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Power drill attachments promise to turn your everyday drill into a multi-functional tool, capable of sawing, sanding, scrubbing, pumping water, and more. But do these low-cost accessories actually deliver? In this comprehensive review, a wide range of drill attachments—from mini chainsaws to water pumps—were tested head-to-head. The results reveal which tools are worth the money and which are better left on the shelf.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Many budget-friendly attachments performed surprisingly well for light-duty DIY use.
- High-speed attachments like circular saws and grinding wheels pose safety risks due to poor stability and control.
- Tools like the scrub brush and chamfer bit scored high for value and ease of use.
- Build quality and attachment design are major differentiators between safe and sketchy performance.
- Just because an attachment fits your drill doesn’t mean it’s a smart—or safe—choice.
Chainsaw Drill Attachment – Surprisingly Capable
At just $24, this chainsaw drill attachment cut a 2×4 in an average of 3.3 seconds—faster than a standard hand saw. While it’s not made for heavy-duty use, it held up even during a torture test using a powerful Milwaukee drill.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Best for: Light pruning or occasional lumber cutting.
Sheet Metal Cutting Attachments – Mixed Results
Two metal shears were tested: a generic $24 attachment and the $63 Malco TS1 Turbo Shear. Both performed well, though the Malco stood out for its cleaner edges and tighter control.
Midwest manual aviation snips also excelled in cutting sheet metal cleanly, with far less vibration.
Rating:
- Generic cutter: ★★★★☆
- Malco: ★★★★★
- Midwest snips: ★★★★★
Circular Saw Drill Attachment – Unsafe and Ineffective
Although affordable at $19, this circular saw attachment was called “sketchy to say the least.” Vibrations, poor blade stability, and awkward handling made it a safety concern.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ (0/5)
Best avoided.
Reciprocating Saw Attachments – Inconsistent Performance
Two reciprocating saw drill attachments were tested. The first had blade retention issues and dull blades. The second was slightly better designed but still underpowered.
Rating:
- First attachment: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
- Second attachment: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Conclusion: A good reciprocating saw is worth the investment.
Paint and Rust Removal Tools – Underwhelming Results
The Roto Stripper and flat brush attachments disappointed. The Roto Stripper removed paint—but also damaged wood and left pitting on metal.
Milwaukee orbital sander outperformed both tools with cleaner, faster results.
Rating:
- Roto Stripper: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
- Flat Brush: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Auger Drill Bits – Fast Hole Digging for the Right Soil
A $24 set of four augers worked well in moderately dry soil but struggled in hard ground. The $34 Jay’s Rod auger, with a pointed tip, excelled at digging deeper holes even in tough soil conditions.
Rating:
- 4-piece set: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
- Jay’s Rod auger: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Drill-Powered Water Pump – Budget-Friendly Utility
At around $12, this compact water pump moved nearly 5 gallons in under 40 seconds. While it’s not built for long-term durability, it’s a great backup tool for small water transfer jobs.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Chamfer & Deburring Tool – A Handy Bolt Fixer
For $20, this chamfer tool cleaned up cut bolts in seconds and helped nuts thread on smoothly again.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Best for: Quick fixes in metalwork and DIY repairs.
Mini Cutting Wheel Set – Too Hard to Control
The $10 cutting wheel set was unstable and hard to control when mounted to a drill.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Metal Cutoff Wheels – Poor Quality
These $25 wheels quickly degraded during testing. Without the support of a proper angle grinder, drill-mounted grinding became dangerous and imprecise.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Scrub Brush Attachment – The Star of the Show
A $6 drill brush set outperformed manual scrubbing, cleaning surfaces twice as fast. For the price, this attachment delivered amazing value and speed.
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Best for: Cleaning tires, tubs, and outdoor gear.
Final Thoughts: Which Drill Attachments Are Worth It?
✅ Worth Buying:
- Chainsaw Attachment (Light-duty use)
- Sheet Metal Shears (Especially the Malco)
- Chamfer Tool
- Drill-Powered Auger (for softer soil)
- Water Pump (Small jobs)
- Scrub Brush
🚫 Skip These:
- Circular Saw Attachment
- Roto Stripper
- Mini Cutting Wheels
- Cutoff Discs for Metal
When it comes to drill attachments, not all tools are created equal. For under $25, some attachments offer tremendous value, while others sacrifice safety and performance. Always consider the application—and your drill’s power—before turning your handheld tool into a multi-tasking machine.