In the market for a new cordless drill

[Jon Eckels]

I wanted to get some of your opinions on cordless drills. I've had a few.. a 14.4v DeWalt XRT, a 14.4v B&D Firestorm, and then an 18v Firestorm. I've always loved the firestorm drills for the removable chuck. But lately I've been doing a lot more jobsite work and I'm in need of a strong drill with a good long lasting battery.

Now, I don't do any concrete drilling - if I do, I use a corded. In fact, all really heavy drilling i'll use a corded drill... but I assemble a lot of real simple things, such as deck boxes, picnic tables, garbage bins... stuff with a lot of screwing, and I'd like something that can easily drive 4" screws through ACQ, and last a while. In other words, i'm not looking for a cabinet drill. Long battery life is key though.

Price isn't really an object as long as it's worth it. And a good drill is definately worth it. So any opinions?

[Roger Bell]

Here is a great sale on the Makita's:

go to:

All Pro Tools.com......quite a few Makita closeouts at half price or so. Sale lasts only a couple of days and they generally sell out of stuff quickly. Take a special look at their impact drivers.....which sounds like what you need.

I have bought several things from them on these sales. Recommended vendor.

[Peter Pedisich]

John,

I have a 12 year old DeWalt 12v that is still strong enough to break screw heads and bits all day long, after being dropped many times, often from a ladder and caught in the rain and overheating while drilling in cement.

Drills straight and true, but the batteries (even replacements) are not up to the same standard as the drill.

I have 2 Panasonic 12v drills 1 and 2 years old with super battery life (literally about 3x more than DW in hours) but both have bent shafts/chucks from being dropped ONCE each (3' and 5' heights)

Next time my money goes to Bosch or Dewalt or Milwaukee (or Festool if I stop being klutzy)
I hear the Bosch Blue core batteries are GREAT.

good luck...
Pete

[Jon Eckels]

Funny you should mention the blue cores... I'm reading right now about a rebate for Bosch where they'll send you a free blue core battery when you buy a new bosch drill. I found it on the All Pro tools site that Roger mentioned. But I also found the same drill for about 50 bucks cheaper on Amazon.

The bosch is definately looking good!

[Bill Leonard]

You will not be disappointed with a Bosch.

[Dave Falkenstein]

Here's the one I'd buy:

http://www.festoolusa.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=2&prodid=564180

Long battery life, removeable chucks, high qulaity. And you said "price isn't really an object as long as it's worth it". Best drill around if you can handle the cost, IMHO.

Buy it from Bob Marino, a member here, for great service:

http://www.bobmarinosbesttools.com/

[Gary Keedwell]

I made the plunge a few weeks ago...and sometimes I go down to the basement to just play with it for awhile. ( the drill...the drill....lol) I got the 15.6 and so far I love it. ( just emotionally....lol)

Gary K.

[Jon Eckels]

And you said "price isn't really an object as long as it's worth it".

I'm sure it's a great drill.. But no I don't think it's worth it.

I like festools but they're just too damned expensive. If they lowered their prices across the board about 25%, then I'd probably own a lot of their tools. I've used them before and have been impressed with the quality, but I'll never be able to justify spending 400 on a drill.

Festool seems to like to keep their prices just over that hump of reasonability. At least that's my opinion. Cabinetmakers will probably see it differently, but as I am not a cabinetmaker, that is my opinion.

[Gary Keedwell]

Jon... A few years ago I would be echoing your sentiments, but being an "empty-nester" and a whole different attitude, I say that you can't "take it with you". As we go thru this journey called "life" our attitudes and our priorities change. But in a few years from now, while I'm struggling to make ends meet......... Well
Gary K.

[Doug Shepard]

I've had several DeWalts and was generally satisfied except for the batteries which are pretty lame. I picked up a Panasonic 15.6V around Christmas and love it. Battery life compared to the DW's is a huge improvement. The drill has tons of torque and even has a 1/2" chuck which was a bit of a surprise given it's size. Balance and weight wise it feels more like a 14V drill. I did some concrete block drilling today with an electric but drove 3" TapCon screws into those blocks with the Panasonic with no problems at all. I also ran some 3-1/2" #12 wood screws into 2-by lumber with no problems. The only thing I dont like in comparison with the DW's is the lack of integral bit storage slots like the DW's. I did pick up a stick on bit holder from McFeely's but haven't figured out yet where I want to mount it on the drill.

[Steve Clardy]

I went with two of the 12v bosch this year. Blue core batteries. Well balanced. Send in the warranty card, and they warranty the batteries for three years.

I am pretty well a dedicated PC fan, but the current drills of their's, just weren't like the older 860 series. I have two of the 9.6's for in shop use. Batteries go down quick, pita to get the batteries slid in and out of the charger.

