We’ve written about some of Worx’s tools before, mainly their small cordless screwdrivers and outdoor tools. Chris wrote in with a question about their 20V Max cordless drill and impact driver, which I presume are relabeled Rockwell tools.
I haven’t worked with any Worx drills, or Rockwell’s for the matter. Have you? Please let us know about your experiences with the brand’s cordless tool offerings.
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Chris wrote:
On occasion I see good deals on Worx cordless drills. Menards currently has a 20v max drill and impact driver set on sale, and it has once again made me wonder about the quality of their tools.
I once asked at a store about them, but they were a new selection and the manager did not yet have a good handle on the brand.
From what I’ve gathered, they are a respectable yard tools company that has translated their cordless capabilities into a small line of shop tools. Have you worked with any Worx drills or have any insight into the quality and durability of these tools?
Short answer: I would consider Worx cordless drills to be consumer-grade, but some might be contractor-grade, or in-between. It’s hard to say without seeing the exact tools.
Menards’ website is currently showing a drill and impact driver deal, model WX916L,for $99. The sale price ends 7/5/2015.
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I think that, generally, Worx drills might be rebranded Rockwell drills, as the two brands are owned by the same parent company. So if you see a Worx power tool that doesn’t fit into their lawn & garden tool segments, you might be able to find reviews of the same Rockwell tool to help with your purchasing decision.
The tools in the WX916L combo look to be very similar to those in Rockwell’s RK1806K2 combo ($165 via Amazon), but there are some differences. First, the drill chuck looks different. It’s not always fair to compare drill chucks based on online product images, but it could be that the Worx has a lesser chuck. The battery system is also a little different.
On closer inspection of specs, both drills have 3/8″ chucks, and the torque of Worx and Rockwell drills and impacts have the same torque ratings. It seems that the Rockwell charger (1-hour?) is faster than the one included with the Worx combo (3-5 hours).
Update: I should have also pointed out that companies use 3/8″ chucks in 18V-class cordless drills as a cost-cutting measure, or when they’re matched with a less powerful motor. From what I have seen, 1/2″ chucks have really become the norm these days, for all but the most entry-level models.
The Rockwell combo is normally priced at $165, but was on sale for $100 last holiday season. The Worx set is said to be regularly priced at $130. I am not confident that reviews of the Rockwell combo will shed insight into what you can expect from the Worx combo, but at the very least I don’t think the Worx performance and durability will exceed that of the Rockwell tools.
The Worx set seems to be designed around an attractive price point for DIYers and homeowners. The other thing to be mindful of is that the Worx system probably doesn’t offer much in the way of expandability. After checking the website, I see that Worx also offers a compact trim circular saw, an oscillating multi-tool, and that’s it. But… the battery system IS said to be compatible with Worx’s 20V Max outdoor power tools.
That all said, I’ll try most name brands once, and I won’t shy away from “lesser” brands just based on name. When doing so, just keep the receipt handy, or if buying online make sure the return policy is flexible to allow for easier returns.
mike aka Fazzman
For $99 there are alot of other options that are actually pretty good,if it were me,id pass on these. And get something else. You’d be amazed how good a nice 12v kit is compared to these.
I have the Porter Cable 20v series and for around the house and even out in the shop they have been awesome for the price.
The guys at my local HD have told me in the past that they get alot of returns on this companies items,I didnt ask why,thats just what was mentioned.
Jason. W
The ryobi combo kit is on sale for $99.
http://m.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-18-Volt-ONE-Lithium-Ion-Drill-Driver-and-Impact-Driver-Kit-2-Tool-P882/203406854
It’s ryobis “bare bones” versions of both tools. But even still, they are good tools for the price. I’ve used the crap out of mine and they still work great.
Pete
Our ryobi loaner shop drill+impacts see tons lf abuse from employees that dont know how to work them correctly most of the time and they keep ticking!
Compared the specs to my makita and the drill spun faster, not sure of torque. And the impact had more Impacts per minute as well, again dont know about torque.
