[Shop-talk] Cordless drill/screw driver

Mon Jan 11 10:20:44 MST 2021

About 2000 I decided to take the plunge into a decent cordless 
drill/driver.  I opted for a 14.4 volt DeWalt over their much heavier 18 
volt.  Built my hangar, did loads of remodeling, on and on.  Battery life 
was ok till the NiCad haunts set in, and after one replacement set of 
DeWalt originals I switched to Amazon or eBay NiMH knockoff packs and had 
great luck.

Recently we've been adding onto the house and remodeling, and after 
watching various subcontractors I just had to have a 1/4" impact driver and 
a hammer drill.  Old loyalty to DeWalt was strong, but I eventually spent a 
touch more for Milwaukee Fuel.  Before Christmas I got a combination kit 
with the best hammer drill and best impact driver, three 5AH Red Lithium 
batteries, and a charger.  $450.

I felt bad about spending the money, but after installing a floor in the 
attic, rebuilding a wall downstairs, running loads of screws, and then 
taking the impact out to work on the cars and snowblowers a few times, I 
wish I'd bought this years ago.

Battery life is incredible.  Hours of work and I've only recharged 
batteries once, when I got down to 2 bars, and I still haven't even opened 
the third battery.

Power is incredible.  The impact won't take off lug nuts, but then I 
haven't actually tried.  I'm sure (once I buy one) the 1/2" will beat the 
pants off my disappointing HF Earthquake 1/2" impact.

Close to a religious experience. Highly recommended.

On January 11, 2021 10:45:30 AM Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net> wrote:
> Others have said it, but I'll reiterate: Pick a battery/voltage, then 
> acquire the tools that go with it. If you get a cordless drill, eventually 
> you'll want a cordless impact 'wrench'--for lug nuts if nothing else--a 
> 'sawzall'  (equivalent), a circular saw, etc. Buy a combo kit, with a 
> battery and charger included, to start.
>
> I went with DeWalt 20V 'XR' brushless, because of mostly positive reviews 
> and, whether it's merit or good product placement by the marketeers 
> (probably both), they seem to be the most popular among the mechanics, 
> farmers, etc. on the quasi-reality TV shows (Stihl gets the nod for gas 
> chainsaws, with Husqvarna second). I bought a cordless DeWalt hedger, 
> slightly discounted because it was a display model, thinking "Sure, it'll 
> do a couple bushes then quit," but we did my mom's whole (large) backyard 
> on a single 4Ah battery. The tool that drains the battery fastest is my 
> 4&1/2" angle grinder/sander/wirebrusher, probably because it runs more 
> continuously and has an 'open circuit' load; I get about 20mins on a 4Ah 
> battery.
>
> I have a full complement of pneumatic and corded electric tools--many are 
> Harbor Freight, for occasional use--that are mostly collecting dust these 
> days; it's just not worth unraveling an extension cord or firing up the 
> compressor for a quick, one-off job . One of my faves is an old Makita 9V 
> driver/drill, which can't hold a candle for power to the DeWalt--and 
> replacement Chinese batteries are hit-or-miss--but it keeps soldiering-on. 
> Makita stuff is top-notch, but I haven't seen the variety of tools--doesn't 
> mean they don't have them--that DeWalt, Milwaukee, etc. have on display.
>
> Bob
>
>
> On 1/11/2021 5:38 AM, Tim . wrote:
>> I didn't say I was going to spend 320. I said "if necessary".
>>
>> I already have a mitre saw. In fact, I have a full shop including 80-gallon 
>> compressor, blast cabinet, parts washer, panel beating tools, and a boat 
>> load of hand tools.
>>
>> I simply want the best cordless drill/screw driver out there. My experience 
>> with ryobi is that they don't hold up to even how much I use them.
>>
>> tim
>>
>> From: John T. Blair <jblair1948 at cox.net>
>> Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2021 10:09 PM
>> To: Tim . <tims_datsun_stuff at outlook.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] Cordless drill/screw driver
>> At 10:58 AM 1/10/2021, Tim wrote:
>>
>>> I have a $100 menards rebate check and a $60 rebate visa card that are both
>>> burning a hole in my pocket. Also, I have the 15% "anything you can fit in the
>>> bag" sale bag. I figure $160 is a good starting point and am willing to at 
>>> least
>>> match that 160 or more if necessary to get the best out there right now.
>>
>> ......
>>
>>> I am not worried about a little heavier than most as I am not contractor 
>>> and this
>>> won't get used every day. I am just getting tired of dragging cords. I'd like
>>> whatever I get to be the start of going all cordless (skill saw, Sawzall, etc).
>>
>> Tim,
>>
>> If you are not going to be using it every day, why do you want to spend a 
>> ton of
>> money on a cordless drill.  You say you have $160 burning a hole in your pocket
>> and are willing to put another $160 to that.  Man that $320!!!!  You can get a
>> Roybi or such for say $100.  Usually around Xmas which you just missed, you can
>> get a Roybi kit with a drill, saw, and another tool for less than $150.  
>> That's where
>> I'd put the first $160.  Then I'd look at something else like a sliding 
>> compound
>> miter saw, or a nail gun or two, or some other tools.
>>
>> Now that being said, let me say I buy a lot of Harbor Freight tools.  And 
>> for the
>> occassional use they work well.  I have a $25 ish oscillating saw, which 
>> I've used
>> for something over 5 yrs.  It just died in the middle of a remodel in a 
>> bedroom.
>> So I bought another.  Especially if you don't know what you're going to use 
>> it for.
>> I also have a cheap $20 H.F. recriprocating saw that has paid for it's 
>> self.  If I'd
>> have bought a $100 to $300 version of either of these tools, I'd never had 
>> really
>> gotten my money worth out of the tool.  I'm 72 and it's getting harder and 
>> harder
>> every day for me to do a lot of the things I used to do, like bend over. :) 
>>  So why
>> should I pay for a tool that would last me for the next 30 years or so, if 
>> I'm only
>> going to be around for another 10 years?
>>
>> Spend a little less money on a tool, and get more of them.  Especially if 
>> it not your
>> bread and butter.
>>
>> John
>>
>>
>> 2
>
>
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