Mike Marlow wrote:
"John Martin" wrote in message
oups.com...
Mike, you've just about convinced me. Especially as I get older, I
realize that I shouldn't be taxing myself with hand tools when I can
use power ones.
Rugh-Roh, that wasn't my intent. I was enjoying the dialog and
understanding why people use what they use, compared to why I use what I
use. Something of an academic exercise to make usenet both useful to me and
enjoyable.
What sort of drill motor and bits should I be considering?
I just have a 3/8 DeWalt variable speed drill motor. I think mine is a 6A
motor. I retrofitted a 1/2" chuck to it a long time ago just to handle a
couple of bigger things that I put in it. It has plenty of power to handle
the things I use it for so putting the 1/2" chuck on never concerned me.
Like you, I don't want to be hauling out the wheel barrel just to move my
drill around, so big enough to do what I need, is big enough for me. I
chuck up pretty much what ever I need to do the job. I've got things like
ground down 3/8" socket wrench extensions that I can chuck into it for
running nuts and bolts as might be required. Beats grabbing an impact gun
sometimes and is much faster than an air ratchet. Of course I have #2 and
#3 Phillips tips. What I like about it over my cordless gun is that for
jobs that might be similar to what the OP posted that got this thread going,
it has the power to lay into it and very slowly try to work a screw. You
don't have to hit the trigger and develop too much speed right off the bat,
only to eat up a screw head.
But I will say this John - I was a long time getting into grabbing a hand
plane, tuning it up and putting it seriously to a piece of work. I don't
get into it like some of the guys here, but once I got my plane tuned up and
sharp, I was so impressed with every aspect of using it that I haven't
grabbed my power planer since. It works extremely well, is easier to grab
and "setup" than my power planer (don't have to move crap away from the
outlet to plug it in), and most important - it's so much more fun to use. I
still get a thrill out of watching a curl grow out of it, and love the sound
of it moving across a piece of wood. Simple minds, simple pleasures. All
that to say that so many of the old tools are indeed much cooler to use. I
wouldn't want to dissuade anyone from going that route - even if being
cooler was the only reason, and sometimes there's other reasons to stick
with them.
As for drill motors, I believe in small tools with lots of power. Big tools
are hard to maneuver, sometimes hard to use accurately. I like a 3/8" motor
with a rating like mine (6A) or thereabouts, and a good trigger. I like to
be able to creep the motor up from a dead stop to just barely trying to
turn. And of course - it just wouldn't be right unless it really whizzed
too. For me, the DeWalt has served that well. But... don't you go putting
that brace and bit up in the attic.
--
-Mike-
I took a look at those drills, Mike, and noticed that they don't have
side handles. How do you handle the torque that they produce? That
short pistol grip handle wouldn't seem to give you much leverage.
John Martin