Replies

1. 
   rasconc | Jan 28, 2005 06:18pm | #1

   Not sure they still have it but HD had the 14.4 impact, soft case, 1/2" three speed hammer drill, tow batts, auto-tune up charger for $229. 

   Tool Crib had it for 239 but it shows discontinued.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 1/28/2005 10:20 am ET by RASCONC

1. 
   WoodHackor | Jan 28, 2005 06:26pm | #2

   I bought that set... really good deal. Amazon was offering the same deal, but I don't see it listed any longer. I think it might have been a Christmas offer, seemed like there were a lot of good deals around that time. I would also have a hard time just buying the batteries alone at $60. I would also be interested in learning how to replace the dead cells, but I can't see cost effective unless you did it yourself... Which of course I have no idea how. Maybe someone else will be able to explain how to replace dead cells or at least where to buy new cells.

2. 
   m2akita | Jan 29, 2005 07:09am | #3

   A while back toolcrib had the dewalt 14.4 impact reconditioned for something like $150.00.  It was listed in one of their catalogs, but wasnt on their web page.  Might want to try giving them a call to see if they still have that deal.  Ill look and see if I can find the catalog number if your interested.

   Check ebay for batteries.  You can usually get brand new ones for a good bit cheaper than any where else I have seen.

    

   -M2akita

3. 
   JeffBuck | Jan 29, 2005 07:57am | #4

   if ya want the impact get it ...

   I was pricing new batt's for my old 14.4 .... ended up getting a new recond drill/driver with 2 batt's for  ... I think $140 .... at the time ... I thought my old drillwas just fine ... turned out the new one had a 3 speed ... which I grew to like ...

   so ... now the old one is tha back up.

   all in all ... buying reconditioned with 2 battery's is a much better deal than buying tha batteries out right.

   My stock went from the basic to the "xr" .. or what ever they call them now.

    

   Jeff

     Buck Construction 

      Artistry in Carpentry

           Pgh, PA

4. 
   andybuildz | Jan 29, 2005 08:36am | #5

   I get my batteries off of Ebay for way cheaper than anywhere else....check it out when you get the time.
   The XR batteries shoud fit any DW and "are" way better than the older ones.
   Be well
   ####

   The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!

   When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..

     I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,

   I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.

   I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you

   and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

    

    

   
    

   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

1. 
   DustynLefty | Jan 31, 2005 08:47pm | #6

   The newest 14.4 DeWalt batteries are now called "XRP".  They've got a yellow top, and are a little bigger (taller or longer or something) than the "XR" batteries with the black top.  They WILL fit your old DeWalt 14.4 drill also.  I know because I had to buy two of the XRPs in October to go in my pair of old drills plus new impact driver.

   The XRs were definately more powerful than the smaller regular 14.4 batteries.  The XRPs are supposed to run longer and have more strength.  I guess that is true, I can't really compare because my old batteries were too worn out to do any real side-by-side comparison.

   The price is now up to about $70 at Home Depot per XRP battery; maybe more at Lowes.  For the first few months my local HD was selling the new XRPs at their usual XR price of about $60, but they suddenly went up.

   If you buy the new batteries on line, be sure you are buying what you think you are getting.  Don't pay a premium for the XR (black top).  You might still be able to get a better price.

   Save the receipt and the packaging - the XRP batteries come with some kind of 3 year guarantee.  That is about exactly how long my old batteries lasted with heavy use.

   The same thing is true for the 18 volt batteries, the new XRP version has a yellow top.

   I called the local battery rebuild shop and checked on-line, but the cost in October to rebuild a 14.4 DeWalt with new cells was more than the $60 each for the new batteries.

   D&L

1. 
   davidmeiland | Jan 31, 2005 09:47pm | #7

   Thanks for the specifics on the batteries. It's confusing on the Amazon/Tool Crib website. Some of the cordless tools are listed as XRP but on close examination the batteries that come with are the XR versions. Maybe I gotta make a trip to Lowe's and see what they have there.

