What Drill/Driver do you use?

[Ed Marks]

My current "grey" 9.6v drill/driver seems to be slowly biting the dust and the vendor has been less than helpful in getting it repaired since they have moved on to bigger and supposedly better models. First it was one of the batteries, now it appears to be the charger. I can't buy the batteries any longer and the price to replace/repair the charger is about half the cost of a new one.

So, I'm considering adding a item to the Christmas list. However, Santa is really picky around here and wants to know exactly what I want so there are no mistakes (appearently he sends Mrs. Claus shopping). I'm not particularly interesting in how many 6" lag bolts a drill can drive into hard maple; my wrist will fall off first. The same goes for the number of holes with a 3" forstner bit; that's what the big hunking Milwalkee with a power cord is for. I liked the 9.6V drill because it was balanced well, had good low speed control, plenty of torque, and the all important one handed chuck.

The Panasonic 12V and 15V units seem to be around the right weight and have faired well in a couple or reviews. I'm a bit concerned about grating sound the chuck makes when being tightened. Why does it do that and when will whatever it is wear out? I do have the habit of grabing the chuck and using the drill motor to tighten/loosen the chuck (I'm sure no one else here does that :) ) I haven't demoed any others yet in the stores. The current crop of "grey" ones is off my list. (Why go down that road again? 2-3 years from now they will just be discontinued.)

So, if you use this type of drill, which one is it. What's good/bad about it?

TIA,
Ed

[Tom Peterson]

I use Blue(makita), with the NiMH batteries. great life and flexibility. not sure why you'd stick anything into keeping an old one going. Like mine because of the keyless chuck, and other things that batteries can run. I have a small blower vac that is handy for cleanup in the shop and blowing grass clippings off the drive and walk. I have had mine for four years without any problems.

[Mike Cutler]

Ed. So far I've been happy with the Dewalt series of cordless drills, they seem to balance well in my hands, and like you I have plenty of bigger corded drills to handle heavier drilling that would just eat up a battery pack. I bought another 12v Dewalt drill to complement the Dewalt I already owned and be able to swap batteries back and forth. I was faced with the same dilema you're presently in, when the batteries for my old drill would no longer hold a charge. So I bought the new Dewalt with the same battery rating. I find it odd that I can buy a new drill with two batteries and a charger in a new carrying case for only $40.00 more than replacing the batteries at retail pricing.The one negative comment I have about the new Dewalt is that the when the chuck is fully closed there is still a "gap" that prevents using smaller drill bits. Now that I have two cordless drills I find It very convenient to not have to swap the drill bit and the driver bit back and forth during projects.

[George Summers]

My choice is the DeWalt 9.6V. I have had it for a couple of years and really like it for home shop use. It is well balanced and light enough that I don't mind using it. I don't need any more power than it has for shop use. If I was doing heavy construction it would be too light and weak, but home shop, fine.

George

[Ken Salisbury]

ONE LITTLE WORD:
* *DEWALT * *

[Lloyd Robins]

I have an 18V Makita. It came as part of a set with their battery powered circular saw and flashlight for $150. It was a Costco clearance. I really like the drill. It is doesn't feel all that heavy, but then again I don't use it for hours at any one time.

[Jim Becker]

My current driver is a Dewalt 14.4 XRP and I really like it. I also have an older PC 14.4 that is servicable, but doesn't "feel" as good as the Dewalt. I feel that the 14.4 (and 15v Panasonic) size is a nice compromize between the brute force and high weight of the 18v and 24v units and the lower duty cycle of smaller tools for the woodworking shop, although the 12v units are quite servicable. This is just personal preference and your needs may be different.

[Joe Suelter]

I love my DeWalt 18v XRP...best drill I've ever owned. It's not inexpensive, however...just under $300, but worth every penny IMHO.

[Jim DeLaney]

I'm gonna go against the grain and say 'stay with gray.' My preference is for a 12v or 14.4v Porter-Cable. I've got one of each.

They've been very reliable, and the 12v has even survived a fall off a ladder, and one from a roof.

They've build a large deck - driving literally a thousand 3½" deck screws, and although they're a bit 'battered' looking they continue to function like new.

