After about 13 years of abuse my DeWalt 12V cordless drill finally got dropped one to many times.
::: Sob::: I’ll miss that drill, we remodeled Casa de Rick together.
Anyway, I am in the market for another drill.
So the question are:
Do I stay with DeWalt? or is there another brand that is better?
Do I stay with 12V or step up to 18?
I found a factory reconditioned 12V DC-980KAR on Amazon for $126. Since it comes with 2 batteries and alone they cost about $50 each that seems like a fairly good deal.
What are your thoughts?
I love love love my Milwaukee 18v hammer drill. dependable, strong, and well balanced. If I had the money I’d look at the new 28.8 LiIon Milwaukees.
My crews use the DeWalt XRP drills primarily with some guys using the Ryobis just because they are so cheap to replace when they get stolen. In this business, it’s not if but when.
I just picked up the new Bosch Pocket Driver and so far I think it rocks. It’s lighter than my Milwaukee and does 99% of what I need in my line of work (I’m the boss and handle services and adjustments mostly)
As for what you need, it’s hard to say. If you keep tools a long time and take care of them, I’d say go for Lithium Ion batteries, they really seem to make a big difference.
I wouldn’t buy a reconditioned battery. Tools yes, batteries need to be new.
We have the older version of this Grizzly drill. We’ve owed several cordless drills, and this has been by far the best. It’s hard to explain, but the trigger actually does what you want it to; you can easily control the speed. It also isn’t too heavy or awkward. It also comes in an 18V, but the 14V has been powerful enough for us (with a hammer drill backup for when you need it).
Just boght my first power drill yesterday. I am not a pro, but I need to do some semi-serious work now and again. On top of that, I would like to do some “hobbyist-type” wood/metal/whatever-working, but I currently don’t have the space.
So I was faced with the always thrill-packed adventure of trying to find a medium quality, low-price tool. After a little reading, I ended up getting the 18-volt Ryobi hammer drill with two batteries and a charger. About $120 for the whole mess.
The very friendly lady at (insert your favorite big-box hardware store here) said that the voltage rating had no effect on the power, RPMs, torque, whatever. But I have read that the voltage ratings do correlate with the amount of “drillability power” (tee-hee). She does seem to raise a good point-- that the voltage rating is only the amount of charge that the battery can hold.
In any event. I haven’t tried it yet, but it seemed the proper buy for a “middle-of-the-roader” who wants to stay on the cheap.
I like the Dewalt tools, but have no real substance to back that up. I am in the hobbyist catagory, and any decent tool is adequate to my needs. If fact I could probably get by with really cheap stuff, but my contractor father would roll over in his grave if he saw me with a Black & Decker tool in my hand. You like Dewalt, go with it. It is not about the tool, it is about the person using the tool being comfortable with it. Geez, I am sounding like a zen toolist. " Be one with the tool!" but there is much truth in it. I worked with dad for many years, and to this day I prefer a Skil 6 1/2 in worm drive saw over any other, just because I am familiar with it.
I’ll vote for DeWALT. I used to work for Black & Decker (who own DeWALT) so I know how those things are constructed, and they’re constructed quite solidly. None of that nylon gear crap. They’ve got good torque, too, and the XRP batteries last a good while. Very few people I talked to on a daily basis had any complaints about them, and most had much praise. The DW984K and (newer) DC984K 14.4V hammer drill/driver was probably the biggest seller; it offered the best tradeoff between power and weight, offering 450ins/lbs of torque in a well-balanced mid-handle design with a variable speed trigger, a 3-speed transmission and 1/2" chuck while being noticeably lighter than the 18V, and noticeably more powerful than the 12V. It’s a great multitasking drill.
Yeah the Ryobis are cheap and they hold up even under the abuse my guys heap on them. I’ve seen them tossed out of windows onto bushes, dropped tons of times, turned around and used as hammers! When it breaks, just buy another.
I really like my Makita 14.4v ½ drill. I have beaten the heck out of it and it always comes back. One of the best tools I have ever purchased. I like the power and gearing of the ½” for chipper bits. I’ve had to cut a lot of 1-1/4” holes through joists for my recent remodeling.
And, with the ½” chuck, I can also run paint stirrers for 5 gallon buckets of paint.
Rick, I know it’s not really in the same category but I thought I’d add that I purchased a Makita right-angle drill that does a real good job on my home maint. and small projects. I don’t find it at Sears online site but here is a Craftsman version of it. Came in carry case with charger and two batteries. The configuration works very well for me as the distance between the chuck and my hand allows more direct pressure to the bit. It drives screws really well without pre-drilling. Cost wise it falls under the “use it till it pukes and buy another” category.
Pssst. Sears has been running a sale lately on their battery-powered tool sets. Includes the circular saw, jigaw and drill. You might give it a look.
I’ve got a pair of 9.6 volt Makitas-the older one I had before starting my business, so it’s approaching 20 years of age. The batteries have had to be replaced, but otherwise they’re darn good tools. If I was starting from scratch, I’d seriously look at the Bosch or Metabo either for a drill/driver or hammer drill. Both have received good reviews in the tool and trade magazines.
