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I like to think that I ask tough tool questions, but I am regularly reminded that I’m not the only one. Check out recent reader questions to see some of the great questions and community discussions!
Pete wrote in today, with an especially tough question that I don’t even know where to start with. He wants to buy a Milwaukee cordless drill and needs for it to have a side handle with depth control rod. Such features are typically included with hammer drills, both corded and cordless.
I have a problem, maybe you can help. I need a cordless Milwaukee drill with a depth control rod but there is none to be found! The only option I can see is using a SDS drill and one of these SDS drill chuck adapters.
That’s pretty much the only thing I can see as being an option. I don’t really wanna buy those locking slip collars that fit over the drill bit and get tightened with a grub screw.
Pretty much every other brand has an option to have this on their hammer drills – Dewalt, Ridgid, Makita, Ryobi but nothing that I can see for the Milwaukee line… lame!
I did a quick check and, as Pete mentioned, there doesn’t seem to be any depth control rod for Milwaukee’s cordless hammer drills – even the new Gen2 M18 Fuel model that we just posted about. Hmm, how about that?!
I normally use my corded hammer drill for drilling into masonry materials, and a small SDS rotary hammer when I want fewer vibrations or need cordless maneuverability. I don’t think I ever gave Milwaukee’s lack of depth control rods a thought.
I checked the online product manual for the Gen1 Fuel hammer drill, and there’s no mention of a different side handle or depth control rod. There’s no mention anywhere of a depth control rod accessory or add-on. Maybe I’m not looking hard enough?
The same appears to be true for Ridgid cordless hammer drills, which share a similar side handle attachment method as Milwaukee’s. Even Ridgid’s latest Gen5X cordless hammer drill lacks any kind of accommodation for a depth control rod.
Whether talking specifically about Milwaukee cordless hammer drills, or cordless hammer drills in general, what could be done if a side handle lacks an adjustable depth control rod?
Do you guys have any sort of advice for Pete? Having to buy an SDS rotary hammer and using a drill chuck adapter hardly seems like the best or most convenient solution.
