Frequently asked questions about drills and screwdrivers

A drill/driver is a versatile tool that drills and drives screws in most common materials (wood, metal, plastic, light masonry with hammer mode). An impact driver produces rotational impacts that multiply torque without twisting your wrist — it is specialized for driving long screws, lag bolts, and fasteners without effort.

In practice: the drill/driver is the starting tool for every trade, while the impact driver is what you add when you drive a lot of screws in series or into resistant materials. Browse our full selection of drills and screwdrivers.

An impact driver is preferable whenever you are driving long screws (over 7 cm / 2¾ in), lag screws, deck screws, structural wood screws, or fasteners into hard materials. Its rotational impact mechanism delivers up to 4 times more torque than a standard drill/driver, with no torque kickback to your wrist. It is also more compact and lighter, making it ideal for driving overhead or in tight spaces.

Avoid it for precision drilling, where the drill/driver remains superior.

A hammer drill produces mechanical vibrations along the bit axis using two ridged plates — effective for light masonry (brick, block, mortar) but insufficient for poured or reinforced concrete. An SDS rotary hammer uses an electropneumatic piston that strikes the bit with significantly greater force (1 to 10 joules depending on the model), making it far more effective on hard concrete.

For any regular drilling in concrete, the SDS rotary hammer is the right tool — it is easier on bits and requires much less physical effort.

SDS-Plus is the standard chuck on light to mid-range professional rotary hammers: bits up to approximately 26 mm in diameter, impact energy from 1 to 5 joules. It covers the vast majority of needs in residential and light commercial construction.

SDS-Max is reserved for heavy-duty applications: bits over 26 mm, impact energy up to 20 joules, demolition of reinforced concrete, and massive foundations. SDS-Plus and SDS-Max bits are not interchangeable — always verify your chuck type before purchasing bits.

Partially. An impact driver can drill using hex-shank bits, but with less precision and faster bit wear. For intensive fastening work where versatility is not required (framing, wood structure, decking), some professionals use only an impact driver.

For trades that regularly alternate between drilling and driving (electricians, plumbers, renovation contractors), the combination of both tools is significantly more efficient and productive.

A standard drill/driver drills and drives screws in wood, metal, and plastics. A hammer drill/driver adds a vibration function along the bit axis that allows drilling in brick, block, and light masonry. It remains insufficient for poured or reinforced concrete — for that, an SDS rotary hammer is required.

For the majority of Quebec construction professionals, a cordless hammer drill/driver covers 80% of everyday drilling needs.

An electrician has two main needs: drilling large-diameter holes in partitions to run cables (hole saw), and securing boxes and conduits in various substrates. A compact 12V or 20V brushless drill/driver is ideal for cable runs in tight spaces such as electrical panels and drop ceilings.

For drilling in concrete and masonry (anchors, cable tray fixings), a 20V SDS-Plus rotary hammer completes the kit. Équipement Industriel Polar carries DeWalt and Klein Tools — two standards on Quebec electrical job sites.

For residential framing, a 20V brushless hammer drill/driver with a 13 mm chuck is the baseline tool. For drilling into concrete foundations and securing anchor plates, an SDS-Plus rotary hammer is essential. A 1/2 in impact wrench is indispensable for structural metal connectors (joist hangers, Simpson anchors).

All three tools run on the same 20V MAX battery platform with DeWalt or M18 with Milwaukee — a concrete advantage on Quebec job sites where cold weather demands backup batteries.

A mechanic rarely needs to drill — the job is mostly driving, removing, and breaking loose fasteners. A cordless 1/4 in impact driver handles light fastening, while a 1/2 in impact wrench (or 3/4 in for heavy-duty applications) is indispensable for wheel nuts, suspension bolts, and corroded fasteners.

In Quebec, the corrosion caused by road salt makes bolts particularly stubborn — an impact wrench with a minimum of 700 Nm of torque is recommended for effortless work. DeWalt and Milwaukee both offer these at Équipement Industriel Polar — see our wrenches and mechanic tools.

A woodworker needs precision above all else. A brushless drill/driver with an adjustable torque collar (minimum 20 settings) is the baseline tool for flush driving without splitting fine wood. For biscuit joinery, dowel holes, and pilot holes, a drill press or compact drill/driver with a 10 mm chuck provides greater accuracy.

An impact driver is useful for repetitive assembly work (drawers, flooring), but must be used with care on softwoods where it risks countersinking screw heads too deeply.

