How do people protect their drills?

What do most people out there use to protect their drills when hauling them up a pitch? Is a small haulbag/bolting bag the way to go? I've been thinking of trying to find or make some kind of vinyl or plastic cover that will protect my drill from getting too beat up when I want to pull it up just a single pitch and don't feel like carrying a big bag to the crag. 

More importantly, how do you protect your rope from screaming hot drill bit?  I devised drill bit condom, a piece of pvc pipe on bungee that I slip over the bit.   I use a Metolius Zodiac myself to protect the whole package.  Here's to safe drilling!!

Baby haul bag

What kind of drill?  Power?
For hand drills, they are light, so we just clip a bag with them into our harness.

john collis wrote: What do most people out there use to protect their drills when hauling them up a pitch? Is a small haulbag/bolting bag the way to go? I've been thinking of trying to find or make some kind of vinyl or plastic cover that will protect my drill from getting too beat up when I want to pull it up just a single pitch and don't feel like carrying a big bag to the crag. 

I've used pieces of 2 liter bottles cut up and duct-taped to my drill, plus lots of extra duct tape in protruding areas. For ground-up, mostly stance drilling, I find the nominal wear and tear a worthy compromise for getting bolts in as quickly as possible. 

I have a friend back in NC that uses some kind of beefy haul bag-like cover that reportedly works well, but I haven't seen his setup in a number of years. I can't remember what it was exactly but I think its some kind of ballistic nylon drill case.

Runout customs and Fish both make good bags you might wanna take a look at.

Clint Cummins wrote: What kind of drill?  Power?
For hand drills, they are light, so we just clip a bag with them into our harness.

With my hand drill I just clip it to a little bag with my bolts. More interested in a good way to protect my power drill for hauling up to anchors around the desert.

If you are willing to spend $100, a Metolius haul pack would work (Zodiac was the earlier model).
https://www.metoliusclimbing.com/haul_packs.html 
Or the Fish Atom Smasher:
http://www.fishproducts.com/catalog/haul_bags.html
You could pad it with an old sleeping pad.

If you don't want to spend quite that much, there is a Metolius Express on ebay for $90 obo.

The canyonworks bags are the best.  Super durable, and have a ton of holes in them for water drainage.....which means they let light in so you can more easily grab one of the 5 tools or a bolt you need.   Get one.

Edit*.  I wanted to post a link. I think bluewater was last making these bags but discontinued them.  Total bummer.

I use a cut-up 5l plastic oil container, they come in loads of interesting shapes!

This may be what Nathan mentioned earlier.  Yates made this years ago for a Bosch Bulldog.  I made it wider for an Annihilator.  Drag it up then use fifi to hang it.  Has worked well for around 20 years now on NC granite.  Pic upside down but you get idea   Reach in back to trigger

Thanks Sean!

Metolious makes a bucket made of haul bag material. It is the size of a 5 gallon bucket. For rebolting work where you are carrying all kinds of tools as well the drill it is perfect. For ground up bolting on steep terrain the BD Creek 20 is big enough.

Timothy Fisher wrote: Metolious makes a bucket made of haul bag material. It is the size of a 5 gallon bucket. For rebolting work where you are carrying all kinds of tools as well the drill it is perfect. For ground up bolting on steep terrain the BD Creek 20 is big enough.

Older thread, I know...

But while reading, this Metolius bucket is exactly what I had in mind.  You can crush it down and carry it inside your pack.  It also doesn’t weigh a lot considering the material.  I got one recently and have used it on a couple ground up routes where I had good stances.  Really cheap and made of the same bomber haul bag material.

https://www.metoliusclimbing.com/big-wall-bucket.html
Photo for size reference.

Curtis Baird wrote:

Older thread, I know...

But while reading, this Metolius bucket is exactly what I had in mind.  You can crush it down and carry it inside your pack.  It also doesn’t weigh a lot considering the material.  I got one recently and have used it on a couple ground up routes where I had good stances.  Really cheap and made of the same bomber haul bag material.

https://www.metoliusclimbing.com/big-wall-bucket.html
Photo for size reference.

Electricians and linemen have been using similar collapsible tool buckets for ages:

https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/lineman-buckets-accessories/canvas-buckets 

Reviving this one. People listed some good options so far on this thread, but mainly for general protection of the drill or for good bolting bag ideas. Has anyone, like myself, mangled their clutch selector switch/dial by hauling on less than vertical terrain? I just had to disassemble my drill and replace it, not something I want to repeat. A mere covering, even if burly vinyl, doesn't sound like enough protection from hard knocks. Has anyone had this issue or devised a good way to protect that switch? Seems to me like the most vulnerable and fragile part of any drill

I use an Irwin contractor tool bag.  Any similar bag will work.  But… never haul the drill, always keep attached.  remove sds bit and close handle.  Works good and holds wrenches and bolts.   last piece is an old east wing steel hammer, drilled hole in end with keeper cord.   slide handle through a large locker on your gear loop keeps it tight to your body and no smashed ankles.  

Pete S wrote:

I use an Irwin contractor tool bag.  Any similar bag will work.  But… never haul the drill, always keep attached.  remove sds bit and close handle.  Works good and holds wrenches and bolts.   last piece is an old east wing steel hammer, drilled hole in end with keeper cord.   slide handle through a large locker on your gear loop keeps it tight to your body and no smashed ankles.  

I've considered something like that for rebolting work, but for bolting on lead at my limit, I can't climb with the drill that easily and really need to leave it either on the ground or on a fifi at last piece...thus the need to haul and that's how my dial got smashed up. I'm considering somehow securing a piece of foam or rubber to the dial but not sure yet how to do that

Andy Bennett wrote:

I'm considering somehow securing a piece of foam or rubber to the dial but not sure yet how to do that

Glue or duct tape a section of PVC tube 3/4" or so -  just longer than the dial over it. Make sure the diameter is large enough to be bigger around than the switch so it rest on the drill body and not the dial bezel.

PWZ wrote:

Glue or duct tape a section of PVC tube 3/4" or so -  just longer than the dial over it. Make sure the diameter is large enough to be bigger around than the switch so it rest on the drill body and not the dial bezel.

Good idea!

Andy, old plastic containers and duct tape (as mentioned upthread) work pretty well if you just extend it down over the dial. I always do thus and I've never had an issue with the dials (have owned 4 or 5 drills now).

What I have had issues with are the battery connections becoming looser. I ruined both an m12 and an older Panasonic 12 volt this way. And now my m18 battery fits with a little bit of play. I haven’t been able to come up with a good way to prevent the batteries from getting banged up and still have quick access for ground-up work. Too bad Yates doesn't make that drill case Sean uses because that's probably the best bet.

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.