Sometimes you need a tool. A good tool. Something that can handle a really tough job or situation that will end up saving you lots of time and money. Milwaukee is known for producing some “no-holds barred” products that meet the needs of professional contractors and can be easily justified into the cost of doing business. After all, if a tool saves you hours of work and hassle, then it has the potential of paying for itself over and over again. This seems to be the case with Milwaukee’s 1107-6 D-Handle Drill. Milwaukee has several D-Handle drills on the market right now, most differing in their speeds and accessories (their entry level D-Handle drill, for example lacks the Quik-Lok removable cord). Of course, on the high end you have the newer Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hole Hawg Right Angle Drill which is very impressive for a cordless tool and even outperforms their corded models in that range.
We reviewed the Milwaukee 1107-6 D-handle drill and were able to include the optional right angle drive attachment (part 48-06-2871) that really turned this tool into something incredibly useful—more so than a simple D-handle alone. With this attachment, the Milwaukee system became the go-to tool for drilling through “already built” stud walls sideways during the process of new construction. Why would we do this? To create holes for electrical and low voltage wiring (think home theater). It worked so well, in fact, that we were able to use it to plunge through four 2×4 studs on a slight angle without having to tear the wall apart. Running cables just became a whole lot easier.
Build Quality
The 1107-6 weighs in at just under 10 pounds with the right angle drive attachment. This is a hefty tool, but all of that metal and heft translates into quality and durability. In fact, it’s hard to see how the Milwaukee drill can possibly fail. The company even gives users access to the motor brushes through two easily removable caps which are located just fore of the handle on top and bottom. The continuous pull, variable speed trigger mechanism doesn’t have a lock, nor is that expected with a tool of this type. This is much more than what your typical 18V cordless hammer drill can offer.
There are two focal points of this tool: the handle and the cast metal body. The handle is very sturdy and provides a solid grip in both horizontal and vertical orientations. Below the handle a button provides control for forward and reverse rotations. This came in handy several times when the bit bound itself at the end of a particularly deep drilling session.
The chuck is a ridiculously overbuilt piece of hardware, and we got a good look at it when we moved it from the standard d-handle position to the end of the right angle drive attachment. The included key made drill bit changes easy.
Ergonomics and Use
As mentioned above, this Milwaukee got quite a workout on a recent home addition project. We found it to be a tool that never disappointed, nor ran out of power. Holding it in nearly any position afforded us a successful stance to complete most tasks. Two hands are required for this tool and the solid metal body gave us a great place to apply some leverage and make sure we were positioned correctly for our right angle drilling. The keyed chuck allows you to really crank down on rounded bits (we had some masonry bits, for example, that didn’t feature the ubiquitous hex shafts) and as a result we never encountered bit slippage.
Using the tool requires some arm and upper body strength, but nothing out of the ordinary. After a day of lifting nailing guns and cordless drills you may be surprised by its weight, but for those on the job, the trade-off is well worth it.
Conclusion
You don’t use the Milwaukee 1107-6 7 amp D-handle drill so much as you wield it. It is a machine in and of itself. While I don’t expect many do-it-yourselfers or handymen to take the plunge on this kind of machinery, contractors should seriously consider it as a long-term specialty tool that will save you lots of headache and effort in the long-run… and time is money.
Similar products: 1001-1, 1007-1,1101-1,1250-1