BTW, I prefer the 12v or 14.4v over the bigger stuff mainly because they feel more balanced to me. I also prefer the lighter 12v model when working overhead. An extra pound of battery makes a big difference after the first hundred or so overhead screws. ;-)

[Dan McLaughlin]

Like Jim, I also have a DeWalt 14.4 XRP. Like it a lot. I've had it for 2 or 3 years without a problem.

[Christian Aufreiter]

Hi Ed,

basically, I use two cordless drills, a 7.2 V Makita and a 12 V Festool. The Makita is quite powerful for such a small and light tool but the Festool is my favorite. Still not too heavy but much more torque and power. I use the CDD type which has a unique design. The best thing about this drill are the right angle and the eccentric attachment. You are able to drill and drive in any tight spaces with them.

Regards,

Christian Aufreiter, Austria

[Daniel Rabinovitz]

I use a Porter Cable 14.4 v and a DeWalt 14 v right angle
Daniel :cool:

[John Miliunas]

Hi Ed,

basically, I use two cordless drills, a 7.2 V Makita and a 12 V Festool. The Makita is quite powerful for such a small and light tool but the Festool is my favorite. Still not too heavy but much more torque and power. I use the CDD type which has a unique design. The best thing about this drill are the right angle and the eccentric attachment. You are able to drill and drive in any tight spaces with them.

Regards,

Christian Aufreiter, Austria

Hey Christian, two questions: 1) Do you have about every single tool Festool puts out?! :rolleyes: (I admit...I too am a big fan!) 2) Is there a specific reason you chose the CDD over the regular pistol grip? Just curious, more than anything... :cool:

[Kevin Gerstenecker]

I have had several different makes of Cordless Drills. I have an OLD Makita 9.6 that has been to the "wall" and back, and keeps on ticking. I recently bought a Makita 14.4 "M-Force" unit at the Depot.......mostly because they had the drill on Closeout, and the price was just too good to pass up. The M-Force is a great drill so far, a bit heavy, but it has great power, good balance and very good battery life. I also have a 12V Ryobi that is a great drill for drilling, is lightweight, but can't hold a candle to any other 12V drill I have ever had my hands on. I use the Ryobi almost exclusively at the work bench, drilling small holes, and running screws that don't require much "Grunt", because grunt is what it lacks. At work, I have had a 12V Dewalt drill that was used daily, and it lasted about 3 years before it just gave out. The Dewalt had been thru the mill, and it held up much better than I ever though it would. I currently have a Milwaukee 14.4 at work, and it is a great drill also...............I would rate it on the same scale as the Dewalt. Overall, my impression of Cordless Drills is based on the "Ya get what you pay for" scale. The low end of the price scale will not give you what you may demand in a Cordless Drill..............so if you want a good, reliable unit with good torque, battery life and longevity, you have to pay the price. ;)

[Doug Jones]

That would make me the odd man out,,, I use a Craftsman 18volt. It has done every thing I've needed it to including drilling a 1/2 spade bit through many 4 x 4's between battery changes. Again at the time it was the only thing I knew of. And now that I know of others, I'm still not sure I'd go any different. Then again the Panasonic got some excellent reviews.

[Christian Aufreiter]

Hey Christian, two questions: 1) Do you have about every single tool Festool puts out?! :rolleyes: (I admit...I too am a big fan!) 2) Is there a specific reason you chose the CDD over the regular pistol grip? Just curious, more than anything... :cool:

Hi John,

unfortunately I don't have all Festool's which are available.
Currently I own a vac, plunge saw, ROS and router. The cordless drill belongs to my dad but I talked him into, of course. The Trion jigsaw is definitely on my list, maybe the MFT and some more sanders. The CT Mini would be cool too, but who can afford a second vac. I know a couple of hobby woodworkers who have more Festool's :rolleyes:
The reason my dad went for the CDD is that Festool offers a set here. It consists of the CDD, both attachments, 2 NiCd 2 Ah batteries, ECU 45 charger (not the 15 min charger which is offered in the US) and a systainer. This set is not available with the TDD.

