Replies

1. 
   Ray | Apr 02, 2006 04:36am | #1

   I bought a B&D 18-V Firestorm when they first came out. After replacing the batteries & charger 3 times B&D gave me a set that worked (all under warranty). After 5 years it's still running strong. I needed an additional drill & like the 18V power so went to Lowe's and bought the discontinued Hitachi set on sale (solid green). I'm not too proud of the chuck, it doesn't hold drill bits as well as the Black & Decker, but with a drywall bit, or a hex-shank drill bit, it can't be beat. And I really like the circular saw that came with the set.

1. 
   LowesToolGuy | Apr 02, 2006 04:57am | #2

   Yeah, I'm really happy with what Hitachi Koki has done with their power tools over the last five years. I never thought much of them, but they have come a long way... to the point on being on the level with DeWalt or maybe even Bosch Brute Tough

2. 
   SantaBarbaraSawDust | Apr 02, 2006 06:07am | #3

   I bought the Milwaukee 18 v. drill 4 years ago as a second drill so I wouldn't need to change bits constantly from a drill bit to a driver bit ( I also have a 12v Milwaukee cordless). This arrangement works great as the 12v is used for most drilling and the 18v, with more power, is used primarily as a driver. Both tools have withstood beating after beating and continue day after day.To get to most life from your batteries, let them run down almost completely the first few times you use them. Doing this will keep a battery from developing a "memory" and forever take only a partial charge. Also, don't charge your batteries right after use and don't use them right after charging. Heat is the enemy of batteries and using/charging them creates heat. What I got in the habit of doing is charging the low batteries first thing the next morning and then let it sit awhile before using it again. With a 3 battery rotation it's easy to do without running out of power.

1. 
   highfigh | Apr 02, 2006 06:15am | #4

   Once again, the point that battery memory is now nonexistent. The old batteries had it, but for quite a while now, they don't. Heat is the biggest killer of electronic devices and batteries. Heat kills anything mechanical or electrical, for that matter. Whether the heat is from discharging too rapidly or working too hard and too long, things don't last when exposed to heat.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

2. 
   Ejc | Apr 02, 2006 10:44pm | #5

   Are you just looking for votes on faves?

   Panasonic 18v,  (their 15.6 kicks but also)

   The only way i can qualify that is to say ,mine has been abused for two years and is still going strong.  My current daytime job kicks the hell out of them. After my first year there , I burned up a milwaukee, the bosch dint make it three months, lets not even discuss the yello guys. then a pany 15.6 almost made two years. When that one went , I bought the pany 18v, still going strong .

   Hope this helps

    Eric

1. 
   LowesToolGuy | Apr 02, 2006 11:27pm | #6

   Yeah, and there alarm clocks rock too! Seriously, i havent looked too much into them, what kind of price?

1. 
   Ejc | Apr 03, 2006 01:53am | #7

   I believe you can generally find the 15.6 in a kit with charger and two batteries (3.5 NiMh) for about 200,  the 18v will set you back about 265.

    

    E