Replies

1. 
   webby | Mar 28, 2009 03:21am | #1

   If I am not mistaken the Dewalts will run on both liion batt. and the old nicad batts. You may be able to get some mileage out of your old batteries in teh new dewalt assuming the voltage is the same.

   I have a makita and a dewalt neither are liion. I find for some reason I reach for the dewalt more. I like them both though.

   Webby 

    

2. 
   Henley | Mar 28, 2009 03:31am | #2

   What you need to do is pick yourself up
   a 3 amp hour Makita.

   Now I'm sure the Dewalts are very "cute" an all but,
   we all know who makes the only man's man Drill/Driver.

1. 
   IMERC | Mar 28, 2009 03:35am | #3

   that would be Bosch.... 

   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!!!

    

   "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

1. 
   Henley | Mar 28, 2009 03:40am | #4

   A hint- It's doesn't look like a sneaker.

1. 
   IMERC | Mar 28, 2009 03:45am | #6

   Bosch doesn't... 

   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!!!

    

   "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

1. 
   Henley | Mar 28, 2009 04:52am | #8

   Head light? Belt clip? That certain Jen Ne Sais Quoi ?

2. 
   FatRoman | Mar 28, 2009 03:02pm | #10

   That certain Jen Ne Sais Quoi ?

   I know exactly what you mean!

   Another vote for the Makita here. LED is a nice touch, but it's the one that felt the best in my hands after picking it up.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

   View Image

3. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Mar 29, 2009 01:58am | #11

   Ditto.  Lion rules.

   15 minute recharge ... drill is 3/4 the size and more power.

   Jeff

3. 
   Sphere | Mar 28, 2009 03:41am | #5

   I'm in the same boat..The DW hammer drill is smoking, and I just had 2 of my 6 batts go tids up. Waiting for the hammer and impact in nano to go on sale..just one batt and charger was 150 clams at HD for the new nano...I ain't plunking that out for just that if I can help it.

   I see myself switching from DW to Makita if DW don't get thier act together...but I'm stuck now, have like 10 DW @18volt, and Mak. still don't have the swivel head sheetmetal shears that I love.

   Keeping my eye open for a price drop or special. If you are ina hurry, go Makita, you won't be sorry.

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

    

   They kill Prophets, for Profits.

    

    

4. 
   Biff_Loman | Mar 28, 2009 04:09am | #7

   Well, the Makita LXT system rules pretty much completely. I've got the sawzall, circ saw, heavier-duty drill and impact driver.

   Keep the batteries warm in winter and you'll be fine.

   Compared to Ni-Cad, the charge time is excellently brief. I have four batteries, so I'm able to complete all manner of tasks by swapping batteries.

   My co-worker has some cordless DeWalt tools. . . for whatever reason, they feel like cheap garbage compared to my Makitas. Maybe the newer ones are better, but I couldn't care less.

5. 
   Haystax | Mar 28, 2009 06:38am | #9

   Hilti - got both the impact and hammer drill. 14.4V Li Ion, couldn't be happier. I would go with the Makita over the Dewalt but I've personally seen a Makita get too hot to touch. The Hilti impact is the best tool I have ever bought, and I have a ton of tools both construction and mechanical and the Hilti gets used every day for both types of work. Don't know how I got along without it.

6. 
   DAC747 | Mar 29, 2009 03:09am | #12

   I have both, the Dewalt XRP drill, sawsall and impact [old tired batteries]. I recently purchased the Makita L Ion 3.0 AH drill, sawsall and impact. I like the size of the Makita drill and impact better because they are smaller which is important for me

   when installing cabinets. But my Dewalt sawsall and impact are better tools than the Makitas. The Makita sawsall runs slower than the Dewalt so it takes longer to cut. The Makita impact does not have the torque of the Dewalt when I drive timber

   screws to attach railings to newell post. If I could do it over I would buy the Dewalt with the Nano batteries and still be able to use my old tools with the new batteries, but I agree with some of the others that buying just the Nano batteries is crazy price

   wise. I had retired my Dewalt tools to my shop but I purchased a new tool bag for my Dewalts and they are back on the truck, at least until the batteries die.

    

   Is that better. lol

   
   

   ---

   Edited 3/29/2009 10:24 am ET by DAC747

1. 
   rasconc | Mar 29, 2009 07:33am | #13

   It sure is easier to read if you hit enter every five to six lines.

   I saw a very nice looking Ryobi 12v li-ion impact at a tool outlet in Williamsburg this week.  It had a great hand and was $69 refurb with two batts.  Could not see working DW, Bosch and a third brand though.For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

7. 
   FingerJoint | Mar 29, 2009 04:51pm | #14

   My old DeWalt's keep running for some reason.  I did recently change the brushes to alleviate some serious smoking, though.  You may try dropping the non-working batteries in the freezer for a couple of days, and let them thaw out for another day.  Somehow that brought life back to my old stick battery Makita drill.  Worth a try.  I did just pick up a Milwaukee kit 4 tool kit for $299 here:

   http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-0920-24-18-Volt-Tool-Combo/dp/B000YMTR4E/ref=sr_1_112?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1238334452&sr=1-112

   I was going to go for the Makita, but the price was right.