Regards,

Christian

[Phil Phelps]

....the Ridgid drill drivers offer a "lifetime" battery warranty this month. Now that's worth lookin' into. Personally I have three DeWalts 18v. Commercial use.

[Michael Cody]

Panasonic 15.6v or 9.6v Makita --- both great at what they do. The Panasonic was recommended to me by a friend who owns a Office Furniture business. His crews tried just about every brand and after a while he now buys nothing but Panasonic's.. Mine is a used one he retired and it's still going strong. The battery recharges in 15-20 minutes and it will drive 4" deck screws enough for a 10x12 deck on a single battery. This is my main drill I use for all things except assembly (it's well balance but my Makita is a lot lighter).

The Makita I've had forever -- it still just keeps going and going. I did buy a new NiMH or whatever battery & smart charger at a closeout sale here in MI when Quality Farm/Fleet went out of business - 30$ out the door for the pair. But I still have the original NiCad and it's going strong. It won't drive to many 4" deck screws but for everything else a drill driver is for, it's just the ticket. Light, battery lasts forever, nice balance...

You don't need 24v or 18v to drive 1.5" screws in cabinent assembly, 9.6v is fine for that or even smaller... but if you want to drill a bunch of 3/8" holes, drill metal or drive those long deck screws (or drive 8" landscape timber screw w/a 5/16" socket head) then the Panansonic is what I recommend.

[Don Abele]

OK, like someone else posted when they mentioned Craftsman, I too am an odd-man out. I use Skil. I have a total of 3 of them - two 14.4's and an 18v. I use the 14.4's for every day stuff and the 18 when I need more umph. I previously owned a Dewalt which died horribly when I dropped it off a ladder. After that I just couldn't see spending that kind of money for something prone to accidents. I have since dropped my Skil's several times without even a wince. And while they aren't looking their best, they work excellently. If they do ever break, the sticker shock of replacing them won't be there.

Be well,

Doc

[Paul Kunkel]

Panasonic 15.6 -3.5 amp NMH batts. After 2 -12v Skills, 2 - 12v PC's (all dead) I took the plunge to Panasonic. They are THE battery pro's, make batterys for most of the major brands and then some. After a year of really heavy use it's still running strong and even LOML will reach for it before her PC. I spin the chuck under power all the time (30-40 times a day) and while the sound is unnerving at first I don't think it'll harm the mechinism. When I go off on an install, I don't bother to bring the charger. If 2 of these batterys die before I do, I've put too much time in on the job anyway. :D I've never been able to kill both in a day, but i don't build decks with it either.

[Scott Greaves]

Doug is not the only odd man out! My current favorite is a Hitachi impact driver. Now don't scoff! It is light, compact, well balanced, and still drives those three inch lag bolts! It does not have a regular chuck, but is designed to hold 1/4" hex bits. There are a number of drill bits available with hex shanks, so you can drill just fine with these tools. Of course, the Makita impact drivers are rated even higher than the Hitachi!

As for ordinary cordless drills, I have two of the 9.6v Makitas. They just keep going and going!

Good Luck!

Scott.

[aurelio alarcon]

I have a DeWalt, Makita and a Craftsman. All of them are fine drills, but I use the Craftsman more than any of them. I like the feel of it (weight, grip, etc.). But I would recommend any of the three that I own. All of them perform quite well. I have been wanting to try a Milwaukee. I was told that their tools have a lifetime wauranty, though I'm not entirely sure if that is true and if it is tru, what all it covers.

[Mike Harrison]

Well I'm gonna wrankle some with my recomendation of the HF 44849 18V unit. It has been a great tool and I've used it to drive some pretty good sized screws into a variety of materials.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/44800-44899/44849.gif

[Byron Trantham]

If you to buy just one, the DeWalt 14 V XRP just can't be beat. Balanced well, powerful and versatile. I own three, a 9.6 Makita "stick battery" unit dedicated to raising and lowering my router lifter (it is my first drill), a 9.6 DeWalt used for light work where stripping might be an issue and finally the 14 V unit for everything else. I just like the feel of the DeWalt.

