I just had my third dewalt 18v. drill go on the fritz. Costs as much to repair as to replace, almost. Also, my dewalt angle grinder quit. Not to mention all the batteries that quit.
So, I am fed up with Dewalt-won’t ever buy another. What are everyone’s favorite cordless drills,price not as important as durability and longevity?
Stef
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Bosch or Panasonic..
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!!!
Go back and look at what you have done to destroy these tools. I have never, never, seen an outright failure of the DWs I own nor my co-workers.
What the hell are doing to these?
I'd also wager that you didn't send in the waranty card huh?
I plumbed a house boat under water with a DW 12v drill and a 2.5'' holesaw...is that abuse? YUP.
Guess what? it still keeps on ticking.
And by the by, it's NOT an angle grinder, it is a cut off tool...don't expect the unkown to be what you make it to be.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I'd also wager that you didn't send in the waranty card huh?
You dont have to send that thing in for the waranty to be good! Thats a misconception.
Doug
If you send in the card with a Bosch tool, they up the warranty from one year to 3 years IIRC.
That may be the case, dont know anything about that. Sounds like a nice incentive but its still not required to get the original warranty. At least in Bosch's case they're willing to pay you for the info that they use in their marketing.
I chose not to be part of any marketing program, and thats what those warranty cards are used for. Same as asking for your phone # when you purchase an item. They can give me all the BS about how by giving my # it will insure that if I loose the recipt I will be on record as having purchased such items. Yea right, thats what your doing with my number! There just looking out for me, good one!
Doug
So-
You been lucky at SOMETHING enyway.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
So-You been lucky at SOMETHING enyway.
Roar ! I bet if they knew him they wouldnt sell him health insurance . ever
Tim
"I plumbed a house boat under water with a DW 12v drill and a 2.5'' holesaw."
You swam under the boat and drilled holes in it? WHat happened there? Am I the only one that didn't blow by that statement without sitting up and going HUH?
All Hail Binky Boodle!
http://www.hay98.com/
DC tools will work under water. I did have it in a bag, and taped, but it still got soaked. Matter o' fact, I just sent the still working drill to Ron Budgell from here at BT.
Two uf us dove under the boat with PVC glue, fittings and stuff..surfaced into the air space between the floats, and tread water while plumbing the crapper to a holding tank.
The excitement was when I dropped the Glue swabbie thing and hadda dive down get it before it sank all the way down..the water was about 15' deep and murky.
No kidding, my buddy Phil can attest, we did it.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I didn't know that about DC tools. Cool story, thanks.
All Hail Binky Boodle!
http://www.hay98.com/
Fergot to add, I'd never do it again..LOL.
Thatwas our weekend hide-away on Lake Fontana...almost every FRi-nite to Sunday nite all summer long...it was a cool deal. Guitars, beer, great food, beer, boating visitors with beer, and tater guns...fishing, swimming, and beer. We used ta have to swim to shore for "facilities" for doing a Duece...the girls hated that , so we plumbed a 55 gallon drum as a holding tank, and the sewer boat would come pump it out.
After I got a real good dose of Chiggers where ya don't want them, we thought the crapper was worth the effort..I really thought the drill would be toast, but it still works just fine.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have seen the pool guy fixing a light underwater with a Makita 12 volt.He said that they last about 6 months of submerging 3-4 times a week with no protection.
Freaked me out watching him run his drill under water.
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
hey sphere didnt you say u had the bosch 10.8v... i think you said it sucks... been thinking about getting it due to its size...what are your thoughts on it?
Ya want it? gimme 50 bucks, it's yours.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
lol! you like it that much!
keep talking...pay the shipping, it is yours is the newest deal..wait for 10 minutes and I'll send it off and eat the shipping, 10 more minutes and I'll pay 20 bucks to take it away.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
whiich one is it? I hope it isn't the smaller one. I install alot of windows and wanted to get one to carry around in my pouch.
Tee handle. make offer.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I'll bite. For the tight spots I get into, installing cabinets and countertops...I might actually like it.Shoot me an email.Cool hearing about the underwater drill operations.
So you have this one?
View Image
I was thinking about getting this one:
View Image
They're both 10.8 volts. do you dislike it because it doesn't have enough power (in which case, neither tool may serve me well) or is it an ergonomic issue?
-Don
Edited 1/7/2007 5:41 pm ET by DonCanDo
Edited 1/7/2007 5:42 pm ET by DonCanDo
Sphere, If he doesn't want it, I'll take it off your hands, or maybe I got something you can use...JT
I have the second one. It WON'T drive a 3" screw, and it is slower than I can use for productive work in my line of work.
But , here's the bad news to all takers..my wife saw that I was ready to give it away...and she claimed "dibs" on it for her artsy/fartsy craftsy type stuff she does...so, it has a home, just not in my van any more.
