Metabo drill

The best cordless drills from Metabo

Metabo is a traditional German company that manufactured the world’s first drill in series production. Even today, many tool components are still manufactured in Nürtingen. Metabo cordless drills are particularly popular. Here, the manufacturer offers you a large selection of 10.8V, 12V, 14.4V and 18V cordless drills. They are characterised by high-quality workmanship and versatile applications. There are solutions for home as well as for continuous use in business.

In the following, we will show you which cordless drill from Metabo is recommended. You will also find out what you should always consider when making your choice. We hope to be able to help you with this guide.

Metabo drill – 3 models in the presentation

Metabo BS 18

The 18V cordless drills from Metabo are very popular. In a set, you are well equipped for all eventualities with such a tool. One recommendation in this context is the Metabo BS 18 .

The drill comes with two 2-Ah batteries, a quick charger and numerous bits and drills. Thanks to the included carrying case, you always have everything at hand and don’t have to worry about losing individual parts. Including the battery, the tool weighs a moderate 1.3 kg and can therefore be easily carried by women and senior citizens. Furthermore, the 10 mm quick-action drill chuck and the LED lighting at the front promote comfort.

Although the cordless drill is really light, it can call up a torque of up to 48 Nm. It is also possible to drill holes up to 10 mm in size in steel. 21 different torque levels help you to tackle any task with adequate power. Because there is also a belt hook, you can also climb ladders, scaffolding, roofs, etc. safely.

Metabo PowerMaxx

Large cordless drills are not always in demand. For delicate work, the Metabo PowerMaxx is a good choice.

This model is also supplied in a set with two 2 Ah batteries. However, they only have a voltage of 10.8 V, which is why they are smaller and lighter. Completely ready for use, the cordless drill weighs a featherweight 800 g. Accordingly, it promises a high level of operating comfort even when working at height. Because the drill is also very compact, you can work in confined spaces – such as inside a wall cupboard – without complications.

The quick-action drill chuck accepts diameters between 1 and 10 mm. You can then drill holes up to 10 mm in size in steel and up to 18 mm in size in softwood. At full power, a torque of up to 34 Nm is possible, which makes this cordless drill more suitable for moderate tasks. It comes with a case, charger, belt hook and many drill bits and bits.

Metabo BS 18 LTX BL Quick

Metabo also has adequate solutions for large tasks. The manufacturer’s most powerful cordless drill is currently the Metabo BS 18 LTX BL Quick .

This 18V cordless drill can generate a torque of up to 120 Nm in its normal version. This is definitely enough to screw in and remove XXL screws without complications. In combination with a special torque attachment (Power X3), this value can even be tripled. You can find out everything the device can do in the video below. The brushless motor and the die-cast aluminium components make it a reliable companion for commercial use.

Although this cordless drill is very powerful, it weighs only 2 kg with a 4 Ah battery. Other manufacturers often exceed this value significantly with their powerful versions. An additional handle is included, which you can use to distribute the weight evenly over both arms. This prevents overloading of joints and tendons. When it comes to features, this model is certainly not lacking: working light, belt hook and pulse mode are just a few examples. Thanks to the latter, it is possible to drill smooth tiles without any problems.

Metabo drill – This is what generally matters

Selection options & drive

Metabo currently offers 51 different cordless drills. Thanks to this comprehensive selection, there is basically a suitable solution for every requirement. As already mentioned at the beginning, all common battery voltages are available. The 18V devices naturally provide the most power at the top.

When it comes to batteries, Metabo relies on lithium-ion technology. Since 2015, the so-called LiHD technology has been used for the 12V and 18V versions. This provides particularly high power because the contacts have been enlarged and the conductivity of the cell connectors has been improved. Complete encapsulation and a protective coating prevent soiling on the inside. In general, lithium-ion batteries are considered durable (no memory effect), lightweight (high energy density) and convenient (low self-discharge).

The battery capacity ranges between 2 and 10 Ah (ampere hours). The higher the numerical value, the longer continuous operation is possible. At the same time, however, the weight, dimensions and price of the battery also increase. In most cases, it does not make sense to operate a cordless drill with more than 5 Ah, because the larger batteries tend to be oversized.

The high-quality Metabo cordless drills also feature a brushless motor. Here, there are no friction losses, which is why a particularly high power capacity is available. In addition, such motors can be designed to be particularly compact. Because there are no carbon brushes, they never need to be replaced.

Power

Power is always of crucial importance. It must fit the requirements on site. If this is not the case, stress and frustration will inevitably arise. You are on the safe side if you look at several parameters in this context.

Generally speaking, the battery voltage itself is a rough indicator of the potential power. The higher it is, the more power can be exerted. The 18V drills from Metabo are therefore the first choice for demanding tasks. In the designations L, LT, and LTX, they are becoming increasingly powerful.

