Opinions on a very small drill ?

[heronviewer]

I want a very short drill just for drilling pilot holes in awkward positions. I can't see any of the well known brands that make anything that would do but found this one

https://www.temu.com/uk/1set-8v-cor...jy&refer_page_sn=13554&_x_sessn_id=9hvwmtix2b

Is it likely to be any good and has anyone used Temu ? Would I be likely to be able to get a replacement battery for it ?

Comments please !

 

[dizjasta]

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Have you looked at right angled drills and right angled adaptors? see above.

 

[ajs]

There are plenty of right angle drills out there if this is a regular task. Amazon brought up links for models by Bosch, Makita, Milwaukee, Dewalt, Ryobi et al straight away e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-PS11-102-12-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Capacity/dp/B00BD5G3UC

 

[Dabop]

I've had a DeWalt one for about a decade now- similar to this, but it's that old it has the old 'plugin' XRP battery instead of the new XR slideon one...

Coupled with some specially ground down drillbits, it was worth its weight in gold doing autoelectrical work eg drilling holes under dashboards, through firewalls etc that a standard drill just didn't fit...

 

[ChaiLatte]

I've had a DeWalt one for about a decade now- similar to this...

Just an observation, but the ones with a keyless chuck seem taller than the ones with a keyed chuck (e.g. Makita DDA350Z or its corded equivalent).

As above, the right angled 1/4" hex drive ones can be quite low profile. Many drill bits are available in 1/4" hex these days (including stubby versions, but not from any known quality brand). You might have to cut some off the top of the hex if space is really tight.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Bosch, Milwaukee etc. should be serviceable, I'd think, I'd avoid the really cheap ones as they run way out of true. Depending on how much room there is some impact drivers have a drill only setting. That would be shorter than most drills.
https://www.toolstation.com/bosch-p...1wzq5TOOA6YB3TrYYIkaAqdfEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Dabop]

Just an observation, but the ones with a keyless chuck seem taller than the ones with a keyed chuck (e.g. Makita DDA350Z or its corded equivalent).

As above, the right angled 1/4" hex drive ones can be quite low profile. Many drill bits are available in 1/4" hex these days (including stubby versions, but not from any known quality brand). You might have to cut some off the top of the hex if space is really tight.

I've noticed some of the newer ones do use an 'impact driver' hex head instead of either the keyless or even keyed chucks, and yes, that would allow them in much tighter areas than my 12+ year old beast lol

 

[Spectric]

I want a very short drill just for drilling pilot holes in awkward positions. I can't see any of the well known brands that make anything that would do but found this one

What you need is one of these

https://www.sgs-engineering.com/mil...n-drill-driver-with-interchangeable-heads-kit

It can get into places that are tight and awkward and I wished I had one years ago, it is also fairly light to use unllike my bigger Makitas so easier to use.

 

[heronviewer]

View attachment 186273

That sounds a very good suggestion thank you

 

[heronviewer]

I think the other suggestions are too expensive for the use I would make of them. It’s just an occasional problem.

 

[Sideways]

@ChaiLatte answerwd it for me. I would buy this Milwaukee impact rated hex angle adapter and some of their hex drills in whatever sizes.
They are decent and cheap.

Milwaukee do a big range of hex drills and bit sets if you have wider uses for them.
They also have less common sizes like 3.2 or 4.2mm. Some of these are the correct sizes for tapping popular threaded holes like M5. As the size of a simple pilot drill doesn't matter, I sometimes buy the tapping drill sizes by choice just so I have them kicking around.

 

[RonnieI]

Just an observation, but the ones with a keyless chuck seem taller than the ones with a keyed chuck (e.g. Makita DDA350Z or its corded equivalent).

As above, the right angled 1/4" hex drive ones can be quite low profile. Many drill bits are available in 1/4" hex these days (including stubby versions, but not from any known quality brand). You might have to cut some off the top of the hex if space is really tight.

If you want quality hex drive bits can I point you to Versadrive bits. They cut cleanly, very fast and last well. But, they're bloody expensive, around £25-£75 per bit! I bought two for a specific job but a full set is around £600.