Cordless drill
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Senior User
Joined: May 2004
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Cordless drill
Lookin into buying a cordless drill. Wouldnt use it very often but would like somthing of good quality that will be dependable and durable. Price range of say..80-150 for a good one. Could i get some opinions/experiences from people who work with them? Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: SC
I would personally use a Porter Cable. In the past I have used Dewalt, and they have been fairly good, but I have noticed that they tend to go out fairly often. I decided to go with a Porter Cable about 3 years ago, and I can honestly say the drill has never missed a beat. Doesn't get bogged down nearly as easily as the Dewalt's did. That is my $.02.
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From: Seattle
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Bixby, OK
I have a Makita and I love it. It's the 14.4V and I have been able to do some heavy duty drilling. I think we paid ~$180 for it.. but it came with a flashlight that uses the rechargeable battery, rotary saw, jigsaw, sander, and a couple other things that I don't remember. It also came with the battery charger and 2 batteries. Great for the price. Wait till around father's day.. I think it's soon.. but they usually have really good sales going on then.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Silverdale, WA.
I have the dewalt sets, I have used and abused them for years now, but I can confirm that the batteries do wear out fairly quickly, and replacement is expensive at $60 a pop. It is cheaper to wait for the extra battery rebate and just buy another drill (190 for drill with three batteries vice 180 for just batteries...) I have also used the Makita, very nice drills but they have the wrong weight balance for my hands and get uncomfortable quickly.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
i vote for the ridgid line of drills some of the best quality made p/c used to be good but the parent company of ryobi bought out pentair and quality has gone down hill i used to but tons of p/c delta and devilbiss the new stuff is like harborfreight quality junk the ridgis comes with a lifetime service on it includes free battterys for life and free service on any part of the drill.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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Buy the Milwaukee. Tough as nails and made in USA. The job you save may be your own. The Porter-Cable, Ridgid and DeWalt are now all of Chinese manufacture.
Wife left mine out in the rain for 3 days dried it out and it still works like a champ
Wife left mine out in the rain for 3 days dried it out and it still works like a champ
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
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From: Brentwood,CA
Originally Posted by 91-Exploder
Buy the Milwaukee. Tough as nails and made in USA. The job you save may be your own. The Porter-Cable, Ridgid and DeWalt are now all of Chinese manufacture.
Wife left mine out in the rain for 3 days dried it out and it still works like a champ
Wife left mine out in the rain for 3 days dried it out and it still works like a champ
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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You'll get as many opinions as posts on this topic! Rather than tell you what to get, I'll say what to definately avoid: Craftsman, ryobi, Black & Decker, anything from harbor frieght. Avoid 9.6V and 12V, go for 14.4V. 18V is probably overkill for occasional use. I am a dewalt guy but I have been leaning towards Rigid for my next set mostly because of the new lifetime warranty and the cooling fan in the chargers for heavy use. As a general contractor my tools are an investment and must be durable.
All of the above brand mentioned are good, find a good deal and go for it.
Ed
All of the above brand mentioned are good, find a good deal and go for it.
Ed
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 208
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From: Virginia
There are any number of fairly good ones out there but the best, in my experience, are Makita and Milwaukee, in that order. Makita build cordless drills in a couple of price ranges, the best bet is the middle priced or high priced one. The least expensive models are OK for occasional use on around the house jobs but the bearings aren't up to the heavier work as are the more expensive models.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Kansas
Bought a Porter Cable 12V back in '96. That drill never missed a beat and was the strongest 12V at the time, it even beat drills with more V's to them. Once the batteries went though it wasn't worth buying a new set. I won a DeWalt set that is the 14.4V and they have been fantastic. That was 6 years ago and now one of the battery packs is going south. hotrod's advice is probably right and it's cheaper to buy a new set-up then spend the $$$ for two new packs. I like Makita tools but their cordles stuff just never lit a fire for me.
Bottom line - a decent drill will outlast it's battery packs and technology shows that it's cheaper to buy new one than to keep that faithful servant.
I still have that old PC in it's case. Just can't bring myself to throw it away.
Bottom line - a decent drill will outlast it's battery packs and technology shows that it's cheaper to buy new one than to keep that faithful servant.
I still have that old PC in it's case. Just can't bring myself to throw it away.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
a while back wood magizine tested all the 14.4 cordless drills on the market the ridgid and milwaukee had the best chuck grip at over 600 inch pounds and the panasonic drove the most screws take a look at the hitachi 18 volt drill the contractor on abour 210.00 it is awesome that was the only thing i could say one i saw it it has a cool design i will post a link