Combi, Drill Driver or SDS? Pick a Drill That Won't Stall or Slip

Your drill stalls in a brick wall, the bit spins in the chuck, or you can’t choose between a combi, an SDS and a drill driver. Match the drill to the hardest material you work on: a combi for brick, an SDS for concrete, a magnetic drill for thick steel.

PartsForMachines stocks 65 products from Draper and Sealey in our power drills range, from 12V drill drivers and HSS bits to magnetic drilling machines.

My Drill Won’t Get Into Brick or Concrete: Do I Need a Combi or an SDS?

A combi copes with brick, block and small fixing holes in concrete, but for bigger holes, or dozens of them, an SDS rotary hammer is the right tool. A plain drill driver has no hammer mode, so check yours is a combi on hammer.

A combi hammers when you push it, as two clutch faces ride against each other; an SDS uses a piston, which strikes much harder. The 12V CP1201, for example, is rated to 10mm in concrete, while the SDSPLUS26 SDS Plus rotary hammer drill goes to 26mm in concrete, with 4.2J of impact energy.

Why Does the Bit Keep Slipping in My Drill Chuck?

Usually the keyless chuck is not tight enough, or the bit sits off-centre between the jaws. Open the chuck, centre the bit, then keep turning the sleeve until the ratchet clicks.

SDS drills avoid the problem, because grooved SDS bits slide in and lock into the chuck, so they cannot slip. If the chuck still slips when tight, check the bit’s shank, or move up to a drill with a 13mm metal keyless chuck such as the 79894 brushless combi drill kit.

Is a 12V Drill Enough, or Do I Need 18V or 20V?

A 12V drill is enough for lighter work and small holes; step up to 20V for bigger holes in steel or masonry. Compare torque and stated capacities, not the voltage. The 27761 12V combi gives 40Nm, 10mm in steel and 8mm in masonry. The 20V 55338 gives 60Nm, 13mm in steel and 10mm in brick.

Then stay with one battery series: D20 batteries, for example, are shared across the D20 tools. If you already own the batteries, a bare tool such as the 27781 12V brushless drill driver (bare) saves paying for another charger.

How Do I Drill Clean Holes in Steel Plate or Beams?

Up to 13mm, a drill rated for it, such as the 20V 55338 or the corded SD800, will do with HSS twist bits and cutting oil. For bigger holes in plate or beams, use a magnetic drill with annular cutters. In thick steel, twist drills need firm pressure and plenty of lubrication to stay cool.

An annular cutter removes only a ring of metal around the edge of the hole and leaves the centre as a slug, so it cuts much faster than a twist drill. The MAG230V magnetic drilling machine takes annular cutters up to 35mm across and 50mm deep, with a built-in coolant system.

What Should I Check Before I Buy a Drill?

• the hardest material you drill most often: brick (combi), concrete (SDS) or thick steel (magnetic drill)
• the stated drilling capacities in mm and the torque in Nm, not just the voltage
• the battery series: buy body-only if you already have that series’ batteries and charger
• the chuck: 10mm or 13mm keyless, SDS Plus or SDS Max
• the power on site: 230V, 110V or cordless

Browse the power drills range, or contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with the material, hole sizes and any batteries you already own.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to push hard to make a combi drill hammer?

Yes, firm pressure matters. A combi’s hammer works when you press the drill into the wall and its two clutch faces meet. An SDS drill’s piston strikes much harder than a combi’s clutch, which is why it suits concrete.

Why does my drill click instead of drilling?

Usually the torque collar is set too low. When the set torque is reached, the clutch disengages and clicks, which stops screws being over-driven. For drilling holes, turn the collar to the drill symbol, which bypasses the clutch.

Can I use round-shank bits in an SDS drill?

Yes, with a standard chuck adaptor. The 00592 cordless SDS drill, for example, comes with a 10mm standard chuck adaptor and is rated to 13mm in steel and 28mm in wood, as well as 22mm in masonry.

Which bits should I use for steel in a hand drill?

HSS twist bits made to DIN338, such as the 62909 4.0mm HSS twist drill bits, which also suit cast iron, non-ferrous metal and plastic. Use cutting oil to keep the bit cool, especially in thick steel.

How do I keep a hole straight without a pillar drill?

Use a drill guide. The 20229 drill guide has six bushes from 4mm to 12mm that hold the bit square to the work, and a V-groove base for pipe and round bar.

How big a hole can I drill in concrete?

An SDS Max drill such as the SDSMAX40 goes up to 40mm. Beyond that, use a diamond core drill: the DCD230V cores 18–130mm in concrete and 18–160mm in masonry, up to 380mm deep, and comes with a water cooling kit.

Is a magnetic drill safe on a vertical beam?

It can be, on clean, smooth steel: Sealey rates the MAG230V magnet at 14,000N and says it holds at any angle. Every magnetic drill in our range comes with a safety fixing strap, so fit it every time.

Do you have 110V drills for site work?

Yes, for the heavier machines. Where a site runs on 110V, choose the MAG110V magnetic drill or the DCD110V diamond core drill. Both match the capacity of their standard-voltage versions.

Can I buy a combi drill and impact driver together?

Yes. The 27983 kit pairs the 27761 combi drill with an impact driver, two batteries and a charger, so one battery can charge while the other is in use. Both tools are part of the DXPULSE 12V series.