Hitachi Crodless Drill

RichZ · Jun 7, 2006

Both batteries for my Porter Cable cordless drill won't hold a charge anymore. In the past few years I've had Porter Cable, Dewalt, Bosh and Black and Decker cordless drills. Plus I keep a Harbor Freight one in the house for my wife to use, it works fine for light duty work. The batteries always fail on all brands of the drills, and they're as expensive as the drill. I'm through buying expensive drills, they don't last any longer than the cheaper ones. I saw a Hitachi 18 volt 1/2 inch chuck cordless drill at Lowes that looked pretty nice. It was reduced from $149 to $119. Anyone have any experience with them?

On the farm, I use my cordless drill more than any other tool, and I can't be without one. Right now I'm down to my wife's Harbor Freight one, and I don't want to abuse it.

Thanks for any info!!!

RichZ · Jun 7, 2006

Both batteries for my Porter Cable cordless drill won't hold a charge anymore. In the past few years I've had Porter Cable, Dewalt, Bosh and Black and Decker cordless drills. Plus I keep a Harbor Freight one in the house for my wife to use, it works fine for light duty work. The batteries always fail on all brands of the drills, and they're as expensive as the drill. I'm through buying expensive drills, they don't last any longer than the cheaper ones. I saw a Hitachi 18 volt 1/2 inch chuck cordless drill at Lowes that looked pretty nice. It was reduced from $149 to $119. Anyone have any experience with them?

On the farm, I use my cordless drill more than any other tool, and I can't be without one. Right now I'm down to my wife's Harbor Freight one, and I don't want to abuse it.

Thanks for any info!!!

CurlyDave · Jun 8, 2006

No experience with Hitachi brand in cordless, I still have several Hitachi power tools that are 20+ years old and they usually last like a mother-in-law's curse.

Check for Costco's price on cordless drills if you have one nearby. They usually have one. You get no brand selection, but it is frequently a good buy.

CurlyDave · Jun 8, 2006

No experience with Hitachi brand in cordless, I still have several Hitachi power tools that are 20+ years old and they usually last like a mother-in-law's curse.

Check for Costco's price on cordless drills if you have one nearby. They usually have one. You get no brand selection, but it is frequently a good buy.

wroughtn_harv · Jun 8, 2006

I've got two Hitachi 18V cordless kits and they're comparable to DeWalt or Makita.

If you're wanting the bestest and latest consider the Makita Ion. You get the 18V with the weight of a twelve.

wroughtn_harv · Jun 8, 2006

I've got two Hitachi 18V cordless kits and they're comparable to DeWalt or Makita.

If you're wanting the bestest and latest consider the Makita Ion. You get the 18V with the weight of a twelve.

Slacker · Jun 8, 2006

Watch the home depot stores for the brand "Ridgid".
They had a sale 6 months ago on cordless drills.....get this--> lifetime warrenty on the batteries! Yup, I bought two of them.
Manager said the batteries need to be shipped to Ridgid for replacement, but its better than $70 for a new one!

Slacker · Jun 8, 2006

Watch the home depot stores for the brand "Ridgid".
They had a sale 6 months ago on cordless drills.....get this--> lifetime warrenty on the batteries! Yup, I bought two of them.
Manager said the batteries need to be shipped to Ridgid for replacement, but its better than $70 for a new one!

scott_vt · Jun 8, 2006

Mornin Rich,
I just had the same thing happen with my Dewalt 12v /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Evidently I plugged one of the batteries in too soon after using and the charger said defective pack /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif So I am looking for my third cordless drill, after finding out that a battery replacement costs $60 for a drill thats 10 years old allready /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I was building a deck and needed to rotate the batteries.

I might take Slackers' advice and try rigid !

scott_vt · Jun 8, 2006

Mornin Rich,
I just had the same thing happen with my Dewalt 12v /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Evidently I plugged one of the batteries in too soon after using and the charger said defective pack /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif So I am looking for my third cordless drill, after finding out that a battery replacement costs $60 for a drill thats 10 years old allready /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I was building a deck and needed to rotate the batteries.

I might take Slackers' advice and try rigid !

pilonidal · Jun 8, 2006

Saw a couple cordless tool tests in some carpentry mags and they put Hitachi right at the top on a few different tools. I am thinking about getting a Hitachi jig saw, but that green and black tiger coloring throughs me off, lol, don't look very manly, /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Hitachi is good stuff from what I read, just have to get by the stigma of a Japanese name on a green and black striped tool.

pilonidal · Jun 8, 2006

Saw a couple cordless tool tests in some carpentry mags and they put Hitachi right at the top on a few different tools. I am thinking about getting a Hitachi jig saw, but that green and black tiger coloring throughs me off, lol, don't look very manly, /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Hitachi is good stuff from what I read, just have to get by the stigma of a Japanese name on a green and black striped tool.

