Cordless Drills and Drivers Buying Guide

This article appeared in the Winter issue of This Old House Magazine.

With competitive price and timely delivery, MrPowertools sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

To say that a drill/driver is an indispensable home-improvement tool is no exaggeration. It accomplishes basic tasks like drilling holes in wood, metal, and masonry, and when fitted with the right bit, lets us drive screws and other fasteners into those holes, and back them out.

Today&#;s models have come a long way since the first portable drills for homeowners were introduced in the early s. Back then, they weighed more than 5 pounds, were tethered to a cord, and, if the bit grabbed, could break your wrist as the drill spun in reverse. That danger largely disappeared with the introduction of torque-limiting chucks, enabling drills to drive screws&#; and become known as drill/drivers.

Cords have largely disappeared, too. There are now dozens of cordless versions that utilize the latest in lithium-ion batteries and sophisticated electronics, providing more power, longer run times, and more features (hammer drilling!) than ever before. So whether you&#;re drilling a 1/16-inch hole in steel or a 6-inch hole in wood, driving screws into drywall or anchor bolts into concrete, there&#;s a drill/driver suited to the task.

What to Look for in a Cordless Drill/Driver

Shown: Brushless 1/2-in. Hammer Drill/Driver Kit RK| TORQUE: 800 in.-lbs. NO-LOAD RPM: 0-500/0-2,100 BLOWS PER MINUTE (BPM): 3,200 WEIGHT: 4.3 lbs. VOLTAGE/AMP-HOURS: 18/4 PRICE: $219 (battery, charger, and side handle included); ridgid.com | Courtesy Rigid

Common features

1. Speed control
2. Clutch
3. Keyless chuck
4. Rotation selector
5. Variable-speed trigger
6. LED
7. Battery-level indicator

Worthwhile upgrades

• Hammer feature&#;for drilling into masonry or concrete (A)
• Thermal-overload protection
• Electronic torque control
• Brushless motor

Buyers Guide to Drills/Drivers

Light Duty: QuickTurn Cordless Screwdriver KitHP44L

Courtesy Ryobi

Details: These small, compact drill/drivers, a.k.a. electric screwdrivers, typically have a ¼-inch chuck that accepts hex-shank driver bits, as well as drill bits with ¼-inch hex shafts. They&#;re nice for small screw-driving tasks like tightening outlet covers or assembling furniture, and they&#;ll fit neatly in a kitchen drawer. However, their small motors spin slowly and generate very little torque, so they&#;re likely to bog down when drilling into thick material.

Specifications

• Chuck Size: 1/4-in. hex
• No-Load RPM: 200/600
• Weight: 0.5 lb.
• Voltage/AMP-Hours: 4/1.5
• Price: $40 (screw-driving bits and charger included)

Courtesy Milwaukee

Details: These drill/drivers are powered by bigger components, motors, and batteries than light-duty tools. Outfitted with either 3/8-inch or ½-inch chucks, they can accept a wide range of drill-bit sizes and driver bits, and easily perform common tasks like drilling a hole in a 2×4 or driving a small lag bolt. Their motors spin fast and they deliver higher torque than light-duty options, but they lack the oomph of tools with larger battery packs.

Specifications

• Chuck Size: 3/8 inch
• No-Load RPM: 275 in.-lbs.
• Weight: 0-400/1,500
• Voltage/AMP-Hours: 2.1 lbs.
• Price: $129 (batteries and charger included)

Courtesy DeWalt

Details: These drill/drivers have the most robust batteries and motors, with the power to spin augers, Forstner bits, and large hole saws; to sink thick lag bolts and long screws; and to churn mortar with a paddle bit. The ones with a hammer-drill feature pound their spinning bits thousands of times per minute to quickly drill holes in concrete. While heavy-duty drill/drivers can do everything that lighter-duty ones can, their added weight and bulk make them clunkier and more tiring to use.

