A Solid Drill for DIY Projects

A Solid Drill for DIY Projects

Hello everyone.

I'm in the business of buying power tools all the time. I've got a bunch of top-notch, expensive brands at home for my own use, but lately, the prices for branded power tools have skyrocketed. For example, a simple 18-volt drill from Makita now costs 11,000 rubles, whereas just a couple of years ago you could pick one up for 7,000 rubles.

So, I recently decided to build something on my backyard plot, hired two workers, and to avoid giving them my good tools, I bought them an impact driver drill P.I.T. PSR18-D3 as an advance payment.

These drills are made in China (where Makita is also made, by the way), and the price is half that of the 'branded' version, 5,000 rubles with shipping.

The drill comes in a black and red plastic case with a bunch of ads in five languages. Honestly, there's nothing particularly interesting on the packaging – it's all pretty obvious to an experienced user like me.

The case, by the way, is pretty good. It's compact, made of shock-resistant plastic, has a sturdy handle, and decent plastic latches. Metal latches would be better, of course, but in practice, the case rarely breaks.

One thing I love about this case is the organizer. It's got multiple compartments and a solid, transparent lid that closes tightly. But, in practice, it's not the most convenient thing to use. The lid doesn't seal perfectly, so tiny screws have a tendency to fall out of their compartment and into the wrong one. If you want to use it right, you'll need to do a bit of DIY - cut a square of foam to fit the organizer and stuff it in the gaps. It'll keep the screws from mixing compartments.

The seller threw in a nice bonus - a set of 10 short bits, a magnetic bit holder, and two drill bits. That's a nice touch.

The P.I.T. PSR18-D3 comes with the standard kit: the drill, two removable batteries, a charger, instructions, and, of course, the case with the organizer and the little extras.

The charger is super straightforward - no fancy features here. It's just a simple plug-in charger that works with the 220V grid, outputs 1 Amp at 20V. That's more than enough to top off one battery while you're using the other.

The charging cable is pretty flexible, coming in at about 1.5 meters long, and the low-voltage plug is standard Euro-style.

The battery compartment has a decent-sized plastic casing, and the battery itself is held in place by standard clips. The voltage from the battery is sent through some pretty robust contacts, while the charging happens through the plug socket.

The plug socket is located between the power contacts, and there's also a warning label on the bottom of the battery compartment.

And on one end of the battery compartment, there's a charging indicator with a capacity check button. It's normally dark, but when you plug in the charger or press the button, it lights up.

For example, here's what the fully charged indicator looks like.

I really like the build quality of this drill. The body is made of impact-resistant plastic with rubberized elements that make it easy to hold onto. The balance is pretty good, it doesn't feel too front-heavy or back-heavy, and the grip is comfortable. The tool itself is a nice weight, too - my hand doesn't get tired of holding it. There are some holes on the body for cooling the motor, a work light, and a wrist strap to prevent the tool from slipping out of my hand. The serial number and brand name are printed on the side, but they're not the most visible place - they do wear off over time.

The features on this drill are pretty standard - nothing too exciting, but a good solid set. There's a two-speed switch (for driving and drilling), a reverse button, an electronic trigger (which lets you control the speed by how hard you press it), and a torque regulator with 20 positions. The max torque is 30 Nm, which isn't the highest I've seen in a drill like this, but it's still plenty for most tasks. I tried to drive a big screw into a board, and it worked, but it was a bit tough. The drill can do up to 1350 RPM, and it's got built-in overload protection.

The chuck on this drill, the PSR18-D3, is a quick-release metal chuck (which helps the plastic body last longer when drilling). It comes with drill bits from 0.8 mm to 10 mm, and can drill up to 25 mm with a pilot drill bit. Just don't try to use it for anything too big - it'll wear out the gearbox.

I'm really happy with this drill overall. For the price, it's a solid tool. I know it's not meant for industrial use, but for a home project, it's perfect. I've used it, and I've got to say, it's a breeze to work with – it's lightweight, easy to maneuver, and gets the job done. I think it'll handle whatever tasks I throw at it on my backyard project. If it doesn't, you can bet I'll be back to update this review with some negative feedback. So, if you're looking for a drill for DIY projects, I'd definitely recommend the P.I.T. PSR18-D3.