Makita 24 volt cordless SDS drill REDUCED to £309
Is your cordless SDS drill on its last legs? You can pick up a great deal over at Northern Tool & Equipment. Read more
Budget 24V drill Review: Draper Expert
We’ve got to say this is our first experience with a Draper SDS Drill – and it’s a good one. Sensibly priced, it’s at the budget end of the 24V cordless SDS drill market, and it offers powerful 3 mode drilling that reminds us of the 24V Makita.
Drilling power
Whilst it can’t quite keep up with the Bosch or DeWalt 24V models in the power department, the Draper Expert is still capable of drilling 20mm diameter holes in masonry which should be enough for most users’ requirements. Draper don’t publish the impact energy of the drill so it’s hard to put this side by side with competitor drills.
• Max drilling capacity (diameter): Mild steel: 10mm, wood 20mm, Masonry 20mm
• No load speed: 0-900r/min
• Blows per minute: 4750 max.
Drill weight
Including battery the drill weighs in at a chunky 4.1kg. It’s certainly not the lightest on the market but it doesn’t have the same price tag as the more compact cordless SDS drills.
Battery type and performance
As with the other 24V SDS drills we’ve reviewed, the Draper Expert model doesn’t run on Lithium-Ion batteries; instead you get the next best thing, 2 Nickel Metal Hydride Ni-MH batteries with high energy discharge at 2.3Ah. These offer longer life and better performance than the older NiCAD batteries and are better for the environment too. A charger is supplied and the batteries recharge in 1 hour.
Chuck type
13mm geared chuck and supplied with SDS+ chuck adaptor.
Number of drilling modes
3 modes – a definite bonus as this means you can use it for light chiselling work (plaster, tiles, loose masonry). Includes rotary function, hammer and rotary stop for chiselling.
Other features worth mentioning
• Variable speed
• Safety clutch
• Forward /reverse facility
• Adjustable side handle and depth rod
• Comfortable soft grip handle and trigger.
Includes:
Please check with each retailer but a typical package includes:
• Three SDS+ drill bits
• SDS+ chuck adaptor
• 13mm geared chuck
• Carrying case
• Two 24V 2.3Ah Ni-MH battery packs
• 230V AC universal one hour fast charger with BS 3 pin plug.
Like to see more cordless SDS drills like this? See our 24V SDS drill guide
LOWEST PRICES:
Hitachi Dh24Dva 24v Cordless SDS Plus Hammer Drill
We like the Hitachi Dh24Dva. It’s a welcome addition to the 24V cordless SDS drill category with serious drilling power, 3 modes, and safety clutch – all at a price that compares favourably to its rivals.
Drilling power
The first thing to note about this SDS Plus hammer drill is the hefty 2.8 joules of impact energy – the best in the 24V cordless category – beating bigger name brands comfortably. This gives you a max drilling capacity of 24mm in concrete – very respectable.
• 24V cordless
• Max drilling capacity: (diameter) Concrete – 24mm, Mild Steel – 13mm, Soft Wood – 30mm?Chuck
• Impact energy (Joules): 2.8j
• No-Load Speed – 0 to 1050 /min (normal), 0 to 520 /min (save mode)?Full Load Impact Rate – 0 to 4500 /min(normal), 0 to 2200 /min(save mode).
Weight and length
4.1kg. It’s not the lightest in its class but only marginally heavier than the Bosch and DeWalt 24V drills (3.8kg) and same as the Makita. Length is 322mm, fairly average for 24V SDS drills.
Battery type:
24V SDS drills tend to be either NiCad or NiMH. The Hitachi Dh24Dva has the traditional NiCad battery type. At 50 minutes charging time it’s 10 mins faster than several rival drills.
• NiCad – Push fit SDS Plus?Battery – 2 x 2.0Ah NiCad (EB2420)
• Charge time – 50 minutes
Safety clutch:
Yes, which is Important for a drill of this weight and power. The safety clutch will cause the chuck to slip if the torque increases to a specified level, stopping the drill itself from rotating.
Chuck type:
SDS Plus chuck – push fit bit reception
Number of drilling modes:
3. hammer drilling, drilling only or hammering only
Other features worth mentioning:
You can save battery time with the switchable hammering force mechanism (POWER mode or SAVE mode). There’s a trigger switch with forward/reverse rotation selector (with brake), complete with an idle hammering prevention mechanism. The carbon brushes are replaceable to prolong the drill life.
