Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

I burned out my 3/8 drill that I just got 29 years ago. I've been loking at some of the new corded drills and will the ratchet chucks hold as well as my old Jacob's with the key. My brother recommended a Bosch or Metabo; any advice from folks that have used these drills/chucks??

Thanks
Z

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

I like them, never had a problem. In fact, I always have more trouble with the Jacob's with the key.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

I have a Milwaukee with the keyless chuck, I agree it's far better than a keyed piece. I think the keyless is made by Jacobs.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

Work fine for me also.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

My keyed drill has had to have the chuck replaced from the key wearing it out. Its only about 30 years old too. My keyless drill chuck holds the drill bit every bit as secure as the keyed chuck. No problemo.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

I worked at the electrical trade for many years.
In my experience the keyed chuck will out perform a keyless chuck any time all the time.
Granted the keyless is more handy, but most of the cordless drill motors are produced offshore as well as the chucks on them. OK for the smaller sizes, but the larger sizes will slip.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

I like keyed but be ready to get out of the way if they grab. Keyless seem to give a moment notice.

Lonnie

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

That key-less will do fine if it one that you can tighten with one hand and not two hands.
There are a couple of styles.

R

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

Well made keyless chucks work well but, are very expensive. The ones that come on cheap or moderately priced drill motors are best described as junk. If you buy a drill motor with a keyless chuck I will recommend that you buy the best you afford as you will be more likely to be satisfied with the chucks performance.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

My experience is with DeWalt and never had a slippage issue and mine get used hard and heavy.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

Some of the cheaper models seem to have chrome or polished harden steel jaws, they don't hold the drill bit's for s#$t.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

My drill with the keyed chuck holds better than the keyless one. The keyed drill is old, while the keyless is only about 6 years old.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

My Milwaukee keyless has never been a problem and I use it in my plumbing business all the time.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

I have a key -less DeWalt and it works good for certain chores. I've gone thru 4 batteries which are crap! I prefer my Milwaukee keyed drill which I bought when I started doing custom stairs in 1986. We did stair installations for 6 days a week and for 9 years. 2 cords later and a set of brushes and it still does the job. I bought 2 more like it for backups 2 years ago and have not touched them. My son in laws will inherit them!

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

I agree with D.Jones. A quality item either keyed or keyless will last and work well for many years, if looked after. There is a lot of junk around, in both types.
Same old story; Ya gets what ya pays for, even in Jacobs.
I have never regretted buying quality tools, they're just harder to find these days with the oceans of junk about.

Can I recommend you buy a new set of drill bits to go with the new drill? Starting with messed up shanks won't help a new chuck.

Think about how much it hurt you economically, 29 years ago to buy that quality drill.
Are you about to invest to that level of "hurt" again?

Let us know what you decide, and good luck!

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

It sounds like the Milwalkee or DeWalt are being recommended. I'll wait for a few more responses.

Thanks for the great input thus far.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

It's not so much a difference between a Jacobs chuck and a hand ratcheting chuck as it is a difference between a quality tool and a cheap tool. That said, I can't remember how many cords I've wrapped and thumbs sprained from not removing the key, and did you ever take a drill to a job with the wrong key?

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

Keyless chucks are not much good with reverse bits.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

I have several of each style in various sizes and those with a "key" hold best. However, I like the speed and convenience of the "keyless". Truth be told--I often do things the original equipment manufacturer would not recommend such as chucking a 5/8" bit, with cut down shank, into a 3/8" chuck.

Re: Will a ratcheting drill chuck hold the bit for drilliing steel
 

Is it the Milwaukee 1/2" magnum hole shooter? They are great drills. I have a few and a old 3/8" black and decker and use them all the time. One of tbe hougen mag drills I have came new with a Milwaukee drill motor.

As for a keyless chuck. They are handy In a cordless drill but for any heavy duty or continuous work I would use tbe regular jacobs keyed chuck.