Replies

1. 
   stancalow | Aug 23, 2004 01:05am | #1

   Wendy

   You are likely to get a lot of negative feedback, as there are many people with a lot of experience here, who don't think highly of any current Craftsman power tool.  The general opinion is that they have really reduced the quality of there tools in order to compete on price with other lower end brands.  Before they jump in, let me say a couple of things.

   What are you going to use it for?  Are you building a lot of stuff, or just for typical household use?  Most heavy duty users would prefer a brand like Milwaukee, DeWalt or Porter Cable, but of course these are more expensive.  So the next question is what is your budget? The best tool is one that meets your needs and budget.

   That being said, I used to own a 16.8v (anything bigger is too heavy to be comfortable) Craftsman drill ( I think it was their Industrial or Professional model) that was the most dependable power tool I've owned.  It ran forever on a charge, and the chuck never slipped.  I broke it after repeated falls from a tall ladder onto concrete, or I'd still have it.  It was a bargain for $79, compared to the one I replaced  it with (one of the "pro" ones mentioned above. 

   My two cents

2. 
   bobpowers | Aug 23, 2004 01:18am | #2

   At the risk of lots of chuckles from others, I have a recommendation.  I have used a Craftsman electric screwdriver for the last 3 or 4 years.  I paid about $20 for it.  I also have a cordless 14.4 volt DeWalt drill/driver.  Although the DeWalt has variable speed, much power, etc., the weight and physical size of it work against it when I am only driving a few screws, or am working in tight places.  The electric screwdriver has no chuck.  You just stick the bit in the end of the thing.

   Before I bought the Craftsman, I used another similar product, can't remember the brand, with equal success for a number of years.  When they quit, just throw it away and spend another $20.

   They use the same standard bits.

3. 
   user-277699 | Aug 23, 2004 01:57am | #3

   Wendy,

   I am on the far side of 29, and have been using tools since I could stand upright by myself and get into my Daddy's toolbox.  I posted my thoughts about Sears in general, and Craftsman tools in particular in other discussion threads, and on other woodworking tool forums, so I'll just summarize here: OLD Craftsman, worth consideration; NEW Craftsman, you can & should do better!  Sears is a marketing operation whose products are made by OEM suppliers.  They change suppliers faster than my teenage nieces change their minds.

   One of my friends who works at a community arboretum near my home bought a Makita drill/driver and likes it very much.  When she was helping me with some window repairs she used, and liked the DeWalt drill/driver I have. I bought a 12-volt unit packaged in a "kit" (DW972K) so I got a case, charger and spare battery along with the drill/driver.  Keep in mind that the higher the voltage rating, the larger & heavier the battery pack will be.  The handle is centered on the motor body so I think it balances better than "Pistol" styles.  Also, I would not want to hold anything heavier for any great length of time.

   The DeWalt drill/driver I have is at least 6 years old, and was used building our house.  It is still going strong.

   Mrs. Musician42    (borrowing my husband's login ID)

4. 
   nikkiwood | Aug 23, 2004 04:07am | #4

   How's this for bias?? If Sears sent a truck to my shop with their complete line of tools (hand, power, and stationary), I would pull out the socket set, and refuse delivery on everything else -- even if it was completely free.

   But, as another poster pointed out, if you are looking for a cordless drill for occasional use in drilling holes and driving screws, the Sears might do the job for you, especially if the price is attractive to you.

   To build a frame of reference for you, I would say Panasonic and Makita are on the top tier -- but they are expensive, and generally available only from industrial tool suppliers or via the internet.

   Bosch and Dewalt are on the second tier -- somewhat less expensive, sold in most home centers, and widely used in the building trades.

   Milwaukee and Porter-Cable have their fans, but it is my personal perception that they have not been able to crack into the big leagues represented by the four above. I just don't know if this is a quality or marketing issue.

   Black and Decker and Sears Craftsman are, I think, at the bottom of the heap -- both for quality and price.