Specifications

• Chuck Size: 1/2 inch
• No-Load RPM: 0-450/1,300/2,000
• BPM: 38,250
• Weight: 4.2 lbs.
• Price: $319 (side handle, 1 battery, and charger included)

Basic Drilling and Driving Techniques

How to drill a hole in wood

Bob O&#;Connor | Bob O&#;Connor

1. With the clutch set to &#;drill,&#; set the speed to 1 for large bits in dense materials, 2 for smaller bits into softer materials.
2. Tighten the chuck evenly around the bit&#;s shaft.
3. Place the bit perpendicular to the workpiece and apply steady pressure as you gently squeeze the trigger and slowly increase the motor speed.
4. As the motor reaches full speed, continue applying downward pressure as the &#;swarf&#;&#;the debris from drilling&#;accumulates around the bit.
5. Pull the bit out periodically to clear swarf from its flutes and save the motor (and battery) from working too hard.
6. Reduce pressure on the drill as the bit gets close to going through. That will minimize tear-out at the bit&#;s exit point.

How to drive a screw

Bob O&#;Connor | Bob O&#;Connor

1. Set the clutch to the desired setting and the speed selector to 1.
2. Tighten the chuck evenly around the bit&#;s shaft.
3. Place the bit into the recess in the screwhead. Hold the bit in a line that runs perfectly straight from the tip of the screw to the back of the drill.
4. Maintain even, steady pressure against the screw as you pull the trigger and slowly increase the motor&#;s rpm.
5. Continue to apply downward pressure as the motor speed ramps up.
6. If the bit slips out of the screw, dial back the chuck&#;s torque. If the chuck slips, dial up the torque.
7. Release the trigger just before the screwhead bottoms out to avoid stripping its head.

Tricks for drilling perpendicular holes

Ian Worpole

To drill a vertical hole, make a jig by fastening together two 1×s with their ends offset as shown. Check that the jig&#;s inside corner is square with the work surface, then line up the bit in the corner and start drilling. Remove the jig before the chuck touches it.

To drill a horizontal hole, hang an eyebolt on the smooth part of the bit&#;s shaft. Try to keep the bolt in the same place as you&#;re drilling. If it moves in or out, adjust the angle of the drill accordingly.

Types of Drill Bits

The simple act of drilling a hole requires finding the bit that works best for job at hand. You want a bit made for the type of material you&#;re boring into, which efficiently creates a hole of the size and appearance you&#;re after. Read on to learn which ones to use when.

TOH Tip: To minimize tear-out, splitting, and stripped screwheads, always drill a pilot hole before driving a screw. And to find the correct bit size for that hole, match the drill bit to the diameter of the screw, minus the threads.

How Do Volts and AMPs Determine Tool Performance?

When you shop for cordless tools, two ratings deserve your attention: volts (V) and amp-hours (Ah). Volts roughly indicate how much power is packed into a tool&#;s battery. Amp-hours reflect how long a tool can deliver that power. Both of these are a function of how many cells are in a battery pack and how they&#;re wired together. Heavy-duty tools have both high V and Ah to generate the torque they require.

As TOH master electrician Heath Eastman explains, most tool batteries are assembled with cells that produce 3.6 volts each: 12V tools typically contain three such cells; 18V tools usually have five cells. Do the math, and it&#;s clear that advertised voltages don&#;t always correlate with battery output: 10.8V and 12V tools both have the same number of batteries and the same number of volts.

The same is true for 18V and 20V tools. That&#;s because tool manufacturers who market 12V or 20V battery platforms are measuring battery voltage when it comes off the charger, before it goes under load. All batteries will register at their higher voltage, until the trigger is pulled. Then the voltage drops to its calculated value: 10.8V or 18V.

The more cells a tool has, the longer its run time. Visually, it&#;s a quick read: Fat battery packs have more amp-hours than slim packs (though bigger packs weigh more).

For most people, a drill is the very first power tool they own. While things used to be as simple as choosing the brand you like, determining which is the best cordless drill for you can mean searching through hundreds of models.

If doing all that research sounds overwhelming, sit back and relax. We&#;ve done the work for you. In this article, you&#;ll find our recommendations for several common priorities from brands we&#;ve reviewed and trust. I&#;ll even share some tips for sorting through the Wild West of shopping on Amazon.