Sorry about that, I didn't think she'd have a use for it, but I was wrong.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
thats my complaint about any cordless screwdriver Ive seen , there all too slow I got a older Milwaukee and I do use it some but more often I just grab the Klein and get it doneI was interested in the bosh , but the rpm seemed slow to me , your confirming it
I ended up breaking down and going for the new Panasonic Lithium (I considered that lil bosch but it didnt have a clip and I dont like the hex...plus like u said it was slow.) Was working on overhead lighting... and I couldnt lift my arms anymore especially with a heavy drill. I was like it's time to find something new. Disappointed that the Pansonic was made in China... it's grip is perfect ...even better than that Makita Lithium's. It has no brushes and is very light (it said its speed was from 60rpm to 1300). No regrets...my arms dont regret it either.
So far so good then huh?
Weight IS a growing concern for me, doing a LOT of gutter and downspout, but drilling hundreds of rivet holes mandates a high speed, and gutterhanger screws require the torque..and tapcons need a mas bit chuckable, and then a #2 phillips, and I just hate dragging up more drill motors than I can carry, cuz often changing a bit or driver tip from a great height, means a dropped bit...LOL.
Between the Mak impact and a DW 1/2 hammer, I can cover the bases pretty well.
Good luck.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go. M. Shocked
What IMERC said.
_______________________________________________________________
'what if there isn't a tomorrow? there wasn't one today' - Phil Connors
all dewalt tools have a mfg date. look and see when yours was made. then see if it has been 3 years... my fav drill right now is the makita lxt ion hammerdrill...
I have all Milwaukee battery tools but if they would please all go out at the same time I would switch to Makita in a heart beat.
I'm seriously considering putting all the Milwaukees on e-bay and just making the switch!
Doug
Why Doug?
Tim
I'm just not that impressed with the Milwaukee stuff that I have.
I seem to have to charge my batteries more, they dont seem to stay charged, and these are new batteries not old ones.
The new ones dont seem to last as long as others. I know that I have had mine subject to extreme heat(while living in TX they would be stored out in the truck, I imagine it gets hot out there!) they get subject to extreme cold (Now living back in Iowa, they are left out in the truck and it gets cold out there all night!)
It seams like anytime I go to get another battery they are all dead, maybe the climate is responsible and I should bring them in every night, or out of the truck on really hot days, not sure.
I have a friend that has another brand, dont matter what kind it is, he works out of the shop, doubtfull that his drill leaves the shop more then 5 times a year, Hell he's been using the same drill and two batteries for 6 or 7 years, maybe theres something to the inviorment that they are kept in.
Maybe I'm just imagining it all to, maybe I'd have the same problems with any of the other brands, I dont know.
I know that I have 7 batteries between my 14.4v drill and impact driver and two batteries for my 18v drill, sawzall, circular saw. The problem with that is theres no way its all going to go bad at the same time!
Two batteries go bad, I cant just leave em be so I have em rebuilt, then the drill takes a dive and since I have all these batteries I need to go buy another matching drill, its a damn vicious circle I tell ya.
Who knows, maybe its just that "the grass is always greener on the other side" stuff!
Doug
the timing factor on these cordless tools are something else.the other day my chuck went bad on my dw,i buy a new chuck,now 3 weeks later 1 batt. is biting the dirt.the best thing to do when a tool quits and you still have good batts. is check ebay,you can usally buy a new drill,saw,impact driver etc without batts. fo 30-50.i just bought a new 14.4 milwaukee hammer drill for 46.00 to go with a new impact driver i bought on ebay for 80 with 2 batts. larryhand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
Larry
Good idea! yea what you said about timing.
Doug
3 old (keyed chucked) 9 volt. makitas, still run and use em on occasion.
4 DW 18 volt. drills/driverdrills no problems ever with them , execpt one frozen chuck (with a 1 1/2" auger bit in it). Sent it in, cost me $50 to get it fixed, they returned the bit as well. Also told me they had others with the same problem with the chuck.
1 DW 18 volt roto hammer.. no problems
I am happy enough with DW.
Also told me they had others with the same problem with the chuck.
seems there is a problem with their product they have no problem chargeing you for..
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!!!
Well in all honesty I did try to loosen the chuck using a variety of tools including a set of pipe wrenches and probably did more damage than if I had just sent it in right away. So I chose not to argue.
It did have a brand new style chuck on it when it came back.
got it...
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!!!
Gotta say though , that chuck did grab.. resisted a 2' cheater bar on a 18" pipe wrench ... lol
wunder how the shop fixed it..
might be handy to know..
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!!!
A hint may be in the fact that when I got the drill back the auger bit was with it. The shank was shorter by about an inch, so my guess is they cut it off and perhaps drilled it out. Just guessing.
