It’s not like I don’t have enough friggin power tools but I have a lot of home rennovation ahead of me so I’ve decided to get one of the jumbo fun packs down at Costco, Lowe’s or Home Depot. I’m looking at 18V sets with a 1/2 drill, 5-1/2" circular saw and recipocating saw. DeWalt and Makita are running neck and neck and I’ll need to make a choice soon. DeWalt has a metal gear case on the drill plus a 1 hour conditioning charger. Makita has 2.6ah NiMH batteries instead of Ni-Cad and the charger works on Makita batteries of any voltage. I’ve en ver had a bad tool of either brand before but this is a big chunk of change so which way should I go.
The Makita charger’s ability to charge any Makita batteries - sounds good, as long as youy have other Makita tools. Apt to be useless otherwise.
DeWalt’s metal gearcase - probably a good thing. The Makita may simply have plastic “skin” over a metal case?
Have a look at these beasties at Amazon.com and Epinions.com for user reviews. (And, Amazon just might be cheaper and tax-free than your local source.)
Most of my power tools now are either DeWalt or Porter Cable, so I’d probably buy the DeWalt.
Before you go lay down the cash, ask yourself this question. Do I really need the 18V system?
Yeah 18V is the latest and greatest. Yeah all the cool tools are available in 18V, but as the battery size goes up the damn things get heavier. Do this, go to the store and hold one of the drills (with battery) over your head for 2 or 3 minutes. Picture doing this for an hour or more during a project. I have a 12V DeWalt and it has all the power I need for the drill/driver since it will break pretty much any screw I try to drive with it. Where 14.4V or 18V excell is pure torque, which unless you are very large holes in something is not necessary, and battery run time.
Again with my 12V one battery will come up from flat in less time that it takes for me to run the other out.
Now if you have a need for a recripo saw or some other tool that is only available in the 18V configuration then go for it.
Oh, since you asked I love my DeWalt. Get two batteries.
Yes, I do need the recip saw and the kit comes with two batteries.
My husband does does renovation work part time. He uses the 18 volt Dewalt. He also has a 14.4 drill, but finds that the extra power really does make a difference, especially in a big job. And he uses his reciprocating saw constantly.
As far as the weight, the 18 is so well-balanced that I find it just as easy to use as the lighter one.
Do you mean that you’re breaking screws frequently? I can maybe give you some advice on how to not do that.
A cheap electric drill will outperform an expensive 18.8 volt drill. I agree that you can have a well balanced 18.8 but if you find yourself leaning over with a drill then weight becomes an issue.
I’ve been contemplating a 18.8 myself as an addition to my 12 volt. The damn 12 volt won’t die. You will definately go farther on a project with the 18.8 volt. Let that be your guide. Are you going to work 8 hours at a time or 2 hrs at a time?
I really like the new B&D with the pop off drill head. It has a hex shaft that accepts normal screw driver bits. You can drill a hole, pop off the head and then drive a screw. Not sure if it will hold up but it’s a hell of an idea. As it is now, I use a quick change hub in my drill. I then use a locking bit holder and a drill head attachement. Not quite as handy but close.
When I was working as a LAN installer I bought a Dewalt hammerdrill 18V. This is hands down the best cordless tool I have ever owned. I have used this drill to go through brick, cinderblock,wood, and stone. I have had one problem with it. One of the batteries went out on it, but Dewalt replaced it with no hassles.
It has handled all drill bits I have thrown at it - metal bits, paddle bits, auger bits. I have also used it with a flex bit for fishing wires inside walls.
The charger will re-charge any Dewalt battery from 18V - 7.2V. I think that Dewalt packs two batteries with their cordless tools.
I can’t tell you about Makita as I haven’t bought any of their stuff in years. I know that you won’t be purchasing a hammerdrill but, the standard drill should be just as good. Hope this helped.
Another 18v DeWalt user chiming in. This is one of the more practical tools I’ve ever had. I’ve used it with everything from tiny metal bits to 5/8" butterfly bits. The adjustable torque clutch is also a great feature.
Capenter chiming in. I’d go with DeWalt
I work with DeWalts every day, with no problems so far.
Also, every carpenter I have ever asked (or electrician,plumber, etc) would never buy a makita.
Although I have little experience with makita, I heard they were crap.
That’s odd. My father’s also a carpenter, and he’s told me repeatedly you can’t go far wrong with either brand.
Home remodeler here. I love the 18v DeWalts
But, certain jobs are better done with corded tools.
