I need a new drill

No idea on the current li-on lifespans but all the battery tools i have bought over the years are dead and useless (except the 12v stuff as i can run it off a car battery on a lead) so if you can use a corded tool without too much bother I would strongly favour getting them.

If the tool is good but the chuck fubar then maybe get another chuck?

I had considered that but didn’t know whether it was possible? It’s got this kind with the button underneath.

I'd agree with the above on cordless, I have an old Bosch professional drill which must be 20 years old now, has been heavily used/abused and still works fine (3rd set of batteries which are now chaep as its obsolete), I do need several batteries though as they don't last that long when drilling. I understand the modern Bosch stuff is nowhere as well made though.(when all this is over we are thinking about treating ourselves to something more modern)
On the other hand I have a cheap own brand corded drill which has also taken an immense amount of abuse (including smoke pouring out of it) and still works fine, a new keyed chuck for your drill is only about a fiver on ebay, I'd start there as it will always be usefull to have whatever you decide in the long run. (the cordless chucks usually have a screw through the centre and are on a left handed thread to the spindle)


The other thing with battery ones is they don't being left for ages unused particularly with a flat battery.

I gave up with cordless stuff because I simply don't use them enough. I still have my Ryobi cordless stuff, but it barely gets used at all. I bought a basic corded hammer drill from Machine Mart 10 years ago - cost me about £30. It's a bit agricultural but works really well and I haven't killed it yet. Yes, the cordless ones are easier to use in confined spaces but that's once in a blue moon.

As an aside, try to use the best drill bits you can - I use Bosch. The cheapo bits from B&Q and the like tend to be made of licorice.

I totally get what you're saying but for the amount I need to use a drill in the house or on the car, it just isn't feasible. I have an old Ryobi cordless (think it's 12 years old) and the batteries are a significant way past their best. Why am I going to spend roughly £80-£100 on a new cordless Ryobi which I will barely use when I have a perfectly usable corded drill. If I was using it every day, then yes, I would probably grab myself a deal on a Makita or similar. But it's a luxury item I have not much need for right now. I also don't have a spare ton sitting around that I can just splash out on a drill. Not all of us have pots of money to spend on tools.

It probably doesn't help that I am cut from a similar cloth as my Dad, who still has and occasionally uses) the Wolf drill his old man had. My Dad is 80...

Lipo batteries don't tolerate being left unused for extended periods, they will probably be ok for monthly use but it's not ideal. I've got a lovely little set of a 12v AEG impact driver and drill, I kept them for kitchen fitting so don't get used regularly, not done a kitchen in 3 or 4 months and the batteries are both deader than a dead thing.
If you are going to store them unused then the cell manufacturers have a recommended procedure to follow to ensure they don't degrade.
Also being left over night in cold or freezing conditions (like in a van or garage) according to the instructions with my Dewalt kit can cause permanent damage.

I'm a professional user, my 5 18v 4ah dewalt lipos have significantly degraded with 3 years use (4 years from date of manufacture) I'm also on my second drill, the first one burned out in spectacular fashion throwing bits of molten plastic out whilst I desperately tried to unplug the battery.
I've bought some supposed 5ah aftermarket batteries from eBay, they got a capacity of approx 2ah so ended up getting my money back, the seller just wanted to refund not send some actual 5ah ones so I assume they were all badged higher than the reality.

There are some you tube videos on how to breathe new life into drill batteries. Don't do it in the lounge though 😉

Cordless stuff needs to be used regularly to keep it in good condition, even li-ion. They don’t like being left part-charged either. Also never charge them til they’re totally depleted.

I used to have one drill at home and one at work, the work one got used regularly, the home one proably only every other weekend. The home one didn’t last very well at all. It was become problematic way before the one in regular use. Now I just have one and take it home at weekends. It’s lasting way longer than before, current one so now about 3 years old with no loss of performance.

So, this has totally had it now, one of the jaws isn’t moving anymore. Any ideas how I get the chuck off? I was expecting a screw or something inside but there appears to be nothing?