That tight work space will frustrate you every which way from Sunday. And while many of today’s cordless drills pack a big punch in an increasingly compact size (at least compared with those from 10 or 20 years ago), sometimes you need a right-angle drill to get the job done. Heck, many people who use one of these, even in lieu of a right-angle attachment, wish they would’ve made the purchase years ago.
So we looked around at some of the most popular and best-reviewed right-angle drills to narrow it down to three that would rule the roost (or farm or job site, etc.). Here they are — and don’t forget that you’ll have to buy batteries and chargers separately if you don’t have them already!
$109 — DEWALT 20V MAX Right Angle Cordless Drill
- Dual speed ranges (0-600/0-2000) RPM for increased user flexibility provides a wide range of applications
- Compact front-to-back length (4 inches) allows users to fit into hard-to-reach spaces
- Multi-grip trigger provides comfort and convenience, allowing the user to get into tighter spaces
- Light weight at only 3.9 pounds to minimize user fatigue
- Powered by an Energy Star-qualified charger for a better environment
Popular reviews:
>>> For years, I tried to make due with one of those right angle adaptors for my regular drill and hated every minute of using them. They are awkward and can be unsafe. Additionally, they do not accept regular drill bits – only hex bits. Since I purchased this drill a few months ago, I have used it on several screwing/drilling projects around my home where a standard drill will not fit. I am sure that it has its limitations, but it has performed well (good control and plenty of power) and has been a pleasure to use. I definitely recommend this tool for your home workshop. I wish I had one years ago.
>>> This has lots of power. I just used it to screw in replacement boards on my deck. I love that it comes with the battery and charger too. THe grip is easy, it is a little heavy for me but my husband will have no problem using it. It doesn’t take a chuck to replace tips either which is nice since he has a habit of loosing them. Two speeds in nice too. It comes in a nice case also that has room if you have an extra battery too.
$138 and up — Milwaukee 2615-20 Cordless M18 Right Angle Drill
- Head length great for working in tight spaces, 3/8-inch single sleeve ratcheting chuck
- Delivers up to 125 in. lbs. of torque
- Eleven settings and drill mode for complete control in fastening applications
- Extended multi-position handle provides convenience and versatility
- Built-in LED’s illuminates work surface and indicate clutch out
- Is shipped wrapped in plastic (no factory box)
Popular reviews:
>>> I don’t know why I didn’t buy this long ago. Hell of a tool, paired up with an HD M18 battery, I managed to buff (wax) my entire sedan, and the battery never registered a single notch below full on the indicator! Although that simply reviews the battery itself (sold separately), the tool itself feels solid, well built, the trigger is surprisingly controllable in terms of how much you can squeeze it to moderate torque, and it has the wheel dial to choose what kind of torque cutoff point you need for certain situations anyway. The light is a powerful LED, and even with a huge battery pack it’s not excessively heavy.
>>> This thing was great. I bought it to drill out a couple of Ford Fe big block exhaust manifold bolts that broke off on the head. It fit perfect in between the head and the inner fender of the truck saving me from either pulling the inner fenders or worse pulling the engine out.
$154.99 — Makita XAD02Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8″ Angle Drill
- Makita-built 4-pole motor delivers 121 in.lbs. of Max Torque
- Variable speed (0-1,800 RPM) for a wide range of drilling and driving applications
- 3/8″ keyless chuck for fast and easy bit installation and removal
- Compact 3-1/2″ angle head height for use in close quarters
- Compact and ergonomic design at only 12-3/8″ long
Popular reviews:
>>> This drill is amazing. Much more powerful than I ever would have imagined. I’m an electrician, and needed a drill for tight spaces. This thing drills a 1″ Bosch Daredevil bit with no problem at all.
>>> Great drill. Off and on it seems like I’ve needed one forever. Finally pulled the trigger. It uses my batteries from my other drill and it does everything as advertised. Couldn’t be happier.
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