General Purpose Tools

Switchdriver 2-in-1 Cordless Drill and Driver

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Instantly switch between two bits with rotating dual chuck

The Worx WX176L ($90) is a cordless drill and driver combination with one peculiarity: you can mount two drill bits at once, and switch between them in a quick, single gesture. I bough mine on a whim at Home Depot during a seasonal sale — I wanted a cordless drill with two battery packs and a longer operating life than what I already had on hand and it seemed a good deal given how pricey battery packs can be. I was delighted to find I can build wooden shelving at unprecedented speeds with my lead-hole drill bit in one slot, and the phillip’s driver in the other. I built a full shelf while listening to an hourlong conference call, and not having to replace end tools made all the difference. Some specs: 20v Cordless, two battery packs, 1/4 inch chuck size, designed for hex bits. I got mine at Home Depot, but you should shop around for a store running a sale at the time of your reading.

-- Federico Lucifredi 07/24/18

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