For screwdriving work, the torque is of particular relevance. It is expressed in Nm (newton metres). The higher the value, the longer and thicker the screws can be. A Metabo cordless drill can develop a torque of up to 120 Nm – so the manufacturer does not have to hide from any other premium brand. With the PowerX3 torque attachment, this value can even be tripled in extreme situations (can only be combined with LXT drills).

The maximum drilling diameters in wood and steel are shown transparently by Metabo. At the peak, you can make holes up to 65 mm in size in wood and up to 13 mm in size in steel.

Depending on the model, the power of a Metabo cordless drill can be varied in 2 to 3 gears. The maximum torque is developed in 1st gear. In 2nd and 3rd gear, the motor speed is always higher, while less power is exerted. The latter is ideal when it comes to carrying out delicate work – without chipping – in wood and plastic.

Drill chuck

The drill chuck has a considerable influence on the comfort and the possible applications of the cordless drill in practice. A Metabo cordless drill is supplied with a quick-action drill chuck as standard – this system has proven itself thousands of times over. The clamping range can vary.

A quick-action drill chuck can generally be opened and closed with one hand. The use of separate tools is not necessary, which makes it a very convenient solution. You can always replace the respective attachment in an uncomplicated way.

With a Metabo cordless drill, it is not only the drill chuck that can be changed quickly and intuitively, but also the entire clamping neck area. Depending on the model, the maximum clamping width varies between 10 and 43 mm. In some cases, a spindle with a hexagon socket is included – in this case, there is no need to use a drill chuck at all (simply insert the drill bit).

Handling

Handling should of course be as comfortable as possible. In this case, you can concentrate particularly well and do not have to fear any physical discomfort. In practice, this makes the work as quick as it is precise.

First and foremost, the weight has an influence on the ease of use. Some Metabo cordless drills weigh less than 1 kg including the battery. Such models can be effortlessly guided even when working above the shoulders. Unfortunately, it is an inevitable consequence for all manufacturers that the weight also increases with increasing power.

The handle surfaces of Metabo cordless drills are often segmented/patterned. This gives you a particularly firm grip and you don’t have to worry about slipping. Nevertheless, there is no feeling of pressure – soft rubber ensures this.

The powerful 18V cordless drills are also delivered with an additional handle that can be mounted on the side. This allows you to distribute the weight evenly over both arms and relieve the strain on your wrists.

Generally, all the operating elements are located where you would expect them to be. Anyone who has ever worked with a cordless drill will immediately feel at home with a Metabo cordless drill.

Functionality

Metabo cordless drills can be equipped with useful features and functions that improve comfort, variability and safety. We will briefly explain which functions are particularly useful in the following.

First of all, you can preset the speed in the classic way using the preselection ring. The higher the numerical value, the more torque is developed. You can also switch back and forth between the gears on the top of the housing (slide switch).

As known from other manufacturers, it is possible to switch from clockwise to anticlockwise rotation and vice versa via a bolt on the side. The cordless screwdriver is started simply by pressing your own finger on the accelerator switch.

A front LED light ensures that even dark recesses can be reliably illuminated. When working in confined spaces, it is particularly useful if this is located in the head area of the screwdriver.

Another eye-catching feature is a metal belt hook that can be attached to the left or right side of the tool. Thanks to this, you can move on ladders and scaffolding with both hands, which is of course the safest option.

It is also worth mentioning that a Metabo cordless screwdriver has a so-called pulse mode. The machine switches on and off in short intervals during operation. This prevents you from slipping off a smooth surface, such as a tile, when drilling. The pulse also helps you to loosen screws that are actually stuck.

Thanks to the Precision Stop electronic torque clutch, you can work particularly precisely with a Metabo cordless drill.

Furthermore, the new rechargeable batteries are all equipped with a practical capacity indicator. An electronic overload protection also prevents excessive wear by automatically switching off.

Price

Of course, cost also influences the decision. Because Metabo offers such a wide range of products, this manufacturer has both low and high priced models. However, you will not find cheap low-budget offers, because that would not do justice to the brand and the quality standards.

In general, the price should be in fair proportion to your own requirements. The more performance you need, the more you have to invest. The same applies to the desire for long durability in continuous use. Especially in the commercial sector, it makes sense to set a higher budget.

Metabo drill – Advantages & disadvantages at a glance

The cordless drills from Metabo offer various advantages. You have a wide choice of compact models for home use and powerful models for commercial use. In addition, there is the option of purchasing comprehensive sets as well as individual devices. However, not every requirement can be met here either. So that you can comfortably weigh up the pros and cons of the devices, we have created a table for you below:

Video: Metabo BS 18 LTX BL review