Want to know how Pro-grade high-performance drills compare? Check out our Best Professional Cordless Drills page to see the head-to-head results!

The Best Cordless Drills

New to shopping for cordless drills? Jump to these sections to help you get started:

Want to get a better understanding of cordless drills? Check out our Beginner&#;s Guide to Cordless Drills!

Best Professional Cordless Drill

Reasons to Buy

• Professional-grade build
• High-end performance
• Compact for its performance level
• Kickback control
• One-Key version available (model )
• Drill driver version available (model )
• Massive range of tools that work on the same batteries

Consider Another Model if You&#;

• Are on small budget
• Prefer a lightweight model
• Want a battery system that has homeowner-focused tools and products
• Want the highest possible speed and torque
• Want something for occasional use

Price: $199 bare, $299 kit with two 5.0Ah batteries

Milwaukee&#;s flagship hammer drill has the perfect balance of performance and size. While it didn&#;t have the highest speed and power in our tests, it&#;s clearly in the high-performance class. Its smaller size and lower weight make it a drill we frequently pick up over models that can do the job a little faster. With a massive range of trade-focused tools that all work on the same M18 battery system, it&#;s an easy choice for Pros.

Best Cordless Drill for Serious DIYers and Prosumers

Reasons to Buy

• Excellent torque for the Prosumer class
• Pro-level drilling speed
• Improved ergonomics over previous Ryobi drills
• Massive range of tools and lifestyle products that work on the same batteries
• Drill driver version available (PBLDD01)

Consider Another Model if You&#;

• Are on a smaller budget
• Prefer something compact and lightweight
• Need or want a Pro-level model
• Want the highest torque in the class
• Want something for occasional use

Price: $129 bare, $179 kit with a 4.0Ah High Performance battery

Coming through as our top pick for serious DIYers, the Ryobi PBLHM101 has performance that matches mid-range Pro models. Its size and weight have come down from previous models, and its handle ergonomics have improved. Of course, Ryobi&#;s 18V One+ battery system is also huge, comprising of more than 250 compatible tools and lifestyle products.

Best Cordless Drill for Home Use

Reasons to Buy

• Affordable price
• Brushless motor
• Better ergonomics and higher quality than other drills in the same price range

Consider Another Model if You&#;

• Need or want a Pro-level model
• Prioritize high performance
• Want a battery system with a large range of compatible tools

Price: $59 kit with a 2.0Ah battery

For use around the house, you&#;ll have to work hard to find a better drill than Skil&#;s PWRCore 12 DLA-10. It&#;s a lightweight and compact option with high enough performance to tackle projects around the house and garage.

If you&#;ve been tempted by those sub-$50 no-name Amazon cordless drills, buy this instead. At $59 for the kit, it&#;s highly affordable and has much better build quality plus a brushless motor that&#;s almost shocking to find at this price point.

Best High-Performance Cordless Drill

Flex 24V Brushless w/Turbo FXT

• Speed: 0 &#; 700/ RPM
• Torque: in-lbs
• Head Length: 7.1 inches
• Bare Weight: 3.8 inches

Buy at Acme ToolsBuy at Amazon

Reasons to Buy

• Highest performance of the drills we tested
• Pro quality
• Less expensive than other Pro brands
• Kickback control
• Lifetime warranty with registration

Consider Another Model if You&#;

• Are on a smaller budget
• Prefer something compact and lightweight
• Want something for occasional use
• Want a battery system with the largest range of compatible tools
• Want a battery system that has homeowner-focused tools and products

Price: $179 bare, $249 with a 2.0Ah and a 5.0Ah battery

If you want the fastest, strongest cordless drill, look to Flex. Their FXT has a Turbo mode that steps this drill ahead of DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee on paper and in our tests. It has a solid build that includes kickback control and it&#;s backed by a lifetime warranty.

One hesitation might be that the 24V line isn&#;t a deep as the Big 3 Pro brands. However, it has been continually expanding since its initial launch and has led the way in several innovations, such as pouch cell battery technology.

