For evaluation purposes, we ranked the test units by the following criteria: overall total performance power, power-to-weight ratio, control of unit under duress, durability, ease of maintenance and ergonomics.
To keep the testing fair and square, we used only Black and Decker Bullet bits with a titanium coating that are designed specifically for metalworking applications. These bits are also good performers in wood, so we kept them in place during all test sequences. The Bullet bit is one of the finest bits on the market and has a unique pilot point to prevent misalignment and walking during drilling.
There are three different handle designs on the 1/2-inch drills we tested: pistol, spade and D-handle. Not all manufacturers make a spade handle unit, but all do make some type of unit that falls in the power category tested. It wouldn’t be fair to score the Bosch model 1159VSR pistol grip against the Black and Decker model 1405 3/4-inch spade handle, so we graded all of the units on their own merits and deficiencies.
| 1-10 Rating | Manufacturer | Model | RPM (No Load) | Chuck Capacity | Capacity in Metal | Capacity in Wood | Handle Type | Weight | AMPS | List Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | AEG | BE13RLD | 0-540 | 1/2″ | 1/2″ | 1-1/2″ | End D | 4.2 | 4.5 | $247 |
| 10 | Black & Decker | 1405 | 375 | 3/4″ | 3/4″ | 4″ | spade | 17.25 | 10 | $619 |
| 9 | Bosch | 1159VSR | 0-900 / 0-1950 | 1/2″ | 1/2″ | 1-1/4″ | pistol | 5.0 | 4.8 | $264 |
| 9 | Freud | T13/2RE | 0-1250 / 0-3000 | 1/2″ | 1/2″ | 1-1/4″ | pistol | 4.75 | 5 | $219 |
| 8 | Hitachi | D13 | 550 | 1/2″ | 1/2″ | 1-5/8″ | spade | 6.6 | 6.2 | $242 |
| 7.5 | Makita | 6013BR | 550 | 1/2″ | 1/2″ | 1-3/8″ | spade | 6.2 | 6 | $258 |
| 10 | Metabo | 1015 | 0-1000 / 0-2400 | 1/2″ | 5/8″ | 1-1/2″ | pistol | 5.25 | 8 | $379 |
| 10 | Porter-Cable | 7564 | 500 | 1/2″ | 1/2″ | 1-3/4″ | spade | 10.5 | 8 | $270 |
| 8 | Ryobi | DH-130 | 500 | 1/2″ | 1/2″ | 1-3/8″ | spade | 9.5 | 6 | $276 |
| 9 | Sears | 2711 | 450 | 1/2″ | 1/2″ | 1-1/8″ | spade | 11.9 | 6 | $185 |
| 7 | Skil | 6740 | 0-500 | 1/2″ | 1/2″ | 1″ | spade | 5.6 | 6 | $219 |
AEG — Model BE13RLD
This is an end D-handle drill that resembles standard reciprocating saw handle designs. While it may give stability to a lineal-motion saw, it is limited in value when a torque motion is put on the front end.
The AEG is a little low on raw power compared to the rest of the units tested, but it passed the minimum threshold. The housing is non-metallic, which could be a benefit in wet snow if there were an electrical hazard. In spite of double insulation found in all drills, a non-conductive housing still makes sense in moist environments.
The front handle pivots 360 degrees for user comfort and the manufacturer installed a depth-stop rod to prevent over-drilling. The unit is variable speed with trigger control, which could cause problems in tough applications where the tendency is to hold on for dear life. This could translate into squeezing the trigger and overcompensating on speed.
Unfortunately, the fragile carbon brushes that transmit electrical energy to the armature are not surface accessible. That not only makes it difficult to determine when they are worn down, but also necessitates dismantling the housing to change the brushes. Overall, however, this tool is well built and runs smoothly, but it isn’t the toughest drill for ski area applications.
Black & Decker — Model 1405
This is one of our favorites, but it’s also a beast. Simply put, don’t use this drill unless you are skilled at controlling torque tools. The unit’s 3/4-inch chuck combined with a 10 amp motor could spell disaster for a shop worker who is not familiar with high-turning torque power ratios.
No unit in our test could put a dent in the Black & Decker’s power or power-to-weight ratio. While it is the heaviest unit tested, it offers so much power that the net weight is balanced out. A drill this kind is good for heavy duty applications.
In spite of the size and power, this Black & Decker drill has good control because of its oversized handles. The unit is all metal construction and its tough gearing promises to make it very durable. The brushes are surface accessible, which also adds to the tool’s life span.
Bosch — Model 1159VSR
This is Bosch’s heaviest contender and, though it can’t compete with the Black & Decker, it does offer some nice features. In terms of power, this unit is about in the middle among the pistol grips. It’s an extremely smooth running drill with good to better power-to-weight.
The speed control is dual-range coupled with a limiter dial built into the trigger to avoid jerking. The front handle pivots 360 degrees so it can be used by right or left handed workers. The handle incorporates a depth rod like that found in the AEG.
The Bosch has a non-metallic housing, but the brushes are not surface accessible. This is a good mid-range drill and, though it isn’t the most powerful, it’s pretty tough and should last several years.
Freud — Model T13/2RE
Like the Bosch, this unit has a pistol grip. Also like the Bosch, the front handle pivots and offers a depth rod. The speed range is also similar thanks to a dual-type flip switch, but the trigger is missing the important speed limiter.
