YOUR HOME : NEW CORDLESS DRILLS OFFER CRAFTMEN ADDITIONAL SENSE OF POWER.

Byline: Nick Harder

Two new cordless drill drivers just hitting the market offer a wide range of power.

One of them is the Skil HD2645:04 with 9.6 volts. It offers 150 pounds of torque and two variable speeds. One of the lightest drills in its class, it weighs only 3.7 pounds. It's available at most hardware stores and home centers.

The other drill is available mostly through industrial-tool outlets, although serious do-it-yourselfers can be found in these stores as well as tradesmen. It's the Bosch 14.4-volt 3610K cordless, with 250 pounds of torque. Even for its power it weighs very little. Only 4.1 pounds.

Down and dirty: It seems there's a new vacuum model out every week.

Now it's Dirt Devil's turn. Its new vacuum - the Ultra MVP - boasts a 20-foot extra reach. Its Hide-a-Hose includes a built-in stretch hose. When used with a ``telescopic wand,'' you can clean things up to 20 feet away from the vacuum. That means stairs can be cleaned with just the extra hose.

The new MVP also features the ``touchless'' bag system for those who want to keep their hands clean instead of touching that yucky bag. Dirt Devil says it makes exchanging a new bag for an old one a clean and easy task.

So what does this boon to clean homes sell for? Dirt Devil suggests $199.

MEMO: Nick Harder writes for the Orange County Register.