[Shop-talk] Cordless drill/screw driver

[Arvid]

I will add my vote for Milwaukee.

I have 3 M12 FUEL and 1 M18 FUEL drills. FUEL is the Milwaukee name for brush-less.

95% of the time an M12 with the 2ah battery gets it done. The other 5% of the time is handled by the M12 right angle drill (obvious 'nothing else fits there' situations) or something like 'need several 7/8 inch holes in the tractor bucket'. In the latter case I make sure I have the torque handle attached as the drill will get away from me pretty easily.

The only shortcoming that I have found in the Milwaukee lineup is that it seems to be focused on construction related tools. Fine woodworking seems to be a little lower on their priority list. Their M18 palm sander gets lots of bad review and they do not have an M18 track saw package. Having said that I do have their M18 router which I am happy with and their M18 7 1/4 circular saw. Sadly the dust collection on the saw is horrible. Definitely designed ... or more likely just ignored ... for the construction setting where sawdust all over is probably not an issue. Many 'less than 5 start' reviews based on that issue.

Arvid