Cordless drills

[DFB]

Thanks for the replies, I was just kidding around when I said $60 was the maximum price, under $100 is the accurate one.

So never owning a Lithium ion battery will I surprised at the difference of that and the NiCad?

Basically I just use mine for light duty stuff, like drill some holes here and there and screw some screws when needed, any bigger jobs I always go to the corded drill. Before this sears drill I had a 2 battery 18 volt black and decker that I really liked only problem is some meth head liked it better and stole it along with other assorted tools and chain saws. I never had 2 batteries with this sears one but I sure remember that 2 batteries came in very handy when doing sheetrock work by always having a hot battery to use. One thing Ive ran into researcing drills the last couple days is the RPM specs, would I necessarily go after the highest RPM one or the one that has the highest ft/pounds?

A lithium ion battery will maintain its charge for a long time as opposed to NiCad which is a good thing. NiCad types generally lose their charge during prolonged storage periods for sure my NiMh Makita battteries do. Sucks when you grab the drill find out the charge is gone...and of course in both batteries too!

Plus Li-Ion up may charge faster depending on the setup charger and battery amp rating usually within an hour for most and some types in just 30 min.

If having the cordless drill is more for a convenience than being your main go to tool...maybe a 12V drill or combo package would be more economical. They usually run less than the 18V models. I grabbed a Milwaukee 12v drill offer that had 2 batteries, case, charger and came with free impact driver all for $99. CPO an HD both have a similar 2 pc Makita offer for $109 now. I considered both of them at one point a while ago. I preferred the Milwaukee when it was said and done and couldn't be more pleased with the performance of either tool but most especially the little 2462 impact driver.


I would consider a tool's torque rating more valuable than overall max rpm speed...just my opinion. A lot depends on what your doing with it though.

 

[ovrszd]

If your going to set a max dollar amount for a tool, don't be surprised if you buy a cheap tool.

Wise words.

 

[DennisArrow]

+1.....maybe 1000 on the Ryobi cordless drills...........Mine is an impact/drill. Have used it on bricks, concrete, and of course wood.........Have put on 2 metal roofs with it and built a pole barn, driving 3" lag bolts with ease.......Batteries last a verrrrrrry long time and the motor is STRONG.........good stuff..........God bless...........Dennis

 

[k0ua]

I have several of the Ryobi 18 volt tools (drills, impact driver, pole saw, weedeater). All of them have worked flawlessly.

Same here. And I have one old 9.6 volt Ryobi that is at least 25 years old, and it still works.. Yes it is looking a bit ratty, and has been thru a few Nicad pack rebuilds, but it is still kicking and I still use it.

I really like my 18 volt Lithium Ryobi tools, and I have many. Cheap enough to afford for the homeowner. Sure there are better tools out there for pro's or homeowners that want the best, but the Ryobi is good enough and gives good value for low dollars. At least in my opinion.

 

[Creamer]

I know sometimes Lowe's and I think also Hone Depot have the 18V Hitachi on sale for about $60. I know a couple of guys who do a lot of equipment installation and repair that buy these and really like them. They say they last as long as the Milwuakees and Dewalts they have and are not near as heavy to take with them to the jobsite.

 

[sseelhoff]

Helpful thread. I have burned up a number of drills over the years. Probably need to invest in an impact driver in addition to the drill, as I use the drill as a driver.

 

[sixdogs]

I know sometimes Lowe's and I think also Hone Depot have the 18V Hitachi on sale for about $60. I know a couple of guys who do a lot of equipment installation and repair that buy these and really like them. They say they last as long as the Milwuakees and Dewalts they have and are not near as heavy to take with them to the jobsite.

I forgot about Hitachi. I use Makita but I have heard good things about Hitachi from guys that really use things hard.

 

[The Suburban Farmer]

Helpful thread. I have burned up a number of drills over the years. Probably need to invest in an impact driver in addition to the drill, as I use the drill as a driver.

YES! An impact driver is night-and-day better than a cordless drill for screws and bolts. I burned up a few drills in the past, but since getting the impact driver, I haven't damaged a single drill and the impact driver is still going strong. I used to think the impact drivers were just scaled-down torque wrenches, but they're not -- they work on everything from bolts to screws. That said, I still use the drill with the torque-collar adjustment for driving smaller screws into delicate materials where I don't want to damage anything... or better yet, I do it by hand the old fashioned way.

 

[bindian]

All of us mechanics in the hangar have either Milwuakee or Makita. Everyonce in a while, someone brings in a Dewalt.............but it soon disappears.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Creamer]

All of us mechanics in the hangar have either Milwuakee or Makita. Everyonce in a while, someone brings in a Dewalt.............but it soon disappears.
hugs, Brandi

So the Dewalt is the one that everybody wants to take home?

 

[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.