A plumber needs a robust drill for large-diameter holes in partitions, floors, and beams to run pipes, and an impact driver for securing clamps and brackets. A hammer drill/driver with a bi-metal hole saw accessory is the foundational tool.

For drilling in concrete (slab penetrations, equipment anchors), an SDS-Plus rotary hammer completes the kit. The combination of drill + impact driver + SDS hammer covers all the needs of a plumber in new construction or renovation in Quebec. Browse our professional drill selection.

A brushless motor has no friction parts like the carbon brushes found in traditional brushed motors. It delivers up to 57% more runtime on the same battery, more consistent power even as the battery depletes, and a significantly longer service life since there are no brushes to replace.

For daily professional use on job sites, the higher cost of a brushless tool is quickly offset by fewer breakdowns and replacements. DeWalt's XR brushless tools are the professional standard — available at Équipement Industriel Polar.

Torque (expressed in Nm — newton-metres) indicates the maximum rotational force the tool can apply. For a professional drill/driver, a minimum of 60 Nm is recommended for general construction use. High-end models reach 130 Nm and above.

The adjustable torque collar lets you dial in the driving force for each substrate — the lower the setting, the sooner the clutch releases to avoid overdriving. Use maximum torque for long screws in hard materials; reduce torque for fine screws in softwood to keep things clean.

In professional tooling, 18V and 20V refer to essentially the same power class — DeWalt uses the 20V MAX label for its nominal 18V tools, while Makita uses 18V LXT for the same performance range. 12V is ideal for compact, lightweight tools (tight-space work, precision tasks) but less powerful for drilling into hard materials.

For most Quebec professionals, 20V MAX is the standard offering the best balance of power, weight, and runtime. 60V FlexVolt is reserved for high-demand tools such as SDS-Max rotary hammers. Browse our FlexVolt range for heavy-duty applications.

A 10 mm (3/8 in) chuck accepts bits and accessories up to 10 mm in diameter — sufficient for most finishing work, driving, and general drilling in wood and light metal. A 13 mm (1/2 in) chuck accepts larger bits and offers greater versatility across a wider range of materials — it is the recommended format for a professional all-purpose drill.

Keyless (quick-change) chucks are the modern standard; keyed chucks are rare today and mostly found on fixed bench drill presses.

A variable-speed trigger lets you adjust rotational speed based on trigger pressure — slow to start a hole cleanly, faster once underway. Most professional drills also have two mechanical speeds: first gear (high torque, low speed) for long screws and resistant materials, second gear (lower torque, high speed) for fast drilling.

Using the right speed for the material reduces bit heat and extends bit life.

Kick-back stop is an electronic safety feature that detects a sudden bit lock-up (when the bit jams in the material) and instantly cuts the motor to prevent the tool from violently spinning in the user's hand. This is an important protection on high-power drills — a jam on a drill without this safety can cause a sprained or fractured wrist.

DeWalt XR and Milwaukee M18 FUEL professional models include this protection as standard.

Each material requires a specific bit. For concrete and masonry: a carbide-tipped SDS-Plus bit for a rotary hammer, or a standard-shank masonry bit for light hammer drilling. For wood: a standard twist bit, spade bit, or auger bit for large diameters. For metal: an HSS (high-speed steel) bit or cobalt bit for hard metals like stainless steel.

Using the wrong bit for the material damages both the bit and the workpiece — and increases the risk of accidents. Équipement Industriel Polar carries Irwin, Lenox, and DeWalt bit ranges.

A worn bit shows three signs: it heats up quickly during drilling, it advances slowly even under good pressure, and holes become rougher with crumbled edges. A dull bit overworks the tool and battery unnecessarily, can damage the motor over time, and increases the risk of the bit snapping inside the material.

Replacing bits regularly is less expensive than repairing an overloaded tool. At Polar, bits are available individually or in sets depending on your needs.

No. Standard round-shank bits are used in the keyless chucks of drill/drivers. SDS-Plus and SDS-Max bits are exclusively for rotary hammers with the corresponding SDS chuck — they cannot be inserted into a standard chuck.

Adapters exist to use standard bits in an SDS rotary hammer, but this is not recommended for precision drilling.

For the vast majority of daily professional tasks, yes. Current 20V MAX and FlexVolt brushless drills rival their corded equivalents in effective power. The difference is felt mainly during very intensive, prolonged drilling (high-volume coring in dense concrete) where a corded drill maintains absolutely consistent power without battery constraints.

