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Discussion Forum

Best cordless drill??

PeteDraganic | Posted in General Discussion on February 21, 2007 04:51am

It’s been awhile since FHB has done a review on Cordelss drills…. 2003, issue 153… and now that I am in the market for a new one, I’d like some input from those that know and use these drills in the same fashion that I will.

I was looking at the line-up at one of the big boxes and the Bosch 18 v drill appealed to me most.  Maybe in part because I was so impressed with their jigsaw once before that it just left a good impression.

Also, they include 2 batteries with a 2-year warrantee on them… and a quick charger (30 minutes).

I’ll be honest… for the past few years I was a huge fan of the Crafstman 18 v drill.  It had power, excellent battery life and was all-around dependable.  I went through 2 of them over maybe 4 years of HEAVY use. 

Now I have the newer version 19.2 by craftsman and I hate it…. mostly because the battery life stinks….. so that means it is time to leave the Craftsman people for greener pastures.

Any and all input will be appreciated.

PS… is it pronounced Boesh or Bawsh?  I find myself using the former while others commonly use the latter.

When you’re this good, EVERYONE wants a crack at you!

http://www.petedraganic.com/

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Replies

  1. Jemcon | Feb 21, 2007 05:31pm | #1

    I pronounce it "bosh" If you're in the market for a lithium ion, Tools of the Trade magazine just did a review on them. It's on their website if you don't get the magazine

    I seem to like the Makita non lithium and lithium lately. I had a few Milwaukees but didn't like the battery life. For everyday use I use a Makita compact lithium ion, 199.99 at HD and it seems pretty good. I also use a 14.4v nickle metal hydrade Makita and like it alot.

    To me regular 18v drills are to heavy for everyday use. But thats my opinion.

     

     

     

    Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!



    Edited 2/21/2007 9:32 am ET by Jemcon

  2. User avater
    Mongo | Feb 21, 2007 05:34pm | #2

    Petey boy!

    I like the Panasonic for performance.

    The most comfortable to me, ergonomically, is the Dewalt. But the battery life on my Dewalts has been horrid. My 12v was fabulous, the 18v has been lousy.

    I've always thought "Bosch" rhymes with "Gosh". Could be mistaken though, as I pronounce "Home Depot" as "landfill".

    Mongo

    1. BryanSayer | Feb 21, 2007 06:19pm | #3

      Why in the world do you denigrate landfills so?

      1. User avater
        Mongo | Feb 21, 2007 06:58pm | #5

        My bad.<g>

  3. cynwyd | Feb 21, 2007 06:55pm | #4

    I really like my Ridgid 14v drill/driver package. 3 year warranty, 90 day trial.

    But it isn't the name brand here that is most important, it's weight to power ratio of the impact driver. Can't see going over 14v for a drill, just too heavy. A 14v impact driver has incredible power.

    The Ridgid batteries have been great, but any current choice will be an upgrade. When I went from PC to Ridgid the improvement in batteries was astonishing. But I think a change to the current PC would have been just as astonishing.

  4. Quickstep | Feb 21, 2007 09:07pm | #6

    I just got a Makita 18v Lithium Ion. I also got an impact driver. Using the impact driver just for screws and the drill just for drilling has proved to make the battery life on both much, much longer.

    As a side note, I got both from Coastal Tool (http://www.coastaltool.com). I've just trumpeted them in another post. Their prices and customer service are terrrific.

    1. townail | Feb 22, 2007 06:08pm | #23

      Another vote for Makita 18V LXT.....if you can find set like LXT600 for resonable $$$, thats the way to go IMO. 3yr Warranty tool, 1yr battery. Had mine 6 months and love it....except sawzall eats batteries and grinder kind of lame but overall excellent!

      My only concern, as with all seemingly well designed/engineered product manufactured in China, is durability/longevity. This stuff hasn't been around long enough to really know. My old dewalt and milwakee cordless stuff  just "felt" better built (maybe its was the 15lbs of battery), but it all survived many "ladder dives"

      I might give ridgid a good look to. No personal experience but I've heard good things about them and the lifetime warranty sounds good.

      TN

  5. User avater
    JeffBuck | Feb 21, 2007 10:08pm | #7

    hands down ...

    the Makita Lithium Ion.

     

    blows the doors off the panasonic ... and pretty much anything else. The impact driver is fantastic too .... especially to the over-complicated "digital dial/read out" for everything.

    I'm wating for the combo pack with the circular saw/sawzaw to hit recond'd so I can get them too.

    Jeff

        Buck Construction

     Artistry In Carpentry

         Pittsburgh Pa

    1. Shoeman | Feb 22, 2007 02:37am | #11

      What Panasonic is the Makita - blowing the doors off?

      You comparing apples and apples or apples and oranges?

      1. User avater
        JeffBuck | Feb 22, 2007 08:01am | #17

        "What Panasonic is the Makita"

         

        I dunno ...  the one I picked up and compared to the Makita!

        I'n not a fan of any Panasonics .... none have ever felt comfortable to my hand.

        a buddy has their fancy impact ... too many settings for me ...

        Jeff    Buck Construction

         Artistry In Carpentry

             Pittsburgh Pa

        1. Shoeman | Feb 22, 2007 04:58pm | #22

          So, are the "hands down" and "blows the doors off" comments based on performance of the drill or more just how they fit your hand?

