How do people protect their drills?

Mikey, that's a slick looking bag!

Mikey Schaeferwrote:

This was just a one off I made.  It is foam lined to reduce the noise but also works to protects the drill.  I’ve actually had a couple requests from friends to make more but just haven’t had the time.

Wow, stealth protection

Mikey Schaeferwrote:

This was just a one off I made.  It is foam lined to reduce the noise but also works to protects the drill.  I’ve actually had a couple requests from friends to make more but just haven’t had the time.

I really like the noise reduction function of that bag.   I could definitely use that.

"The muffler".  Pro!

I picked up a beefy computer attache bag from the thrift store.  It has padding in the sides and bottom to obstensively to protect a laptop.  Plus it has storage in the sleeve and pocket areas.  I'm going to modify it to be a tool sleeve by adding grommets and webbing so i can safely haul and deploy the drill.  Most thrift stores typically have an assortment of these for sale.  Other options i considered are soft-pak coolers.  You often find these at thrifts and they can be somewhat smaller than a computer brief.......and often have thicker foam in the shell.

bernard wolfewrote:

I picked up a beefy computer attache bag from the thrift store.  It has padding in the sides and bottom to obstensively to protect a laptop.  Plus it has storage in the sleeve and pocket areas.  I'm going to modify it to be a tool sleeve by adding grommets and webbing so i can safely haul and deploy the drill.  Most thrift stores typically have an assortment of these for sale.  Other options i considered are soft-pak coolers.  You often find these at thrifts and they can be somewhat smaller than a computer brief.......and often have thicker foam in the shell.

Love the soft cooler idea, that might be a winner! I imagine if you just reinforce the points where bit, handle, and webbing/cordage from the drill will exit the cooler, it'd be good. Maybe epoxy/seam seal/duct tape the cooler to make it more durable?

I never worried about protecting my drill from hauling it.   I beat the crap out of mine and it keeps on ticking away.   I do  however like that sound muffling case Mikey has.  I wonder how much quieter it makes it since the bit is exposed and hammering on rock, can’t really quiet through aspect too much. 

Kevin Mokracekwrote:

I never worried about protecting my drill from hauling it.   I beat the crap out of mine and it keeps on ticking away.   I do  however like that sound muffling case Mikey has.  I wonder how much quieter it makes it since the bit is exposed and hammering on rock, can’t really quiet through aspect too much. 

Even with the bit exposed, Mikey’s custom bag  reduces most of the drill noise. I’d be more concerned with obstructing the drill vents and overheating my drill.

Kevin the bag is actually designed to be flush up against the wall to reduce the sound of the bit hitting the wall.  Pretty similar to the old A5 stubby haulbag silencer that use to get used in Yosemite.  (Hopefully no one is still using a power drill in Yosemite!)

And yes Tony, if you are rapid firing in a lot of bolts this bag probably isn’t a good idea due to lack of ventilation.  I can’t say I’ve ever put in so many bolts in such a short amount of time that would ever be a concern for me though.  I also haven’t bolted a normal sport route in a really long time.

A drill silencer seems very similar to a pistol silencer - the owner is up to no good hahahahahaha!

Cherokee Nuneswrote:

A drill silencer seems very similar to a pistol silencer - the owner is up to no good hahahahahaha!

Don’t ask, don’t tell. 

Cherokee Nuneswrote:

A drill silencer seems very similar to a pistol silencer - the owner is up to no good hahahahahaha!

Except in the pistol suppressor instance someone's likely to just be saving their hearing and being less annoying to the neighbors.

And likely waited 9 months for the privilege

Got a runout customs bolting bag from my fiance and it's been great. At first I thought it would be too small but it fits drill, battery, bolts and all tools. It's also beefy enough to haul up slabs without worrying about it getting torn up which is nice. 

PWZwrote:

Except in the pistol suppressor instance someone's likely to just be saving their hearing and being less annoying to the neighbors.

I’d say my bag/silencer is for the exact same purpose!  I’ve unfortunately started to loose my hearing (I’m 42) and one of the possible causes is from all the hand drilling I’ve done.  It is the only thing I’ve done in my life where I’ve been subject to high decibels for long periods of time. I’m super adverse to load noises now and always have ear plugs with me.  

And not annoying other people at the crag or non climbers on nearby trails with the sound of the drill is considerate and lowers the impact.

Mikey Schaeferwrote:

I’d say my bag/silencer is for the exact same purpose!  I’ve unfortunately started to loose my hearing (I’m 42) and one of the possible causes is from all the hand drilling I’ve done.  It is the only thing I’ve done in my life where I’ve been subject to high decibels for long periods of time. I’m super adverse to load noises now and always have ear plugs with me.  

And not annoying other people at the crag or non climbers on nearby trails with the sound of the drill is considerate and lowers the impact.

Please sign me up for a bag if you ever retire and take up a seamster's life. That thing is beautiful!

I have dragged 3 different drills up cliffs for 30 years and put up close to 700 routes. I have never had the outer shell wear out. Batteries wear out and bearings which I replace but I don't worry about how it looks. The outer protector is way less durable than the plastic of the drill itself. Not saying don't get or make one if you have the time and or money. Just letting you know that it isn't imperative to protect the dril from dragging wear.

Mikey Schaeferwrote:

I’d say my bag/silencer is for the exact same purpose!  I’ve unfortunately started to loose my hearing (I’m 42) and one of the possible causes is from all the hand drilling I’ve done.  It is the only thing I’ve done in my life where I’ve been subject to high decibels for long periods of time. I’m super adverse to load noises now and always have ear plugs with me.  

Same here, my hearing isn't the greatest, and the left ear is worse (also some tinnitus primarily in the left). Hand drilling a shit ton of bolts is almost certainly the cause, and of course the left ear is closer when you hand drill right handed (I do swap to left sometimes...but not often).

I've also become adverse to loud noises. Good call on the ear plugs.

Now for something scarier...I wonder how all our lungs are doing with years of inhaling rock dust...

(and to the original question - like EFR I never protect the drill and it's never been an issue, a drill isn't trying to win a beauty contest)

I would guess all the driving climbers typically do is more damaging to hearing than however many hours of banging with a hammer.  Driving a van with wind noise and little of the sound proofing of a sedan, combined with turning up a stereo even louder to drown it out - for way more hours than anyone will ever drill.

Made this cover in the early 1990s for a Bosch Bulldog after converting to a remote battery pack. The drill hangs from the harness waistband, with the bit forward and pointed slightly down. Ready to grab one-handed to drill from stance.