For raw power, the Freud runs fairly close to Bosch standards, only exceeding the Bosch unit’s specs by 2/10 of an amp. The power comparison is too close to call, but the Freud runs a bit faster, exceeding the competitor by over 1,000 rpm. The housing is non-metallic and the brushes are not surface-accessible.
Hitachi — Model D13
Hitachi has come through here with a good and sturdy, but middle-of-the-road, tool. This one has a spade handle and runs quietly, but is only average in power. The tool is, however, well balanced. It runs a bit faster than the beefy Black & Decker and it’s also easier to control thanks to a four-position auxiliary handle not commonly found on 1/2-inch spade handles.
The housing is an interesting combination of metallic and non-metallic parts. The metal is placed up front where sudden impact could mean an expensive repair and the plastic is in the rear where weight becomes a primary factor.
The brushes are user-accessible for easy changing and, though it’s not a killer in terms of raw gumption, the Hitachi can handle most applications without a problem.
Makita — Model 6013BR
It appears that certain manufacturers are competing with other manufacturers in the drill category. First, we had the Bosch-Freud competition that led to a close tie between the two German tools, and now we have Hitachi and Makita battling for control.
Their specs are very close, with the Makita only “losing” to Hitachi by 2/10 of an amp. The Makita weighs about 1/2 pound less than the Hitachi, but this is a minor deviation.
Makita loses points, however, with its single-position auxiliary handle. Makita tried to compensate by offering a D-handle that pivots to operator discretion at all times. The problem is that it never tightens down and our testers felt uncomfortable with this loss of rigidity. In terms of housing materials, metal and plastic are combined and the brushes are surface accessible.
We liked the drill’s chuck-key storage, which is molded into the side of the handle. In the end though, our testing opinions lean toward Hitachi.
Metabo — Model 1015
While this is actually a hammer drill, we ignored its hammering capacity for the purposes of this test. This Metabo is the only unit that the company offers with a fair chance of competing in this group, so we bent the rules slightly. One reason for this is that every electronic gadget and control ever conceived is on this machine.
Like Bosch and Freud, the Metabo has a pistol grip. The unit’s overall power is incredibly smooth, easily beating the other pistol grips. The power control is a bit strange, however, because it is microprocessor controlled. The unit utilizes a soft-start for better control, but if you suddenly ease off the trigger during drilling operations and then reengage it, the drill restarts slowly utilizing the soft-start. It takes a bit of getting used to, but in the end, the operator has better drilling control and isn’t surprised by a sudden burst of torque.
The power is dual-range with a trigger controlling the variable speed. A separate dial (one of the six different controls built into the tool) acts as a rpm limiter, which is easier to use than the standard trigger limiter due to its larger size. The power-to-weight is excellent, because it packs a real punch at only five pounds. The chuck is keyless, but has good bit retention.
The front handle is a full pivoting with an over sized trigger that is comfortable. The housing is a combination of metal and plastic composites. The brushes are not surface-accessible, but a warning indicator lets the user know when the brushes are worn. Three other indicator lights warn of impending overload and direction (clockwise and counter). It also has a drill-bit storage space built into the front auxiliary handle.
Porter-Cable — Model 7564
This unit has a traditional spade handle and offers excellent power coupled with refined balance and weight distribution. Both the auxiliary and rear D-handle are nicely sized and grip well even under slippery conditions.
In terms of durability, the Porter-Cable housing is 75 percent metal using plastic composites only where abuse is unlikely. The brushes are not surface-accessible, but in our test unit they seemed to wear better than those in the other units.
Ryobi — Model DH-130
This is a heavy-duty unit that ranks about average in power. The unit is also a bit heavy, especially considering that the housing is about 60 percent plastic composite. Ryobi puts the extra pounds inside the housing with some beefy gearing.
The auxiliary handle is huge and comfortable compared to most of the other models tested. The handle allows a user to place his grip farther from the center of the inertia, thus offering extra leverage and more control. The brushes are user-accessible.
Sears — Model 2711
This drill resembles the smaller Black & Decker unit that is one of the most popular tools found in today’s shop. It’s a basic no-frills workhorse with a full metal housing that should be durable. This makes it heavy, but you could probably run over the thing with a groomer and it would survive.
In terms of raw torque, the drill is middle of the road. It can’t quite keep up with the Porter-Cable, but it doesn’t lose ground against other 1/2-inch spade-handle machines.
It does offer user-accessible brushes, which are stocked by Sears.
Skil — Model 6740
This is a trigger-controlled unit with no limiter so it could suffer from operator reaction. The drill is a 1/2-inch spade that incorporates a plastic composite into about 60 percent of the housing surface area. Steel is used up front to deal with impacts.
Even though it’s a 6 amp tool, it seemed a bit under-powered, which may be due to the variable speed control consuming extra power. Power-to-weight is pretty good in spite of the loss, however, because the unit is one of the lighter drills tested. The front auxiliary location is standard and the rear D-handle is nicely sized and located. The only added feature to aid operator control is the front handle that can be moved to a side location. It does not have user-accessible brushes, and, because the unit is light on power, it may not be optimum for slope working conditions.