My old corded Milwalkee sawzall has no problems cutting through pipes, window frames, nails, headers, what have you, while the cordless one just EATS the batts.
And a corded drywall screw gun is a much better choice for doing a whole room.
But, you can’t beat having a circ saw and a drill driver without any cords for high or hard to get to locations. Add on a gas charge fired nail gun and you’re set.
this is actually green beans husband here, I am too lazy to dig up my login for the dope, and yes she will be upset! With my 18 volt dewalt kit, I love the hammer drill, love the circular saw, and am consistently dissapointed with the recip saw. It simply drains batterys too fast, and cannot hold up to heavy use (like cutting a fan opening in a roof) give me an 11 amp sawzall (insert manic laughter here) and I am doing some serious damage.
I find my self going for the 18 volt for drilling holes, and the 14.4 for shooting scews (its lighter and holds a longer charge) If you know you will be shooting lots of screws, the new cordless
impact guns are awesome you can drive 3/8’ lag bolts…
A final word of advice is not to buy cheap scews… I have switched to square drive screws almost exclusively (except for putting up drywall) and have found that is much easier to screw things together and much less screw breakage… McFeeleys (www.mcfeeleys.com) has a good selection and I have used the square drive decking screws from the despot with much sucess… Yeah it is about 20% more in cost, but not having to drill out snapped screws is well worth it…
Thanks for all the good feedback, makes me feel pretty good about the choice I made. I didn’t read the last several posts until I got back from Lowe’s. I got a different pack, the 18v heavy duty drill/driver and 6-1/2" trim saw. The drill isn’t the hammer type but has the three speed metal gearcase and side handle.
Funny but I already decided to get a smaller kit and get an AC recip saw later, glad I did. I almost got the 14.4v kit but glad I got the 18v now.
Well, fixed the sliding door this morning. I guess I better get busy and write up a BOM for a new awning.
Upset? I’m thrilled that you’re gracing us with your presence!
Hmph. I didn’t realize it was the corded one that you use all the time. I usually try to stay far away when you have a sawzall in your hand. Manic laughter indeed!
Magiver
I have the B&D 12 volt with the pop off chuck. It was a present.
It is a neat idea except the chuck sucks.
You can’t get it tight enough to hold a standard drill bit.
Everyone else.
FYI
I bought a cheap 18 volt drill on ebay for my son. He wanted a De Walt or Makita. I knew he’d never use it
enough to justify the price.The drill has never failed and will almost keep up with a De Walt as far as drilling time.
So if you don’t use one a lot you might consider the cheapies.
I 1st bought into the cordless tool craze with (IIRC) 9v makata drill. This was the one that put cordless tools on the map. When it finally went I decided to replace it with a dewalt. So I go down to home depot and pick up a (again IIRC) 16 v dewalt, then see that for the same price I can get a (I’m sort of embarrased to say) ryobi 18v, dual battery circular saw, drill, light and sawall kit for the same price as one 16 v dewalt.
I bought the kit (apx $200) and took it home. Looked at it for about a day before I opened it (allowing me to reconsider my purchase and come to my senses and buy a dewalt). I finally opened it and started using it.
I have to say that this was most likley the best tool set I ever bought. I replaced several windows and remodeled/expanded the kitchen and just now installed a banister using those tools. They can take a beating and have plenty of power, and some nice touches like level indiactors on the drill.
Would I like to have a dewalt set, hell yeah, but if my tools disappeared I would buy that set again.
The Ryobi stuff is pretty good really, vastly better than other Chinese made power tools. It’s in a different league than the brand X stuff you find at harbor freight. I once bought a Coleman powermate 18v drill because of an unbelievably low price. It isn’t worth free. It has less torque than a 7.2v Ryobi drill even when freshly charged and the batteries have very low capacity.
Okay, I’m a tool snob but I’ve never once regretted buying the better tool but often regretted buying cheaper. Maybe I can’t justify the Dewalt on an ROI basis but it’s worth it to me.
Scary. Ryobi makes a lot of Sears’ power tools, which aren’t exactly tops on my list. Of course, to make power tools for Sears largely means submitting the lowest bid.
Hey, to be honest, I’ve had real good success with a pair of 12v Black and Decker pecker wreckers that I picked up second hand (pawn shop) on an out of town job where I found out I had left half of my tools at home. They ain’t half bad.
But, I still prefer my 18v yellow boys.
There was a time when Craftsman tools meant quality. The hand tools are still okay and have a good guarantee but the power tools are usually second rate. I suppose it’s apropriate that they use Bob Vila as a spokesman since he doesn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to tools.