I just bought a fixer upper and plan to renovate the house myself. I know this is a huge undertaking after the last project I did which took 2 years of weekends, weeknights and no social life.
I’ve pretty much narrowed it down to the Bosch and Makita 14V drills. I plan to stick with NICADS as it seems that it’s most favorable and last better. Both feel great in my hand and I know the makita’s are great drills, since owning a 9.6. But I have such great use of my Bosch jigsaw, I’m sure they’re drill is just the same.
Any recommendations you can make – Bosch 14.4 or Makita 14.4.
If anyone reading this knows their “stuff” about batteries, which is the preferred type to get when going cordless. Nicad or Nimh. The Nimh offers more juice be charge and supposedly has no memory affect vs. the nicads.
In addition, I’m just a weekend warrior. Let’s say for example, I have a Ni-Cad cordless and I do not use it for 1 year. Will the battery go bad because it is fully drained ? Any tips on long term storage for a situation similar to this would be greatly appreciated.
Replies
I'm a weekend warrior too, but I own both a Makita 18 volt drill and the Bosch 18 volt and have had problems with the Makita. It is in the shop now. I built my kitchen cabinets and put together some forms for the floor of my garage with the Makita and a few odd and end jobs. After I had the Makita for 6 months it started acting funny, ie wouldn't reverse and the high speed quit. Finally, last month it completely died. I haven't heard the diagnosis yet but, I am disappointed that a supposed expensive professional quality tool can't take what I dish out. I bought the Bosch 18 volt drill, circular saw and reciprocating saw kit and it is twice the tool the Makita is. My brother has done lots of construction work and swears by the Milwaukee cordless. Again, I am like you, just a weekend warrior but this has been my experience. It will be interesting to see what the pro's have to say about your question.
I work in a commercial cabinet shop and we've gone through Makita, Bosch, Porter Cable, DeWalt cordless and the overwhelming favorite is the 14.4 Bosch.
In belt sanders the Makita 4x24 is the preferred and in routers anything by Porter Cable.
Nailers are all Senco.Richard James Tolzman
Hate to say it but my yellow (DW) cordless (18 volt) goes on and on and on...I've been using that battery full time for over four years and the juice is still as good as ever. Its heavy but it goes on and on and on...did I say full time? uh huh..every day!
Be well
namaste'
andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 7/21/2002 6:16:36 AM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
Anyone ever do this. I was reading some stuff over at a RC website (battery powered model cars/airplanes) and some suggest to keep it in the Fridge if you don't use your NiCads for extended period of times. Some of these guys are hard core battery experts.
I do this with my camera batteries..maybe I'll just need to make room for my power tool batteries
John, I used to have a Makita, but now I am a loyal Porter-Cable fan. Their 14.4 volt drill is wonderful! It takes a lickin . . . as the expression goes. It's easy to handle, and I got 2 batteries with a charger.
Compared to a similar D-W, I got more torque and an overall better tool for less money. My other recent purchases have been a P-C 4x24 belt sander and a P-C stapler. I have become a P-C fan. But by the same token, my MIlwaukee 7-1/4" saw is a workhorse and has been taken a lickin' since 1991. My D-W contractors table saw is a joy, and I just built a 30x50 pole barn (two-story) with a $99.00 sliding compound miter saw from Harbour Freight Tools.
As for batteries, let them discharge totally before recharging and they will last forever. I have a hand held VHF radio that I have been using since 1988, on and off, and it still performs as well today as it did in when I bought it.
Good luck, Dude.
John,
I bought a reconditioned Makita 14.4, NiMh, use it just about every day and am very happy with it. I had a PC 14.4 hammer drill but the battery wouldn't make good contact after a week of daily use, so needless to say, I am not a big fan of their drills. They just got started. I have known guys who love the Bosch. Makitas usually last forever, though the chargers don't. I finally just gave up on waiting for my 12/9 combination makita drill to give in after two chargers and many years of abuse and high falls.
The Bosch and Makita have pretty different feels, pick the comfiest.
HOWEVER...
If you are just a weekend warrior, consider buying a corded tool. Yes, they are less sexy, but think of the EXTRA tools you could buy with the savings...
Don
You should try the Hilti cordless. It is awesome. It is expensive but worth it.
Use Ni MH bateries. They are better.
ya but the drill is a pistol grip instead of a t -handle. I looked at them but the heavier weight off balancing to the nose made me move on. Hilti makes durable tools tho.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
Has anyone used the Metabo cordless. The only downside is the batteries are much $$ and I have to mailorder for batteries also.
I like the Makita 14.4. It feels great in my hand -weight/balance. While durability is always a plus, I won't be giving it the abuse that you builders do. I was reading Amazon reviews (taking it with a grain of salt) and there were some issues with the Makita. I'm sure there's always a bad one in any given batch. Anybody have any reliability issues with your Makita Drill.
I've heard great things about the Panasonic also. I checked that out also but the handle felt too wide for my taste.
