Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita explains how the combination of a versatile, high performance drill-driver and specially engineered multi-purpose drill-bits can help improve productivity.
As most jobs include many different tasks and materials, it is essential to select power tools and accessories that are both versatile and durable. This helps professionals achieve maximum efficiency by eliminating the need to regularly change tools, bits and blades – a task which can cause delays and frustration.
As any professional will know, a combination or ‘Combi’ drill is a useful tool to have in your kit for a variety of tasks. However, it is important to select one with the right features and performance. For example, the Makita DHP486 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill is a highly versatile cordless tool that can be used in three modes: drilling (rotation only), hammer drilling (rotation with percussion) and screwdriving. When operated in drilling mode, it has a capacity of 13mm in steel, 16mm in masonry and 76mm in wood. Additionally, it delivers up to 31,500 blows per minute (BPM) in the hammer drill setting. In driver mode, the tool’s variable speed trigger and 21 torque settings means it is easy to finely adjust the output for the task at hand.
When selecting a new tool, it is also beneficial to look for one that features a brushless motor, such as the DHP486, to help ensure performance and productivity. The high-efficiency brushless motor eliminates friction within the mechanism allowing it to produce more torque per weight and requiring less power to achieve the same result. This extends run times by between 30% and 50% on each battery charge.
Another way to increase productivity is to select multi-purpose drill bits. Typically, drill bits are designed for use with a specific material and as a result, they need to be swapped out regularly. This can be a particular challenge when a job requires work with several different materials. For example, window fitting where the frames are uPVC and metal and fixed to brickwork, making standard drill bits susceptible to wear and tear. When time is at a premium, this can become an additional burden, leading some to use one bit for different tasks in an attempt to speed up the process. However, this can cause damage to both the drill bit and the material being worked on, causing additional costs and wasted time.
Therefore, it is important to select products that have been engineered for wear and impact resistance and are suitable for multi-layered materials. For example, the Makita OmniBohrer range has been specifically designed for use on a range of materials commonly found on site, including concrete, tile, brick, slate, limestone, wood, composite materials, plastics, aluminium and other metals, therefore eliminating the need to switch bits for each.
These high-performance, multi-purpose drill bits feature high-quality tungsten carbide tips (TCT) engineered with wider flutes to deliver quick and efficient material extraction. Tungsten carbide is an extremely hard compound widely known for its superior durability and high melting point, and the OmniBohrer TCT tip has been specially designed to drill into brick without the need to use percussion or hammer drilling mode. Additionally, OmniBohrer drill bits can be used in rotary mode to drill through wood, metal and brickwork, so they are ideal for use with drill-drivers without any hammer action, or with Combi Drills using only the rotary drilling setting.
Given the number of different tasks that any one job may include, it is clear that investing in high-quality combi drills and versatile multi-purpose drill bits can help to improve productivity and reduce the risk of damage to materials, saving both time and money.
To find out more about Makita’s range of high-quality power tools and accessories visit www.makitauk.com