Best Compact and Lightweight Cordless Drill

Reasons to Buy

• Lightweight and compact
• Excellent performance for the compact class
• Pro-grade build
• Massive range of tools that work on the same batteries

Consider Another Model if You&#;

• Are on smaller budget
• Prefer higher performance
• Want the lightest possible drill
• Want a battery system that has homeowner-focused tools and products
• Just need something for occasional use

Price: $129 bare, $159 kit with a 2.0Ah battery

Those of you looking for a compact and lightweight drill have several options. I prefer the DeWalt Atomic DCD794. Even though it&#;s not as light as the 12V Max DCD701, it&#;s more compact, has a nice step up in performance, and is part of DeWalt&#;s expansive 20V Max battery system. For my money, those benefits are worth dealing with a little more weight.

Best Cordless Drill Value

Reasons to Buy

• Outstanding value
• Lightweight and compact
• Good performance level for a variety of tasks and projects
• Hammer drill version also available (HDB-10)

Consider Another Model if You&#;

• Prioritize high performance
• Need or want a Pro-level model
• Want a battery system with the largest range of compatible tools

Price: $99 kit with a 2.0Ah battery

It&#;s not difficult to find a drill kit under $100. But one that has real quality and a brushless motor? That&#;s a tall task. When you want a lot of bang for your buck, Skil is always a good brand to look to, and their compact PWRCore 20 brushless drill is the way to go.

Its performance is on par with Pro-grade compact drills, making it a good choice for most any projects or repairs around your home. With a lightweight, compact design and attractive price tag to with that performance, it&#;s a great all-around drill. The only real chink in the armor is that the PWRCore 20 battery system isn&#;t as deep as Ryobi. However, it&#;s constantly expanding and is adding new products at a good pace.

How We Choose the Best Cordless Drills

Cordless drills are fundamental to every power tool brand, and we&#;ve tested a TON of them since we started in . We know there are a lot of different priorities out there, and we do our best to cover what you&#;re looking for.

As I considered each category in this roundup, here&#;s what I was looking for:

For Pros: A combination of legit high performance, features, and broad range of compatible tools in as compact and lightweight of a size as I could get without compromising performance.

For Serious DIYers: The same priorities as my Pro pick but with a willingness to give up some performance and features to get a more affordable price point. Having a broad range of compatible tools is still high priority.

For Home Use: Affordability, ease of use, and homeowner-friendly features are the highest priorities. The number of compatible tools is a nice bonus as well as stepping up in performance level, but those are secondary considerations.

Highest Performance: Everything else takes a back seat to the fastest, strongest drilling in our tests.

Compact and Lightweight: Having low weight and a small footprint is the priority, followed by high performance without bulking up. Features and affordability are a lower consideration.

Best Value: A combination of everything&#;performance, features, size, weight, compatible tools, and price.

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More Cordless Drills We Recommend

Light, compact drill with interchangeable heads that&#;s great for professional installers and completing home projects.

• Speed: 0 &#; 400/ RPM
• Torque: 265 in-lbs
• Head Length: 5.2 inches
• Bare Weight: 1.4 lbs

Price: $129 kit with two 2.0Ah batteries and five interchangeable heads

Greenworks 24V DD24L

Solid performer for DIYers who want the versatility to accomplish projects compact drills don&#;t have the power for.

• Speed: 0 &#; 500/ RPM
• Torque: 800 in-lbs
• Bare Weight: 2.8 lbs

Price: $99.99 kit with a 4.0Ah battery

4-speed drill built for the rigors of industrial construction with high performance and a mixing mode.

Are you interested in learning more about Cordless Drill Supplier? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

• Speed: 0 &#; 330/560// RPM
• Torque: in-lbs
• Head Length: 9.5 inches
• Bare Weight: 4.8 lbs

Price: $299 bare

Entry-level Pro drill with mid-range performance and compact design with a price that can tempt DIYers into stepping up to a higher quality model.

