Dewalt 18 Volt Cordless Drill

[johnday]

I just LOVE new tools. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[MicroPilot]

Bought a Craftsman Torque wrench - clicker type - and a 1/2 drive metric socket set today, the biggest sockets they had 12mm - 27mm plus 2" extension, spark plug deep well and a ratchet!!!


Oh and a couple of funnels and a 90 degree swivel end for my grease gun from TSC.

I LOVE new tools too!!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Degree]

I have a list of brands in order of goodness(i asked subcontractors what they liked and they told me)
Bosch
Ryobi
Milwaukee
Hilti
Makita

Believe it or not but the chinese drills you see on Ebay are quite decent, they have more torque than my co-workers dewalt 18v. A problem with dewalts is, they have poor battery life and are expensive to fix if something like a clutch goes out, its cheaper to buy a new one in alot of cases.

 

[Junkman]

around here a lot of the contractors use DeWalt. I have not had any battery short life problems, and don't find replacement parts expensive either. Must be a personal perception problem. Dropped a drill off the roof and a complete replacement case was $16.00 and a half hour to put it on. One of the nice things about DeWalt, is that you can get replacement parts. I took a Milwaukee buffer to the Milwaukee Repair center to get a new trigger for it. Asked if they had it and the counter guy said yes. Asked how much to have them recondition it with new brushes etc. and the price was OK, so I left it. When I came back in 2 weeks to pick it up, was advised that the switch was no longer available and they handed me the buffer back in pieces in a box. Some of the pieces were also missing. I was about ready for a straight jacket, I was so angry. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif The manager said that it was an unsafe tool and that is how they take away any liability on their part since they were the last one to work on it. Also, there was no charge. Lesson learned, don't leave any tool for repair without buying the repair parts in advance to know that they still have the part in stock. That was the last time that I would ever consider buying any Milwaukee tool!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I agree, I have two DeWalt authorized repair shops within 30 miles from here. Anytime I go there they are very good in repairing my equipment and their prices are not bad. If the price is high in one area it is most likely the repairman raping the consumer.

My DeWalt batteries have done a great job of lasting. I had a couple 18v batteries die on me but if you use tools like we do then you have to expect it. Our tools are stored in our truck so it gets very hot in there during the summer and very cold during the winter. We expect to have to replace batteries every few years. So far I have not had to replace any of my 14.4 DeWalt batteries and they are 6-7 years old and live in my truck.

 

[higgy]

There is a deal going through right now and is infront of the anti-trust depatment. Black and Decker is attempting to buy porter cable. This would make them the largest tool manufacture for this type of tool.

I hope it does not happen as normal the quality and ideas that compitition bring will fall to the wayside and we will all end up with tools that may not be as good.

Just my 0.02

Dane

 

[johnday]

Please, say it ain't so!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[higgy]

Sorry it is. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Reuters
Black & Decker to Buy Power Toolmaker
Monday July 19, 11:55 am ET
By Karen Jacobs


ATLANTA (Reuters) - Toolmaker Black & Decker Corp. (NYSE:BDK - News)on Monday said it will buy Pentair Inc.'s (NYSENR - News) power tools group for about $775 million, nearly doubling the sales of its North American professional tools business.

Black & Decker also reported a 61 percent rise in second-quarter profit, and its shares jumped 14 percent to a more than 20-year high.

Black & Decker, maker of DeWalt drills, Kwikset locks and Price Pfister faucets, said the Pentair business being acquired includes the Porter-Cable, Delta, DeVilbiss Air Power, Oldham Saw, and FLEX brands. It said the acquisition would add to earnings, beginning in 2005.

"It gives them a lot more critical mass within the pro power tool category and makes a lot of sense from a financial standpoint," said Longbow Research analyst David MacGregor.

 

[johnday]

higgy; That sure isn't good news. Let's just hope the pro tools don't turn into homeowner specials. I guess we still have a few choices yet like Milwaukee, and my wife even has a Makita drill/driver that says, hope your sitting down, made in USA. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[higgy]

wow, thats cool,

I have been using bosch and metabo along with pc in the last few years.

I got to using metabo when I lived overseas, it is just showing up here. It is a great tool also made in Germany.

THe choices will get smaller but hopfully BD will not own the whole world when they get done.