-speed range is best for boring small holes. In terms of design, all of our test tools except one feature a well-balanced, midhandle configuration that reduces fatigue in awkward situations. Milwaukee offers its drill in both midhandle and pistol-grip versions\u2013we tested the pistol grip. Each tool comes with a keyless chuck. The standard design features two rings, and tightening it is a two-handed operation. In situations where the bit jams in the workpiece, these chucks can lock up, requiring a couple of wrenches to loosen the grip. Bosch and Black &amp;amp;amp; Decker have equipped their drills with one-hand chucks that, in our testing, were better because they didn&amp;#039;t lock up. Each drill also has a clutch\u2013a graduated ring behind the chuck that&amp;#039;s intended to disengage the motor at predefined torques and, thereby, automatically set threaded fasteners appropriately. Setting the clutch, though, is an exercise in trial and error. If you&amp;#039;re driving only a few screws in a variable material like wood, you may end up with a better job if you simply stop the drill when it&amp;#039;s gone far enough. And finally, while it&amp;#039;s not a necessity, all of our tools are designed to accept a strap\u2013a useful accessory when you have to let go of the drill but there&amp;#039;s no place to set it down. Only the folks at Craftsman and Ryobi actually include the strap, though.Battery Choices Typically, cordless drills are powered by nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery packs. Over the past year there has been a wave of interest in nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) units. Although toolmakers claim these new batteries can deliver more power, their introduction may have as much to do with regulations on battery disposal. The cadmium in NiCd cells is extremely toxic, while NiMH batteries can be tossed with the rest of the garbage. The amount of electricity in a battery pack is rated in terms of ampere-hours (Ahr). The most potent NiCd battery packs are rated at 2.0 Ahr, while NiMH packs of up to 3.0 Ahr are in the works. However, these powerful NiMH batteries may not have the recharge cycle life we&amp;#039;ve come to expect with NiCd. As of now, NiMH is yet to be embraced by all cordless manufacturers. In fact, some are quietly stepping back from their initial enthusiasm. In our group, only Bosch sells its drill with NiMH. Makita offers NiMH as an accessory, but sells the drill with NiCd.Black &amp;amp;amp; Decker FS18 If you want 18 volts but balk at the big price tags, the B&amp;amp;amp;D Firestorm may suit your needs. It has all the basic features of a good cordless drill, plus a convenient one-hand chuck. What you sacrifice is power and endurance. You&amp;#039;ll also sacrifice 1-hour charging\u2013a feature common to all of the other tools except the Skil. The B&amp;amp;amp;D charger takes about 3 hours, and the small red indicator light tells you only that the charger&amp;#039;s on\u2013not that the battery is charging or at full charge. The Firestorm was the only tool with a 3/8-in. chuck capacity\u2013all the others handle 1/2-in. bits. On the good side, the tool is well-balanced with a comfortable rubber grip. The 23-position clutch offers a uniform range of torques.Bosch 3850 The Bosch engineers have taken advantage of NiMH&amp;#039;s higher energy density to create a battery that&amp;#039;s slightly smaller than the others. The tool has a compact feel, good balance and a very comfortable grip. When you factor in its one-hand chuck, this tool is a winner from the ease-of-use standpoint. While the manufacturer&amp;#039;s specs place the Bosch in the lead in terms of torque, our sense of the tool&amp;#039;s power places it just below the Makita and Milwaukee tools. In terms of high-torque lag-driving endurance, the Bosch ranked in the middle\u2013about on par with the Ryobi and DeWalt tools. However, tests with auger and spade bits place the Bosch at the head of the pack. The 15-position clutch progresses uniformly through its torque range.Craftsman 27199 The entry from Sears is the largest tool in the group, measuring 12 in. in length and weighing in at 6.3 pounds. In addition to the two battery packs, charger and driving bits, it comes with a wrist strap, auxiliary handle that mounts behind the chuck and a built-in bubble level on the back of the housing. While the extra size and weight make the Craftsman drill a little harder to handle, we found the tool had very good power. It ranked near the top for lag bolt-driving endurance and near the middle of the group when boring 1-in. holes.DeWalt DW995K-2 The DeWalt drill qualifies as the winner in the no-surprises category. The tool had good power, it was well-balanced and all of the controls worked well. The DeWalt has a two-hand chuck and, like the B&amp;amp;amp;D, a 23-position clutch. We found the clutch torque range a bit more erratic than the B&amp;amp;amp;D&amp;#039;s\u2013settings 1 through 7 progressively sank a 21/2-in. screw deeper and deeper, while the next six settings left the screw nearly flush with the surface of the wood. DeWalt equips its tool with a modest 1.7-Ahr battery pack, and it rates the tool at 355 in.