Replies

1. 
   Pd5190 | Nov 29, 2003 08:23pm | #1

   It really depends upon what you are going to do.  If you live in an apartment and drive a few screws a year or a couple of pilot holes then a light corded drill would be best. You can get away with the low end cordless other than those 19.95 18 volt import stuff those are a total waste of money. I have a B&D versapack for light infreguent work, a 12 volt B&D Firestorm and have sheetrocked a garage and 12 by 30 room with without a problem. Would I try and make a living with the 12 volt? Not on your life. But they have served me well. They also demonstrated there limitations doing some work for a friend of mine.  So while there are those who need the biggest and baddest drill made, there is a lot of work that the cheaper lighter stuff will do just fine. Oh by the way I will be getting a 12 or 14 volt higher end drill here soon because you always seem to exceed the limitations of the equipment you have.

1. 
   oldjoe | Nov 29, 2003 09:41pm | #2

   Thanks for the feedback.  I too am one to exceed  original expectations which is why I usually end up buying one of the best. 

2. 
   TomHigby | Nov 30, 2003 04:48am | #3

   One doesn't always need the most powerful drill.  It depends on the expected use. the 18 volt drill will be heavier to carry around, harder to hold at arm's length, and capable of giving the arm and shoulder a pretty hard back-twist.

   Tom

3. 
   griswald | Nov 30, 2003 06:44am | #4

   A consideration with cordless drills that is frequently ignored is the speed that the battery charger.  I have four or five high end corded drills and faught visciously the move to battery powered.  I picked up a 18 volt Makita at a going out of business sale.  No manuel, no guarantee etc.  It has performed flawlessly for 2 years now and even while screw driving a very large deck project the battery charger always had the second ready to go by the time I ran out of power.  I do agree with the respondent who commented that they (18 volt machines) do have the power to bite back if one is not careful (I have a fairly nasty scar on my cheek to remind me) but the same is true of any tool, or sharp stick for that matter.

   Good luck. 

4. 
   SBerruezo | Nov 30, 2003 10:05am | #5

   I also typically buy the best I can get, hoping it will last me near a lifetime.  I believe that rated in power, from least to greatest, are B&D, Ryobi, and Makita.  I personally would never buy a B&D.  I think it is for few and far between uses.  For a normal person, I would go for the Ryobi; they are resonably priced and deliver fair power.  The Makita is for much more constant, heavier duty use.

1. 
   jgrimes227a | Dec 01, 2003 05:54am | #6

   I got a Sears 14.2 drill some time back - works pretty good but it is big (long) and the chuck is very hard to tighten so that under tough drilling the chuck will come unglued from the drill bit.  I am thinking seriously of getting a Bosch 14.5V drill - light, gobs of torque (metal gear train), well balanced, short and compact, (way shorter than the similar DeWalt model)  and the chuck is really cool.  Unlike the SEARS which requires two hands to tighten the Bosch requires only one hand, you can feel the ratcheting as it tightens, and the end of the chuck has a tip that you can hold to steady the drill as you drill (it does not rotate with the chuck).  This is also pretty nice with working close up as the chuck end won't mar the work near but not at the drilling/screwing site.  This things is like $135-150, so it isn't cheap.  I have learned that it is worth having a quality tool for the thought that generally went into making it - but for keeping it a life-time?  No way.  They just keep coming out with great new tools that perform so much better that it is worthwhile to move up to a better tool after 5-8 years.  Maybe a bit longer if you dont use 'em that much.  Just my 2 cents.  I agree with one writer above that B & D has just gone to hell in a hand basket with the quality of their tools.  The Fire Storm I bought my son for Christmas last year had to be returned because the chuck completely froze up and it was nearly impossible to get the chuck tight enough to hold a bit.  Just a once good company trading on its name.  I have a bunch of their DeWalt branded equipment and they seem awfully good.  When I first bought their new Jig Saw with the knock of Bosch blade system though, I could not get the bloody thing to hold onto some of the blades and had to return it.  DeWalt was very helpful but seemed like they were depending on what alot of American Companies do - sell an untested product and let the public sort it out.   

