Thread: Acceptable chuck runout on cordless drill?

Originally Posted by wixy

I just bought a new 18v Panasonic cordless drill as an upgrade from my old $50 drill, and noticed that the tip of the drill bit wobbles very slightly when it is in action no matter what bit I use.

This means holes (particularly larger holes) are slightly larger than the drill bit, but no more than 0.5mm I've found.

Just wondering what the generally accepted chuck runout is on cordless drills, particularly higher end drills?

Wixy

I wouldn't think perceivable runout to the naked eye is acceptable on an expensive drill such as your Panasonic. I am not sure of the cost, but I would be expecting around $600. I would be taking it straight back and asking for a replacement. I am saying this as someone who is an ardent Panasonic fan. I have the 14.4V drill and impact drivers.

However I would cross check first before I banged my fist on the table that it is not the drill bit that is at fault. I have had several of late which have a woof in them, particularly in the cheaper varieties.

Regards
Paul

It should be ZERO.

Check your drill bit by rolling it on a flat surface. Does it roll smoothly?

Had 2 metabos, now got 4 hitachis and 2 festools at work and there's no runout in any of them

if it was a drill press i would say fair enough... but what cordless drill user can drill a hole while not moving a millimetre in any direction?

Originally Posted by Looneytoones

if it was a drill press i would say fair enough... but what cordless drill user can drill a hole while not moving a millimetre in any direction?

I can and so can the other 4 people I work with. Besides, a properly sharpened bit (brad-point, not so much for a regular twist bit) should keep pretty true by itself.

I'd check that there isn't a bit of foreign material fouling the chuck. Then, iff your drill bits roll smoothly over a table, take the drill straight back to the supplier. You shouldn't have any perceptible runout.

Runout in pedastal drill presses is actually more of an engineering challenge than that in hand-held drills owing to the extension mechanism on the former.

Originally Posted by wixy

I just bought a new 18v Panasonic cordless drill as an upgrade from my old $50 drill, and noticed that the tip of the drill bit wobbles very slightly when it is in action no matter what bit I use.

This means holes (particularly larger holes) are slightly larger than the drill bit, but no more than 0.5mm I've found.

Just wondering what the generally accepted chuck runout is on cordless drills, particularly higher end drills?

Take it back. Companies often appreciate feedback from users, esp. when their products fetch premium prices.
Any perceivable runout on a new drill is unacceptable!