• Speed: 0 &#; 550/ RPM
• Torque: 850 in-lbs
• Head Length: 6.7 inches
• Bare Weight: 2.9 lbs

Price: $139 kit with a 2.0Ah battery ($99 until 1/22/25)

High-end hammer drill for Pros who want high performance on a battery system pushing cordless possibilities to new heights.

• Speed: 0 &#; 650/ RPM
• Torque: in-lbs
• Head Length: 7.1 inches
• Bare Weight: 3.7 lbs

Price: $244 bare, $499 kit with two 2.5Ah batteries

Affordable brushless drill with a compact design from a retailer that offers frequent discounts.

• Speed: 0 &#; 500/ RPM
• Torque: 525 in-lbs
• Head Length: 5.8 inches
• Bare Weight: 2.2 lbs

Price: $111.22 kit with two 2.0Ah batteries

Drill and hammer drill option for Pros who want a light, compact model on the most extensive trade-focused 12V battery system.

• Speed: 0 &#; 450/ RPM
• Torque: 400 in-lbs
• Head Length: 5.9 inches
• Bare Weight: 2.2 lbs

Price: $149 bare, $179 kit with a 2.0Ah and a 4.0Ah battery ( drill driver is $10 less)

Ridgid 18V RK

Entry-level Pro drill with an affordable price tag and lifetime service agreement that can find a home with both Pros and DIYers.

• Speed: 0 &#; RPM (low speed unlisted)
• Torque: 525 in-lbs
• Head Length: 7.6 inches
• Bare Weight: 2.6 lbs

Price: $99 kit with a 2.0Ah battery

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Most Important Things to Consider When Buying a Cordless Drill

Performance: Speed and Torque

Performance should always be your top consideration when buying a cordless drill. If the tool can&#;t do the job, it&#;s useless no matter what other characteristics it has. There are two primary specifications to consider&#;speed and torque.

Speed is how fast the chuck turns without any load. The no-load speed gives you an indication of the highest RPMs a drill operates at. The faster a drill can spin a bit, the faster it can drill a hole or drive a screw.

Torque is how much muscle is available to keep the chuck turning. Measured in in-lbs, the higher the torque, the strong the drill is.

Speed and torque work together to get the job done. As the bit engages the material you&#;re drilling in, speed helps the cutting edges remove material and torque keeps the bit from slowing down as resistance increases.

Ergonomics: Size, Weight, and Feel

The ergonomics of a tool is the second highest priority when you&#;re selecting the best cordless drill for your needs.

Tradesmen such as electricians, HVAC techs, and remodelers often have to work in tight spaces and a smaller drill helps them get into those areas more easily.

Smaller usually means lighter, and a lightweight drill is easier to use, especially if you&#;re working overhead or on long days. Consider the weight even if you&#;re shopping for a heavy-duty professional drill. Of the models we&#;ve tested and use, there&#;s a big difference in weights and we always go for the lightest one that does the job effectively.

Every brand has a different feel. Most of it is in the handle where varying diameters, shapes, and overmold materials change the way the tool feels in your hand. There&#;s no on-size-fits-all approach, so try holding several different brands in your hand and see which ones feel the best to you.

Extra Features

Once you know which drills can do the job and which ones have ergonomics you like, it&#;s time to sort out what features are important to you. Here are the features we rely on the most:

• Multiple speeds: Get a drill with at least two speeds. Some of our Pro models have three or four which is even better.
• LED light: Standard on most drills, it shines a light on your work area. LEDs that surround the chuck have less shadow interference than ones mounted on the foot above the battery.

There are also a lot of bonus features you can get. Some of them are only helpful for DIYers while others make Pro jobs easier. Make sure it&#;s something you need before spending extra on them. Here are some of our favorites:

• Smart controls: App-based custom adjustments to the tool&#;s settings
• Inventory management and tracking: Helpful for Pros who need to keep track of what tools are in use, where they are, and which crew members they&#;re assigned to
• Electronic settings: Onboard settings to control the clutch, LED lights, or special modes
• Kickback control: A sensor stops the motor when it senses the bit binds up (normally found only on Pro-level drills

Price and Value

The last piece of the puzzle is price and value. While you want to stay within your budget, you still have options. Is it better to buy into the high end of a prosumer brand or the entry level of a Pro brand? There&#;s no simple answer&#;it&#;s up to what your highest priorities are. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Do you want the highest possible performance?
• Are there specific features you need or want?
• Do you care how long the tool will last?
• Will you go through the warranty process if something goes wrong or just buy another one?
• Does the battery system have all the other tools you need or want?
• Do you already have batteries for a system that you can buy the tool only for and save some money?
• Do you have a preference between buying in-store vs online?
• Is there a brand you already like?

