Amazon just launched preorders for the new Skil Flip Drill, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it.
From the product description, the Skil Flip Drill features a “double collet flip head” so that you can “quickly change between drilling and driving bits with just a twist.”
Basically, it lets you load two separate hex-shank drilling or driving accessories that you can quickly switch between.
It looks like there are two identical 1/4″ hex bit chucks. Meaning, there doesn’t appear to be a traditional 3-jaw drill chuck, making this more of a cordless screwdriver than a drill.
The top surface is magnetic, for quick onboard storage of bits or screws.
The Skil Flip Drill features a brushless motor, electronically-controlled torque settings, a drill setting, and LED worklight.
- Works with Skil 12V or 20V batteries
- Brushless motor
- Speed:
- 12V: 0-420/0-1550 RPM
- 20V: 0-450/0-1700 RPM
- Max torque:
- 12V: 300 in-lbs
- 20V: 350 in-lbs
- 9+ drill mode electronic torque clutch settings
- 1/4″ hex collets
- Weighs 2lbs
The online user manual points out where the different controls and buttons are.
The kit comes with the tool, 20V 2Ah battery with two-way USB-C charging port, 20W USB-C charger, charging cable, belt clip, 2″ PH2 screwdriver bit, and 4 hex-shank drill bits.
Price: $99.99 (I’m betting it’ll be lower for Black Friday)
Model: DL6300D-12
ETA: November 2024
Compared to the Worx Brushless Switchdriver
Worx has a brushless Switchdriver with 1700 RPM max speed and 445 in-lbs max torque.
The original Worx Switchdriver came out in 2015, and it must have sold well enough for Worx to launch the Nitro Switchdriver 2.0 sometime since then.
If you’re looking for a dual chuck tool, the Worx looks to be a better buy.
Discussion
There’s so much going on here!
To start off, I don’t know how I feel about the rotating bit chuck part, as it looks to only work with 1/4″ hex shank drill and screwdriver bits. Aren’t 1/4″ hex shank accessories quick-change by their very nature?
The D-handle form factor is reminiscent of other brands’ multi-chuck cordless screwdrivers, such as by Festool and Milwaukee.
According to the user manual, the 2Ah battery kitted with the tool is fully recharged in 85 minutes with the included USB-C charger. If you’ve got a separate USB-C PD charger, you can speed up the charging time.
Here’s another angle of the Flip Drill.
Before anyone says “it’s a gimmick,” it absolutely is. Here’s the big question – is the Skil Flip Drill awesome, or absurd?
The Skil Brushless Flip Drill seems interesting to me, but I’m wondering if it’s practical compared to other 1/4″ hex chuck cordless screwdrivers with more standard designs.
Earlier today I saw that the Milwaukee M12 cordless screwdriver is on sale at Home Depot for $79 again. It’s a fairly capable and compact cordless screwdriver that’s kitted with 2 batteries and a standalone charger.
Personally, I’d choose the Milwaukee over the Skil without hesitation.
If switching between 1/4″ hex bits is too much of a hassle, one could always go with a cordless drill for drilling holes, and a separate screwdriver or impact driver for driving fasteners. Around the holidays, you can get a basic 2-tool combo kit for $99, and sometimes less.
On that note, I strongly prefer using a drill chuck for drilling holes, as they wobble less than 1/4″ hex bit chucks. Plus, drill chucks can be used with round and 3-flat drill bits, in addition to 1/4″ hex shank bits.
I think I’d find it more appealing if Skil did away with the rotating bit chuck part and simply made this a D-handle cordless screwdriver.
Then again, my first cordless drill was a Black & Decker Firestorm, which had a removable drill chuck that allowed for quick switching between drill and screwdriver bits. That feature helped steer my purchasing decision.
Although the Brushless Flip Drill looks a bit ridiculous to me, but not any more so than the Worx Switchdrivers, maybe it’ll be a holiday season hit this year with homeowners and DIYers.
It’s surprising that Skil only launched the new tool at Amazon so far; maybe it’ll pop up at Lowe’s later in the season.
Update: User Reviews are in… Kind of
I’ve been watching the Skil Flip Drill on Amazon, and it seems that they combined the listing with an older Skil 20V Max cordless drill.
Because of this, the reviews have been lumped together, and so when you look at the top of the page there are “141 ratings” with a 4.7 star rating. However, the bulk of those reviews – and the associated rating – appears to be for the older and completely different product!
Some of the “free product” reviews are positive, others not so much, with complaints about the driver being awkwardly front-heavy and weakly powered.
Out of the 3 verified purchase reviews that are not “Vine free product” reviews, one declares it to be “Hot Garbage,” another discusses complaints and why they returned it, and the only positive one is a short sentence fragment.