And then there came the Bosch. It looks/feels okay but I asked the dealer what's his take on them....and he didn't say it in so many ways but he wouldn't recommend them. He's had issues with returns on them.
Thanks all so far with your drill stories. It's good to see the pro/cons of each.
BTW, Torque and a Good Cluth are always a ++. I will be occasionaly driving 2 1/2 and 3 inch screws.
Edited 7/21/2002 11:09:05 PM ET by jsoto
About the Panasonic: Two friends of mine have them and love them. I have used them and they do have a lot of power, feel real solid and are compact and comfortable (for me). My friends absolutely love the chuck and I absolutely hated it, for similar reasons. They are cabinet/furniture makers and the kind of "pointed" jaws in the Panasonic chuck center their bits without wobble and hold them extremely tight. I install a lot o their stuff, so I am at the site, constantly changing back and forth from driver bits to small drill bits to larger drill bits, etc. With my Makita I can toss whatever bit in there, zip it tight and go. The Panasonic chuck was too "finniky" for me. You really need to stop and center the bit before you tighten it or it will splay out the side.
They were the first with the new style batteries, I think, and have always been ahead of the curve with that technology. The power is very smooth, another reason the cabinet guys love them.
Hope that helps.
Don
Pistol grip is the best way to go by far. It is awesome.
Ace
Just checked out the Panasonic 15.6. Great ballance and the chuck is ratcheting to hold bits from slipping. 3amp hour NiMH battery. Very nice drill. Amazon has it for $199 free shipping, best price I've seen so far. -Ed
hilti now makes a "t" handle in 12 and 15.something.
pretty much hot off the press. I checked with them a few months back and the guy didn't say anything about the t handle when I asked him. Pretty content with the bosch 14.4.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
I own the Makita 14.4 nimh...bought it recond for $150 about six months ago. it's a great drill but a few points:
power: I think whoever said nimh batteries lose charge faster might be correct. compared to a 14.4 dewalt that another guy on the crew owns the makita is definitely less powerful. I don't know if a panasonic slipped off the assembly line into the dewalt paint booth or what, but that dewalt (xrp?) drives screws like a sonofagun.
I had to bring in my makita to the factory repair shop a few months after I bought it b/c the nylon hi-speed gear crapped out. the tech said 'don't drive screws on hi-speed'. so this reduces the makita's operating power too. compared to a ryobi 14.4, for example, ($100) which only has one speed and is somewhat more powerful than the Makita at driving screws but an inferior drill, imo.
anyway, I'm happy with the Makita but I think my next drill is Panasonic, Milw., or...?
GO
PS..pay attention to the amp hrs of the battery...I think the panasonic 15.6 is at something like 3 amh compared to the Makita (2.4?)
Edited 8/14/2002 12:47:11 AM ET by GO
yea i found out just a few weeks after i got the sf120a ( 12v.3.0ahNmHi) in the pistol grip. i still like it but there new t handles sure are sweet.
I have 12v Makita stuff, a drill and a mini-sidewinder saw, with one NiCad battery and two Ni-Mh. So far the only thing to go wrong is that one of the Ni-Mh's seems to have a bad cell. When it craps out totally, I'll try taking it apart. I also have a Bosch corded rotary hammer, their stuff is very durable.
-- J.S.
I would do a little research on the chargers that come with each drill. Some chargers are simple devices that dump a charge into the battery at a set rate, regardless of the status of the battery. Others offer battery diagnostics and adjust the charge rate accordingly. The better chargers can make a big difference in battery life and performance.
I bought my drill a couple years ago and the choice came down to Bosch or PC. I liked the Bosch drill a little better, but bought the PC because of the better charger. I've been quite happy with the PC.
Seems like there's a "cordless drill showdown" in some mag every few months. Try doing a web search and you can probably find some good info.
Another consideration on chargers: Some of them do both NiCad and Ni-Mh, others only do one kind.
-- J.S.
So I'm off to the local tool store this weekend. I've narrowed it down to the
Makita 14.4
Metabo 12V or 15.6V - That impulse feature seems like a good feature and specs wise, it has alot of torque for a 12V
Me dealer says Dewalt has beefed up their XRP line and it's a good contender for what I'm looking for. I guess I'll need to bring in some 3" screws and see which get's the job done.
BTW, anyone notice that most if not all tool makers are going with NIMH. Looks like nicads will be dead in terms of batteries for tools in 3 years or so. The thing I don't like about NIMH is that they start losing thier charge the minute they are out of the charger. NICADS lose their charge much slower in my experiance.
What the hell does that "impulse" feature do, anyway? Anybody have one? It sounds great in their catalouge, without sounding overly...practical...
DW
One thing to remember....That DeWalt radio/charger totally rocks so take that into consideration. My DeWalt battery has lasted me yearsssssss. A heavy drill (18er) but never ever had a problem and I use it more then I do my hammer every day.
I also have the DeWalt 18 v saw...the trigger is a bit quirky but its been a life saver on many occasions.
