J. Clarke wrote:

If you're getting a cordless, get an 18v. You'll be glad you did. The
DeWalts have the advantage that their 18v drills can use any 18v dewalt
battery pack, NiCd, NiMH, or Lithium Ion. Nice thing about them is the
multispeed gearbox that lets you gear them down for big bits or run at
high RPM for small ones). I've had mine since 18v drills first came out
and it's been a workhorse.

Or, since you seem well fixed for drills, get an impact driver--they'll
handle spade bits just fine and if the bit hangs up they pound on it
until it unhangs or you give up--then reverse it and it _will_ whack the
bit loose. Downside is that they have 1/4" hex chucks, not regular drill
chucks, but the Irwin bit you have has a 1/4" hex chuck anyway so it
will fit right in. And impact drivers are _short_--I have a right angle
drill intended to get into stud-spaces and the like but I haven't needed
it since I got the impact driver. The Makita BTP140 is a really nice
one, but expensive. Any decent brand (deWalt, Bosch, Makita, Milwaukee,
etc) will do the job though.


Mr. Clarke, That's a very helpful perspective/overview/explanation.
Thanks!
:::: Looking under the cushions for $400, or so, of drill money :::