Includes:
• Charger (UC24YFB)
• 2 x 2.0Ah batteries
• Side Handle
• Depth Stop
• Carrying Case
Similar Hitachi SDS Drills:
Hitachi DH18DSL/JL18V SDS-Plus Hammer Drill (Lithium Ion)
Hitachi DH36DAl 36v Cordless SDS Plus Hammer Drill (Lithium Ion)
Similar 24V SDS drills from other brands:
MAKITA BHR200WAE 24V SDS+ HAMMER DRILL
BOSCH GBH24V SDS Plus Drill
DeWalt DC223KA 24V 3.8kg SDS Plus Drill
Like to see more 24V options? Compare best 24v SDS cordless drills
BOSCH GBH24VF 3.4kg SDS Plus Drill
The mid-price model in Bosch’s range of SDS-Plus cordless rotary hammers. The BOSCH GBH24 VF is a dual function Drill Read more
BOSCH GBH24V SDS Plus Drill Cordless
Recently Bosch have put their marketing efforts behind their 36V and 18V Lithium-Ion cordless SDS drills which means the 24V Bosch SDS has been out of the spotlight. The result is that you can pick up a bargain 24V cordless Bosch and get a very hard working drill with an excellent battery performance which recharges in 30 minutes – the quickest recharging time out of all the 24V SDS drills we’ve reviewed.
LOWEST PRICES:
Drilling power
The Bosch 24V cordless packs a punch but at 1.3 Joules of impact energy and 350W, it’s not as hard hitting as the DeWalt, Makita or Hitachi 24V cordless SDS drills. That said, it is still capable of drilling 120 holes in concrete (6x40mm) on one charge – so if that’s enough power for you, the low price tag may prove attractive.
- 24V cordless
- Max drilling capacity: (diameter) Concrete – 20mm, Steel – 10mm, Soft Wood – 20mm
- No load speed 0 – 1.000 rpm
- Full load impact rate 0 – 4,400 bpm
Anti-vibration
Bosch have developed anti-vibration technology to cut the user-fatigue and the stats are impressive (second only to the DeWalt 24V cordless SDS drill)
- Vibration emission value ah 12,0 m/s²
- Uncertainty K 1,5 m/s²
Weight and length
Weighing 3.8kg and measuring 329 mm, the Bosch GBH 24V SDS Plus Drill is as neat and versatile as any in the 24V class.
Battery type
The biggest selling point of this Bosch cordless SDS is the quick recharging time. It uses 2 x 2.6 Ah NiMH batteries with just 30 minutes recharging. For even the heaviest users this should deliver sufficient turn-around between battery charges allowing you to work consistently. The battery is also compatible with other 24 volt cordless tools from Bosch – one reason to choose Bosch if you have other tools from this brand.
Safety clutch
The Bosch GBH 24V SDS Plus Drill has a safety clutch which is an essential feature for any 24V SDS drill. The clutch forces the chuck to slip if the torque goes beyond a designated level, causing the drill to stop rotating.
Chuck type
SDS Plus for speedy drill bit changes
Number of drilling modes
2 modes. Hammer drilling and drilling only. Note: this drill does not offer rotation stop for chiselling
Other features worth mentioning
- Optimal hammer mechanism and patented Bosch high-performance motor for the hardest applications
- Electric motor brake
- Forward and reverse rotation with sliding switch and lock-off function
- Battery-compatible with other 24 Volt cordless tools from Bosch
Includes:
- Quick Charger
- 2 x 2.6 Ah NiMH batteries
- Auxiliary handle
- Depth stop 210 mm
- Carrying case
Similar Bosch SDS Drills
Bosch GBH 18 V-Li 18v Cordless SDS Plus Hammer Drill
Bosch GBH 24VF 24v Cordless SDS Plus Hammer Drill
Bosch GBH 36 V-LI Cordless SDS Plus Hammer Drill
Bosch GBH36V-LI Compact 36V Li-ion SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Drill
Similar 24V SDS drills from other brands:
Makita BHR200WAE 24V cordless SDS Plus drill
DeWalt DC223KA 24V cordless SDS Plus drill
Hitachi Dh24Dva cordless SDS plus Drill
LOWEST PRICES:
Like to see more 24 Volt options? Compare 24V cordless SDS drills
24V SDS Drills – choosing the best drill for your money
The 24V SDS drills set the standard for cordless hammer drills. In some cases they’ve been eclipsed by the newer Li-ion 18V and 36V models but still represent great value and deliver more than enough power for most trade users. Read more