[Burt Waddell]

Jon,

With all the work you are talking about doing with screws, I think a cordless impact driver might serve you better. I had the Makita 12 volt ones and recently changed to the 14.4 models to simplify my life battery wise. I've found the impact drivers are much better for driving screws - faster, lighter weight - a 12 volt impact driver has about twice the torque of an 18 volt drill, and there is no torque on the wrist with the impact drivers.

Burt

[Doug Jones]

You will not be disappointed with a Bosch.
Ditto,,,,,,

[Frank Hagan]

I just got an Amazon.com email about factory reconditioned DeWalt tools ... link is Here! (http://www.amazon.com/gp/r.html?R=2HWZC9XNEAPS8&C=198XF939Z18BH&T=C&U=%2Fexec%2Fobidos%2Ftg%2Fbrowse%2F%2D%2F13750921% 2Fref%3Dpe%5F10580%5F2911820%5Fpe%5Fth%5F06%2DAugu st%2D2911820%5Fp20l&H=pGbo9n7cA3HcpO1vbHpzRNOmS70A)

That's the link they sent in the email, direct from Amazon.com and not an affilliate link (in the interest of fair disclosure, I'm an affilliate for them, but don't seed my code in links without letting people know I have a vested interest at play).

I did buy my DeWalt planer reconditioned from Amazon.com, and it arrived in perfect condition. I'm leaning toward more and more reconditioned stuff for my home use, just to stretch the budget a bit.

[John Bailey]

I just bought a reconditioned Bosch 14.4 "Brute Tough" with the Blue Core. It is very heavy duty. I've been using it to drive 1/4" lag bolts and it powers right thru. The batteries are lasting a very long time before they need recharging. My only complaint is they are quite heavy. I've checked out Bosch's "Compact Tough" line, and I think in retrospect I may have been better served with that for the way I use it. I doubt I'll get the chance to buy a "Compact" though as the "Brute" appears it will last forever.

By the way, the reconditioned tools come with the same warranty. I bought from the Bosch factory site. Custormer service seems great.

John

[Bob Aquino]

Here's another vote for Bosch. I have an older 14.4 model and have been very happy with it. Had it now for about 2 years and its the drill I always pick up first. I have a few other Bosch 14v tools and have picked up several more batteries along the way so I cant tell you how many years the batteries will last but I think the run time on a charge is about average, at least with the older technology. I think the new bluecore batteries are backwards compatible with the older tools, can anybody verify that?

[Mark Pruitt]

Jon, I bought an ultra-cheap 18 volt cordless 3/8" VSR drill from Harbor Freight several years ago. I'm still using it, still happy with it, and frankly, the battery outlasted my DeWalt. Not trying to make a blanket criticism of DW, just saying what has happened in my experience. I paid only $30 for the HF and it does the job as well as my $160 DW. My .02
Mark

[Jake Helmboldt]

If you haven't pulled the trigger yet, look into two things:

As Doug mentioned the Panasonics are the top-rated drills right now, due in large part to their batteries which are supposed to be the best.

BUT....

Makita and I believe Milwaukee are now offering drills with (lighter) lithium ion batteries so an 18v drill is about the same weight as a 12v with the NiMH or NiCd batteries.

I have neither (I have a 12+ yr old 12v DeWalt that is still going strong, though the battery doesn't hold a good charge anymore), but look into these options.

Jake

[glenn bradley]

I have Makita and DeWalt; seven and five years old respectivly. I have some new batteries but the originals still work, just not as long. The Makita batteries have every right to be long dead and just keep going. As to the drill motors themselves; both have been flawless for years of use. I take care of all the flaw making 'round here.

[Dave Falkenstein]

I'm sure it's a great drill.. But no I don't think it's worth it.

Jon - Perhaps this article will change your mind:

http://www.bobmarinosbesttools.com/reviews/c12_review_tot.pdf

Quality and value are certainly a personal perspective. I have found each and every one of the several Festool products I have purchased to be excellent choices and well worth the added cost, IMHO of course.

[Charles Wilson]

I have the new Blue Core 18v Bosch and am very happy with it. I bought it from CPO Bosch. Buy it new and get a three year graduated warranty (I think replacement first year, repair the next two).

Story: My FIL was helping me put in a deadbolt lock with a hole saw. He told me that he would bring a wire drill b/c a cordless wouldn't do the job. On half charge, the Bosch got through the door. My FIL said, "Tell your MIL that I want one of those drills for my birthday." :)

Regards,
Chuck

[Jake Helmboldt]

As to the drill motors themselves; both have been flawless for years of use. I take care of all the flaw making 'round here.

Sounds familiar Glenn. Yesterday while mounting a drawer front I mis-measured and ended up drilling the holes for the handle in the wrong place. Can I blame that on the drill?

JH

[Matt Warfield]

I'll throw in another vote for the Bosch blue core series. I just recently purchased the 12V model. For putting down the decking on a 14'x16' deck with joists 16" OC, I only swapped batteries twice and was driving 2.5" screws. That was at least 1200 screws (I snapped off quite a few.)

Matt