Engine size
The working volume of the motor-drill engine.
A larger volume (with the same type of internal combustion engine, see above), on the one hand, increases power, on the other hand, increases fuel consumption. However, in general, this parameter is a reference, and when choosing it is worth paying attention to more practically significant indicators — power, speed, gear ratio, etc.
Power
Engine power of the motor drill in horsepower. Horsepower is traditionally used to denote the power of internal combustion engines. 1 HP approximately equal to 735 watts.
Power is one of the key parameters for any motor auger: the higher it is, the higher torque can be achieved on the drive shaft, the thicker augers can be used with the unit and the better it is suitable for complex work and “heavy” soils. On the other hand, high power significantly affects the price, dimensions and weight of the engine. Therefore, manufacturers choose this parameter based on the price category and general purpose of the tool.
The most modest engines, about 0.8 – 1.5 hp, are installed in power drills (see "Type") — for such devices, high power is not needed, but light weight and compactness, on the contrary, are critical. For motor drills, indicators are 1.6 – 3 hp. correspond to the entry level, 3 – 5 hp. — medium, and in the most powerful models, motors of 7 – 8 hp are installed, which makes it possible to work with screws with a diameter of half a metre or more. At the same time, note that units of the same power may differ in screw diameter and other performance characteristics.
Power
Engine power of a motor drill in kilowatts. Watts (kilowatts) are a common unit of power, and this unit is also used for gasoline engines along with horsepower (see above).
Power is one of the key parameters for any motor auger: the
more powerful the engine, the higher torque can be achieved on the drive shaft, the thicker augers can be used with the unit and the better it is suitable for complex work and “heavy” soils. On the other hand, high power significantly affects the price, dimensions and weight of the engine. Therefore, manufacturers choose this parameter based on the price category and general purpose of the tool.
Indicators of 0.6 – 1.2 kW are typical for the most modest engines, these are mainly equipped with power drills (see "Type"). In entry-level motor drills, more powerful units are used, by 1.2 – 2.2 kW, the average class corresponds to an indicator of 2.3 – 3.7 kW, and in the most solid devices, the power can reach 5.5 – 6 kW. Note that units of the same power may differ in screw diameter and other performance characteristics.
Fuel tank capacity
The volume of the fuel tank installed in the drill.
A larger tank allows you to work longer without refueling, but it significantly affects the weight of the tool. Given the peculiarities of the operation of motor drills, in fact it is easier to take breaks for refueling than to keep a large supply of fuel in the unit itself. Therefore, tank volumes are usually small, only in some high-power models this parameter exceeds 2 liters. At the same time, manufacturers take into account fuel consumption and select tanks in such a way that breaks do not have to be taken too often.
Max. length
The maximum length of the drill (auger) or drill with which the tool is able to work normally; in fact, this is the maximum drilling depth available when using this model. Note that some models allow, if necessary, the use of longer drills, due to some tricks (you can read more about them in special sources); however, this possibility is far from being available everywhere, and when choosing, it is worth proceeding precisely from the length claimed by the manufacturer.
Max. diameter
The largest diameter of the drill (auger) or drill with which the tool is able to work, in other words, the maximum diameter of the holes that can be made using a power drill.
The thicker the drill, the more resistance it encounters during operation and the higher the torque must be to overcome this resistance. Therefore, it is impossible to put nozzles of a larger diameter on a motor drill than stated by the manufacturer: at best, the drill simply cannot turn, at worst, a serious overload and an accident are possible.
Drill bit included
The presence of a working attachment - auger (auger) or drill -
is included in the delivery set of the tool.
Purchasing such a set eliminates the need to look for a drill separately, and besides, the standard attachment, by definition, corresponds to the diameter of the drive shaft (see above). The characteristics of the complete drill must be clarified before purchasing, because they may not meet the buyer's requirements. In light of this, some tools are available in two configurations - with and without a drill, which is important to consider when purchasing.
- For the ground. A working attachment of an auger design for performing excavation work - cutting holes, holes, etc. in the soil. The auger is screwed into the ground using the self-tapping principle and with each turn around its axis it cuts off a dense mass of soil. As the tool deepens, a pit with a circular cross-section and smooth walls is formed. Its depth depends on the maximum length of the drill, its width depends on the diameter of the working nozzle.
- For ice. Ice drills are equipped with an auger with sharper blades than those of ground working attachments. As a result, they effectively “bite” into the ice, making holes in it of the required diameter and depth. Ice augers are often used in addition to light motorized augers, which are supposed to be used for winter fishing.
Included drill diameter
The diameter of the working nozzle supplied together with the motor drill "out of the box". A drill or drill should be selected according to this parameter based on the maximum diameter of the required holes, as well as the penetration depth of the working tool.
Noise level
The noise level produced by the tool during operation.
The lower this indicator, the more comfortable the use of the tool, the easier it is to work with it without headphones or other noise protection equipment. At the same time, the noise level claimed in the specifications is quite approximate, in fact it can be higher (for example, during overload) and lower (at idle). Also note that the decibel used to indicate the noise level is a non-linear value, so the actual loudness should be evaluated using special comparative tables.
Modern motor drills are quite noisy equipment — even in the most “quiet” models, the volume exceeds 95 dB (loudness comparable to the sound of a moving freight car at 4–5 m), and in the noisiest this figure reaches 115–116 dB (which is only slightly lower human pain threshold; ear protection is highly desirable).
