Power Drills

Cordless drills hit their stride when manufacturers introduced the lithium-ion battery several years ago. These batteries combine huge energy density with light weight. (It's no wonder they're slowly replacing nickel-cadmium batteries.) Tool companies launched their lithium-ion revolution with big 28- and 36-volt models--tools that had great power but were also unwieldy. Now, virtually all manufacturers have added much nimbler 18-volt models. That kind of shift is PM's signal to get to work, testing to see how well these drills meet a homeowner's real-world needs. We gathered seven drills and spent two days hammering them for all they were worth. Here's what we found.