[Ken Salisbury]

This is what I normally use. I can't afford all that expensive power-aided stuff on a fixed income :D :D
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[Ed Marks]

But I noticed it was DeWalt yellow Ken :)

[Ed Marks]

Thanks to everyone for the many responses. I didn't go back and count the "votes" but it sure seems like I ought to take a look at the DeWalts.

Thnaks again,
Ed

[nic obie]

I use old 9.6v Makitas. I've got 4 of them now. All my friends keep giving me their old ones when it comes time to buy new batteries. The darn things just won't break.

I figure anything they don't have enough power for probably is done best with a big corded tool anyway.

[Dave Hammelef]

I would look at the Ridgid with the LIfetime warrenty (INCLUDES BATTERIES). Cant go wrong with that option in my opinion.

[aurelio alarcon]

I use old 9.6v Makitas. I've got 4 of them now. All my friends keep giving me their old ones when it comes time to buy new batteries. The darn things just won't break.

I figure anything they don't have enough power for probably is done best with a big corded tool anyway.
I have an old makita stick battery drill. But I would like to know where I can get a charger and battery for this. I looked every where and found the charger with battery to cost about 90 dollars. But I found the same style, although new and don't know if it is the same quality, at amazon for 87 dollars which includes the drill, batteries, charger and case. My charger gave out. And all I have left is one battery. But the batteries are also very expensive. Any recomendations on where to get chargers and batteries? Or should I go with the amazon deal?

[John Wadsworth]

...have you guys ever tried the old Yankee-type telescoping screwdriver? No noise, no battery changes...

Oh, yeah, sorry, wrong forum.

On this side of the fence I have an old 9.6V Makita (seldom used now, but it shares batteries with a few other tools) and two 14.4V DeWalts, one in the house and one in the shop.

[Jim Becker]

I would look at the Ridgid with the LIfetime warrenty (INCLUDES BATTERIES). Cant go wrong with that option in my opinion.

Buy quickly, however...there is no "lifetime warranty" available on new purchases of Ridgid tools after 30 December 2003.

[Steve Clardy]

I,m a big gray fan on almost all there stuff except their ROS sanders. Got tired of the dust canasters blowing off, numerous factory and self fixes, and they do not pick up dust well.
I have 5 of the older 862 12 volt drills, five chargers, 11 batteries. Two of these drills are approaching 6 years old. Yes, they have been replaced twice now with newer models. Only had 1 problem with 1 of them. I stripped the guts out of it one day driving 10" log home logs screws into a staircase that I built out of pine logs. I knew it was way to much for it but that drill was putting them right on it. PC took care of it under warranty. When it comes time to do some replacing, it will be gray again. All the original batteries still work fine. I did have two of them that the connecting straps inside connecting the numerous individual batteries together come loose, but resoldered them and they are still going.
Steve

[paul comer]

Craftsman 14.4 v have not found anything that would give it a good challenge yet.....also not to hard on the wallet

[aurelio alarcon]

Craftsman 14.4 v have not found anything that would give it a good challenge yet.....also not to hard on the wallet
Paul, is that from their Professional line or their EX line?

[Mike Harrison]

John,

Yup, I have several. North Bros, Stanley, Millers Falls, Sears, etc.. I get a kick out of using them.

[Michael Cody]

I have an old makita stick battery drill. But I would like to know where I can get a charger and battery for this. I looked every where and found the charger with battery to cost about 90 dollars. But I found the same style, although new and don't know if it is the same quality, at amazon for 87 dollars which includes the drill, batteries, charger and case. My charger gave out. And all I have left is one battery. But the batteries are also very expensive. Any recomendations on where to get chargers and batteries? Or should I go with the amazon deal?


Go w/Ebay -- batteries selling for 20$ and chargers going for 25$ -- I've saw a complete used driver, case, charger & 2 batt's go for for 41.00$ about 2 weeks ago. That's a deal anytime for this unit.

There are a lot of them around 'cause they last forever and are great units.

