As a homeowner I consider myself a bit of a handyman.  Anytime that something around the house needs fixing, I simply grab my tool box and get it done myself.  One of the most important tools in my arsenal is my cordless drill.  A few weeks ago I was working on a new project – running some wire into our sun room – when my good old ‘trusty’ drill gave out on me.

I realized that it was time for me to find something of a higher quality.  I wanted to get the best drill for my money, so I did a few hours of research.  I have owned drills before, but I wanted to make sure that my next purchase had all the features that I really needed.  One product that I found, called the Milwaukee 2691-22 18-Volt Compact Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit, really stood out to me.  The kit includes two high quality drills – one for high power applications and a more compact drill for precision applications.

What did my research tell me?

In my determination to find the best cordless drill, I narrowed down a few characteristics that are extremely important.

• The voltage and torque
• The quality of construction
• The battery
• The size and weight

It’s important to understand how a drill performs in all of these categories before making a purchase.  So, how do the drills in the Milwaukee 2691-22 set measure up?  After reading a lot of technical information and a good amount of real customer reviews I was quite impressed.

Voltage and torque to get the job done

In the Milwaukee combo kit, you actually get two separate drills.  The first is the Milwaukee M18 Lithium-Ion Compact Drill Driver with 18 volts of power.  This high voltage gives you plenty of power to get the drill spinning fast and get the job done quickly and accurately.

In many other 18 volt drills the battery is big and bulky, making the drill too heavy to use comfortably.

However, in the Milwaukee model, the Lithium-Ion battery delivers plenty of power in a small and lightweight package.  This cordless drill gives you 400 in/lbs of torque and is great for drilling metal or running pipe.  Many users have found it to be the perfect drill for general fastening. The M18 also features 24 clutch settings (more than the normal 22) so you can get optimum power when you need it.

The smaller drill in this set is called the M18 1/4-Inch Hex Compact Impact Driver.  This precision drill also runs on 18 volts of power and features 1,400 in/lbs of torque.

You will also appreciate the variable speed trigger which allows you to run the drill at 0 to 2,200 RPM, giving you great control.  Customers have found that this smaller drill gives you the perfect precision for driving sheet metal screws, even into thick sheet metal.

What about the quality of construction?

Cordless drills are the often victim of a lot of abuse.  Even though this combo kit includes a convenient hard plastic carrying case, there is a good chance that the drills will be thrown around a bit.  After reading a lot of real customer comments I was very impressed by the quality of the drills included in this set.

These tools are made by the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, a Wisconsin based manufacturer with a great reputation.  You may be familiar with this company as the manufacturer of the Sawzall “wonder-tool”.

Customers have put these tools through a lot and they have stood the test.  I have even read about one customer dropping the drills off of a ladder, which had no affect on the tools. 

The all important battery

If you have had any experience with cordless battery powered drills, then you understand how important it is for your tool to use its battery effectively.  The problem with most cordless drills is that they simply lose power too quickly.  You may not be able to get through all of your job without needing to recharge.

Another common problem is that drills will lose power gradually as the battery dies down – that means that you only get full power for a short time right after you charge the battery.  Both drills in the Milwaukee combo drill and impact kit use new battery technology that solves both of these problems.

The drills in this kit run off of a Lithium-Ion battery which delivers power in a very compact size.  Milwaukee has developed special Lithium-Ion batteries that are 50% smaller and 30% more powerful than NiCd (nickel-cadmium) batteries that are often used in other drills.

These special batteries charge in only 30 minutes and give you enough juice to get a lot done.  They also feature a special ‘fuel-gauge’ allows you to see how much power is left in the battery.  Plus, the lithium-ions do not gradually lose power – they run at full power until they are out of juice.

Great size and weight for numerous applications

The more powerful drill included in this set is designed to sit balanced in your hand give you great control and comfort. It weighs in at 5.3 pounds, which is compact enough to allow you to fit into smaller spaces, but gives enough of the power that you need.

The smaller impact drill weighs only 3.5 pounds and measures just 5 3/4 inches.  It is an extremely compact tool that allows you to drill and fasten with speed and ease.

How much should you expect to pay for a combo set like this?

After a lot of research, I found that many retail stores offer the set for around $250.  This is quite a reasonable price considering that you get two great tools.  However, I have found that Amazon.com is offering this set for under $200.

Is there a warranty on the set?

Of course I would not purchase any tools without a high quality warranty.  Milwaukee has included a great five year warranty on both drills in this combo kit.  That is plenty of time to cover any defects in craftsmanship.

What are real customers saying about the set?

If you take a few minutes to research this set on consumer sites, it will not take you very long to read tons of positive comments from real customers who have purchased the Milwaukee 2691-22 Compact Drill and Impact Driver.  Here are some of the comments that I found:

“BUY THIS SET NOW! This set is awesome”

“Screws just go in so much more easily”

“As far as the quality… I’ll give them 5 stars there also”

“…they’ll be perfect for my household tasks”

“A+++ to Milwaukee for designing these 2 great tools.”

Click here to read more reviews

Are there any complaints?

While reading the comments from users of these tools, I didn’t find too many complaints.  However, I was able to find a few people who commented that the batteries do not last quite as long as they expected.  I think that it is important to note that these are both compact drills and therefore they use compact batteries.  The set comes with two Lithium-Ion batteries that charge in about 30 minutes.  This will allow you to keep one battery in the drill and another on the charging station – a common method that seems to work well.

Where can you purchase this Milwaukee drill set?

You may be able to find this set in your local hardware store, but in my research I found that Amazon.com consistently has the lowest price.  In addition to offering a price under $200, you can get this set delivered with Free Super Saver Shipping – that means no shipping costs whatsoever.

Some final words

A cordless drill is a very important tool and you should not buy one blindly.  Take some time to read even more reviews at Amazon.com and I’m sure that the Milwaukee 2691-22 18-Volt Compact Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit will impress you just as it has impressed me.

Click Here To Get 64% Off  The Milwaukee 2691-22 Compact Drill And Impact Driver

Popularity: 4% [?]