   There are other brands, such as Hitachi, that are competing for the top level, but they just don't sell enough units to generate much feedback.

   Remember, this is just one person's opinion, but I hope it helps you begin to sort out the market.

   Also, bear in mind that most will commit to one brand -- and stay with it for subsequent purchases, since batteries and chargers are specific to each brand.

   Good luck.

5. 
   jwinko | Aug 23, 2004 04:42am | #5

   i think craftsman is made by ryobi, and these are available at home depot.  I think either would do the job.  My policy has been to buy the cheapest tool that will do the job and learn why you need an expensive one.  I have had many good makita battery powered drills, they all have been stolen over time.  I now use a 12volt ryobi and a 14 v ryobi and they work.  Dont feel as good as the makita or the panasonic, but they work.

   good luck

   john

6. 
   dem_tortas | Aug 23, 2004 02:40pm | #6

   I have used craftsman, makita, and milwaukee cordless drills. purchased in that order

   in my opinion they all suck.  battery length is awful.  I just purchased a metabo cordless drill yes it was pricey, but it is very reliable and the batterys last foreverer.

   panasonic would be my second choice.

   but if you want to just drill in screws and remove them, I also purchased a metabo powergrip.  it is a cordless screwdriver that rarely lets me down. it is 4.8 volts and I feel lost when i have to insert or remove a fastener and dont have it.  If you want to secure screws, buy a metabo power grip, and get the cheap drill, better yet get a good corded 1/2" chuck corded drill.

   http://www.woodworking.com/articles/index.cfm?fa=show&id=678

   
   

   ---

   Edited 8/23/2004 7:44 am ET by dem_tortas

   
   

   ---

   Edited 8/23/2004 8:15 am ET by dem_tortas

7. 
   dem_tortas | Aug 23, 2004 03:17pm | #7

   btw the dewalt cordless are made by black and decker, and have plastic gears.

1. 
   mudman | Aug 23, 2004 07:05pm | #9

   The higher end model use metal gears. Plus I've never heard of a Dewalt gear box crapping out prematurely. I've gone through 2 Dewalts in the last few years, and they are impressive. I probably average using one full battery a day.

   mikeplease excuse my spelling.

8. 
   Bouboubomber | Aug 23, 2004 06:36pm | #8

   I have an 18 volt craftsman drill/driver, bought it 2 years ago and havent found a problem with it yet. lots of power, the battery keeps the charge, etc. Would recommend it to anyone

9. 
   mudman | Aug 23, 2004 07:14pm | #10

   Wendy,

   If you are wanting it mainly for driving screws consider an impact driver. I have a cheep Hitachi 12 v. impact driver. It has 900 in. lbs. of torque!! That is almost double my monster 18 v. drill. It also dosent transfer the torque to your wrist, you have to use it to understand. And it never spins out of the screw or strips the head. The only down side is it is a noisier than a regular drill/ driver.

   Go to "Break Time", thats the forum on this site for Fine Home Building, search for discussions on impact drivers. Every one who uses them loves them.  Again they are really only for driving screws and bolts, not drilling; though I use mine to drill small pilot holes. You have to check one out.

   Mike

   P.S. Craftsman really is crap.

   please excuse my spelling.
1. 
   wendy1 | Aug 24, 2004 02:36am | #11

   HI,

   Thanks  everyone for your advice. OMG! So many varied opinions.  If I were just driving screws I'd check out the driver. Right now I'm using my friends Professional Craftsman 14v drill/driver. I like the balance and feel of this particular cordless drill.  It has enough power for what I'm doing. For ages I've been using a corded DeWalt drill.. which packs plenty of punch but when it comes to driving screws it doesn't have a variable speed.  You can easily strip a screw if you're not too careful.  I want a drill that excels when it comes to countersinking /counterboring, and pre-drilling.