   Too bad the rebuilding option isn't more economical. I'd go that route if it were any cheaper.

1. 
   jfkpdx | Feb 01, 2005 10:51pm | #9

   David-

   I just had the same experience.  I hadn't ever priced out new batteries before and had sticker shock when I saw what HD wanted for two new 14.4 XR's.  I turned around and, hey, there was a 14.4 Dewalt impact driver.  Intrigued by an older article by Gary Katz, I had placed an impact driver on my wish list, but somewhere near the bottom.  But with the current situation, it seemed to jump to the top of the list.  Bought it and it is true what Gary said in his article - you wonder how you lived without it.  It's light and strong as an ox.  You get over the noise.

   Grab the impact driver.  You won't regret it.

   Jason

5. 
   bigbob2 | Jan 31, 2005 09:55pm | #8

   I just bot 2 new bat packs.... work great with my older 14.4 DeWalts.  Kept the old ones...will probably recycle when I get a chance.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 1/31/2005 1:56 pm ET by unTreated wood

6. 
   jerseyjeff | Feb 04, 2005 05:45am | #10

   I vote for getting the impact driver for the batteries and the tool as well,  also the combination of an impact driver and a decent 12V+ drill in the same bag with two batteries is almost unbeatable....  There are very few jobs that cannot be tackled with that pair! 

   The impact drivers are super light and can slug in almost any size bolt,  BUT they stink at drilling over a 1/4" diameter whole,  and are positively scary with spade bits.   Ear and eye protection is a must though,  I have exploded philips bits and had screws explode as well.  As piffin would say,  dont use drywall scews with an impact driver,  they dont take to the impact too well...

    

    

    

1. 
   rasconc | Feb 04, 2005 06:18am | #11

   I have had considerably different experience.  Have a series of ship auger bits and many hex spades that my impacts have worked very well with.  Granted they were not high precision jobs but I drilled many old full dimension joists very well.  Have had no problem with Piffin screws even used some for their intended purpose with no problem.

1. 
   jerseyjeff | Feb 04, 2005 03:52pm | #12

   do you have ship augers with a hex head?   I tried using the makita impact drill chuck and ended up siezing up the chuck....  makita said it would tap out with a dead blow hammer...  and it didnt....  got a new chuck and my self imposed 1/4" max bit....

   with the screws,  I should have been more clear drywall screws and impact drivers are great for drywall....  lousy for joining 2x4s....  or at least for me

    

1. 
   rasconc | Feb 04, 2005 06:56pm | #14

   I got my augers at Harbor freight but I did not see them on their web site.  I bought DeWalt ones on ebay, will try to find the seller.  Have you tried the DeWalt spade bits?  Instead of having the outer tips like the Irwin they have a chamfer.  I got a sack full of them on ebay and at one time got a set at HDepot in a roll pouch.

   Here is an auction that has some lock and loads :

   http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=632&item=4352706273

   This is the same set I got but different seller:

   http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50383&item=4354690089&rd=1

   This is the type spade, I found a bulk pack tor about $12 IIRC:

   http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50383&item=4355468425&rd=1

   Happy hunting/drilling/screwing?

   I have not had any problem breaking dw screws in spruce, might in yellow pine.  Usually a trigger finger issue.  Have sheared off tip in a hinge and had to put recip behind hinge and cut screw.  Could not drill the hardened tip pieces out.

   Bob

2. 
   nikkiwood | Feb 04, 2005 05:11pm | #13

   <<"I have exploded philips bits and had screws explode as well. As piffin would say, dont use drywall scews with an impact driver, they dont take to the impact too well...">>I have a Pan 15.6 impact driver and have never, ever broken a dw screw head or bit -- when driving into 2 x 4's or any kind of wood. Occasionally a screw shank will break off, but that happens with any kind of driver.Maybe you are exerting too much brute force on the driver?