Generaly I don’t recomend 18 volt drills they are to heavy for most people to comfortable use for longer periods. I normaly use a 14.4 I have a dewalt that has been very good to me. It’s going on 7 or 8 years old with the original batteries. Anticipating the batteries on that failing, I picked up a milwaukee 14.4 kit on sale with a drill impact driver and flashlight. I find the milwaukee to be the most comfortable drill I use.
One thing that sucks about the dewalts is they don’t balance on the batter packs as well as other brands. I find it a nusance to always have to set them on there sides to avoid them falling over. Beyond that they are pretty reliable.
If you never want to deal with buying a drill again Ridgid offers the lifetime service with their tools. That includes batteries which with all drills inevitable die. If Ridgid tools weren’t so dahm heavy in general I’d purchase them more often.
If you need to have the best the Hilti drills are amazing I’ve never used another drill that runs as smoothly. That combined with longer batterie lifes and 20 minute charges puts them far above every one else. Though I’d still never pay nearly 400 bucks for a cordless drill that isn’t gaurentied beyond a year.
Ryobi’s are nice because they are cheap and will serve you well for their lifetime. Unfortunatly they don’t have a very long expected lifetime.
The old 9 and 12 volt Makitas keep going and going. The same can’t be said for their newer drills. They are not any more dependable these days then other competing brands. They have a unique feel to them some people love it others hate it. They do balance well. I have one I bought to keep at my freinds store I use it when I do maintence there. I’m impartial towards it.
The Boschs are very popular at construction sites in my area. They take a beating well. I’ve seen them dropped off roofs a couple times and just bounce with no damage. They are definatly sized for large hands and aren’t the sleakest of tools.
I like My 18V B&D. It has 2 gear ranges and the drill head pops off to reveal a torx bit holder so you can drill and then drive a screw with the same unit. Very handy. Also has an led that lights up when the drill is perfectly horizontal.
I’m going to assume, since you remodeled, and because you’re a mechanic, to lok for some of the basics in whatever drill you get.
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Go for a NiMH battery. Many of the tools Sears has on sale will use NiCd instead, which doesn’t maintain power as long.
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Heft. If you’re doing a little bit of drilling here or there, any drill will do. However, a s someone who used battery powered drills to hang drywall in my bathroom, I can tell you that hefting an 18v drill over your head vs a 9.6v or 12v drill makes a HUGE difference. It’s not very often that you’re going to need those 450in-lbs of torque (unless you are hammerdrilling) and in those cases, you’re probably better served with a plug-in drill anyhow.
3)Quality. As has been said here, the DeWalt drills are of superior quality than the Ryobi and Craftsman drills. I’d be curious as to how they stack up against B/D’s own Firestorm line of power tools, but I have no data. The only other brand name I’ve heard of considered equal to or superior to DeWalt is Ridgid.
Li-Ion is the new thing. Lighter and delivering more power for the same voltage, but I don’t have any long-term test results to look at on this stuff yet.
Can I suggest you actually get a low power one and a high power one? Ordinarily use the low power one and take the times when it doesn’t do the job as a warning. This gives you a pause and time to think before applying the high power one.
I have to stand by my 18V DeWalt Hammer Drill. It has a great heft in the hand; I’ve had it for 8 years and recently used it for successive 10+ hour days, just swapping out the battery, and it performed like it was brand new. It’s seen me through several home renovation projects and I’m about to start another. The thing takes a licking and keeps on… screwing.
I had a Makita that I loved. My first Cordless Drill. It died 2 years ago after 12 years of abuse.
Instead I now have 2 18V cordless Drills from Harbor Freight with extra batteries.
They are great for project work of all sorts and dirt cheap compared to Makita and Bosch. The Brand Name is Drill Master. I love having more than one as I keep one for pilot hole drilling and one as a Power Driver. I might pick up a third to drill counter sinks. Right now they have a steep sale on them only $14.99. The spare batteries are only $9.99
Just a thought, buy 3 with 2 extra batteries for less than 1 high quality drill.
Jim
A vote for the Dewalt 14.4 volt cordless. It’s done everything I’ve asked it to do, up to and including spinning one of those monster augurs you use to plant bulbs.
I guess this is all going to come down to the theory of buying things that you espouse:
Do you buy cheap, low quality stuff and just replace it as it breaks down, or do you buy more expensive, high-quality stuff and have it last forever? Many people here attest to keeping their Dewalt, Mikita, etc tools for 10 years or more, and I wouldn’t trust a ni-cd powered “Drill Master” to last me more than 2 years of casual use.
The OP seems to be looking for the quality, more expensive stuff, and I can’t say that I blame him. Having tools die on you at inconvenient moments is a royal pain in the rear.
Yes, I subscribe to both theories. I find that with multiple low quality equipment I am more likely to have a working tool than even the best high quality tool. There is no reason to expect only 2 years of use. If the buyer was a contractor where he could not run back to his bench for a spare tool, I would always go for Quality.
I do home repair and Hobby Wood Working. I make shelves, toys, dog houses, etc., and maintain a wooden boat for a non-profit.
BTW: I mentioned I had my Makita for 12 years.
So far my el Cheapos are doing great.
Most of my Bench tools are good quality items, mostly Craftsman. Most of my recent hand tools are cheap, as portables have a habit of occasionally walking away and of being dropped from heights. My cheap little 3/8th B&D Drill is 25 years old for the record. Cost $19.99 then. I have Palm sanders just as old.
Jim