Be well
Namaste'
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I have a 14.4 recon Makita w/ NiMH batteries and am pleased with it. Nice combination of power and weight. Not an apples to apples comparision but the batteries last longer the 12v NiCad in my old PC. I do miss the pistol grip that the old PC had.
The Impulse feature on the Metabos has an on/off switch. When enabled, the chuck is in a "pulsating" mode where it turns less than a 1/4 turn each time. I guess this would be good if you don't want to countersink the screws or when driving out stuck screws.
Has anyone seen the Festo line. The drill looks like a winner but $$$ for a 12v drill
I for one, believe in saving the cordless tools for where they are best suited, which is where or when there isn't power. Otherwise, I use my corded milwaukee for those jobs which require power or extended use. I have the 14.4 makita, and I do like the square base which lets it stand upright as opposed to the older 9.6 makita it replaced. On another note, I also bought a $20 6V Ryobi at HD. I find it nice to have one tool with a drill and the other with a screw bit. When doing one handed stuff it is sometimes easier to grab a different tool than swap a bit. The Ryobi is also the one which goes up the ladder. I wouldn't cry much if I dropped it 20 ft onto the driveway. And it also goes on car trips where theft or losing it is a possibility.
Bob
Both are good tools and both batterys have there good and bad points. I own a repair service and am a authorized service center for the makita brand and I also service Bosch. What I tell all my customers is get the most bang for the buck and when you have a toss up situation, go with the brand that would be the fastest to get repaired if its needed. So take a look around your area and find a service center that does one or the other and if you find one that does both then go with Makita as they are cheaper to repair that a bosch. as far as batterys go get the nimh the reason is simple. they last longer, hold a charge longer(when being used) and are friendly to the enviroment,(ni-cads aren't). Also the so called memory is only for the first couple of charges after about a week of use (5 to 6 charges) the things can be topped up with no ill effects, although you should not make a habit of it as it shortens the batterys life. I have some batteries in my shop that are 5 years old and although they are getting week, I hope to get at least another year out of them. I also do boat repair so the tools get a work out and I will sometimes go thru 4 batteries a day. I stick with the 12 volt makita tools mainly because I made up a adapter to use with them and if I run low on juice I can switch over to the power on the boat. Hope that answered your ??
Hi Wood- I was curious as to why the bosch is more expensive to repair over the makita? Is it part price?
Regarding Go's comment about the hi-speed nylon gears on his Makita crapping out and the serviceman's comment as to not using hi-speed to drive screws, are these the same gears that Bosch advertises as their planetary gears being made of steel?
And why did Bosch make their cordless drill with a little allen wrench screw down inside thru the chuck so that if you put the right size drill bit in there and apply a little too much pressure in respect to the tightness of the chuck, then the bit will slide down into the hex head hole of that screw and loosen it up during the middle of a job?
Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
Edited 8/14/2002 8:40:13 AM ET by rez
rez,
Many years ago the bosch company was bosch then it merged with Skill then it took over Skill, that happened about 3 or 4 years ago. someone has to pay bosch back for the take over and guess who thats going to be, right.... the me's and you's surely not the them's. thats how I look at it and there may be some truth in it how much I don't know. Bosch used to be a top of the line tool, in recent years they have made some mistakes in there marketing and in there tool develoment. one of them is a hard nut to crack the other is cutting corners when they don't need to or under building a good working/selling tool. such as the model 77 Skill worm drive. I can rember when bosch took over , Just a week before I placed a order for the handles, my cost at the time was about 10 bucks and about a month after they took over the same handle was I think 14 or 16 bucks. thats why my opinion is that we are paying for the take over and makita has always been makita and your paying for the part and not there blunders. (My Opinion)
as far as the gears the answer is yes. but it sounds like the serviceman does'nt like makita, the area that I cover makita is the big favorite and as far as the planatery gears stripping out I've only seen it happen to one and not because they were using hi speed or whatever. It sounds like the serviceman could have been trying to get out from under a warranty. we don't make much doing them for any company. to date if I have to do a warranty I always like doing makitas as they don't make me jump through any hoops. If I say its a warranty then its a warranty and I don't git any grief from them.
Most of the drills out there have the same allen head screw, don't know what to tell you about that, you might try a small bit of spackling tamped in the end and let it harden overnight. that way if the chuck has to come off in the furture at least it can be dug out. Please don't use paint as it will creep into the threads and dependent on the type drill if it ever has to come apart the spindle will have to be cut off.
John,
I've got an old Bosch 12v drill, finally killed one battery after 10 yrs., Also have a 14.4v Dewalt, fried the motor, just after warranty ended. Bought a new Bosch 14.4v drill 2 weeks ago, don't know yet, I can't seem to pry it out of my helpers hand! Never cared for Makita cordless, although I have lots of their saws, planer, and biscuit joiner, and like them all very much. Don't think the Bosch will let you down, but local service is a factor to consider in any tool purchase.
Brudoggie