Cordless Drill Recommendations Please

zybar · « **Reply #20 on:** 7 Nov 2016, 12:24 am »

Don,

If you just need the hammer...check out this comparison:

http://justcordlessdrillreviews.com/best-cordless-drills/best-cordless-hammer-drill/

George

MtnHam · « **Reply #21 on:** 7 Nov 2016, 12:27 am »

NiCad batteries, the source of many problems, are history, as they should be. I have several older Makita and Robi tools with these which are now dead. I now have numerous Milwaukee tools with Lithium Ion batteries that are great. Dewalt is also excellent. A great place to buy factory reconditioned tools (which are as good as new) is CPO Outlets (http://www.cpooutlets.com). Their prices are unbeatable, their customer service is superb.

Don_S · « **Reply #22 on:** 7 Nov 2016, 12:46 am »

Quote from: zybar on 7 Nov 2016, 12:24 am

Don,

If you just need the hammer...check out this comparison:

http://justcordlessdrillreviews.com/best-cordless-drills/best-cordless-hammer-drill/

George

Thanks George. I have little use for a hammer drill but when you need one, you need one. My main use would be as a normal drill/driver.

Next weekend I will stop at HD and do some hands-on research. See how each brand feels in my hands. That is critical. I have small hands and a bum shoulder. Ergonomics matters. Side handles become a must-have.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #23 on:** 7 Nov 2016, 12:53 am »

In my experience it is good to consider splitting the duties of the tools.

A driver can and will be used in a lot of tight, awkward spaces.

A hammer drill is for rough and tumble use.

I went with the hammer option and butch my way through the lighter work. My nicad Dewalt weighs way more than you want to heft for driver work, but so far I have resisted spending to augment my hammer drill.

Don_S · « **Reply #24 on:** 19 Nov 2016, 05:26 pm »

I have narrowed my search down to one Makita kit and three Rigid kits. The first two listings leave me with the question of whether brushless, larger batteries (2.0 vs 1.5Ah), and case is worth the $60 premium. A big deciding factor would be if I could compare the size and weight of both drills with batteries attached.

Thursday a painter finished painting my house exterior at dark. That left me to reinstall the downspouts on Friday. I had to use my Makita cordless at or above shoulder height. I was comfortable doing that but it made me think about my next purchase and 10-20 years from now. My birthday is next Wed and that has me thinking a lot about deteriorating physical ability. I am healthy but showing some wear and tear. Especially in shoulder of my dominant arm.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-1-2-in-Cordless-Brushless-Compact-Hammer-Drill-Kit-R86116K/206596560

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-1-2-in-Cordless-Compact-Hammer-Drill-R8611504K/205962968

There is also this "special buy" Does an impact driver use special sockets because of the high torque or can I use my regular sockets?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Hammer-Drill-Driver-and-Impact-Driver-Combo-Kit-R9624/206349868

And finally this Makita which is $25 less ($154) than the posted price due to a promotion for $25 off any total Makita purchase over $100.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-1-2-in-Compact-Cordless-Hammer-Driver-Drill-Kit-XPH10R/206724679

JohnR · « **Reply #25 on:** 20 Nov 2016, 08:54 am »

The Bosch "12V" line was mentioned earlier. While I don't actually have one of these, if I needed something to hang off a belt or use overhead I'd take a serious look at it:

https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PS32-02-12-volt-Brushless-Batteries/dp/B00HUCUF4W

It's brushless, as was also mentioned before. I have other Bosch "12V" tools (jigsaw and recip saw) so if I needed the 1kg drill or impact would just go that way (NB: brushless).

FWIW the only 18V drill I would get is the Protool PDC-18 or whatever Festool call it now. Look at the RPMs - this one is like a corded high speed drill if you want it to be, or a low speed driver if you want that.

The 12V (Bosch) drill has about the same max speed as most 18V drills and if you are not trying to use wood borers or something like that will be about as effective (and much lighter).

JohnR · « **Reply #26 on:** 20 Nov 2016, 09:28 am »

Quote from: Don_S on 19 Nov 2016, 05:26 pm

Does an impact driver use special sockets because of the high torque or can I use my regular sockets?

Because (I believe) of the "hammering" action. It's not a constant torque, but like a hammer drill but in the rotary direction instead of along the shaft.