   Edited 11/30/2003 9:59:07 PM ET by JB

1. 
   GrouchieGrum | Dec 12, 2003 09:05pm | #7

   I bought a Milwaukee 18volt a couple of years back, they still make em.. its nice because you can flip the battery around to change the weight ratio for vertical or horizontal.. it is a bit heavy, but battery lasts a long time though...

   https://www.milwaukeeconnect.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/met/html/images/mediumprod/0622-24.jpg

   Its amazing how cheap cordless drills are now adays... My father was showing me a different 18volt for $50.00 at one store last week...

5. 
   jgrimes227a | Dec 13, 2003 08:54pm | #8

   I ended up getting the 14.4V Bosch "Compact Tough Drill" - it was 149.99 from Tool Crib and got a 20 minute charger as a freebie.  It is a very nice drill as explained in an earlier note.  Unfortunately, as I was preparing to order the drill, the bug bit and I ordered a bunch of other stuff too - so it ended up costing just South of $400.00. 

6. 
   oms | Dec 15, 2003 05:45pm | #9

   I know this thread is a couple of weeks old but one of the considerations that went into buying Makita 12v (Mforce) this summer was the overall torque available, how hefty and comfortable it was to hold, and the kind of battery. I am not a fan of Ni-Cad batteries due to the memory effect and the environmental impact of cadmium. The newer Makitas use a Lithium based technology which is better for both the environment and for lessened problems with recharging etc. The vast majority of the other cordless drills use Ni-Cad technology which I do not care for.

1. 
   BenA | Dec 16, 2003 01:22am | #10

   Correction Makita uses MI-MH ( nickle metal hydride) batteries in their cordless tools. What I like about use can use the new batteries in the old drills that you brought years ago with the Ni-CAD batteries. Is like putting a  boost in an old drill, You have to use the new charger that comes with the NI-MH to charge both batteries. Good Luck

1. 
   oms | Dec 16, 2003 06:45am | #11

   You are right, it is Ni-MH and not Lithium based.

7. 
   glsstep | Dec 21, 2003 10:47pm | #12

   Here's a quick story.  I helped a friend dismantle an exterior deck.  he just purchased a 14. something ryobi cordless drill,  and all I brought with me was my older 12 v PC drill with 3 batteries.  about 10 minutes in ( of backing out 3" screws)  his drill started to burn up in his hands. Mine did not.  Shortly after the smoke settled, we decided to break out a corded 1/2" drill to prevent any unnecessary damage to my PC. Brand does make a difference.  If I had to chose 1 cordless drill to own, I'd look into the 15.6 v Panasonic;  stong and compact without the weight of the 18v batteries.  good luck.

1. 
   dohams | Dec 22, 2003 05:27am | #13

   The cordless drill of my choice is and has been....  My DeWalt DW998 18v.  This drill/hammer has tolerated concrete, brick, wood, steel (plate), alluminum, brass and whatever over the past six years.  It has taken bumps & falls and goes where I go.  The rapid battery charger has kept up me...

   It is constructed well (tolerates my abuse) and has excellent torque and battery time...   

   Downsides:

   Replace  batteries ($85), and  the sore jaw I received while working in a tight space...

8. 
   doke | Dec 27, 2003 04:26pm | #14

   If you want something that has great power, balance and will last... Panasonic 15.5 v is the one for me. I've used many cordless drills and they all feel cheap in comparison to this one. The 15 min charge time is a plus.

1. 
   toolinaround | Jan 04, 2004 06:41am | #15

   Sorry so late in responding, haven't gotten used to "Tool Talk" yet.  I have 18 v in both Makita and Millwauki, both great...but my new, real love is the 12 volt makita impact wrench....ah....the only problem with it, is on the job site, (I'm the boss, AND own the house, as it's a remodel/turnover) I am never the one using it......good thing I like the 18's okay.  Guess it's almost time to get another one and paint it lime green....    Beck

