I Bought 7 Power Drills Because I Kept Losing Them. Here's What I Learned.

(A True Confession from the Woman Who Once Tried to Spackle a Window)

Let’s get one thing straight: I am a home improvement expert. I write books, I host workshops, and I can wire a three-way switch blindfolded (though I highly recommend keeping your eyes open).

But I am also a chaotic force of nature, a walking, talking testament to the fact that expertise does not equal organization. Specifically, I am the proud owner of seven (7) power drills.

No, I don't own a construction company. No, I don't run a tool rental service. I own seven drills because I am constantly losing the one I need, usually five minutes after I swore I just put it down "right here."

I’m talking about a level of disorganization so profound that the guys at the local Home Depot (shoutout to Gary in Electrical, my unofficial therapist) greet me with a weary sigh and immediately ask, "Lost another one, Sarah?"

This article isn't just about drills; it's about the expensive journey of learning that sometimes, the cheapest tool isn't the best, and sometimes, the most expensive tool is useless if you can't find the battery charger.

The $350 Lesson in Shelf Installation (2014)

My journey into unnecessary drill accumulation started back in 2014, shortly after my husband, bless his patient soul, suggested we hang some floating shelves in the dining room. It seemed simple enough. Famous last words.

I had one drill at the time: a trusty, if slightly heavy, DeWalt DCD771C2 20V MAX kit that I had bought on sale for about $149.99. It was a tank. It could drill through concrete, and frankly, it felt like it weighed as much as a small tank.

We started the project on a Saturday morning. I drilled the first pilot hole perfectly. I set the drill down on the drop cloth, turned to grab the anchor, and when I turned back, the drill had vanished.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: It didn't vanish, Sarah. You just moved it.

But I swear, it was like the drill had achieved sentience and decided to run away to join the circus. We spent 45 minutes looking for it. We checked the garage, the basement, the kitchen cabinets (don't ask). Nothing.

My husband was getting frustrated. The shelves needed hanging that day because we were hosting his parents for dinner and they judge clutter like it's an Olympic sport.

So, what did I do? I drove to Lowe’s and bought a brand new drill. Not the same model, because I was feeling rebellious, but a lighter, sexier Ryobi P208D ONE+ 18V kit for $99. It was neon green, so surely, I couldn't lose that one.

I got home, finished the shelves (which are still slightly crooked, but we pretend they’re "rustic"), and promptly put the new Ryobi back in its case.

The next morning, Sunday, I went to grab the drop cloth to shake it out. Underneath the drop cloth, nestled perfectly in the folds, was the original DeWalt. It hadn't run away. It had merely cloaked itself in beige canvas.

Total cost of this single shelf project: $149.99 (DeWalt) + $99.00 (Ryobi) + $100 (anchors, screws, therapy) = $348.99. I had two drills, and one very expensive lesson in the physics of camouflage.

This was the start of the collection. Every time I needed a drill for a quick five-minute job, and couldn't immediately locate one of the existing two, I would panic-buy a third, fourth, or fifth. My brain, apparently, thinks that the fastest way to save time is to spend $100.

The Seven Deadly Drills: A Comparative Analysis

Over the years, my collection grew. I now have a drill for every mood, every project, and every hiding spot in the house. Here is the lineup, ranked by their effectiveness and how much I curse when I realize the battery is dead.

Drill #1: The Workhorse (DeWalt DCD771C2 20V MAX)

• Year Purchased: 2014
• Price: $149.99 (on sale)
• Vibe: The reliable dad. Heavy, powerful, and slightly judgmental.
• Best For: Heavy-duty lag bolts, drilling into brick, mixing thin-set mortar (yes, I use it for that, don't tell the manufacturer).
• The Catch: It’s heavy. After 20 minutes of overhead work, my arms look like I’ve been wrestling a bear. Also, its yellow color blends seamlessly into my workbench clutter, making it the most frequently lost.

Drill #2: The Neon Mistake (Ryobi P208D ONE+ 18V)

• Year Purchased: 2014
• Price: $99.00
• Vibe: The enthusiastic but slightly underpowered younger brother. It’s neon green! How did I lose this one? (Spoiler: I lost the charger for three months).
• Best For: Light assembly, hanging picture frames, boring through soft pine.
• The Catch: It’s fine, but it struggles with serious torque. If you try to drive a 3-inch deck screw into hardwood, it whines like a teenager asked to do chores. It's great if you are already invested in the Ryobi ONE+ battery ecosystem, which I am, because I also own their leaf blower and a hot glue gun that looks like a ray gun.

Drill #3: The Impulse Buy (Black+Decker LD120VA 12V Lithium)

• Year Purchased: 2016 (During a desperate attempt to assemble an IKEA dresser in a closet)
• Price: $49.99
• Vibe: The toy. Small, light, and utterly useless for anything requiring actual power.
• Best For: Screwing in outlet covers, assembling IKEA furniture (if you have the patience of a saint), pretending you are doing DIY while drinking wine.
• The Catch: It’s 12V. It’s cute. It fits in my pocket. But if you hit a knot in the wood, it just stops and looks at you, defeated. I bought this because I thought the DeWalt was too big for the tight closet space. It was a waste of fifty dollars. I ended up using a manual screwdriver and weeping quietly.