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Best Cordless Drill Brands

There are a ton of brands who make cordless drills. We separate them into four classes. As you move up the ranks from DIY to Prosumer to Professional levels, you should expect higher quality and higher performance.

Professional

• Bosch
• DeWalt
• Festool
• Flex
• Hilti
• Ingersoll Rand
• Makita
• Metabo
• Metabo HPT
• Milwaukee

Entry-Level Professional

• Kobalt
• Ridgid

Prosumer/Serious DIY

• Craftsman
• Masterforce
• Ryobi
• Skil

DIY

• Black and Decker
• Greenworks
• HART
• Worx

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Buying Cordless Drills on Amazon

When it comes to buying tools, Amazon can be a convenient place to shop and there are often good deals you can find, especially on Prime Day or Black Friday events. However, it can also be the Wild West. Below are some tips to help ensure you know what you&#;re getting.

Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi

Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi have no authorized sellers on Amazon. The products you find may be returns or fakes, and there is no warranty support from TTI for them.

Cheap Knockoff Batteries

It&#;s tempting to buy third party replacement batteries on Amazon. They can be half the price or less, and I&#;ve personally talked to people who say they can&#;t tell the difference.

There are a few problems, though. For one, none of those brands are authorized to sell products made for name brands.

The bigger issue is safety. Reputable brands build in components that prevent charging or discharging scenarios that can damage your tool or even catch fire on the charger. Third party knockoffs don&#;t have those protections.

Then there&#;s the quality of the battery. It&#;s one thing to produce the voltage a tool needs to work. It&#;s another to do it in a way that optimizes performance, charging, and service life. Knockoff batteries are made with cheaper materials and there&#;s a reason name brand manufacturers don&#;t use them.

Cheap Brands You&#;ve Never Heard Of

Probably the most tempting cordless drills on Amazon are those that you can get for less than $50. They often come with a couple of batteries and even drill bit sets while making impressive claims.

Like knockoff batteries, these are made using cheap components. We&#;ve actually run some tests and one drill infamously failed to complete them after the chuck broke early in the first test.

You&#;re better off going with an entry-level model from a brand such as Ryobi, Skil, or Black & Decker that taking your chances with an off brand on Amazon. When in doubt, do a Google search and see if the brand you&#;re considering is sold by any national or regional retailers. If not, I&#;d avoid them.

The Good Stuff

While it might seem like I&#;m piling on Amazon, you can find quality brands and deals. DeWalt, Makita, Bosch, Metabo HPT, Skil, Black & Decker, Greenworks, and others have Amazon storefronts with authorized sellers who provide genuine products.

Those brands often participate with sales that coincide with Prime Day, Black Friday, and other events.

Don&#;t be afraid to shop around, though. Retailers such as Acme Tools and Home Depot often adjust to match Amazon&#;s pricing on current models. They sometimes have flash sales and promotions that Amazon doesn&#;t or have kits and bundles that can drive the value proposition even higher. Check out our deals page to stay on top of the latest promos.

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Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a &#;review&#; site and you can&#;t tell if they actually tested anything or if they&#;re just &#;recommending&#; the Amazon top sellers? That&#;s not us. We won&#;t recommend anything unless we&#;d use it ourselves, and we don&#;t care who the primary retailer is. It&#;s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We&#;ve been in business since covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 350 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

Pro Tool Reviews consults with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites. We consult with them extensively on testing methods, categories, and practical applications.

Our site will provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers. That includes objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

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If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Cordless Power Tools Manufacturer.