-lb. Both specs are on the short side when compared with other tools in DeWalt&amp;#039;s price niche. Our endurance tests place the NiCd-powered tool in the middle of the pack, but our impression is that the drill easily handles most driving and boring chores. While the 1.7-Ahr pack may not have the staying power, you may get more charges out of it than from a more potent unit.          Basic Features All of the tools we tested are reversible, variable-speed drills with two speed ranges. Cordless drills need low- and high-speed ranges to make the best use of minimal power-the low range provides more torque for auger bits and more control when driving screws, while the high-speed range is best for boring small holes.  In terms of design, all of our test tools except one feature a well-balanced, midhandle configuration that reduces fatigue in awkward situations. Milwaukee offers its drill in both midhandle and pistol-grip versions-we tested the pistol grip.  &amp;#039;Each tool comes with a keyless chuck. The standard design features two rings, and tightening it is a two-handed operation. In situations where the bit jams in the workpiece, these chucks can lock up, requiring a couple of wrenches to loosen the grip. Bosch and Black &amp;amp;amp; Decker have equipped their drills with one-hand chucks that, in our testing, were better because they didn&amp;#039;t lock up.  Each drill also has a clutch-a graduated ring behind the chuck that&amp;#039;s intended to disengage the motor at predefined torques and, thereby, automatically set threaded fasteners appropriately. Setting the clutch, though, is an exercise in trial and error. If you&amp;#039;re driving only a few screws in a variable material like wood, you may end up with a better job if you simply stop the drill when it&amp;#039;s gone far enough. And finally, while it&amp;#039;s not a necessity, all of our tools are designed to accept a strap-a useful accessory when you have to let go of the drill but there&amp;#039;s no place to set it down. Only the folks at Craftsman and Ryobi actually include the strap, though.  Battery Choices Typically, cordless drills are powered by nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery packs. Over the past year there has been a wave of interest in nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) units. Although toolmakers claim these new batteries can deliver more power, their introduction may have as much to do with regulations on battery disposal. The cadmium in NiCd cells is extremely toxic, while NiMH batteries can be tossed with the rest of the garbage.  The amount of electricity in a battery pack is rated in terms of ampere-hours (Ahr). The most potent NiCd battery packs are rated at 2.0 Ahr, while NiMH packs of up to 3.0 Ahr are in the works. However, these powerful NiMH batteries may not have the recharge cycle life we&amp;#039;ve come to expect with NiCd.  As of now, NiMH is yet to be embraced by all cordless manufacturers. In fact, some are quietly stepping back from their initial enthusiasm. In our group, only Bosch sells its drill with NiMH. Makita offers NiMH as an accessory, but sells the drill with NiCd.  Black &amp;amp;amp; Decker FS18 If you want 18 volts but balk at the big price tags, the B&amp;amp;amp;D Firestorm may suit your needs. It has all the basic features of a good cordless drill, plus a convenient one-hand chuck. What you sacrifice is power and endurance.  You&amp;#039;ll also sacrifice 1-hour charging-a feature common to all of the other tools except the Skil. The B&amp;amp;amp;D charger takes about 3 hours, and the small red indicator light tells you only that the charger&amp;#039;s on-not that the battery is charging or at full charge. The Firestorm was the only tool with a 3/8-in. chuck capacity-all the others handle 1/2-in. bits.  On the good side, the tool is well-balanced with a comfortable rubber grip. The 23-position clutch offers a uniform range of torques.  