Drill #4: The Fancy Foreigner (Makita XFD131 18V LXT Brushless)

• Year Purchased: 2018 (I was trying to seem professional for a magazine shoot)
• Price: $179.00 (Tool only, had to buy the battery separately for $75)
• Vibe: Sleek, powerful, and intimidatingly blue. The sports car of drills.
• Best For: Precision work, long-term use (the brushless motor is efficient), showing off.
• The Catch: It’s fantastic. Seriously, it’s my favorite. But the battery system is unique, and if I can’t find the specific Makita charger, it becomes a very expensive paperweight. I keep this one locked in a specific toolbox, which means I have to spend 15 minutes finding the key before I can use it. Efficiency!

Drill #5: The Emergency Backup (Craftsman V20 Cordless Drill/Driver Kit)

• Year Purchased: 2020 (Pandemic DIY panic set in)
• Price: $79.00
• Vibe: Middle-of-the-road, reliable, the vanilla ice cream of drills.
• Best For: Everything the Ryobi does, but with slightly better torque. A solid all-rounder.
• The Catch: Nothing inherently wrong with it, but the battery life is just okay. It’s the drill I leave in the shed, knowing it will probably work, but needing a charge immediately.

Drill #6: The Impact Driver (Milwaukee M18 FUEL Surge)

• Year Purchased: 2021 (Finally understood the difference between a drill and an impact driver)
• Price: $229.00 (Tool only, plus $120 for the battery/charger kit)
• Vibe: The angry, loud cousin. It doesn't drill holes; it drives screws with the ferocity of a thousand tiny hammers.
• Best For: Deck building, driving long screws, anything that requires serious, non-stop torque without stripping the screw head.
• The Catch: It’s not a drill! It’s an impact driver! I bought it because I needed to drive 4-inch screws into deck joists, and my regular drills were smoking. It’s loud, it vibrates, and it’s overkill for hanging a picture. But I count it in the collection because it serves the same basic function in my brain: Make hole/drive screw fast.

Drill #7: The Mini-Marvel (WORX WX101L 20V Cordless Drill/Driver)

• Year Purchased: 2022 (I needed a drill right now and this was the only one on the endcap display at the grocery store—yes, my grocery store sells drills now)
• Price: $65.00
• Vibe: The tiny, surprisingly competent underdog.
• Best For: Quick fixes, keeping in the kitchen junk drawer (where it currently resides).
• The Catch: It’s cheap, and it feels cheap. But honestly, for the price, it performs better than the Black+Decker. It’s the drill I use most often because it’s the one I can actually find.

Total investment in my chaotic drill collection (not including bits, cases, or therapy): Approximately $976.98.

That is nearly a thousand dollars I spent because I couldn't remember where I put the first one. I could have bought a very nice used riding lawnmower. Instead, I have seven drills and a deep, abiding shame.

The Great Battery Conspiracy and the Hardware Store Relationship

The real problem with owning seven different drills isn't the cost of the tools themselves; it's the nightmare of the battery ecosystem.

I am currently juggling four different battery platforms: DeWalt 20V MAX, Ryobi ONE+ 18V, Makita 18V LXT, and Craftsman V20. This means I have four different chargers, four different battery shapes, and four different levels of rage when I realize the specific drill I need has a dead battery, and the charger is currently plugged in behind the washing machine.

I swear, the battery manufacturers are in a secret cabal, meeting in a smoky back room to ensure that no single battery will ever be cross-compatible. It’s a conspiracy designed to make DIYers cry.

I once spent $45 on a "universal" charger on Amazon, hoping to simplify my life. It promptly shorted out and smelled like burnt plastic and regret. I had to drive back to Home Depot, where Gary (bless him) took one look at my singed charger and said, "Sarah, you know you can't charge a DeWalt battery with a toaster oven, right?"

The relationship with the hardware store employees is key to surviving my DIY life. They are the witnesses to my failures. They know my credit card limit. They know I will inevitably come in needing a single, specific screw that I stripped out because I used the wrong setting on the wrong drill.

I’ve learned that the best way to handle this relationship is to lean into the absurdity. When I walk in and ask where the drill bits are, I preemptively announce, "Don't worry, Gary, I haven't lost a drill today." This usually gets a tired chuckle, and then we can move on to the serious business of whether I need a titanium-coated bit or if I can get away with the cheap five-pack. (I always get the cheap five-pack, and I always regret it.)

What I Learned About Torque, Chucks, and Brushless Motors

Amidst the chaos and the mounting debt, I actually learned some very important things about power tools. My accidental collection forced me to compare and contrast features I previously ignored.

1. The 12V vs. 20V Debate (It Matters)

When I bought the tiny 12V Black+Decker, I thought I was being smart and saving weight. What I was actually doing was buying a very expensive electric screwdriver.

