I just bought a Milwaukee Heavy Duty 1/2″ hammer drill this morning. I went to use it for the first time to mix up some joint compound to skim coat a wall. Not two minutes into mixing the thing started smoking like crazy. I had it at low speed and was not overloading it at all. I was told this was an excellent drill. I mix alot of mortar for tile,grout and joint compound and wanted to replace my old craftsman 1/2″. The Home Depot where I got it tells me there is no return on power tools. what’s up with that? But besides that, does anyone have any opinion on a good “mixing drill”. This thing cost me $140.00 and can’t even mix joint compound.
Joe
Replies
Home Depot should exchange any defective tools for a replacement with the receipt. If the returns clerk won't exchange it, speak to the manager. Otherwise, Milwaukee has a lifetime guarantee against defects. I'd be surprised if they didn't take care of it. The only time I've ever had a problen with a Milwaukee tool, as near as I could tell, they simply shipped us a new Hole Hawg. It didn't look like the one we shipped them. Good luck.
I think this is a case of the wrong tool for the job. I'm quite sure that you should not bog down a VS drill spinning a paddle in a bucket of joint compound. Sure, I've seen it done, and yes, Andy(one of my crew) did toast the very same drill you speak of in the very same way....and yes I remind him of it often.
What you want, is one of those Crapsmen 1/2", single speed monsters. I'm not wild about it, but it never smokes and has never let me down.
My milwaukee "compact" hole shooter is a good mixer. 450 rpms and 7 amps. Goes like crazy. My milwaukee hammerdrill is not a good mixer, turns too fast and not enough amps. Milwaukee's new holeshooters with higher amps than the old magnums might work OK, but you really need slow rpms to mix. If you run the drill at a lower than full speed speed, the fan is not spinning fast enough to cool properly, thus the overheating. I also have a craftsman 1/2 inch true industrial drill that works excellent. It is virtually identical to a big old black and decker, and is still being made by dewalt. It has a big pipe handle that screws into the top for leverage. I bought the milwaukee compact off ebay for a pretty good price. It was barely used, but the cord had gotten choped real bad. New cord and she is sweet. I may be selling it soon. I am such a tool junkie, and I have more drills than anybody in their right mind should.
I find that different tool manufacturers seem to hit a bullseye with specific types of tools. So my tool inventory is a real pot of stew. I am a little reluctant to jump in on this vein because it can develop a Chevy/Ford discussion but here goes:
Drill motors; I like Milwaukie and Porter cable
Sawsall; Milwaukie
Nailers: Senco
Chop saws and cordless drill and electric handplanes: Makita
Stationary saws and planers; Powermatic
Belt sanders; Porter Cable
Pickup; Dodge Ram Diesel (had to get that in there since I've been a Ford guy for years).
My criteria for tools is function, durability and ease of use in that order. Gadgetry and bells and whistles doesn't mean diddly if your helper drops it off a roof!
All of the tools above and others I haven't mentioned have served me well and long and I've gotten prompt warrantee service when necessary.
I've got a Milwaukie sidewinder that I hate and can't kill. It's a pain to set the depth accurately when I'm trying to use it for an upside down tablesaw but it is bulletpoof as a dedicated concrete/masonry saw.
I think every tool has it's weakness and there are lemons in every batch manufactured by all of the big names. I just stay with what has worked for me.. I would not deal with a retailer who would not honor a guarantee and I would shop in Ho chi Min City before I'd spend a dime in Home Depot but I live in a free country and am free to make that curmudgionly choice.
Some people would bitch even if they were hung with a new rope.
Home Depot will take any tool back for any reason within 30 days, burnt up or not. If it's been over 30 days, and still loks pretty new, I'm sure you can figure out something creative...
and I'm in the market for a good hammerdrill. Only milwakee I use is a magnum and the sawzall. Should I look to the bulldog?
Rez, The ONLY name in hammerdrills is Metabo. Fine German engineering, functional, durable.
Milwaukee is a not so distant second.
Bosch have a good rep but Ive never put my hands on one.
Mr T
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I looked at their cordless drill and the forward/reverse button wasn't easy to move with the index finger and thumb. Thought about trying them but that soured me right off the bat. I'll have to take a gander at the hammer and see what is
I've got the 1/2" vsr hammer drill with the two gear settings and am very pleased with its performance. I use it for everything from running screws to drilling concrete (not as good as a rotary hammer) to mixing hot mud for sheetrock. Of course I'm not mixing a barrel of the stuff but it holds up to the amounts I mix in a five gallon bucket just fine.
I think you need to contact the regional manager of Home Depot and explain the situation to get anything done. I've noticed a marked decline of quality people and products there since they've gotten so fat and sassy. Every time I hear them advertise, 'Just ask our pros' I cringe... If they were 'pros', why in the world would they be working in retail instead of the industry in which they are 'pros'? If it were me, I'd raise holy hell about their return policy for an obviously defective tool!
I know I'm talking oranges here, but I have 14v Milwaukee drill that's made in Germany, should I tell it to start acting like it's made in Taiwan? Check out where a lot of Bosch stuff is made, you might be surprised...I know, crazy talk...
I got the 1/2 hammer drill. it does all I ask it to do. I dont do the larger jobs that some of you do. So for it does its great. Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
Just unpacked the Bosch Bulldog.....7/8 SDS.....drill/hammer/chipping.....got it for hammer drilling......but seeing as how I'm mixing thinset these weeks....I picked up local the SDS/chuck adapter...and mixed a few gallons of thinset today.
Worked fantastic. Nice long drill........nice side handle.....great for mixing down low. 1/3...1/2 bucket at a time ........no sweat. For a mixer only....no, wrong drill...get a big fat one...for an all purpose hammer/chipper/driller.........$199 reconditioned from Tool Crib......can't be beat. Haven't drilled any concrete with this one yet...have with borrowed Bulldogs before...so I'm sure that'll be just as fun. Jeff "That's like hypnotizing chickens........."
hey rez drill alot of concrete , flat roof work, bosch or ramset is the only way to go. I think alot guys buy the combo drills and think they are geting more for their money but we have found that most chuck style hammer drills just spin to fast, they will most always burn the carbide tip right off the bit. IF you plan drilling alot of brick or concrete a sds is the only way to go
My milwaukee hammerdrill is a fine piece of equipment, but it is no good for big holes in concrete. Its made for drilling smaller holes in mortar etc. I have burned up a bunch of bits in it due to the too high rotating speed and impatience. Yes you can hold it back, but it really does not hammer that hard and I start goosing the speed up and then I start wondering why it quits drilling. Pull it out of the hole and the bits shot. You can actually melt the tip off the bit. By the way, its pretty loud too when hammering. It has 2 speeds, but hi speed is 2500 or so max rpm. Handy if you want to go that fast, but lo is 850 max rpm which is still too high if I'm drilling over 1/2" in concrete. I like it for what it is, but it's not perfect for everything. If you need mostly smaller holes, it's a great value for the money. They are very durable drills. Another thing is you might think it would be usefull as a 2 speed regular (non hammer) drill, but it's a bit longer than a regular holeshooter and is front heavy, so that gets old quick too.