At one time the handyman or do it yourself enthusiast was tied to the electrical outlet as surely as if chained.
The only alternatives were to do it by hand or string what seemed like miles of extension cords to the site.
That was before the very first portable drills came out and they were to craftsmen a little slice of heaven.
The fact that they lacked power and were limited in battery life made no difference since many things formerly impossible became easy.
Just as most people were wondering where to buy replacement batteries a bigger and more powerful cordless model came out until we arrived at the 18V cordless drill.
While a battery pack only lasted a couple of years there was little danger of them having to be replaced as handymen went swooping after the next advance in speed and power.
It seemed to be an endless cycle for a while with these still very good drills being replaced in the name of power.
However eventually the portable drill arrived at what for most was the perfect size with just the right amount of power and now, upgrades are certainly possible but unless it is an itch that just has to be scratched, there is no reason to upgrade.
Just about any corded drill of reasonable size will out power an 18V cordless model.
However, a corded drill doesn't have the flexibility to slip in your pocket and be pulled out and ready to use no matter where the job is located.
Completing a project no longer depended upon finding a power outlet or being forced to drill by hand, the 18V model provided immense freedom and enough power to take care of almost any job.
Although how much power is needed is really a personal decision and there are even more powerful cordless models on the market right now, the 18V model seems an ideal stopping point.
This drill can do almost any job required and even comes with some juicy extras to sweeten the deal.
With many models the drill can be put in the charger and an hour later it is fully charged and ready for action.
18V drills also come in a variety of sizes from the very compact models to those which are very close to full sized drills.
Which size is chosen depends on the individual and how the drill fits with their normal workload.
A craftsman that seems to always be wiggling their drill into impossibly tight corners may choose a compact model over a heavier full size cordless drill.
There are almost as many manufacturers of cordless drills as there are of power tools.
Now some brands will come with a heftier price tag but usually will include more extras the home handyman finds indispensable.
There are also brands which are made to be economical and the result is a frill free but practical 18V cordless model.
A trip to the store to handle the cordless drill may be a wise idea if this is a brand new purchase.
While warranties, batteries and accessories are all very nice how well it fits the hand and feels is just as important to many craftsmen.
Right now may be the ideal time to step up to an 18V cordless drill at a greatly reduced price and see what all the fuss is about.