#Drill August 26

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August 2026 several of us are going to take on the 30-Day Plugged in Coach4aday Challenge. Each day, we will feature an item from home or office that requires being plugged into a source of electricity to operate. We will reflect on how it makes life easier. For Day 26 it is on the DRILL.

I inherited a manual eggbeater hand drill from my dad’s workshop. Below is a photo.

This essential handyman tool has gone through several major transitions over the years. It started as a hand-cranked tool, evolved into a corded electric drill, and today can be powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Each step has made the drill more convenient, portable, and powerful.

Day 26-Hand Drill

Electric drill timeline

• 1895: Wilhelm Emil Fein of Germany developed what is generally considered the first electric hand drill. It was powered by electricity and was much smaller and more practical than earlier industrial drilling machines.
• 1910: Black & Decker introduced an important innovation: the first portable electric drill with a pistol-grip design and trigger switch. This basic configuration became the model for modern electric drills.
• 1920s–1930s: Electric drills became increasingly common in workshops and among tradespeople.
• 1950s–1960s: Smaller, more affordable ones began making their way into American homes and became popular DIY tools.
• 1970s–1980s: Cordless technology began developing, eventually eliminating the need for an electrical cord.
• 1990s–2000s: Improved rechargeable batteries, particularly nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion, made cordless drills increasingly powerful and practical.