Replies

1. 
   Sphere | May 21, 2006 10:59pm | #1

   Makita Lith Ion is awesome, same weight 2x the power.

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   There is no cure for stupid. R. White.

2. 
   andy_engel | May 22, 2006 12:06am | #2

   Depends on what you'll use it for. If for drilling, I'm no help 'cause I use a corded drill for that.

   For screwing, I've got two that I love. First is a Makita 12v impact driver. Nothing stops it, and it weighs far less than higher voltage drivers.

   Also for screwing is the new Bosch 10.8v LI gun. It weighs nothing, fits in a tool pouch, and sinks 2 1/2 in. screws with no problem.

   Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

1. 
   Jemcon | May 22, 2006 01:37am | #5

   I saw that bosch at a tool show last week. It's great. I ordered the angle and the straight one. They had a display where you could run 3" screws. I was shocked. 

    

    

   Headstong, I'll take on anyone!

2. 
   PaulT | May 22, 2006 04:05am | #10

   Andy read your post I also use the Mak for drilling, works great, less wait and less weight.  Also have Mil 28 for heavy duty jobs, power a 2" forstner with aplomb.

    

1. 
   butch | May 22, 2006 04:11am | #12

   I third Andy and Paul, I too have the 12v.impact makita, and it is the sweetest drill, corded or cordlessthat I have ever used!It'll twist the heads off lag bolts all day long >G<

1. 
   Billy | May 23, 2006 05:21am | #16

   A fourth here -- I have the 12v makita impact driver and it's great.  But I have the old version without the LED.

   Billy

1. 
   EricGunnerson | May 23, 2006 07:32am | #17

   Me too on the 12V Makita impact driver. I use that thing all the time.

2. 
   Jer | May 23, 2006 02:23pm | #19

   Wait wait! I too have the Makita 12v impact. It's my little right hand handyman. Use it every day and I absolutely love it.

3. 
   betterbuiltnyc | May 24, 2006 05:07am | #23

   I have the Makita 12v impact gun as well, and love it--when I get a chance to use it. The guys actually show up on time so they can get their hands on it first thing--my lead uses it instead of the drywall gun to hang rock.It is not only so light, but so small and short--it makes the 18v Dewalts look like 747's next to Gyrocopters.

4. 
   Rugby | May 24, 2006 05:28am | #24

   I'll "eighth" the Makita 12V Impact.  It's still running on those red Ni-Cads.

     Kind of funny but now if I'm running screws with a drill/driver (on rare occasions) it feels a little strange.But it is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. - Herman Melville

5. 
   Shoeman | May 24, 2006 05:40am | #25

   Panasonic 12 volt impact driver

    

   About the same size as the Makita but with 3.5 amp hour batteries.

   3 models to choose from

   I have the 6506 - basic model like the early Makitas

   I also have the 7201 - 2 impact settings, belt hook and led light

   Both work great

   Have not yet sprung the extra cash for the 7202 - 3 speed with digital clutch

6. 
   andy_engel | May 25, 2006 04:47am | #27

   I was loving that driver yesterday as it was seting 3 5/8 in. LedgerLocks without sweating a drop.Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

3. 
   skip555 | May 22, 2006 01:06am | #3

   I've had good luck with ryobi , 14.4 lasted me over 6 years . me previos makita's , dewalts , lasted around two years . I had two milwuakees that died within a month.

   after a little over two years the battries died , Two pack at HD for 39.00 .

   I see lots of Ryobi's on jobsites around here .

4. 
   chascomp | May 22, 2006 01:18am | #4

   I've had my ryobi drill/driver, 3 1/2" saw, recip saw, flashlight and vaccum for two years and for the price I could throw them away today and buy some more. The recip is dying- I've had it apart three times to clean it but the switch is going, all the others are still doing great. The first two batteries (that came with the set) died an early death, but the next batch has held up well. I think the batteries are the key to any system. I look forward to the day my Roy's die so I can get better batteries on a new system. I hope I'll be waiting a long time just the same.

