I just bought the Panasonic EY6432GQKW Cordless Drill and have been so pleased with it’s performance that I decided it was worth writing a review about. 
I have always had a fascination for these kind of tools. It’s time now to check out the range of cordless drills in the market. I’ve used cordless drills in the past but have never really researched them. I just assumed that a drill was a drill and that I just needed to buy one that suited my budget. How wrong was I? There is more to cordless drills than meets the eye so I took some time to really get into the detail and find the best cordless drill on the market today for the home handyman. My extensive research finally led me to the Panasonic 15-6 Volt 1/2 Inch Cordless Drill (EY6432GQKW).
What to Look for When Buying a Drill?
It didn’t take me long to realize that there are a few important things to keep in mind when buying a drill. These simple yet vital things are:
- The number of volts
- The battery
- The weight of the drill
- The speed
- The brake
If you just buy the first drill you see based on price alone then you are destined for trouble particularly if you are going to be using the drill on a regular basis. So stick with me here as I will be explaining each of these in relation to the Panasonic EY6432GQW cordless drill.
How Many Volts?
One of the most important components of a cordless drill is the number of volts. The greater the volts the faster the motor spins and therefore the more powerful the drill. It does have a downside however, in that generally the more volts you have the heavier the battery and therefore the heavier the drill will be. So you need to keep this in mind when choosing a drill. Think about whether you will be using it for long periods. If so, you don’t want anything too heavy – you will really be feeling it by the end of the day. This Panasonic Cordless drill is 15.6 volts making it quite powerful but still lightweight at 4.8lbs so that it won’t put undue pressure on your wrist.
It’s all about the battery…
This drill uses a Ni-MH battery which is considered one of the best for cordless drill use. Compared to NiCad batteries which are commonly used in cordless drills, NiMH batteries last longer and are lighter. They also have a quick recharging time so you can get back to your job much quicker. According to the Panasonic website, the battery charges in as little as 55 minutes…and features a 5 minute emergency charge that charges the pack to 15% of its capacity”.
Size Does Matter!
The Panasonic EY6432 Cordless Drill has a ½ inch chuck. You will generally find that most cordless drills have a 3/8 inch chuck. What this means is that you can use drill bits that are up to ½ inch in diameter giving you greater flexibility. The keyless chuck means you can hand tighten the bits. You won’t need to be searching for tools to do the job. This makes it quick and easy to change the drill bits. Dual Speed Ranges Have you ever tried to drive a screw at high speed? What can often happen is that the screw jumps out of the slot. Not only is it annoying but it can be dangerous. The beauty of this Panasonic cordless drill is that it has dual speed ranges of 0-400/0- 1300rpm. What this means is that you have the option of adjusting the speed of the Drill . You can slow it down resulting in more control – so you have less chance of screws flying across the room.
Electronic Brake
One thing you won’t find on cheaper drills is a brake. The Panasonic has an electric brake which means that when you release the trigger to stop drilling, the drill stops spinning immediately. This is a great safety feature not only for you but for any kids or pets you have in the house who might inadvertently touch the drill when you have just finished using it.
How Much Should You Expect to Pay?
The Panasonic EY6432GQKW cordless drill is available on the Panasonic website for $257 but you really shouldn’t be paying any more than $220 for this drill. The cheapest we have seen it is on Amazon who consistently sell this drill for under $200. What’s Included
- Cordless drill
- 2 NiMH batteries
- 1 hour charger
- Hard plastic carrying case
Does it include a Warranty?
Yes, the Panasonic EY6432GQKW includes a 1 year warranty
What Others Are Saying?
This drill has received rave reviews from most consumers on the net with an average of 4.5 out of 5 from most reviewers on Amazon and the Panasonic website itself. Here are some of the comments to date:
- “Terrific combination of power, weight, size, & ergnomics…”
- “Awesome”
- “Best overall drill”
- “Great cordless drill/screwdriver for home projects”
- “You can’t go wrong with a Panasonic screw gun”
- “Panasonic cordlesses have become contagious in the building trades”
- “This drill gets 6 stars”
Any complaints?
I found very few complaints for this Drill on consumer sites around the internet. One consumer did express concern that it is difficult to center small bits in the chuck. This can be rectified by simply closing up the chuck a little more before inserting the drill bit.
Where Can You Buy the Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6 Volt NiMH Cordless Drill?
You can buy this Panasonic Cordless Drill from Amazon. At the moment they include free shipping and from what I can tell when comparing prices with other online merchants, Amazon do currently have the best deal especially with the free shipping option. Click here to view on Amazon. Where Can You Read More Reviews for the Panasonic 15.6 Volt NiMH Cordless Drill? The best place for reviews from people who actually use the product is Amazon. Click here to read more on the Panasonic EY6432GQKW Drill.