cool thanks for the suggestions guys and keep em coming. it looks like i be looking at a milwalki or makita. i like that makita that brownieboy posted i think i may go look at it tomorrow.

 

I am DeWalt only. Those tools have survived a lot more than my PC ever did. Another bonus is that they have not changed the design. Tools and batteries will still be usable years from now.

Ryobi and DeWalt are the only two companies that have a good cordless tool network. For me, that was the deciding factor. Also, after five years I just had to replace the brushes in my 18v hammerdrill. That is the only maintenence that has been needed.

 

Best drill I had was a 12 volt Skil. But one battery went south, and took the charger with it. I still have half a charge on the good battery, but with no way to charge it, it just sits there.

I now have an 18 volt B&D, good drill for what I do with it, but I'm the type of guy who likes to have a backup battery. I just can't find a spare for it anywhere. That, and it charges through the tool itself. I can get a 12 - 18 volt multi charger, but the batteries, I can only find up to the 14 volt. My buddy has a sweet setup though, he's got the same 18 volt drill, but he also got it in a set with a sawzall, 5" circular, jigsaw, flashlight, and a radio/charging station. Same battery I got. I'd get it, but then, do I really need all the extra tools? Wait a minute... Dumb question. Of course I do.

 

i work for a machanical contracting company ,we have several dewalt drills and persoally i'm not inpressed. two are the 18 volt hammer drills ( 3 spd )and just after 6 months both needed new motors put in, after replaceig the motor in the one the gear box went on it. i personally ave two ryobi 18 volt drill from home depot. one is a three speed hammer drill the other just a regular drill/driver. i've had the drill driver for over 4 years now and have had no trouble with it. i've got it hot enough to where i had to take it apart to cool it off and it still works like new.

 

I use the Milwaukee 18V hammer drill at work every day installing fireplaces. I like the drill because it is versitile. I have my own busuiness as a gas piper and I use only Ryobi. I love it and have been using the same drill and batteries for 3 1/2 years, no issues yet. I paid 129.00 for the Ryobi drill skil saw and flashlight with 2 batteries. I paid 499.00 for the Milwaukee set which had the drill flashlight Steel cutting circular saw and Hatchet sawzall. If wood and aluminum is most of your work I would suggest the Ryobi. If you are doing concrete drilling or HEAVY duty work I would suggest the Milwaukee

 

i use a hitachi 1/2 inch cordles thats 18 volt. this thing will dang neer twist your hand off when the bit jams,its got enuff power to start a small gas engine i know cuzz my kid uses it to start his scooter. it shure was worth the 325 bucks my wife spent on it!!

 

I've had a DeWalt 12v cordless drill for years and haven't had any problems. Batteries always last longer if the bits are sharp and you start out small and work your way up. The batteries also fit my 2 flexible DeWalt flashlights.

 

I own and have used Ryobi 18V for several years and luv it. I also luv the Hitachi 18V. The good thing about the Ryobi is that the same battery fits all of their cordless tools.

 

I have owned Makita, DeWalt, Porter-Cable and Milwaukee cordless drills over the past 15 or 20 years. To me, the Milwaukee performs the best all-around. You really can't go wrong with any of them if but if you use your drill alot, I think the Milwaukee holds up a little better than the others.

 

I bought a Ryobi combination kit of tools (sawzall, circ saw, drill/driver and flashlight), 18V, at Home Depot 2.5 years ago. The sawzall and drill driver were both replaced (drill driver replaced twice) under warranty. The drill driver has died again. The batteries do not stand up well to intermittent use (i.e. use heavily for a few days and then not use for a month). The drill lacked sufficient power to drill in metals of any sort, and the sawzall would cut a maximum of 12" of linear cut, with a new blade, in 1/4" steel without a recharge.

I just replaced them with a Hitachi 18V li-ion set from Lowes...$270 for a hammerdrill/driver, sawzall and worklight with a charger and 2 batteries. (Although oddly enough, the cordless drill/driver by itself, without the sawzall or worklight, is $299). I've never had a tool work this hard. The drill has more guts than any cordless I've ever had, and even more than some corded drills I've had. The hammerdrill feature works perfectly. And the batteries are beyond compare. I spent an entire day cutting and hanging drywall, and used one battery. I switched it back and forth between the sawzall (doing a bit of prep-demo and roughing in some holes for outlets) and the drill (used for sinking the drywall screws), and hung an entire room with no noticeable change in battery power. I'm very, very, very pleased with the new unit.

 

I have had the best luck with Metabo.

 

Not an overly common brand up here, mostly industrial. They also have multiple lines they import, cheapo Chinese-made tools and better real industrial stuff.
Mostly, though, they just send over the SDS drive hammer drills and grinders.

 

I would never buy a Dewalt. There batteries don't last and the chucks wear out. For my money the best drill is Ridgid- metal chuck holds drill bits real good after 2 years of use 3-4 days a week, batteries last as long as the day I bought it. My only complaint is it is pretty heavy but a small price to pay for a great drill. Milwaukee and Makita work good as well. Ryobi and Dewalt should be thrown away. I have used all of these drills at work for the past 5 years.

 

Picked up a Bosch 14V impact...... Love it to death

 

Milwaukee for me, got the 1/2 drill and flashlight for around 170, love them both.
Charlie