Replies

1. 
   woodhacker | Sep 21, 2010 09:29am | #1

   At one time I had an ad for a cordless drill designed for women. It was "cordless" in that it didn't require a cord to a 110 volt outlet, but did have a cord connecting the drill to a battery pack carried on the user's belt.  I'll keep looking for it, but it may have been lost when I moved to a new computer (I'd scanned the page containing the ad).

2. 
   Frozen | Sep 21, 2010 10:57am | #2

   I can recommend the new Bosch 12 volt Drill/Driver.

   The new 12V Max Lithium Ion 3/8 Drill/Driver is nice solid and compact tool. It's actually reviewed on the FWW site over in "Your Guide to the Coolest New Tools"  

3. 
   SawdustSteve | Sep 21, 2010 09:57pm | #3

   Small size drill

   Here in New York we have a chain of Lowes stores, similar to Home Depot, but friendlier.  They carry the Hitachi line of tools.  Hitachi makes a nice Lithium-Ion (battery) drill.  If I remember correctly, I used the 12 volt one.  It has lots of power and was small in size.  It is a lime green color that looks like it should glow in the dark.  I had to drill a whole series of 1/4inch holes in 1/2 inch thick cast iron.  It worked like a charm, never slowing down, and because I had to work in a very confined space, it fit better than my much larger DeWalt.  If you can find it, I give it a 'two thumbs up' vote.

   SawdustSteve   Long Island, NY  (E of NYC).

4. 
   ETG | Sep 23, 2010 12:47pm | #4

   Drill for small hands

   Actually you are presenting a contradiction - lightweight, small - fits small hands, easy to control - sorry but that description doesn't fit any cordless machine.  None are truly lightweight, they all are ultimately an ackward pistol grip design which puts the small hand away from the chuck with an off balance control.

   Teaching male and female high school students cabinet making, I settled on the corded Milwaukee close quarter drill.  Yes it's pricey but they are worth it.  Your hand is in-line directly behind the chuck.  And the motor comes off the back at an angle which gives you nice machine balance.  The young women in my class loved the machines - so much so that they told their fathers to get rid of the bulky, ackward battery machines they have at home!

   I own several battery machines including a recip saw, drills, etc. but I use them where they work best - securing the metal roof on my barn, trimming a fence post in the pasture when I don't have the chain saw, etc.  And the older you get the more stress you place on your hands, wrists, etc. when you continuously use the heavy battery machines.