If i was considering the worx with a 3/8 chuck i would rather have the ryobi, bigger platfrom with more support.
mike aka Fazzman
The milwaukee m12 kit is $99 right now too. will be better than those worx tools for sure.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-12-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Screwdriver-Impact-Driver-Combo-Kit-2481-22/204316385?N=5yc1vZc2ec
Jason. W
That’s actually a screwdriver and impact. It’s a quality screwdriver, but still not a drill.
mike aka Fazzman
doh my bad,the point is there is much better offerings for his money. a 3/8 chuck nowadays is kinda pointless unless its on say a 12v tool.
Tom A.
I agree with Fazzman, Milwaukee would be the way to go for that price. I’ve had the 12v screw gun and the 12v impact driver for about 1 1/2 yrs. and use them quite often and they are awesome. Never had any issues and the quick charge is very helpful. Milwaukee brand is definitely the way I’d go since the price is so close and they are the more reputable brand. Milwaukee ‘s line of hand tools are also my brand of choice considering price point, durability and selection. Maybe I’m a little bias but just seems to be the way to go is Red. And as their motor states
“Nothin’ but tough !”
Tom A.
I agree with Fazzman, Milwaukee would be the way to go for that price. I’ve had the 12v screw gun and the 12v impact driver for about 1 1/2 yrs. and use them quite often and they are awesome. Never had any issues and the quick charge is very helpful. Milwaukee brand is definitely the way I’d go since the price is so close and they are the more reputable brand. Milwaukee ‘s line of hand tools are also my brand of choice considering price point, durability and selection. Maybe I’m a little bias but just seems to be the way to go is Red. And as their motor states
“Nothin’ but tough !”
Tom A.
Sorry, I meant ” Nothin’ but Heavy Duty”
Dan
Yes….Milwawkee. I have the Worx weed trimmer and the battery doesn’t last 15 minutes.
ktash
Here’s a kit that menards was offering a while back. I bought it for $149 but it was less because there was a sale probably 10% off but I don’t remember.
https://toolguyd.com/bosch-12v-tool-lboxx-combo-kit-deal-012014/
Without the radio and only one box, it was $99 plus the percent off. The point is that there are better drills/bargains. Only 12V, but I love these small drill/drivers and they seem to have plenty of power for most things a woodworker/diyer would do.
I also have ryobi 18V combination set and I’m pleased with the value. I’d get them over Worx because there are so many other tools and the batteries are interchangeable and sometimes you can find great bargains on the batteries, too. They don’t change the battery connectors, so you don’t end up with a bunch of obsolete tools when they change battery connection configurations. My old Ryobi nicad drill can even be used with the new Ryobi lithium batteries. This is a huge plus.
Jason
It’s hard to beat Ryobi when it comes to tools for DIY people or even a contractor on a budget. Like you mentioned Home Depot runs 2 packs of 4.0ah batteries for $99 often and they were even cheaper this spring when the clearanced them out. Ryobi did update their circular saw to perform better. That was probably the weakest tool in the lineup.
ktash
yes, I got a two pack clearanced at 1/2 price. That was $25 per battery.
Michael
Lowe’s has the bosch 12 v max drill and impact set on sale quite often. I have two sets. One at home and on at work. I seldom need my bigger ones anymore. I’m sure that any of the name brands will function as well
Kent
3/8″ chuck on a 18v drill would make me never consider buying it.
For my light duty needs, I have some M12. They are plenty strong for most homeowner type repairs, and I know plenty of pros who use them.
For more HD jobs, I couldn’t pass up the M18 impact gun + drill combo for $150 a few weeks ago.
For $100, I wouldn’t get near this thing.
Josh
I have a Worx chainsaw that works fairly well. Not sure about a drill though. Didn’t even know they made drills. Maybe give them a few years to get their feet wet and fix a few mistakes.
logan
Why’s everyone afraid of a 3/8 chuck?
Mike aka Fazzman
Not afraid of it,a 3/8 chuck is useless at least for me on a 18 or 20v line.
They are good for smaller 12v tools and such.
Alot of tools like countersinks and such have 1/2″ shanks on them.
Stuart
Some hole saw arbors have 1/2″ shanks.
As mentioned, 3/8″ in an 18V-class drill is usually indicative of a budget model, underpowered motor, or consumer-grade design and durability.
That’s not to say that a 1/2″ chuck is always a good quality indicator, or that there aren’t good 18V-class drills with 3/8″ chucks.