5. 
   DanH | May 22, 2006 01:48am | #6

   I haven't had it long enough to say much about it's long-term durability, but I really like my Panasonic 15.6V 1/2" cordless. Battery runtime is just about forever, and charger is fast. Well-balanced. Comes with two batteries for around 2 C-notes.

   If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
1. 
   KirkpatrickFramer | May 22, 2006 02:03am | #7

   makita lithium ion 18 volt, comes with mail in rebate for a 18v impact driver as well, you get both for 3 bills and the lithion will drill 100 1" holes on a single charge.

2. 
   bolts | May 29, 2006 02:42pm | #32

   Re your Panasonic I have still got a 9.6v 15min charge panasonic its first battery lasted 10 years it is still working on this one what more can one say about a quality prioduct and no I do not have sharse in Panasonic.Regards from OZYou can make it fool proof but not idiot proof 

6. 
   mike4244 | May 22, 2006 03:49am | #8

   Steve, buy a Panosonic, My next drill will be Panosonic,used them for a year or so every day.Not to insult other posts but compared to Panosonic every other brand of drill is crap.I have used most of the cordless drills on the market,have two dewalts that suck.Do a search for reviews on cordless drills,may help. The panosonic drill chucks and batteries are superior to other brands, the drill is comfortable.Does not cost much more than the rest .

   mike

7. 
   PaulT | May 22, 2006 04:01am | #9

   I second Andy Engel, I have the Mak 12 v impact (it is often seen on sale with a free 12 volt screw gun.  I also use it to drill get (quick change speed bore spade bits). People who aren't familiar with this gun laugh when I quick chuck a bit in it, but stop laughing when I drill. Has led light(very useful) and the tool is incredibly light.  Also purchased the Mil 28 L-ion for the circ saw and sawzall and needed to drill about 30 2" holes w / Forstner bit, unreal. but probably overkill. Have the Mil 18 volt heavy but incredibaly durable(despite someone elses' claim.

   PT, Claw

8. 
   bolts | May 22, 2006 04:11am | #11

   Go the 15.6 panasonic they make their own batteries its comfortable to use and will outscrew most 18v drills its also a reasonable weight for its power

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/21/2006 9:52 pm ET by Bolts

9. 
   Adam05 | May 22, 2006 05:03am | #13

   Steve,

   I have used a few drills, but my own is the 15.6v panasonic. I like the fact that if I hang it on my tool belt, it doesn't pull the belt off my hips (as the big 18v rigs will). It's also very handy in tight spots. I have also used the 18v model, but i found it cumbersome. The 15.6 does last a very long time (in a FHB test it sank 450 screws per charge, the next competitor was in the low 300 range). These drills have plenty of power for 3" screws, but when you get into the big drill bits or timberloks, you might find yourself reaching for an impact driver or a corded drill. I've looked at the Li-ion stuff, but the sticker shock keeps the panasonic by my side. Make sure to get the 3.5AHr batteries if you get the drill.

   Good luck,
   Adam

1. 
   andy_engel | May 23, 2006 03:52am | #14

   So, we have a consensus, then? <G>Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

1. 
   woodguy99 | May 23, 2006 04:48am | #15

   I don't know, I've had the Panasonic 15.6V for a couple of years, use it daily, and I'm not totally thrilled with it.  The chuck is too aggressive and it's hard to get a bit to lock in properly. 

   I've gotten in the habit of loosening/tightening it several times quickly to get the bit to seat properly which makes a grinding sound as the clutch works and makes the other guys look at me funny (not unusual!).

   The run time is good, but not vastly different from my old 14.4V Dewalt or the 18V Dewalts that are always on my jobs.  The Makita and Dewalt impact drivers seem to be the way to go, except for the noise.  I'm fairly sensitive to noise and always look for the quitest tools, and impact drivers are inherently noisy.

   All in all, the Panasonic isn't a bad drill, but it certainly hasn't lived up to the rave reviews I read before buying it.

