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We Tested Home Depot's Cheapest Power Drill & Here Are The Results
By RON BAKER
Too Good To Be True?
Ryobi's PCL206, with its ½-inch chuck and 515 inch-pounds of torque, compared favorably with other drills in the store, though its brushed motor underperformed.
It has a variable-speed trigger and a two-speed gearbox that tops out at 450 and 1750 RPM. Of the drills in stock, only two other more expensive brands had better top speeds.
How It Was Tested
At 2.6 pounds, the drill felt heavy, but the plastic housing seemed flimsy. So, it was put through its paces on a few projects to double-check some key specs.
The projects involved drilling wall studs, anchoring walls, making holes in 2x4s with spade and auger bits, and testing the 515-inch-pound figure with a ½-inch drive torque wrench.
What It Did Right
The drill performed everyday tasks admirably. Drilling the 2x4 studs was easy, and the tool was small enough to get between the 16-inches-on-center studs.
Compared with the steel and concrete, the wood drilling was effortless. Lastly, the drill met its claim of 515 inch-pound of torque, assuming the margin of error was 10% or less.