ToddW · Jun 8, 2006

I've had a Hitachi 14V cordless for well over 2 years now. I've used it extensively and neither battery is showing any signs of weakness. Best cordless I've owned. I've since bought a Hitachi compound Miter saw, nice tool! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

ToddW · Jun 8, 2006

I've had a Hitachi 14V cordless for well over 2 years now. I've used it extensively and neither battery is showing any signs of weakness. Best cordless I've owned. I've since bought a Hitachi compound Miter saw, nice tool! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Dozernut · Jun 8, 2006

Ryobi has a One + Plus system out now that is interesting. It is an 18 volt system that the battery will interchange between any of it's 18 volt tools. Home Depot runs sales on the batteries and you can buy a two pack for $39 + change. Ryobi is not the best drill/tool out there but it is not bad, in fact Ryobi makes Sears drills. I have found that the Ryobi battery will fit some of the Sears drills but they will not latch in place, but that is what they make duct tape for /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
Here is a link to the HD Ryobi tools. link

Dozernut · Jun 8, 2006

Ryobi has a One + Plus system out now that is interesting. It is an 18 volt system that the battery will interchange between any of it's 18 volt tools. Home Depot runs sales on the batteries and you can buy a two pack for $39 + change. Ryobi is not the best drill/tool out there but it is not bad, in fact Ryobi makes Sears drills. I have found that the Ryobi battery will fit some of the Sears drills but they will not latch in place, but that is what they make duct tape for /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
Here is a link to the HD Ryobi tools. link

Birdhunter1 · Jun 8, 2006

Hitachi makes a very good cordless drill. A buddy of mine has a 14.4 and loves it, we were installing a kitchen together once and I used it quite a bit while we were there and I kind of liked it, but I'll have to wait till all of my others crap out before I get another.

From alot of carpenters I've been talking to lately they all swear by Panasonic. A good friend of mine who is in the concrete business caries a 12v Panasonic impact driver and a 18 volt panasonic drill in his truck. If you are just needing somethgin to drive screws and nails forget about a cordless drill and go with a cordless impact driver. His 12v impact driver will run circles around any 18 volt drill I have ever used (DeWalt, Milwaukee, Porter Cable, Craftsman etc). Plus Panasonic claims their batteries last longer, I can't back this up but I do know that Panasonic is one of the only cordless tool manufacturers using metal drive gears instead of plastic.

Birdhunter1 · Jun 8, 2006

Hitachi makes a very good cordless drill. A buddy of mine has a 14.4 and loves it, we were installing a kitchen together once and I used it quite a bit while we were there and I kind of liked it, but I'll have to wait till all of my others crap out before I get another.

From alot of carpenters I've been talking to lately they all swear by Panasonic. A good friend of mine who is in the concrete business caries a 12v Panasonic impact driver and a 18 volt panasonic drill in his truck. If you are just needing somethgin to drive screws and nails forget about a cordless drill and go with a cordless impact driver. His 12v impact driver will run circles around any 18 volt drill I have ever used (DeWalt, Milwaukee, Porter Cable, Craftsman etc). Plus Panasonic claims their batteries last longer, I can't back this up but I do know that Panasonic is one of the only cordless tool manufacturers using metal drive gears instead of plastic.

RichZ · Jun 8, 2006

I recently went to the Ridgid website and e-mailed them about their warranty. They told me that you have to BRING the batteries to a Ridgid repair center. In my case the closest one is an hour away. Once at the repair center, they determine whether the battery was abused or over used. They will only replace it if they decide it was defective. So...they DON'T replace them forever and ever. When I was a Home Depot there was a Ridgid Rep there, who gave me a 10% coupon and swore I'd never have to buy another battery, but the manager of the tool dept at HD rolled his eyes at me, so I decided to e-mail them through their website. They also said that the Ridgid Rep shouldn't have said that, and they asked me for his name.

RichZ · Jun 8, 2006

I recently went to the Ridgid website and e-mailed them about their warranty. They told me that you have to BRING the batteries to a Ridgid repair center. In my case the closest one is an hour away. Once at the repair center, they determine whether the battery was abused or over used. They will only replace it if they decide it was defective. So...they DON'T replace them forever and ever. When I was a Home Depot there was a Ridgid Rep there, who gave me a 10% coupon and swore I'd never have to buy another battery, but the manager of the tool dept at HD rolled his eyes at me, so I decided to e-mail them through their website. They also said that the Ridgid Rep shouldn't have said that, and they asked me for his name.