Replies

1. 
   webby | May 26, 2008 11:30pm | #1

   I have a 12 v. Dewalt, and a 14.4 v. Makita. I think they are both good tools. However, the Dewalt seems to spin a little slower and at times is a little more controllable. I like them both equally.

   I have the three jaw chuck for both. Interesting, the three jaw chuck for the makita would not lock into the dewalt detent.

   Webby 

    

2. 
   JerryPacMan | May 26, 2008 11:35pm | #2

   I am a big fan of Panasonic.  I have a cordless screwdriver that I bought in 1991 and used it almost everyday when I was working.  I also have a 12 volt cordless drill purchased in the mid 90's.  They both still word great.  I have a 12 volt impact driver that works great. 

   I recently purchased a Panasonic plasma and plan to purchase their Blu-Ray player,  I guess you can say I love my Panasonic products. 

    

   Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans .

   "Life is not a success only journey."  Dr. Phil

3. 
   flairwoodworks | May 27, 2008 05:21am | #3

   Eric,

   I challenged my uncle and his Makita 14.4V LiOn with my DeWalt 9.6V NiCad to drive 3" deck screws the fastest.  Mine won, but the battery also died sooner.  The DeWalt is a solid, no frills tool.  The Makita has the light, which is nice when working in a corner, etc.

   Panasonics are nice.  Theirs have a clutch, though the clutch on their NiCad version has many more torque settings than their LiOn.  They have lights too.  Hands down, Panasoics have the best batteries, as they should.

   By the way, a impact driver is a competely different tool from a hammer drill.  Different action, different application.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

4. 
   MikeHennessy | May 27, 2008 02:32pm | #4

   I have a Mikita and a DeWalt -- both 14V. I couldn't say one is "better" than the other in any technical respect, but if they are both nearby when I want one, I'll pick up the DeWalt. Just because it "feels better" in use. Must be the balance or something.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

5. 
   potomac | May 28, 2008 04:35am | #5

   I love my dewalt 18v. and have used it almost everyday since I got it. I did drop it off of a lift onto a footer, about 20+ feet and it cracked right through the trigger assembly. I bought a new "bare tool" no baterry off of the web for $89.00, and am doing well. I took apart my broken one and fixed it with some ape glue and tape and now have 2.

1. 
   PD | May 28, 2008 07:57am | #6

   I have the Milwaukee 14.4 and it gets the job done. I have no complaints with it. I do have Panasonic 12 volt drill that is just great but the batteries are terrible, so what does that make the tool.

1. 
   potomac | May 28, 2008 08:54am | #7

   Terribly ineffective, intolerable, I'll stop now

2. 
   flairwoodworks | May 29, 2008 09:11am | #8

   Really?  A Panasonic tool with bad batteries?  From what I understood, the make the batteries for many other tool manufacturers.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   BillBrennen | May 30, 2008 10:17am | #9

   Two possibilities on the bad Panasonic batteries:Old nicads get really lame as they wear out.Panasonic was for a time selling a drill with really weak batteries for a very low price. They were something like 1.3 amp-hour nicads. The real Panasonic drills all come with 3.5 Amp-hour NiMH batteries, a completely different beast.Bill

6. 
   FAQ2 | May 31, 2008 07:26am | #10

   I like a Milwaukee 14.4 volt screwdriver/drill it can drive bolts well too. It has just as much power as an 18 volt CeWalt, i would stat away from Dewalt they seem to lack power and run time. 

7. 
   integrity_woodworks | May 31, 2008 05:52pm | #11

   14v milwaukie I have 4 of them and several others ,the others just collect dust

8. 
   Spencer2 | May 31, 2008 10:31pm | #12

   I put up a 24 x 32 foot metal building, 18g steel. About half way through I discovered impact drivers from the garage installer. Was using a regular drill, #10 hex head self tapping screws. With the impact, it became a breeze. Went to Sears and got a Craftsman 19 V. They had a deal that combined the impact with a regular drill for $10 bucks less than the impact alone! Go figure. Its a bit heavier than I'd like, but it drives the heck out of the screws in 18g stuff, FWIW. Battery life ok too. Spencer