Cordless Drills Again - Page 2

Grizzly · 10-24-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMike

Thanks guys for all the replys. Man, they have come a long way with these cordless tools. From what I'm hearing the 18V would have done the job for me but I ordered the Milwaukee 28V, 4 piece kit the other night. I am sure I will be tickled with it, I kind of like overkill when it comes to tools and trucks.

I drove all over town looking for 28V the other day, nobody had them. But I did find Milwaukee 18V 4 piece kit on sale at Home Depot for $399. Might should have got that. Oh well 28V is in the mail.

Thanks again for your replies.

Mike

The only problem with overkill cordless tools is the weight, especially when you're doing overhead work for long periods of time such as a circular saw or a reciprocating saw. That's why I prefer my 18V Makita tools. They have the weight of a 12V with the power of an 18V. Also the battery charge last much longer.

seafish · 10-25-2009, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grizzly

The only problem with overkill cordless tools is the weight, especially when you're doing overhead work for long periods of time such as a circular saw or a reciprocating saw. That's why I prefer my 18V Makita tools. They have the weight of a 12V with the power of an 18V. Also the battery charge last much longer.

Totally agree ...weight to power ration is crucial IMHO...and that's where the Makita 18v LiIon kit ROCKS...Plenty of Power and NOT heavy at all!!!

Even their sawzall works great. The cordless grinder (super convenient sometimes) DOES slow down if you bear down on it ALOT, but it is also thermally protected, so you can't hurt it. All of the other tools are AWESOME.

CBlack · 11-10-2009, 11:43 PM

Home Depot had a sale on the 18V Milwaukee Driver/Hammerdrill for $169.... I picked one up and WOW...great drill. Lots of adjustments and options. Not that heavy either.

mberry · 11-12-2009, 03:49 PM

I just got a DeWalt 18V combo kit. The drill, sawzall, circular saw, and for some reason, flashlight that I don't need. I have a 9 year old DeWalt 14.4V drill that the battery finally just wouldn't cut it anymore. One of these days when I can justify the $80 for a new battery I will replace it. Nothing wrong with the drill and it has done quite a bit of work in that time.

The new 18V set is going to be building a storage shed and a patio cover in the near future so it is going to be working hard.

GMike,

Please let us know when you get your kit and how you like it. Thanks.

GMike · 11-14-2009, 02:30 AM

GMike,

Please let us know when you get your kit and how you like it. Thanks.[/quote]

I like it.

My 4 piece kit arrived just at the 1st of the month. So I have had 2 weeks. I will say this, it is is a very strong set of tools. The drill and sawzall feel like they are electric powered. The circular saw seemed kind of slow, but it cut through a 2x6 and the length of 2 sheets of plywood with no trouble. It didnt bog or slow a bit even if I pushed it a little, just felt like it needed a little more RPM, probably too used to the AC saw there.

Where the circular saw will come in handy for me, is in those some time cuts you need to make and dont want to stretch cords outside. I dont think I would expect it to cut wood all day every day.

The drill is as powerfull as any electric I have used. I sure had to use the torque selecter collar when setting wood screws. It would snap a wood screw in a heart beat. I snapped 2 before I set the torque.

The flashlight probably wont get used too often, however we do get a bunch of power outages here and the instructions suggest that the battery will power it for 5 hours.

I have only used it for 2 weeks, but it has worked well, and for home use. Just putting storage above the garage.

Mike

sarj · 11-15-2009, 11:46 PM

I would have chimed in on this earlier if I saw it. I've used just about everything and that 28v Milwaukee is by far the best. It's very well balanced and I enjoy having the LED/s on the batteries letting you know what kind of charge is left. I also use the flashlight as much as I use the drill. All my 18v Dewalt stuff stays at home.

Ol'TrailDog · 11-18-2009, 01:38 AM

I've still got a couple of the old Milwaukee 12v (one I leave in Bozeman for the wife to use). I keep the 1/2 model that looks like their other drills, i.e. mag gear case and I have nothing to complain about how good it has been for 95% of my needs. If I'm drilling thicker steel for a number of holes I resort to the Milwaukee 1/2 holeshooter.

mrsnow · 11-19-2009, 12:07 AM

Good choice GMike!
I have the same set myself and I love it. A word of caution though, don't let the batterys get wet. I left the flashlight out next to the grill one night and of course it rained. Tried everything to save the bat. but it was toast. replacement is anywhere from $100-140

Flying_gage · 11-19-2009, 01:41 PM

For what it is worth... I have I guess would be a bit of inside info as I just saw Ace Hardware's Dec. 2 flyer. In it is an 18v Dewalt, (not XRP) drill for $72. It includes a charger and two batteries. For those with Dewalt this is a steal!

I am really torn on this issue as I have all bosch at this point. Bought my set about 4-5 years ago and the jigsaw died within 8 months and the hammer drill died within 18 mos. Was pretty committed to changing brands even though I have a bunch of monies wrapped up in batteries and a second charger.

Now I see that the new lithium ion Bosch stuff is out and pretty reasonably priced with a pretty good support program. Anyone have any feedback on new Bosch Lithium Ion stuff?

GMike · 11-19-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsnow

Good choice GMike!
I have the same set myself and I love it. A word of caution though, don't let the batterys get wet. I left the flashlight out next to the grill one night and of course it rained. Tried everything to save the bat. but it was toast. replacement is anywhere from $100-140

Will do Andrew, thanks for the warning.

Mike

6BT-Dakota · Today, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seafish

Really you MUST check out the Makita LXT series BEFORE you buy anything else.

They are extremely well designed and built, LIGHTER, but more powerful then any other similar voltage cordless unit. I use their 18 volt series and it has never let me down. The impact driver leaves all other drivers I have ever used in the dust in terms of power and ease of operation--as I get older, I prefer my tools to be lighter as well as powerful.

Just a note, when I first bought the set, I laughed at the inclusion of their LCD light on eact tool that helps to light up the area of operation, but NOW I laugh at myself each time it turns on automatically when I pull the trigger, because more often then not I need more light to see what I am doing, and the little LCD actaully throws enought light for me to be grateful for it.!!

Just my 2 cents-- they are AWESOME!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grizzly

I also have the 18V Makita LXT. As seafish said, it's light weight and has plenty of power. I have the 8 tool combo set that includes everything, even a AM/FM/ipod ready radio.

I also have Milwaukee, DeWalt and Ridgid cordless tools. The Makita with 4, 18V lithium batteries is the best. Yes, I use these tools every day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by seafish

IMHO, the new Makita LI ion 18v blow the older NiCad or NiMh away interms of power to weight ratio. I am also pretty sure that volt per volt, they pack more punch then the Dewalt, and are also MUCH lighter.

I have one of these Makita LTX drills and I love it. It is light weight, it has the LED light and it is powerful enough to almost break one of my fingers when I was drilling a 1 1/4" hole thru a stud to run some wires the self feeding bit caught a nail that I missed pulling out of the stud and almost twisted me around on the ladder. Lets not forget the charger sings to you when it is done charging.

Rob