Bosch 3850 The Bosch engineers have taken advantage of NiMH&amp;#039;s higher energy density to create a battery that&amp;#039;s slightly smaller than the others. The tool has a compact feel, good balance and a very comfortable grip. When you factor in its one-hand chuck, this tool is a winner from the ease-of-use standpoint.  While the manufacturer&amp;#039;s specs place the Bosch in the lead in terms of torque, our sense of the tool&amp;#039;s power places it just below the Makita and Milwaukee tools. In terms of high-torque lag-driving endurance, the Bosch ranked in the middle-about on par with the Ryobi and DeWalt tools. However, tests with auger and spade bits place the Bosch at the head of the pack. The 15-position clutch progresses uniformly through its torque range.  Craftsman 27199 The entry from Sears is the largest tool in the group, measuring 12 in. in length and weighing in at 6.3 pounds. In addition to the two battery packs, charger and driving bits, it comes with a wrist strap, auxiliary handle that mounts behind the chuck and a built-in bubble level on the back of the housing.  While the extra size and weight make the Craftsman drill a little harder to handle, we found the tool had very good power. It ranked near the top for lag bolt-driving endurance and near the middle of the group when boring 1-in. holes. DeWalt DW995K-2 The DeWalt drill qualifies as the winner in the no-surprises category. The tool had good power, it was well-balanced and all of the controls worked well.  The DeWalt has a two-hand chuck and, like the B&amp;amp;amp;D, a 23-position clutch. We found the clutch torque range a bit more erratic than the B&amp;amp;amp;D&amp;#039;s-settings 1 through 7 progressively sank a 21/2-in. screw deeper and deeper, while the next six settings left the screw nearly flush with the surface of the wood.  DeWalt equips its tool with a modest 1.7-Ahr battery pack, and it rates the tool at 355 in.-lb. Both specs are on the short side when compared with other tools in DeWalt&amp;#039;s price niche. Our endurance tests place the NiCd-powered tool in the middle of the pack, but our impression is that the drill easily handles most driving and boring chores. While the 1.7-Ahr pack may not have the staying power, you may get more charges out of it than from a more potent unit.  &amp;amp;gt; 18-Volt Variable-Speed Reversible Drill/Driver Specifications MfrModelPrice1 (MSRP/ street)Ampere-hours (type, no. included)Max. rpm (low, high range)Chuck size (type2)Max. torque (in.-lb.)Clutch Positions3Wt. (lbs.)Accessories/ features4ChargerBlack&amp;amp;amp; DeckerFS18$149/ $1301.7 (NiCd,2)400, 13003/8&amp;quot; (one hand)266244.63-hourBosch3850$396/ $3052.0 (NiMH,2)500, 16501/2&amp;quot; (one hand)425164.8C1-hourCraftsman27199$2252.0 (NiCd,2)400, 14001/2&amp;quot; (two-hand)345246.3A, B, D E, F1-hourDeWaltDW995K-2$494/ $2691.7 (NiCd,2)450, 14501/2&amp;quot; (two hand)355245.6C1-hourMakita6343DWAE$458/ $2602.0 (NiCd,2) 5450, 14001/2&amp;quot; (two hand)404175.5C, E, G1-hourMilwaukee0521-206$440/ $2602.0 (NiCd,1)450, 15001/2&amp;quot; (two hand)400205.61-hourRyobiCTH1802K$175/ $1691.7 (NiCd,2)350, 13001/2&amp;quot; (two hand)300244.3C, D1-hourSkil2882:04$248/ $1301.3 (NiCd,2)400, 12001/2&amp;quot; (two hand)200164.5C, F3-hour71. Price as suggested by the manufacturer. 2. One-hand or two-hand locking\u2014all chucks are keyless. 3. Including drill mode (locked). 4. All drills come with a carrying case. 5. 2.2-Ahr NiMH battery pack available. 6. Midhandle model is 0522-20. 7. Kit 2882:01 includes 1-hour charger. A. slot driver bit. B. Phillips driver bit. C. Phillips/slot combination bit. D wrist strap. E. auxiliary handle. F. built-in bubble level. G. accessible brushes.Makita 6343DWAE When you&amp;#039;re paying over $250 for a cordless drill, you have a right to expect performance-and a few extras, as well. Here, the folks at Makita seem to be on your side. We found this unit running a close second to Bosch in terms of run time per charge. However, when it comes to power, the Makita simply feels like it has more than enough for whatever job is at hand.  Like Craftsman, Makita has thoughtfully provided a handle to help control the ample 404 in.-lb. of torque. However, Makita goes one step further by providing a depth-stop rod for the handle. Makita is also the only tool with brush access covers. While it comes with 2.0-Ahr NiCd batteries, you can get 2.2-Ahr NiMH, and there are plans to offer 3.0-Ahr 18-volt packs. Milwaukee 0521-20 Milwaukee offers 18-volt drill/drivers in both midhandle and pistol-grip configurations. In our opinion, if you&amp;#039;re boring big holes, the pistol grip works fine. Switch to driving a box of screws, and you might be happier with a midhandle.  