9. 
   DuncanSR | Jan 06, 2004 11:59am | #16

   I have worn out 2 Milwaukie (SP?) 12 volts and now own 2 Dewalt 9.6v 1 dewalt 12v and 1 dewalt 18v. I bought them in reverse order, the 18v then the 12v then the 9.6v and then the other 9.6v I have just turned 50 and I found out that some things are starting to get heavier than they used to be. I bought the 12v while looking for something a little lighter than my 18v. Much to my surprise the 12v will do everything the 18v will do, almost. I picked up a 9.6v and after being amazed at how light it was I thought I would try it out. Most of my use for all these tools is to drill, countersink and then drive #8 wood screws between 1" - 2" and sometimes up to 3" The 9.6 works wonderfully! I almost never reach for anything heavier. I use the two 9.6v  drills as drill and driver. In soft wood I don't usually worry about countersinking. The long and the short of this tome is, buy the 9.6v unless you are absolutly convinced you need something stronger.

1. 
   highfigh | Dec 02, 2004 08:12am | #17

   Ni-Cad batteries don't actually have a memory effect until it's charged and discharged to the same point repeatedly over a long period of time. Also, the time to recharge is when there is a noticeable loss of power, not when it's close to dead. Killing a battery completely only makes it unable to take a full charge and discharge at the designed rate. Beating a battery to death and recharging it immediately is definitely not good for it and the biggest killer of batteries and motors is heat. Cold batteries don't have the same capacity, either. Just like a car battery.This info courtesy of the service department and an engineer at Milwaukee Tool.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

1. 
   DuncanSR | Dec 02, 2004 08:36pm | #18

   I must give a little extra information re my 2 - 12 volt Milwaukee drills. They served me wonderfully for many years. I used them to build decks as well as any other thing I could come up with. They worked great! But, like anything else, if you use something long enough and hard enough it will sooner or later wear out. It wasn't my intention to malign Milwaukee in any way.

   Duncan

1. 
   highfigh | Dec 03, 2004 04:25am | #19

   I didn't think you were dumping on them. Too bad it's not always economically feasible to replace batteries and parts on these thing now. Replace 2 or 3 batteries and pay the same as a new kit.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

1. 
   MAVERIK | Dec 03, 2004 09:12am | #20

   A power hand tool with a battery is nothing!
   With 2 batteries is 1/10 of tool.
   110/220 V tools and a long cord is better.
   In the middle of Saara a battery tool is nice!
   But what are You drill???

   Edited 12/3/2004 1:19 am ET by SPOCK

2. 
   highfigh | Dec 03, 2004 09:23am | #21

   So, what do you use on a jobsite with no electricity or generator? I'm not going to dig out a brace for running wires and cables through joists and studs.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

3. 
   MAVERIK | Dec 03, 2004 08:46pm | #22

   Benefit & cost! It's all.It's the matter.
   I read the Vance Packard's book. The Waste Makers.
   Happy New Year!

10. 
    gusser33 | Dec 09, 2004 06:59am | #23

    hi.  I have a number of drills, but for some reason i keep reaching for the dewalt.  It just has a very substantial feel.  i think it is a good weight and has all the power you would ever need.   just make sure you get two batteries

    joe

11. 
    user-450633 | Dec 11, 2004 05:08pm | #24

    Go for all metalsingle sleeve chuck with drill from Bosch Milwaukee PC  Ridgid or Dewalt, Metabo,Fein. Feel in store for balance and weight. Dewalt Ridgid and mIlwaukee(and others) have 1700 rpm and higher in high gear- Highly suggested for proper drilling in hardwoods with spur bits.

1. 
   highfigh | Dec 12, 2004 04:09am | #25

   I talked with my friend at Milwaukee Tool last night. He said you should call the service department and tell them the model # of your drill. They can tell you what to look for as far as parts, and how much it will cost. Worst case, you send it in and they refurb it. He said that some people call in for parts on 50 year old drills. They sometimes make one off parts for whatever drill it is, just because they can and because the thing is still out there. They also sell refurbed power tools, too.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

1. 
   DuncanSR | Dec 19, 2004 11:16pm | #26

   Thanks for the info. Sorry for the length of time to respond, I just got back from holidays.

   Duncan