   Yup, I know all about Panasonic. They make the best drill/driver out there. But a panasonic drill is way out of my price range. I could never justify spending that kind of money on a drill.  Looked at a Bosch 14volt drill today at the building centre.. $199.00. I don't know too much about Bosch drills but I know they make a decent Router.  I also had a chance to look at a DeWalt 12v drill/driver.... Way too HEAVY... Nice and compact for fitting into tight areas.

   Wendy

   PS.. Is it true that Black & Decker bought out DeWalt yrs ago? The same company that makes the worst powertools on the market.

1. 
   nikkiwood | Aug 24, 2004 05:17am | #12

   Yep, B&D owns Dewalt, and has just purchased Delta and Porter-Cable.

   For years B&D had one of the best lines of industrial level power tools. Over time, they literally ran the line into the ground by cutting corners and costs. When the line was finally moribund, they resurrected the Dewalt name, and brought out a new industrial line about 10-12 years ago. Now the same process seems to be starting with Dewalt tools.

   Only the good Lord knows what they have in mind for Delta and P-C.

   BTW, Bosch makes a decent cordless drill, and if you like it, you should buy it. However, Panasonic has a 15.6v model on the market that sells for about the same price ($200, 2 batteries, and a charger).

   Edited 8/23/2004 10:18 pm ET by nikkiwood

10. 
    CarpenterJC | Aug 24, 2004 06:12am | #13

    I had a 19.2 volt Craftsman..lasted exactly 7 months...batteries were going dead so fast I couldnt keep them charged fast enough..the clutch was slipping...and the trigger was replaced twice by Sears...I think its ina landfill in Michigan someplace now..save the aggravation..by a Brand name..Dewalt/Bosch/Milwaukee/PC..something of that nature..I sense your next question is gonna be.."what about the Rigid Drills?"..answer: Rigid should have stuck to manufacturing Pipe Wrenches...just My 2 inflated sense.

                                                                  JC

1. 
   dem_tortas | Aug 24, 2004 07:39pm | #14

   ridgid makes a damn good pipe threader also

11. 
    Len | Aug 24, 2004 07:55pm | #15

    Wendy,

    I shied away from Craftsman a long time ago. Their quality and customer service has dropped. IMO.

    I have couple of questions. Do you really need a 16.8v? What do you do with it? ie. home stuff/ work stuff.

    FWIW. I own a 18v Makita and just replaced my 9.6v Bosch with a 12v Makita. I prefer to use a smaller drill/driver if I can get away with it. I find lugging the 18v around on my tool belt tiring. Since I have two batteries for each of them I don't worry that much about run time. If I have hundreds of screws to drive then I break out the corded driver.

    Some considerations.

    Most good drivers come with a multi - smart charger. Although I noticed my 18v charger can charge all the voltages but my 12v charger stops at 12v. (Oh well.)

    Every new driver should come with a keyless chuck. The new ones come with keyless ratchet chuck. Turn it until it stops and then another turn and it locks. I really like this new feature. Makita and I believe Dewalt have this feature.

    Weight...enough said.

    Go to your local home store and take a look at what's out there. Ask the salesman to bring out the batteries so you can feel the weight and balance.

    One final note. A long time ago you could only buy Craftsman from Sears. Now they sell other brands and even promote they carry other brands. Do you think it's because they can't sell enough Craftsman? Oops...my true feelings are showing.

    Hope this helps,

    Len

12. 
    billyg83440 | Aug 24, 2004 08:37pm | #16

    My only impression of the Craftsman drills is from using them, breifly, at work.  My boss was also impressed with the price, and we have several of them sitting around.  Not one of them works well, and several have gone to the landfill. They are only used in an emergency, and if you have a QUICK job as the batteries go dead amazingly fast.

    If you want to try one, get one off ebay, they're real cheap there.

    On the other hand, the new dewalt drills with the 3 speed all metal gearboxes we've got are AWESOME.  In fact, the Dewalt 9.6 volt I bought 8-9 years ago and have used the crud out of still works great, though it's batteries are due for a replacement.