You may not damage your regular sockets, but you might. There's a brand Tekton on Amazon (in my wishlist

) that has good rating/reviews on their impact sockets e.g.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F9Y1LAU/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_24?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Folsom · « **Reply #27 on:** 20 Nov 2016, 10:03 am »

I played with this set earlier at Home Depot. The size and feel is awesome. I wouldn't mind having it even though I like Festool.

oskar · « **Reply #28 on:** 20 Nov 2016, 03:38 pm »

I rarely reach for my 18v these days. This is an excellent combo that will handle 95％ of your tasks.
The 12v is part of a system that includes jigsaw oscillating tool etc.
Really hard to beat.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-12-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Drill-Driver-Impact-Driver-Combo-Kit-2-Tool-2494-22/203111686

Don_S · « **Reply #29 on:** 28 Nov 2016, 09:56 pm »

Thanks for all the suggestions. I purchased this with a 10% off total purchase coupon. I spent $387 (after discount) at Home Depot on Black Friday and only got two items ($9.88 each) on BF special.

I had waited a long time to use my coupon and it was going to expire. I had hoped for better offerings on BF.

Went with the Rigid because of the lifetime service agreement.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-1-2-in-Cordless-Brushless-Compact-Hammer-Drill-Kit-R86116K/206596560

werd · « **Reply #30 on:** 29 Nov 2016, 03:53 am »

Cordless drills are marketed like computer printers. Instead of going out and buying toner its often cheaper to buy the entire printer with toner in it.

The cost of battery replacements on these drills are stupid. I have drills with no batteries piling up because its as cheap to get a new one with a battery then replace it and hope the drill doesn't kill itself. You need two batteries too and up here 2 cost about $160 Trump bucks.

Folsom · « **Reply #31 on:** 29 Nov 2016, 04:23 am »

That's funny because Festool sells cordless tools without batteries because their batteries are so good you can just use the ones you have for different cordless devices.

werd · « **Reply #32 on:** 29 Nov 2016, 05:11 am »

Like a cordless hammer?

Folsom · « **Reply #33 on:** 29 Nov 2016, 05:47 am »

You mean Hammer drill?

If not, I'd love a Festool cordless hammer every once in awhile when I have to drive overhead nails. They don't make them, I belive Milwaukee does.

werd · « **Reply #34 on:** 29 Nov 2016, 05:59 am »

Nah just a hammer.

Folsom · « **Reply #35 on:** 29 Nov 2016, 06:25 am »

Ok... that doesn't make any sense.

srb · « **Reply #36 on:** 29 Nov 2016, 11:10 am »

Quote from: Folsom on 29 Nov 2016, 06:25 am

Ok... that doesn't make any sense.

An attempt at humor, like Steven Wright's "I just bought a cordless extension cord".

JohnR · « **Reply #37 on:** 29 Nov 2016, 03:52 pm »

Quote from: Don_S on 28 Nov 2016, 09:56 pm

I purchased...

Excellent. Next up... impact driver!

zybar · « **Reply #38 on:** 29 Nov 2016, 04:49 pm »

Quote from: Don_S on 28 Nov 2016, 09:56 pm

Thanks for all the suggestions. I purchased this with a 10% off total purchase coupon. I spent $387 (after discount) at Home Depot on Black Friday and only got two items ($9.88 each) on BF special. I had waited a long time to use my coupon and it was going to expire. I had hoped for better offerings on BF.

Went with the Rigid because of the lifetime service agreement.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-1-2-in-Cordless-Brushless-Compact-Hammer-Drill-Kit-R86116K/206596560

Almost $400 for a single Rigid tool?

I don't care what kind of warranty there is, that is way too much.

There were tons of great Black Friday deals at a Depot for DeWalt, Mikita, and Milwaukee tools. I should know...I bought a new hammer drill, impact driver, mitre saw, tile saw, circular saw, and oscillating tool. All were discounted and I also got 24 months interest free.

George

werd · « **Reply #39 on:** 29 Nov 2016, 06:11 pm »

Quote from: Don_S on 28 Nov 2016, 09:56 pm

Thanks for all the suggestions. I purchased this with a 10% off total purchase coupon. I spent $387 (after discount) at Home Depot on Black Friday and only got two items ($9.88 each) on BF special. I had waited a long time to use my coupon and it was going to expire. I had hoped for better offerings on BF.

Went with the Rigid because of the lifetime service agreement.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-1-2-in-Cordless-Brushless-Compact-Hammer-Drill-Kit-R86116K/206596560

I have a Rigid 18V impact but not brushless. It came in a dual drill/impact set. That is a nice drill.

The batteries on those lasted for along time then I had two die at once. Inside those batteries are 6- 3 volt lithium. I tried to canabilize the two to get one good battery. You got to destroy the contacts to get the Individual batteries out. I didn't feel like it since I wanted to get some thing done and I went out and bought a Milwaukee on sale.

. It gave me two batteries and new drill for less than two replacement batteries on the rigid.

It might be a good discussion to find out what brand has the easiest batteries to service.