I really liked that these drills were very controllable and with my 12v single speed drill I was able to drill through 1.5 inches of a flesh block of birch wood. As others have said in the reviews, just take your time. When the drill hits the bottom, it is blocked. Pull the drill out a little, remove the wood shavings and continue working while watching the drill heat up. I stopped halfway for a few seconds to let the drill cool down a bit - I know it's really not designed for that. At first, keep your speed as low as possible. A slight angle helps set the bite of the blade. I used a 1.75" drill bit for 2 holes and saw no change in the drill's performance. The same goes for the 1.25 inch drill bit. It's worth the investment knowing it can handle fairly tough wood.