Review – Axion Drill Driver & Combi Driver

I bought a package consisting of the Axion drill driver and torch kit and the Axion combi drill from Axminster in February for £149.96.

(Axminster don’t do the package any more, but the link to where it used to be is here. The combined price of the above two drill kits is now £129.90 and there’s one more battery in the combi drill package than I got, which goes to show prices are falling).

I previously had Ni-Cad and Ni-Mh cordless drill drivers before, but their batteries had degraded to the point of being useless.

I liked having two drills, as it meant I could have a drill in one and a screwdriver bit in the other, and I was used to having multiple batteries so I could be charging one while I used another, but it seemed impossible for under £300 with any half decent brand.

Included in the package was:

• Axion 10.8V drill driver
• Axion 18V combi drill
• Axion 10.8V torch
• Two 10.8V Li-Ion batteries
• Two 18V Li-Ion batteries (the package linked above has 3 now)

I’ve been quite impressed so far.

The smaller drill driver has 2 speeds and 17 torque settings, plus a drill setting.

The torch and the drill take the same battery size.

The larger combi drill has 2 speeds, a hammer setting, a screwdriver setting with 15 torque settings and a drill setting.

It comes with a side handle which can be screwed on either side

I don’t think either drill is particularly precision-made and there is a small “kick” once per revolution when drilling with the combi drill.

The batteries have held their charge without any noticeable self discharge and are recharged quickly by the supplied chargers.

They’re not the best made power tools I’ve ever owned, but in terms of bang for my buck they’re hard to beat, so I’m willing to put up with quite a lot.

Things I like:

• Lots of kit and Li-Ion batteries for a low price
• Battery indicator on 18V combi drill
• Side handle

Thinks I don’t like:

• No battery indicator on 10.8V drill driver
• 18V combi drill chuck “kicks” slightly