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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 11:39 PM
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Default Cordless Drills

What is everyone's opinions on these?

I am very skeptical and just can't pull myself to get one, right now I have a corded one that is quite the bad boy, the thing rocks and has never failed me.....Only problem is I don't know who owns it, my dad or my uncle, so i'm not sure how much longer it'll be available to me

So fire away, do you like em or not, if you do what would you look for if your getting a new one
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 04:39 PM
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I love my cordless drills, very convenient. Always be sure to have 2 batteries, that way when one dies, you have another one ready to go. I have a 10 year old Makita 7.2 volt that still works, a 1 year old DeWalt 12 volt that is absolutely awesome, and a 3 or 4 year old Craftsman 14.4 volt that rocks also, all 3/8 chuck. They're makin em as big as 19.2 volt now...maybe I'll ask Santa.
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 04:40 PM
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I got my first cordless drill in the 80tys a Makita 9.6 volt.
I don't know what I'd do with out one.
I've got a skill 12 volt cordless now cost around 70ty bucks.
Get a kit that comes with two batts and a quick charger and a keyless chuck.
You also need magnetic driver tips to go with it like phillips and a small nut driver assortment.


"A cordless drill is like a women ya just gotta have one"

Any of you know my old girl friend Cindy?


Last edited by Rat_Fink; Oct 4, 2004 at 05:06 PM.
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 04:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Rat_Fink
A cordless drill is like a women ya just gotta have one
I agree
the big black one I got in the garage is great, but I hate dragging around the extension cord.

So higher voltage usually means more power? Anything else I should look at besides 2 batteries and voltage?
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 08:33 PM
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Dewalt 18v 1/2" hammer drill. I've used and abused this drill for 3 years w/o one complaint. I was using it yesterday to drill through 1/2" steel. (I am mounting a winch on my pickup) This drill is expensive but worth every penny if you use it a lot like I do. I also have the dewalt 3/8" 18v drill, good drill as well but the 1/2" has a lot more rpm's with the same battery.
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by code4
Dewalt 18v 1/2" hammer drill. I've used and abused this drill for 3 years w/o one complaint. I was using it yesterday to drill through 1/2" steel. (I am mounting a winch on my pickup) This drill is expensive but worth every penny if you use it a lot like I do. I also have the dewalt 3/8" 18v drill, good drill as well but the 1/2" has a lot more rpm's with the same battery.
We've got a steel beam in my garage that looked too good not to hang a punching bag on....Good lord was it tough to go through, I am assuming a hammer drill helps in those types of situations? What exactly does the hammer part of it do?
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 09:06 PM
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[QUOTE=2002 Trans Am]What is everyone's opinions on these?

Well I've only been wrenching for about 2 months, but I swear the first tool I bought was a 14.4V RIDGID cordless drill from Home Depot, like $130 with 2 batts and 20 min charger. I probably should have bought a 12V as this is more than enough. Any larger and you might as well buy one of the many cordless impacts. I use it everywhere I can, basically anywhere you'd use a 1/4" air ratchet. Obviously the ratchet is smaller, but on trim work, valve covers, oil pans, lower engine covers on all the german cars, etc... the lack of cord/hose is really nice, and these things are very fast. I love cordless tools, I also got a cordless screwdriver and am looking for a deal on a cordless right agle compact head or adapter for the screwdriver. I'll probably get an impact when I can afford it, but my shop is so slow I've stopped buying tools. I don't know why more people don't use them, I have a quick-change bit holder for all the screw styles and a 1/4" square drive bit.

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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 09:23 PM
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I am leaning toward any of these 3
Hopefully a sale will come up when I have some extra money and i'll be all over it

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

GF is gonna kill me
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 09:27 PM
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I have a 7-8 year old 9.6v? mikita thats been used hard and even run over once or twice (opps). I have a 2 year old el cheapo ebay special 23.99 that I keep in my truck for road side repairs. I have a 14.4 snap on at work that gets alot of use too. I have an assortment of the lil hand screwdrivers (not drills) that are black and decker and they are old as hell and still work great.
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 09:41 PM
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cordless drills are great i've used craftsman and dewalt and I have to say that my favorite cordless drill is a 12V dewalt. Its powerful, long lasting batteries that recharge in only 1 hour. best of all to me is its balanced feeling in my hand you don't think it means much until you use one that is and then one that isn't. a well balanced one is alot easier to work with with only one hand in weird and tight fitting areas. I learned to love the dewalt when building cabinets and now have one in my toolbox at work. I'll never use any other drill.
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Cody Brooks
cordless drills are great i've used craftsman and dewalt and I have to say that my favorite cordless drill is a 12V dewalt. Its powerful, long lasting batteries that recharge in only 1 hour. best of all to me is its balanced feeling in my hand you don't think it means much until you use one that is and then one that isn't. a well balanced one is alot easier to work with with only one hand in weird and tight fitting areas. I learned to love the dewalt when building cabinets and now have one in my toolbox at work. I'll never use any other drill.
Ergonomics or whatever its called are often over looked The dewalt did feel good in my hand
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 09:55 PM
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you use the tool enough how it feels becomes very important.
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Old Oct 5, 2004 | 07:26 AM
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i have and will always use dewalt drills, get the xrp though, they are the toughest..i love mine..i also recommend getting the 12 volt on any brand..this makes it easy to use the battery as a test for any 12 volt equipment on your car you might want to check out,,just pop the battery out and hook up a few clip leads and wallllaaa..good luck
matt
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Old Oct 5, 2004 | 07:51 AM
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Originally Posted by 2002 Trans Am
I am leaning toward any of these 3
Hopefully a sale will come up when I have some extra money and i'll be all over it

