[Shop-talk] Cordless drill/screw driver

[Neil Sherry]

My only cordless tool is an ancient Bosch 7.2v drill/driver. Got it free
with 'Tiger Tokens' (from buying Esso fuel) around 1990 - replaced the
battery about 15 years ago with one off eBay (still NiCd, but bigger than
original). Still a great tool, but maybe one day I will get something more
powerful.

Neil

 

From: Shop-talk [mailto:shop-talk-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Bob
Spidell
Sent: 11 January 2021 16:45
To: shop-talk at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] Cordless drill/screw driver

 

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  <mailto:jblair1948 at cox.net> <jblair1948 at cox.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2021 10:09 PM
To: Tim .  <mailto:tims_datsun_stuff at outlook.com>
<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


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