One lesson for me was to be more careful using these new generation of self tighening chucks with large auger bits while the drill is in low gear with maximum torque setting.
thats what happened to my dewalt,the chuck would not let go even with lots of persausion.got ticked off andtook it over to the band saw and cut it off,worked great i could then remove the screw that held the chuck on and replace it. do be careful that you dont cut the motor shaft.to tell you the truth i was so pizzed i was ready to saw the whole thing in pieces! larryhand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
Thanks, guys.
The conversation was a little enlightening. I have to admit, the drills are over 6 years old, as is the "angle grinder". I expected them to last longer. The battery issue may be similar. They are also old and while they have been charged a few times I'd have expected better. Guess my expectations were too high. Have a 15 year corded Ryobi which is like a bull, good as the day it was bought
I love dropping them from the top log to the deck, and have used some pretty big augers, so maybe my criticisms are unwarranted.
Still, not buying anymore yellow tools.
Stef
Ive got a 1/2inch Mil that the chuck just broke in two . Poof!
Tim
one thing i forgot... those little half size 18v dewalt batteries that they "give" you in some kits that come with the flashlight (killer flashlight btw) they seem to last and always hold a charge... you can't work em like you can the reg battery pack... but they can sit for a year and still be charged..
who knows..
p
Well, unfortunately its true .
I was agreeing with that part 100 percent when you said it .
It seems you are married to what ever "cordless set" you happened to have chosen .
So the story goes here as well. Most of my tools are Dewalt and boy oh boy did I buy into their stock.
Ive got a full set of 14.4s which makes most of that useless except the drill. No one wants to run a 14.4 skill saw when they have an 18 or 24. That set has lasted many years with out any problems . Ive never lost a battery in 14.4. but its a different story in the 18s.
Im pretty happy overall even though I know I dont have the best set , I have the most tools and that rocks. Dewalt has the most tools by far . Thats why I wont pick the Bosch which is supposed to be #1. Their selection of tools just suck. Mebbe when they grow up and put out a full set Ill reconsider them. Right now Id rather replace batteries and have the awsome tool selection.
Tim
I've had just about enough of this Dewalt bashing young man!!:>)
Seriously I have alot of dewalt cordless. I've had two problems with my sawsall that I had repaired. I've never had a problem with the drills though. When it comes time to replace, i'll either go back with DW or probably go to Bosch.
I bought my kid a Bosch cordless drill for christmas a few years back and it works well. Keep in mind though that my kids is 9 and doesnt abuse his drill like we do on sites everyday.
they suck... i'll post a pic of my dewalt 18v cordless batteries... just a low guess at 30 dead ones.... yep 30 most look brand new... some just bust open while charging... they suck suck suck.....
i have a 5-6 yo 14.4 dewalt... only ever had 2 batteries and both are still good... use it everyday
i have a 10-12 yo 12v makita and 2 batteries... got my dewalts and it sat in the garage for 5-6 years pulled it out for my sparkie to twist wire nuts with (hate see'n a $60 an hour guy waste'n time)... both batteries still hold a charge and it works great... he loves it...
have a 3-4 yo milwaukee 18v great drill really enjoyed it but both batteries bit the dust... zero charge...
my plumber got his kid a 18v blue plastic thing from harbor freight for 9.99 has a clutch and an ok chuck.. his 7 yo comes to work with him some and brings his tools... anyway i don't know for how long... but that joker works pretty well (the drill not the kid) we played with it just being curious... and it did everything asked of it... now this was just a 15 min test BUT like for my sparkie to just have another cordless to twist wirenuts on it'd be perfect...
and thats my review
p :)
That was a funy review .
Youre gonna have to learn the name of that cheap drill if youre gonna pitch for um. <G>
Tim
Out of all my DW tools my drills have takin some serious workouts and never ever had a problem with them...at all.I bought the 18V when they first came out and use it more than any tool I own...works as good as day one. The batteries I can't complain about. Probably as good as any other. I pay about $100 for a 2 pak at HD. Not bad. With full time use they last a good year or two. I'd be first to bash DW with the agrivation I had with their response to me about my jig saw so i have no allegience with them.
I think tech support is almost more important than the tool it self...just like with puters.
I think you just get lucky and unlucky with all of these gizmos.
Looking to buy a PDF cell phone and the reviews are mind altering...from one reviewer to the next for the same exact phone.
Narrowed it down to the Palm 680 after some serious headache review reading time.
I think crossing my fingers helps...gulp.
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Makita. 14.4v is what I have, but the newer Li-ion is probably worth the money for longevity, lightness, and power.
zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
P A N A S O N I C
I have the 12v impact driver and 12v drill.
...second choice would be Makita.....
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
I have had DW for the last 12 yrs. no problems at all, matter of fact the guy I did some work for bought us for Christmas 2 yrs ago a makita 18v. Used it twice, it has been given to my son as a moving into his own place gift.
But I am completely biased, I bleed yellow and black if I get cut.
Hey Doug were you at in Iowa?
nailerman
If you can't do it right, then learn and do it better!
Iowa City/Coralville area.
Your close, I'm in the Muscatine area.