The Worx model is going to be suitable for a lot of people and very many light duty needs.
logan
Understood. My point was, without any indication whatsoever, that the fact that it’s 3/8s shouldn’t kill a deal, as someone who’s running, say, a hole saw would hopefully not be looking at a bargain kit like this.
I think the price point more than the chuck is indicative of a poor performer. At least the chuck is realistic for the power.
I’d be curious to see this drill put up against other manufacturers $99 specials.
firefly
I don’t think this will worth your money at the $99 price point, unless you don’t plan to expand your powertool. With that in mind, I don’t have a few worx cordless garden tool and they are decent. Will I get them again? Probably not. The main reason the eco system and how accessible they are for me.
For residential lawn stuff, I would recommend the 40V ryobi. They perform well and they are at a good price point. The reason I mention battery is because as soon as you buy something cordless the battery become the focal point of the whole eco system. Speaking of eco system, for home use, and even some professional use I think the Milwaukee 12v definitely got everyone beat… I got some of the Bosch 12v which I love but the red team have recently suckered me into their eco system. I admit, they have a much bigger eco system 🙂
Nathan
for the money if it was little more I’d also recommend the porter cable 20v system. not sure what they go for where the OP is from but I swear I saw a kit for 129 at Lowes.
and of course there is on line – look up CPO outlets and some other supposed factory direct stores.
I’ve had great luck with everything I’ve bought from the CPO Dewalt and Milwaukee store (yes I have bought both the horror). so they have other brands too might want to check that out.
Stephen King
This brand of drills actually not that good, I used it and it’s soft torque is rather small
Will
Yes, but the question was has anyone out there got these tools? It was not asking for an opinion of what to buy.
I’ve got the drill pictured above, the 20v hammer drill, and the oscillating 20v cutting tool. The little oscillator is a ripper and is great at cutting difficult to reach things, such as kick ends behind a cupboard. The drills both work as expected. They are smooth and I would rate them about the same as Bosch green. All tools feel good in the hand and well balanced.
They come with a 3 year warrantee, which is pretty good. Will they last as long as a Makita? My neighbour is a carpenter whose been using a Worx drill for a couple of years around the house. He’s pretty much got it in his hand every time I see him. He was sceptical about the quality but reckons it just keeps on going and can’t fault it.
James
I have the 20v drill driver. Good for general woodworking. Not as powerful as a top draw 18v I doubt. But good for all but driving flat bits or 4″ screws without pilot holes.
If I were buying again I would go for the hammer drill with the metal chuck.
Or a ryobi with the large number of dills.
Cheers james
Phil
I bought the kit and want another to give as a give. This is the way to go.
Only you’ll need a 3rd battery at about 100 screws set into drilled holes.
the torque is great on the driver. The drill could be better but goes the job.
Get good drill bits and it will slide through the 2×4’s like butter.
BTW This kit was discontinued on the WORX web site.
Charlie
Got my worx drill , also got extended warranty so total of 5 yrs warranty . Love the drill …then one chuck fell out then days later the other fell out at the same time the switch was intermittent . Pulled out the old four year old porter cable to use while I wait for my drill on back order to be shipped on april 6 . But my wife was able to go to there website and order a in stock at full price and it is being shipped . Hmmmmmm
Michael
I run a handyman service and have been using 20v Worx cordless drills for 2 years I find them great value for money the first one I had died after 3 mths but was replaced under waranty quickly no questions asked I have had no problems since and I use them every day I find them light and robust they charge very quickly and I would recomend them to anybody who needs a drill for general use
Sam
Been using the wx290 impactor on sote for 3 months now driving 4 inch screws home all day outperformed my boss’s makita only problem is the tiny batteries supplied need a 5ah for prolonged use
John Ferdenzi
Most of the comments here crack me up. Funny how typical guys always default to the best known name or the most power. I have owned this product for more than a year. I use it a few times per month and it is perfect. I mean perfect! If I needed something 8 hours per day this would not be the tool but so what? Question: I need a pickup truck to take brush to the landfill 4 times per year. Should I buy an F-350 Super Duty?