[Michael Cody]

Well I'm gonna wrankle some with my recomendation of the HF 44849 18V unit. It has been a great tool and I've used it to drive some pretty good sized screws into a variety of materials.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/44800-44899/44849.gif

Had one -- worked great for about a year -- then the high speed side of the gear box would slip on high torque app's -- still drove most anything and drilled fine, but you couldn't drive deck screws w/it .. I payed 39$ which means I still think it was deal even given the problems I had. Held charge a long time, well balanced, good torque & is cheaper than dirt. Even if you have to replace it once a year. I sold it in a garage sale for 15$ even though I told the guy it slipped in range driving high torque stuff.

[aurelio alarcon]

Go w/Ebay -- batteries selling for 20$ and chargers going for 25$ -- I've saw a complete used driver, case, charger & 2 batt's go for for 41.00$ about 2 weeks ago. That's a deal anytime for this unit.

There are a lot of them around 'cause they last forever and are great units.cool, I'll check it out

[Dean Baumgartner]

I got one of the Rigid cordless 12V mostly because of the lifetime warranty on the battery. It's a good second cordless. I also have the 14.4V Dewalt XRP and an old Makita 9.6 that the batteries don't hold a charge any more. Even though the specs say the Rigid has 20 in-lbs more torque than the Dewalt it's no where close. It did manage snap off a couple of 2 1/2" deck screws. The fast charge is nice at about 20 min. The longer charge time on the Dewalt has never been a problem as I haven't been able to drive enough screws to kill a battery before the other one re-charges.

All in all the Rigid seems fine for general shop use.

[John Preston]

I have the panasonic 15.6 volt with the 3 Ah NimH batteries.

I bought it about three or four years ago. A good drill, the noise when you open and close the chuck means you need to add lubricant to it. Mine did that after sheetrocking a ceiling, a little penetrating oil flush in the chuck quieted it right down.

I use my drill at lot, not every day, but a lot, and the only thing wrong with my drill is the danged brake cut out this summer. I took it apart, cleaned it, almost lost some of those ball bearings, just about didn't get all the gears back in, and the brake still doesn't work. I told myself I was lucky just to get it back together, and have been on the lookout for a festool laying by the side of the road in the original box.

I've only used other people's Ryobi 18v and 12v drills, and the Panasonic is head and shoulders above them, and much smaller than those danged 18v drills. A must for tight cabinet work.

I don't like T handle drills (I figured this out after I bought mine). I have wrist problems, and want one built like my makita corded drill. The ergonomics of a T handle drill used one handed are terrible.

[Steven Wilson]

I've been using the Dewalt 14.4V XRP drills (regular and right angle) for a couple of years now and have recently bought new batteries for them. As drills they're ok but I find them a bit heavy for use in the shop. I had the pleasure of participating in a cordless drill test awhile back and the ones that I liked the most were the Metabo 12V followed by the Panasonic (12v IIRC). The 12V Metabo had the torque of an 18V, the impulse drive feature is a usefull addition, the chuck was fantastic (better than the Panasonic), you can set the torque ring to handle small brass screws (not many drills are good at low torque settings) without breaking them, and the unit fit my hand. Another drill I found interesting is the Festool. I like the head change feature and it would be a usefull tool for installing fastners in strange places (drawers). If I were shoping for a new cordless drill for making furniture and cabinets I would look at the Metabo and the Festool. If my needs were for a general purpose, carpentry beast, then any Milwaukee, Dewalt, PC, Makita of 14.4V or higher would be just fine. The Metabo and Festool have some subtle engineering features that I find would be better suited for furniture/cabinet/installation work.

[mike malone]

My current "grey" 9.6v drill/driver seems to be slowly biting the dust and the vendor has been less than helpful in getting it repaired since they have moved on to bigger and supposedly better
TIA,
Ed

hey ed
i think you started something here.
i've been using a dewalt 952 (9.6v) for a few years. When i need muscle, i pull out the milw corded 1/2". The Dewalt has survived pretty well and i would probably stay with that size (or maybe a 12v) if i had to replace it. It is compact and lightweight (most important) and batteries are readily available (as is the drill itself on ebay). The 18v models seem ridulously big and clumsy.
good luck with santa.
mike