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

GF is gonna kill me
Make sure you join the Craftsman Club...if they go on sale and they're on special in the Club, it's like 10% cheaper to boot!
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Old Oct 5, 2004 | 07:54 AM
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Matt has a good idea, there. Never really thought about it.

I use DeWalt brand because the drill motor seems to be the toughest, the gear drive and chuck don't seem to get sloppy and the batterys are tough as well.

I have an 18V 1/2" drive impact, a 3/8" drive impact, an XRP drill motor and a standard 18V drill motor.

The impact guns are fantastic. The 1/2" drive works great at the track. I can chage a dozen sets of tires before the battery goes TU

Whatever you get, look at other cordless tools as well. MAke sure whatever brand you decide on, you can get replacement batteries and the batteries will interchange.
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Old Oct 5, 2004 | 09:31 AM
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I've gone through maybe half a dozen cordless drills,
it's always the batteries that go. The batteries often
cost more, solo, than you can get a new drill with a
battery pack or two for. Maybe not if you go for the
top-line brands. If you think the drill is going to last
then check out what kind of battery replacement
availability there it; Makita, DeWalt, probably any
Home Depot; lesser brands, maybe out of luck.

My current is a Ryobi, a decent littlel drill body and
came with two battery packs; however one of them
already won't hold a charge worth crap. But the whole
kit was cheaper (Home Depot special deal) than one
name brand battery.

Hammer drill is more for masonry; I think metal just
wants a good sharp cobalt (and probably two passes,
a small diameter starter hole through and then the
big bit). I have a hammer drill and it makes a big
difference in how fast you can drill block & poured
concrete for tapcons etc. But I think it might just
cause ordinary HSS bits to crack themselves.
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Old Oct 5, 2004 | 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by jimmyblue
I've gone through maybe half a dozen cordless drills,
it's always the batteries that go. The batteries often
cost more, solo, than you can get a new drill with a
battery pack or two for. Maybe not if you go for the
top-line brands. If you think the drill is going to last
then check out what kind of battery replacement
availability there it; Makita, DeWalt, probably any
Home Depot; lesser brands, maybe out of luck.

My current is a Ryobi, a decent littlel drill body and
came with two battery packs; however one of them
already won't hold a charge worth crap. But the whole
kit was cheaper (Home Depot special deal) than one
name brand battery.

Hammer drill is more for masonry; I think metal just
wants a good sharp cobalt (and probably two passes,
a small diameter starter hole through and then the
big bit). I have a hammer drill and it makes a big
difference in how fast you can drill block & poured
concrete for tapcons etc. But I think it might just
cause ordinary HSS bits to crack themselves.
Yep you are sure right the batterys cost more than the drill in most cases
So I just pitch it when the batterys finally go in about two to three years.
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Old Oct 5, 2004 | 09:12 PM
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If you get a dewalt, make sure to get the XRP battery pack.
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Old Oct 5, 2004 | 10:20 PM
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Mines not the XRP and I really don't see the need for it. The regular 12v Dewalt is so much better than anything else I've seen or used that I don't see the need for the extra expense. I have known guys that have had these for 4-5 years with the original batteries it came with and there still as good as the day they was new.
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Old Oct 5, 2004 | 11:04 PM
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I use both at work and I would prefer the cord over the cordless just because of the power on tap. In the long run the cord ones pay for themselves. In fact the guys before me just went through 2 batteries @ $44 a piece and I had to go out and buy the 3rd when the same drill with a cord cost $99. Yes we do use them a lot. Because of my experience with them I went and bought a corded drill with an adjustable clutch. I REALLY love the clutch on these things. Don't have to worry about overtorquing(sp?) through wood.

.02
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