Steven
I make a living with my tools doing A/C Heat and Plumbing. Like the author said, I don’t shy away from newcomers and lesser known brands. I’m willing to give them a shot. For what I do and expect from my tools, my 2 brands of choice are Milwaukee and DeWalt. They are the best known brands for very good reasons. They exceed expectations. Mine work 8-10 hours per day , 5-6 days per week without incident. I have tried these Worx products. Obviously I didn’t expect them to do what my other tools do. That said., a 3/8 chuck is a deal breaker right off the bat. The torque is horribly low, power is low, charge time is pathetic, charge does not last long at all.
One of the main reasons the US outsources and doesn’t produce or manufacture much of anything anymore is consumers number one priority is low price. Thats really all they care about. You truly do “get what you pay for.” and there’s truth in “better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”
I don’t care if I only use the thing once a month at home. I know when I do use the tool it will do exactly what I expect it to do and do it without compromise. Just because you’re a DIYer or a homeowner doesn’t mean you should buy crappy tools.
Buy quality name brand tools. Not junk like this Worx product.
Steven
What I’m trying to say is; rather than gambling on the performance of a cheap tool, all you have to do before you buy is, look at what the professionals use. Done. Go buy one.
David
They definitely seem to have expanded since this was written. They have their own line of “pro” and “DIY” tools now, lots of their older DIY tools seem to have a special gimmick;such as a drill (they call it the “switchdriver”) that has two collets that you can change between for drilling pilot holes and then driving screws, a jigsaw that transforms into a reciprocating saw and a revolver styled electric screwdriver, allowing you to change bits six shooter style.
Some of their newer stuff is okay however; they do good drills with “industry standard” chuck sizes, their battery oscillator seems like a good deal and they have things a work light (one of those superbright LED ones) that sells (without a battery) that was selling for £12 (I’m furious I didn’t buy it as it’s £40 now)
They may not be contractor kit but seeing that they seem to have moved out of the bargain bucket in late 2017 to 2018 they may be making a push to get a foothold with the bigger brands as their tool price does seem to be going up.
Personally I paid £94 (approx $120) for a brushless hammer drill with two 2ah Li-ion batteries, a 1hr charger and a hard case. The fact that the belt clip can be switched to the opposite side is great for me being left handed and it has a 13mm (1/2″ or thereabouts) all metal chuck. I just finished making 3 alcove shelves and the drilling and driving was the job of this drill. Compared to the old 1970s corded B&D hammer drill I was using this drill blows clean through masonry exceptionally fast, it may not be an SDS drill but for it’s weight it really is a powerhouse and at it’s price it was great value, I’ve been using it for odd jobs for 6 months now and it does a great job. I worked out that if I had bought the batteries alone the drill and charger came free, though as previously stated, they seem to have noticed that other people have picked them out as a good “fix up your home” brand and as such are upping their prices. I’ll see if they have any bargains and if so I might consider going for them, if not Makita/Milwaukee or another big brand may be a better all round brand to go for given they have more products in their interchangeable Li-Ion range.
I would love if manufacturers stopped with the battery madness and set up a universal connection; but that will never happen.
Mark Hetherington
Had to laugh at the guy who said look at what the professionals use and buy those brands. The whole point of consumer range goods is to produce a range of products that are useful for people who want to put up a shelf or two, or hang a picture frame now and again. If you spend the sort of money the pros use, who are using their tools for 6-8 hours a day 5-6 days a week you’re either stupid or have money to burn. It’s completely pointless if you’re an occasional light user.
For the record I bought a Work 366.6 20v drill from Wickes, on offer from £48 down to £39 with one battery. I’m an electrician by trade, retired due to injury, and my last cordless drill was a Metabo which cost me well over £200 7-8 years ago (wipe the floor with any Milwaukee or DeWalt out there, I know, I’ve tried both) but my point is I know the value of professional tools and the Worx isn’t about that. But for a general DIY drill it exceeded by expectations by some distance for the price and even at £49 I think is an absolute bargain for the DIY-er. Will it last? I don’t know, I’m not going to be using it a lot but it’s considerably better and more powerful than I expected for the price and for odd jobs around the home should fit the bill for most people.
marvin scott
my question is…… does it harm the battery charger if it’s plugged in all the time
Stuart
Generally, it’s not advised to leave a battery on the charger for long period of time. Why would you want to?