1. 
   andy_engel | May 23, 2006 02:30pm | #20

   I view the noise as a plus. It drives the nosy customer away!Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

2. 
   DanH | May 23, 2006 05:05pm | #21

   Yeah, the chuck is my only real gripe. It's harder to get a bit centered in it than in most chucks.But the chuck holds real well -- never had trouble with the bit slipping.

   If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison

10. 
    user-86517 | May 23, 2006 07:57am | #18

    If you haven't already got one and you drive a lot of screws, I think you should definately get an impact driver. I would suggest the Dewalt 14.4; that way you can still use your good batteries from your shot drill.

    If its a drill your looking for, and you don't like the DeWalt (my personal favorite; I love the three speeds, automatic chuck lock, and hammer capability) I would run with the Miluakee 18 volt. That thing is definately built to last and has a good feel. In any case, let us know how you like your new tool!

    --Andy

11. 
    ChuckW | May 24, 2006 02:47am | #22

    Another positive for the Makita 12 volt impact.  This drives easier than anything I've ever picked up.

12. 
    sotabuilder | May 24, 2006 05:52am | #26

    im on the side of the panasonic posters  only problem i have had is the chuck is very quick and broke one of the teeth, other than that they outperform every other cordless ive had

13. 
    bc | May 29, 2006 02:47am | #28

    18V ion Makita LXT. weighs as much as 12v... best tool i ever bought. Absolutely love the belt clip... best grip out there also. Lights on the tools are awesome. Free hammerdrill or impact... depending on what you buy. Best customer service.
    Never had luck with any 14.4 drill... dont know why.
    Ryobi= China
    Makita=Japan
    Panasonic=I dont care never seen anyone use them or in the store

1. 
   danski0224 | May 29, 2006 01:57pm | #30

   I also have the Makita 12v impact driver. Awesome little tool. The magnesium nose sucks, though. I have had both replaced under warranty.

   Quite a bit of Makitas new cordless tools are now made in China- yet the price is the same. They even have a "cheaper" made in China line at the local Menards (M Power, I think).

   Their new LI-Ion stuff is made in Japan- for now. 

14. 
    traini | May 29, 2006 07:21am | #29

    Any new cordless tool really needs to be part of a total package or the number and type of batteries is to much work.  Dewalt sure has a number of good packages out there these days.  My son needed a new dewalt 18 volt drill and found them for a rather good price on e-bay. however we could not get them to deliver to Canada.

    While in a Home depot the other day a dewalt rep was on hand and had discounted a set of four, drill,saw, sawzal, light , charger, two batteries regular $699 canadian for $400 the rep then gave him two more batteries and a coupon for a mailaway rebate on radio charger for free.

    George

15. 
    bolts | May 29, 2006 02:36pm | #31

    Buy the 15.6 v panasonic there is no comparison in performance and balance and battery capacity or save up and buy Festool depending on what sought of work you are doing regards from oz

    You can make it fool proof but not idiot proof 

1. 
   woodguy99 | May 29, 2006 06:09pm | #33

   Another thing that bugs me about my 15.6V Panasonic is that they don't make any of their other tools in 15.6V.  I would have bought an impact driver by now if they did, and could use a circular saw and sawzall.  But I had to go and get the 15.6V drill.

   I'm thinking Makita blue is in my future....

1. 
   BillBrennen | May 29, 2006 08:03pm | #35

   Panasonic sell two saws on the 15.6 volt system. One for wood, one for metal. Like you, I wish they offered a small impact driver in the 15.6 size. I'd buy it.Bill

1. 
   woodguy99 | May 30, 2006 12:36am | #37

   I didn't know that.  Cool.

2. 
   DanH | May 29, 2006 11:35pm | #36

   But one nice thing about the Panasonic is that the charger is universal.
   If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison

1. 
   woodguy99 | May 30, 2006 12:36am | #38

   I didn't know that either.

1. 
   Gunner | May 30, 2006 12:48am | #39

     Yea read the charger.They have a real good system.

    

    

    GIVE ME AN............. F!

16. 
    USAnigel | May 29, 2006 06:33pm | #34

    At that price range I would look at the Makita 12 volt drill and impact kit for $199.00 at depot.