Cordless drills

[RobertN]

I have or have used DeWalt and Makita. Both have worked well. I like the ergonomics of my Dewalts though.

I have Milwaukee corded Sawzall and Hoe-Hog; they work great. Great enough that I would be willing to try Milwaukee cordless. But my DeWalt and Makita just keep going and going...

 

[KubotainNH]

I have 2 - 12volt Milwaukee drills, one is 21 years old and the other 8 to 10. The older one I'm on the 3rd battery on and I had that one rebuilt at Batteries Plus, they put good quality batteries in the old case if it can be taken apart. That battery is maybe 6 years old and still going strong and it was quite a bit cheaper than new. The newer drill is super comfortable but the battery packs are starting to get weak, they are original. Time to send them to Batteries Plus, I'd rather do that than buy a new drill. These are Ni-Cad's, I don't think they can replace the cell's in Li-Ion unless that has changed recently. I have also thought about buying the cells on E-bay and doing it myself but those batteries may be crap.

 

[k0ua]

I have 2 - 12volt Milwaukee drills, one is 21 years old and the other 8 to 10. The older one I'm on the 3rd battery on and I had that one rebuilt at Batteries Plus, they put good quality batteries in the old case if it can be taken apart. That battery is maybe 6 years old and still going strong and it was quite a bit cheaper than new. The newer drill is super comfortable but the battery packs are starting to get weak, they are original. Time to send them to Batteries Plus, I'd rather do that than buy a new drill. These are Ni-Cad's, I don't think they can replace the cell's in Li-Ion unless that has changed recently. I have also thought about buying the cells on E-bay and doing it myself but those batteries may be crap.

One problem with trying to rebuild the pack yourself is you need to build or buy the proper spot welder made for this purpose. Many tools can use either nicad or Lithium but you need a new charger for lithium. my Ryobi charger will charge either/both. But it has "logic" to identify the proper charge cycle for each type. My older charger will not charge Lithium. And even if it was modified to do so mechanically, it would not be safe to do so.

 

[KubotainNH]

One problem with trying to rebuild the pack yourself is you need to build or buy the proper spot welder made for this purpose. Many tools can use either nicad or Lithium but you need a new charger for lithium. my Ryobi charger will charge either/both. But it has "logic" to identify the proper charge cycle for each type. My older charger will not charge Lithium. And even if it was modified to do so mechanically, it would not be safe to do so.

I have soldered some that already had tabs spot welded on them. I haven't done anything with lithium batteries and would not put them in place of ni-cad.

 

[caver]

Not trying to hijack but what is it with todays obsession with cordless tools? I used to work with a dood, he was so lazy he would grab the shops newest cordless drill, mount a 4" hole saw in it and go drill a knock out in an electrical box. This wasn't some remote job site, it was on the shop work bench with 120 volt outlet inches away along with a 120V drill. Less than a year and that battery drill would be trashed. My last two drills I went back to 120 volt...getting tired of getting burned in the great battery scam and often have 120V within 20-50'.....flame on

 

[paulharvey]

Not trying to hijack but what is it with todays obsession with cordless tools? I used to work with a dood, he was so lazy he would grab the shops newest cordless drill, mount a 4" hole saw in it and go drill a knock out in an electrical box. This wasn't some remote job site, it was on the shop work bench with 120 volt outlet inches away along with a 120V drill. Less than a year and that battery drill would be trashed. My last two drills I went back to 120 volt...getting tired of getting burned in the great battery scam and often have 120V within 20-50'.....flame on

No flame here. I've considered getting one of the $9.99 corded HF drills as a compliment to the cordless. I hate going to grab a drill and all batteries are dead.

 

[LD1]

I love my corded tools too. But cordless has there place.

There is no denying the power and never having a dead battery.

But when doing something where a cord is inconvenient, a good cordless is nice. Or if doing smaller odd projects, where a battery is more than capable, why drag out a cord.

Certain things though, I am not sold on cordless. Circular saws and sawzalls are two of them. Give me the corded version everytime.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I'll def second the cord for a circular saw and sawzall, those are some high amp tools and more power usually makes things better. What really kills me are they battery lawnmowers, string trimmers, and vacuums! REALLY?!

 

[k0ua]

I'll def second the cord for a circular saw and sawzall, those are some high amp tools and more power usually makes things better. What really kills me are they battery lawnmowers, string trimmers, and vacuums! REALLY?!

Yep really on the string trimmers. I have bought my last gas one. I am doing good with the battery one. I believe the whole string trimmer industry is gonna go that way. I can't speak to the other two.

 

[ultrarunner]

Bought my first cordless set as a Father's Day Ace Hardware promotion in 1983... it was a 7.2v drill and flashlight combo and still have it today... still remember sheetrocking a 700 square foot cottage with it... never quit!

The Makita rep was in the store when I bought it... he gave me a word of advice which I follow religiously: always 100% discharge the battery before charge... which was easy to do by putting the battery into the flashlight and turning it on...

Over time I bought more 7.2v makita... car charger, fluorescent light, second drill... still have everything today and the set is still in my 1985 work van...

When my sister in law asked me what cordless to buy for my brother Christmas before last... I said Makita... she bought him a combo pack.