The Lesson: If you are drilling into anything thicker than drywall or particleboard, you need 18V or 20V (they are essentially the same power class, just labeled differently by brands). The voltage dictates the power, and the power dictates whether you finish your project or spend an hour yelling at a piece of lumber.

2. Brushless is Worth the Splurge

My Makita (#4) and Milwaukee (#6) both have brushless motors. My older DeWalt (#1) and Ryobi (#2) are brushed.

The Difference: Brushed motors use carbon brushes to conduct electricity, which creates friction, heat, and eventually wears out. Brushless motors use magnets and electronics.

The Real-World Impact: Brushless drills are more efficient, meaning the battery lasts significantly longer. They are also quieter and usually have more torque. If you are doing serious DIY, like building a deck or remodeling a bathroom, springing for the brushless version is the difference between charging the battery once a day and charging it three times. It’s a game-changer.

3. The Chuck Size is Critical

The chuck is the part that grips the drill bit. Most cheap drills come with a 3/8-inch chuck. Most professional-grade drills have a 1/2-inch chuck.

The Lesson: A 1/2-inch chuck is stronger and can hold larger bits, which is essential if you ever plan on using a hole saw (for doorknobs or large plumbing holes) or heavy-duty mixing paddles. My DeWalt (#1) has the 1/2-inch chuck, and it’s why it remains the workhorse. If you’re just hanging curtains, 3/8-inch is fine. If you’re trying to look like you know what you’re doing, get the 1/2-inch.

4. Know the Difference: Drill vs. Impact Driver

For years, I thought a drill was a drill. If I needed to drive a long screw, I just cranked the clutch setting up to 20 and hoped for the best, usually resulting in a stripped screw head and a smoking drill motor.

The Revelation: An impact driver (like my Milwaukee #6) doesn't just spin; it impacts the screw head rotationally when it meets resistance. This means it drives screws incredibly fast and efficiently without stripping the head.

The Rule: Use the drill/driver for drilling holes. Use the impact driver for driving screws. They are not interchangeable, and once you use an impact driver, you will never look back. (This is why I justify owning seven tools that look vaguely similar.)

The Secret to Organization (Which I Still Haven't Mastered)

After spending nearly $1,000 on tools that perform the same function, I have finally developed a strategy to mitigate the chaos. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than buying an eighth drill.

1. The Project-Specific Tool Box

I now have a small, dedicated toolbox for "The Current Project." If I am working on the bathroom, the Makita, the impact driver, and all the necessary bits and batteries go into that box. When the day is over, the box is closed and moved out of the work zone.

This prevents the "It’s just resting here for a minute" syndrome, which is how tools achieve invisibility.

2. The "Charging Station" Rule

All chargers (the four different ones, sigh) are now permanently mounted on a pegboard in the garage. They are labeled. The rule is simple: If you are done with the battery, it goes directly on the charger.

This prevents the panic of finding a dead battery when you are halfway through hanging a cabinet. It also prevents me from having to ask my husband, "Did you see the blue charger? I think the dog ate it."

3. The "One-Out, One-In" Policy (For Bits, Not Drills)

I used to have drill bits scattered across three continents. Now, I have one master bit set. If a bit is taken out for a project, it must be returned to the case immediately. If I lose a bit, I have to buy a whole new set, which is a surprisingly effective deterrent.

(I tried this policy for the actual drills, but it failed spectacularly. I found the Ryobi under a pile of clean laundry last week. I have no explanation.)

Final Recommendations: Don't Be Me. Buy Smart.

If you are reading this and are currently looking to buy your first (or second, or third) power drill, please learn from my expensive, chaotic mistakes.

1. Invest in a System, Not a Tool: Pick one major brand (DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, or Ryobi) and stick to their 18V/20V battery platform. This is the single most important decision. If you buy a drill, then a reciprocating saw, then a circular saw, all from the same brand, you only need one set of batteries and one charger. This saves money and sanity.

2. Go Brushless If You Can Afford It: If your budget allows, spend the extra $50-$75 for a brushless motor. The extended battery life and increased power are worth the investment, especially if you plan on tackling large projects.

3. Get the Combo: If you are starting out, buy a drill/impact driver combo kit. They usually come with two batteries, a charger, and both tools for a price that is often less than buying the tools separately. This immediately solves the "drill vs. driver" confusion.

4. Don't Skimp on the Bits: A $200 drill is useless if you use a cheap, dull bit that slips and strips the screw head. Invest in a quality set of driver bits (like those from Wera or Milwaukee) and keep them organized.

As for my seven drills? They are currently scattered across three different storage locations. The DeWalt is in the garage, the Makita is in the shed, and the tiny WORX is still in the kitchen drawer, ready for emergency spice rack assembly.

I may be disorganized, but I am never more than 50 feet away from a functional power drill. And honestly? That’s a kind of expertise all its own.

Sarah Williams is a home improvement expert, author, and professional tool-loser based in suburban Ohio. She specializes in making complicated DIY projects sound hilarious and slightly terrifying. Her current project involves finding the key to the toolbox containing her favorite drill.