Ryobi 18 Volt Cordless Drill
Written: Sep 05 '05 (Updated Jan 25 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Powerful, easy to use, good battery life.
Cons: None I have experienced.
The Bottom Line: A great drill that is easily used for a wide range of tasks.
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| yakkowarner's Full Review: Ryobi Cth1802k 18v Center Handle Cordless Drill/Dr... |
How it works.
This is a powerful handheld drill that runs off of the Ryobi 18V battery system. It not only holds drill bits but it can hold also hold screw driver tips. There are other specialty items that you can buy and use in this unit. The chuck is keyless and every feature is easy to use.
What it came with
The drill
A battery
A charger
A case
2 dual-headed screw bits (each with a flathead and Phillips end)
Features
Variable speed- The trigger is not an on/off switch. It is what gamers call an analog button. You can control the speed of the drill by how far you press the trigger button. I counted ten speeds.
2-speed selector switch- Sets the overall power to a high or low level. I usually leave it on high but it is a good idea to decrease it for screwing and unscrewing electronics.
Keyless chuck- No chuck key needed. And the bits are also very secure despite not having a key.
24-clutch/torque settings- Keeps you from stripping screws and other stupid things.
18V battery pack- Cordless Power.
Magnetic head- When the screwdriver bit is inserted it becomes slightly magnetic. Just put the screw on the bit and it usually holds. It is not that strong so do not go shaking it all around.
Magnetic screw holder (Mag-tray)- On the base is a magnetized tray that holds screws. It gets a lot of use.
Built in levels- There are two levels. One on the top-back and one on the very back of the body. I do not think they are that great but when you do not have a level (or good eyes) it helps a lot. My wife uses them more than I do, which may account for why she does a better job.
Removable top mount- The top unit that hold both the top level and the two screw holders can come off. It can be used as a hand held level at that point.
Two slots for dual-headed screws- On the top next to the level are two clips that can hold a dual-headed screw each. Also a very nice feature.
Forward, lock, reverse button- This is conveniently placed so that your thumb or index finger can easily control it. It locks the trigger or sets the drill to go in either clockwise or counter clockwise.
Ergonomics
I remember when I first held a Makita, I was in love. It felt so good in the hand, almost like it was my hand. I was a kid then and as I learned more about tools I realized that the Makita was nice but not perfect. From what I remember this is as well weighted as the Makita and I have no regrets about buying this one over that brand.
The weight is extremely well balanced. Although it does not feel like an extension of my hand as in my childhood memory, it feels very comfortable.
The reverse switch is easy to use. It is perfectly placed so that your index finger can easily switch it without having to grab the drill with both hands just to find the switch.
When you sit it down you will notice that the drill head points up at a slight angle. Normally the head is perfectly horizontal on drills. But this is part of the ergonomic design and makes it easier to hold the drill straight.
How large a bit does it hold?
1/2”
RPM’s
RPM: 0-350/0-1,300 (no load speeds)
Listed on their site.
The power. Is it acceptable for household usage?
Yes and not. If all you do is screw and unscrew battery covers on toys then this is way too powerful. If you work with food and do household repairs then the answer is an overwhelming yes, it is acceptable for the common household.
Is it acceptable for construction or blue collar jobs?
In my opinion, yes. But it depends on what you are doing. If all you are doing is installing shutters (like the nice wooden ones we got from Costco) then no. Just a normal 9V/7.2V will do. This may be too powerful for such a fragile item and it’s better to play it safe if you do not have well developed fine motor skills. For normal construction jobs and house repair it is great. Just be careful to lower the clutch settings for screws and other fragile objects. If you are drilling through concrete or dense wood for a living then I recommend a more powerful corded drill (although they do have an 18V hammer version.) Yes it could probably do it but I do not recommend it because there are much better drills out there for that sort of thing.
Note, this is from some one that does not do construction and does minimal home repairs. I have some experience but no where near enough to call myself an authority on the matter.
The battery system.
This system is awesome. You use big battery packs that are interchangeable with different Ryobi tools. I have a Drill, reciprocating saw, flashlight, and this tool. They all use the same batteries and are all powerful tools. In the case of my drill it is almost too powerful for some simple household chores (you just have to be careful when you use it.) If you aren’t careful when drilling in screws then you will strip the head.
For most jobs one battery is fine. For some all day jobs we have had to swap out the battery once.
What have I used it for
Compared to some people, I really have not used it much. Probably for only 3 dozen household jobs or so. Most of them are for drilling holes in wood both inside and outside the house.
In addition to those real tasks, I also use it for opening and closing toys/electronics. And when Christmas rolls around this is always somewhere accessible.
What is my recommendation
If you do small jobs around the house then I recommend this tool. It may seem too powerful but if you come across dense wood then you will not be sorry.
If all you want is a powered screwdriver then get a 9V or a 7V drill. I do not recommend those batter powered screwdrivers. I have had 2 of them and they both sucked.
If all you do is open and close toys then just get a nice set of Craftsman screwdrivers. They have a lifetime guarantee, and they will let you return it for any reason, even blatant abuse.
Weight.
Total Weight: 5lb 1 oz
Problems
I hate saying this but there are really no problems with this drill. People may not like this because of weight or power levels, but once you get used to it you instantly fall in love.
Summary
My wife just said “you should tell that that it is a really nice drill. That it is weighted nicely.” This says it all. It is a great tool for almost any job. My wife uses it for both toys and jobs around the house. I have used it for those same jobs as well as drilling into dense wood and stucco. I have absolutely no regrets about spending the money for this tool. It has definitely gotten a lot of usage.
Other Ryobi products I own.
Ryboi 18V reciprocating saw.
Ryboi 18V hand vacuum.
Ryobi 18V flashlight
Recommended:
Yes
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