          I am genuinely curious what you think is so much better about the Makita over the Panasonic.  I am a long time Panasonic user and considering switching to Makita for the larger selection of tools that all use the same battery.

          What factors are your very strong opinions based on? 

          1. User avater
            JeffBuck | Feb 22, 2007 09:00pm | #25

            used them both ...

             

            never cared for any panasonic.

            then ... used the makita.

             

            best drill I'd used. Love it. Still do.

             

            day I test drove both ... happened to be standing next to a pallet fulla doors ...

            pulled the trigger of the Makita ... and the door that had just fallen over onto the panasonic ... blew off it.

             

            there ...

             

            ya happy?

            Jeff    Buck Construction

             Artistry In Carpentry

                 Pittsburgh Pa

          2. Shoeman | Feb 22, 2007 09:30pm | #26

            Yes, I'm happy.

            You have made it crystal clear why you feel that the Makita is the far superior drill.

          3. User avater
            JeffBuck | Feb 22, 2007 09:41pm | #27

            some things U must learn on your own .... grasshopper.

             

            Jeff    Buck Construction

             Artistry In Carpentry

                 Pittsburgh Pa

    2. User avater
      Mongo | Feb 22, 2007 08:52am | #18

      Where have you been hiding?

      1. User avater
        JeffBuck | Feb 22, 2007 09:10am | #19

        didn't U see my barn pics?

         

        I been amish.

        Jeff    Buck Construction

         Artistry In Carpentry

             Pittsburgh Pa

        1. User avater
          Mongo | Feb 22, 2007 09:20am | #20

          Didn't see them, you must have posted them when I was hiding.How's the amish beer?

          1. User avater
            JeffBuck | Feb 22, 2007 09:44am | #21

            what happens in the barn ...

            stays in the barn.

             

             

            Jeff    Buck Construction

             Artistry In Carpentry

                 Pittsburgh Pa

          2. User avater
            Mongo | Feb 22, 2007 06:27pm | #24

            Found the pics over in the gallery.Nice! I really liked the doors hidden behind the barn slider. A detail that I'd never seen before.Projects like that are keepers.Mongo

  6. paulbny | Feb 22, 2007 12:23am | #8

    Pete,

    I've been using the Milwaukee 28v Li-on for about a year, plenty of power and battery life.  I smoked one of the batts about 4 months ago and I got a new replacement from Milwaukee No Charge, No Hassle.  Their battery warranty is now 2 years full replacement, 5 years prorated on Lithium Ion batteries. 

    That said, I really like the new Makita BPT 140 It's a combination Drill - Driver - Hammer Drill and Impact Driver 18v Lithium Ion.  Pricey, but would eliminate a couple of tools from the box.



    Edited 2/21/2007 4:28 pm ET by paulbny

  7. User avater
    xxPaulCPxx | Feb 22, 2007 12:53am | #9

    If you are looking in the big orange box, you might want to look at: http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/RIDGID-XLi-24-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Combo-Kit

    It has a lifetime warranty - ON THE BATTERIES!  Just remember to keep the UPC from the box so you can register it.  You can also use 18v NiCAD batteries with these tools too.  They have alot of tools shown but not yet listed, so they have much more coming down the pipe for this lineup.

    The saw is a cordless version of the 6.5" Fuego which has had some very good reviews.

    Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

    Also a CRX fanatic!

  8. User avater
    IMERC | Feb 22, 2007 02:30am | #10

    bawsch...

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

  9. Shoeman | Feb 22, 2007 02:52am | #12

    I have always liked the Panasonic drills - great power to weight ratio and long battery life.  I have 4 of their 12 volt drills and 2 of the 12 volt impact drivers - one first and one second generation - not the 3rd generation digital.  Have a 12 volt circular saw of theirs as well.  3.5 amp hour nickle metal hydride batteries.

    Don't have any of their new Lithium Ion tools, but have read some very positive reviews. 

     

    That said, I think if I were to buy a new drill, I would go for the Makita 18 volt Lithium Ion.  The Panasonic may be a bit better, but, Makita has much greater variety of tools available that take the same battery. 

  10. ChicagoMike | Feb 22, 2007 05:18am | #13

    I just purchased a Festool with all the trimmings. I LOVE it but it was pricey. I hate what I am about to say but..........Rigid at that orange store has a new lifetime warranty. The drills are very heavy though.

  11. User avater
    FatRoman | Feb 22, 2007 05:54am | #14

    Hey Pete,

    You might consider this Makita, too. It's the hammer drill / impact driver all in one.

    http://www.tylertool.com/makita208.html

    And I'll cast my vote for the Makita Li-on tools, too. I've been very happy with the set I picked up.

    Best,
    Steve

    P.S. - given that it's German, it's definitely 'Bawsh' :)

    Tua res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet ~ Horace
  12. LittleItaly | Feb 22, 2007 07:29am | #15

    Absolutely sold on the Makita Li-ion 18v.  I got the combo pack last spring with the impact, hammer-driver, circle saw, flashlight, and free sawzall rebate.  Sawzall is a little weak but other than that the whole package has increased my productivity on small projects tremendously. 

    1. finnegan | Feb 22, 2007 07:35am | #16

      Panasonic cordless drills are great, but pricey.  I like the Craftsman 19.2 volt.  I like the Ridgid warranty on the batteries, but I am not sure what it covers.  Do they replace a battery that does not last very long anymore or only one that takes no charge whatsoever?

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