    Try this experiment, go to Sears pick up the demo Dewalt or Makita 12v drill with a battery in it, then pick up the Craftsman drill.  Notice how nice and light the Craftsman drill is.  Then think about how little metal they put in their batteries to make them so light.  Light is nice, but without the mass in the battery pack there's no capacity.

    If you want a cheap drill, my impression has been the Ryobi's are much better.  At least there's some mass to them when you pick them up.

1. 
   wendy1 | Aug 25, 2004 12:59am | #17

   hi,

   OK I've decided to bypass Craftsmans. It's down to Hitachi , Skil and Bosch. I only need a 12volt drill but they are very hard to find. Most companies are now producing 14 volt drills and higher.

   Has anyone here had the opportunity to try out any of the Hitachi Drills. I'm interested in the Hitachi DS14 DVF   The Ds12DVF was given a very good review in the Popular woodworking mag as was the Skil 2484-04 Both 12 volt drills. And the skil drill comes with a single sleeve clutch which is a real plus.

   cost of the Hitachi DS14 DVF ($119.95 Canadian) It's a consumer grade drill designed for the  do-it-yourselfer.

   Wendy

   Only wish I could afford the $200 Panasonic drill/driver...

1. 
   Len | Aug 25, 2004 01:42am | #18

   Wendy,

   Try,

   http://store.yahoo.com/tylertool/hids12vdrdrk.html

   for the Hitachi. It's on sale for $80.40.

   http://www.internationaltool.com/drills.htm

   for the Bosch. $119.95.

   I really wouldn't buy a Skil...

   For your consideration. I just bought the Makita 12v 6217DWDLEX1 that included the the flashlight and 2 Ni-MH and a free tool belt  149.99 on Amazon.

   Have fun.

   Len

2. 
   mudman | Aug 25, 2004 05:31pm | #19

   I have a Hitachi router and the impact driver I mentioned earlier. Both were, like the drill you are looking at, priced well below the other reputable manufacturers. I was skeptical; I am a firm believer in getting what you pay for. However the Hitachi tools suprise me. The router gets only ocasional use, but the driver is used every day. No complaints. I have used some of their more industrial tools and was impressed with them as well. I think the Bosch is is best of the tools you mantioned, but the Hitachi is likely a better deal for light use.

   Mikeplease excuse my spelling.

3. 
   nikkiwood | Aug 25, 2004 06:50pm | #21

   I think I would drop the Skil from your group of three; Bosch has turned this into their "consumer" line since they pruchased Skil a few years ago.

   I can't offer much help on the Hitachi, except to say they have a sterling reputation for their general line of tools with industrial users. I have no evidence to back this up, but I sense that Hitachi is trying hard to bolster their market share in North America -- and that usually means offering higher quality mechandise at prices the same or below competitiors.

   So I think they would probably be a good bet fort the cordless drill you're considering.

13. 
    bones | Aug 25, 2004 05:57pm | #20

    Wendy, It really depends on your usage type to determine the drill you want. If it's only an occasional use (Hobbyist/Home use) then craftsman tools are fine. People here will probably rag them pretty good. I have had dewalt , Milwaukee, porter cable, and craftsman electric tools. If you are going to make a living with the tool, then spend the big dollars on the work horse.  I used the dewalt 12v for years and it killed my wrists because of lack of balance in the tool. Two years ago the wife and kids got me the craftsman 19v combo pack with two batteries flashlight and quick charger. At first I said gee thanks, but  it has worked very well and is well balanced. Go to sears and put the tool in your hand and get a sense of feel for the balance. Recently, I helped a good friend do a large deck. He had a cheap skill drill driver from Wally world and it did the job ok. His batteries did not last like mine but so what.  The torque will help in heavy applications such as boring in hard wood, but the 16v probably will do the job. It really comes down to how you plan to use it.  Good luck.