For normal professional use on job sites, a brushless cordless drill with a 5 Ah battery or larger covers all needs. Browse our professional cordless drill selection.

Drilling in wood with a standard bit, a 5 Ah battery can drill several hundred holes before depleting. Drilling in concrete with a rotary hammer draws significantly more power — expect approximately 80 to 150 holes at 10 mm diameter in standard concrete, depending on the model and concrete hardness.

The recommended practice on job sites is to rotate two batteries: one in the tool, one on the charger.

Yes, within the same platform. All DeWalt 20V MAX batteries are interchangeable across tools — drills, impact drivers, saws, grinders. The same applies to Milwaukee M18 and Makita 18V LXT. Compatibility does not extend across brands — a DeWalt battery will not work in a Milwaukee tool.

This is the main argument for standardizing on one brand: every new tool you add increases the value of the batteries you already own. Browse our DeWalt 20V MAX range.

No. A higher-capacity battery simply delivers more energy over time — it does not push more instantaneous current than the tool demands. The only practical drawback is added weight, which may be a factor when drilling overhead or in confined spaces.

For a drill used on a workbench or on horizontal surfaces, a 5 Ah or 8 Ah battery offers nothing but advantages.

Yes. Lithium-ion batteries lose between 20 and 40% of their effective capacity at -15°C. The recommended practice on outdoor Quebec job sites in winter: keep batteries in the truck cab or job site trailer between uses, take them out just before use, and always have a spare battery charging somewhere warm.

Higher-capacity batteries (5 Ah and above) handle the cold proportionally better than small compact formats.

Maintaining a professional drill/driver comes down to four actions: regularly clean the chuck and ventilation slots with compressed air to prevent dust build-up, lightly lubricate the chuck two or three times per season, never overload the tool beyond its capacity (symptoms: excessive heat and motor slowdown), and store batteries at 50% charge in a temperate location if the tool will sit unused for several weeks.

For brushed motors (older generation), check carbon brush wear every two years with intensive use.

A brushless professional tool from DeWalt or Milwaukee used daily on job sites lasts an average of 5 to 10 years with minimal maintenance. Brushless motors have no friction parts to replace, which significantly reduces mechanical failures. Longevity depends mainly on usage conditions: dust, moisture, impacts, and repeated overloading all shorten any tool's service life.

DeWalt offers a 3-year warranty on its tools in Canada — if a tool fails within that period, Équipement Industriel Polar's after-sales service team facilitates the warranty claim. Contact our team for any questions.

The practical rule: if the repair cost exceeds 50% of a comparable new tool's price, replacement is generally more advantageous — especially if the technology has advanced in the meantime. For a tool still under warranty (3 years with DeWalt), repair is free and always the right call.

Équipement Industriel Polar offers an in-store after-sales service in Quebec City and Chicoutimi for tool assessment and repair, as well as support with manufacturer warranty claims. Contact us for an assessment.

All three brands are at an equivalent professional level and all three are available at Équipement Industriel Polar. DeWalt is recognized for durability and the broad 20V MAX ecosystem (250+ compatible tools), particularly valued in framing and construction. Milwaukee stands out on high-performance tools like high-torque drills and SDS hammers. Makita is appreciated for reduced weight and ergonomics, often preferred by electricians and woodworkers who hold the tool for long stretches.

The key criterion: choose the brand whose batteries you already own, or the one your colleagues use so you can share batteries on the job site. Compare the three ranges: DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Makita.

Yes, Bosch is a well-regarded brand in the professional market, particularly for its SDS rotary hammers and bench drill presses. The Bosch Professional range is carried at Équipement Industriel Polar.

For cordless drill/drivers, DeWalt and Milwaukee are generally the most common references on Quebec job sites, but Bosch remains a solid option — especially for electricians and finishing tradespeople.

Quebec professionals source their tools primarily from specialized industrial equipment distributors. Équipement Industriel Polar, with locations in Quebec City and Chicoutimi, carries a complete inventory of professional drills and drivers from DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, and Bosch, with technical advisors available to guide your choice based on your trade and materials.

Free shipping is available across Canada on orders of $150 or more, with delivery in 2 to 5 business days.

Buying as a kit (tool + battery + charger) is generally more economical than purchasing components separately, especially for your first tool on a new platform. If you already have batteries from a brand, buying the bare tool is often less expensive.

Combo kits (two tools + two batteries) offer the best value for professionals looking to build a tool fleet on a new platform. Both formats are available at Équipement Industriel Polar — contact our advisors to find the right fit for your situation.