On all counts, the Milwaukee entry is a heavy-duty performer. In terms of endurance we rank it with the Makita, right under the Bosch. While its rated maximum torque falls below the Bosch&amp;#039;s, our impression is that it&amp;#039;s a more powerful tool.  While every other battery pack slides up into the handle, Milwaukee&amp;#039;s slides across the bottom of the grip. And the pack design is offset-sliding it in from the front moves the drill&amp;#039;s balance point forward, while sliding it in from the rear shifts the balance toward the grip. About the only thing this package lacks is a second battery pack.  Today&amp;#039;s 1-hour chargers do more than just fill your battery pack with juice. They also make sure the pack is within an appropriate temperature range for charging, determine whether the batteries are defective and drop down into a trickle-charge mode after charging is complete. While most chargers keep you informed as to what&amp;#039;s going on, some designs are better than others in terms of getting the message across.  The Makita charger, for example, has a light that blinks or shines steadily, in red or green, to indicate charging mode and battery condition. Each situation has a corresponding light code, and a clear label on the charger indicates their meanings.  In contrast, the Bosch charger has a single red light that flashes during charging and stays lit when charging is complete, or if the battery is too hot or cold-a bit more confusing. There&amp;#039;s no indicator for a defective battery.  Like the Makita charger, the Milwaukee offers an expressive array of lights and graphics. The DeWalt has a single red light with its own Morse-code-style language to let you know what it&amp;#039;s doing.  Ryobi and Sears both have a readily understandable array of colored lights to indicate charge status.  In terms of user-friendly information, the most deficient chargers are the 3-hour units from Black &amp;amp;amp; Decker and Skil. Both have a single red light that simply indicates that the charger is plugged in and on. It&amp;#039;s up to you to set your alarm clock for 3 hours and hope the charging is done when the bell goes off.   Ryobi CTH1802K If you&amp;#039;re frustrated by the high prices of the so-called pro drills but demand more than what the consumer lines have to offer, this Ryobi unit may be the answer. Equipped with a 1.7-Ahr battery pack and a maximum torque of 300 in.-lb., the CTH1802K has acceptable qualifications, and our tests place it just below the DeWalt in terms of performance and battery endurance. When you factor in the tool&amp;#039;s light weight, comfortable grip and user-friendly charger, it&amp;#039;s hard to beat-especially with an estimated street price of about $100 less than the big guns&amp;#039;. Skil 2882:04 Like the B&amp;amp;amp;D Firestorm, Skil&amp;#039;s Warrior 18-volt drill is an entry-level tool, designed to supply 18-volt performance at a street price of about half what the pro tools sell for. However, when pushed to the limit boring big holes and driving heavy-lag screws, we found the tool&amp;#039;s performance right in line with the modest price. This tool has the lowest maximum torque (200 in.-lb.) and battery Ahr (1.3) ratings of the tools in our group.  On the plus side, this Skil cordless drill is light in weight and fairly comfortable to hold, and the controls are easy to operate. While the kit we tested comes with a 3-hour charger, the drill is also available with a 1-hour version.  Decisions, Decisions If you&amp;#039;re in the market for a cordless drill, first estimate whether a 12- or 14.4-volt model will do the work. If you&amp;#039;re only driving drywall screws and boring the occasional 1-in. hole, dropping your voltage requirements may put a higher-quality drill within your budget.  If you opt for 18 volts and money isn&amp;#039;t an issue, you might as well get the most punch that you can. Here, our choices are the Bosch, Makita and Milwaukee drills.  Right behind these are the Craftsman and DeWalt drills. The DeWalt comes with a reputation for quality and service, but the Craftsman&amp;#039;s a little cheaper and comes with more features.  The performance-per-dollar winner is, of course, the Ryobi. The Skil and B&amp;amp;amp;D entries both offer more performance than 12-volt versions, but don&amp;#039;t come near the other tools in the 18-volt group.        "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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