Replies

1. 
   rez | Jul 16, 2007 06:12pm | #1

   The little Bosch 10.8 Pocket driver is slow and halfway to useless unless driving small cabinet screws.

   be less

   September 1, 1842.  Mr. Thoreau dined with us yesterday. He is a singular character — a young man with much of wild original nature still remaining in him; and so far as he is sophisticated, it is in a way and method of his own. He is as ugly as sin, long-nosed, queer-mouthed, and with uncouth and rustic, though courteous manners, corresponding very well with such an exterior. But his ugliness is of an honest and agreeable fashion, and becomes him much better than beauty. He was educated, I believe, at Cambridge, and foremerly kept school in this town; but for two or three years back, he has repudiated all regular modes of getting a living, and seems inclined to lead a sort of Indian life among civilized men — an Indian life, I mean, as respects the absence of any systematic effort for a livelihood.
   -Nathaniel Hawthorne, from American Notebooks

2. 
   cap | Jul 16, 2007 07:10pm | #2

   It sort of depends on what you're going to be using it for...

   For an all-around tool, I suggest the Milwaukee 18V li-ion.  I've got one and use it a lot.  It's very powerful, comparable to my DeWAlt 18V, and weighs in like a 14.4 NiCad.  The balance/handling is very good, too.

   If power is most important, and weight and cost not, go with the V28 milwaukee.

   If you want high quality, lots of power, and have the money, try the Makita.  They have several models of 18V drill-driver that run on 18V Li-ion.  My first cordless drill was a 9.6 Makita stick, and it served me very well.

   If you aren't dead set on Li-ion batteries, look at the DeWalt 18V NiCad drill-drivers.  Real good value for the money right now, and Dewalt is developing an 18V Li-ion battery that will work with any of their 18V tools.  The Li-ion batteries will be expensive, and the charger real expensive, when first released.

   Basically, I'd say go to a good tool store and look at drill in your price range, whether DeWalt, Bosch, Panasonic, Makita, or Milwaukee, find one that fits your hand, your budget, and your needs, and buy it.  At the store. 

   Yea, you might save a few bucks buying via the internet, but if you plan to use the drill to make money (although I can't tell, you have no info in your profile), having a commercial relationship with a good local supplier will benefit you in the long run.

   If the batteries in the drills you have aren't holding a charge, but the drill motor is still O.K., you might consider buying new batteries or having the old ones rebuilt (voltman is one pack rebuilder).

   Then again, as a toolaholic, I don't mean to discourage you from buying a new tool.  You could always give the old ones away to a helper or to a local charity (Habitat or Rebuilding Together, for instance). 

   Good luck and enjoy,

   Cliff

   
   

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   Edited 7/16/2007 12:14 pm ET by CAP

1. 
   alrightythen | Jul 17, 2007 07:31am | #8

   nice informative post   View Image                                          View Image    

3. 
   bc | Jul 16, 2007 10:17pm | #3

   the new makita ion compact for 199 looks nice... as does the ridgid compact. Milwaukee ion is too heavy.

4. 
   NickNukeEm | Jul 16, 2007 11:36pm | #4

   Makita 18v.  I've never tried the Mak LIon Light (as I call it) and no need, as I have the full strength model, and really like it.

   The companion impact driver and the drill will take care of all but the most challenging drilling/driving requirements.  And the most challenging requirements usually need a corded model like the Milwaukee Magnum, or larger.

    

   "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."  Invictus, by Henley.

1. 
   gesang | Jul 16, 2007 11:54pm | #5

   Thanks guys for your help.

   I am looking at the Makita 18V LXT model BDF451.   I don't really need the hammer drill cause I have a hiliti rotohammer.  Any ideas on the best place to buy this drill?

    

1. 
   rasher | Jul 17, 2007 12:06am | #6

   I have the white (light) Makita 18v Liion setup, bought from Home Depot for $199. And while it's nice and light and powerful, it feels a little flimsy to me and the battery life is crap (they do charge fast, though). The LED light in the handle is both convenient and a source of ridicule from my co-workers...
   If I had to do it all over again, I would just put up the $$$ and get the new Panasonic setup. I used to have a 15.6 NiCD Panny and loved it dearly.

5. 
   bolts | Jul 17, 2007 01:48am | #7

   I agree with rasher  if you can, go with the Panasonic in Australia they cost even more but well and truly worth it.

   Regards from OZ

   You can make it fool proof but not idiot proof 

   
   

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   Edited 7/16/2007 6:49 pm ET by Bolts

6. 
   Stilletto | Jul 17, 2007 12:33pm | #9

   I bought the Makita 18v Lithium Ion set a few weeks ago.  I sold off my Dewalt 18v stuff and bought them. 

   I am very impressed with them,  they are alot lighter than my old set,  with more power and longer battery life.  The guys that work for me run for them instead of getting theirs out.  Kinda of sucks looking for your own drills. 

   The impact has been ran to death on the current project and still only uses one battery a day.  Not bad considering the only break it gets is lunch time. 

   As another poster said,  the light is alot more useful than I thought it would be.  The impact has a glow in the dark ring on it,  I get alot of crap about that. 

   Matt

1. 
   NickNukeEm | Jul 17, 2007 03:53pm | #10

   I like them so much, I bought the recip saw and angle grinder (which came in handy cutting plaster in a building with no power available.)  At the JLC show I asked the Makita rep if they were gonna come out with a cordless nailer based on the platform, but he didn't think so.  He did say they would continue to add to the line, however.

     "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."  Invictus, by Henley.

1. 
   limeyjoiner | Jul 17, 2007 07:39pm | #11

   They have a 14.4v li ion 23g nailer on the Japanese website http://www.makita.co.jp/product/li_ion/pt350drf/pt350drf.html"Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all." Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

2. 
   Stilletto | Jul 18, 2007 01:45am | #12

   Today I saw the new Makita Lithium Ion Impact. 

   It has 2 speeds for drilling,  one speed for hammer drilling and one for a screw gun. 

   One thing I wasn't really sure about was the chuck,  you would need to switch almost all your bits out for the 1/4" hex bits. 

   Finally a drill that has it all,  including the $400 price tag.  Probably cheaper online,  but it was cool and very hard to put back into the tool reps van. 

   Matt

   Edited 7/17/2007 6:47 pm ET by Stilletto

1. 
   NickNukeEm | Jul 18, 2007 02:29am | #13

   I thought about getting it, but you hit the nail on the head, drill bits would need to be 1/4 hex, and they are just too limited and too expensive to commit to.  And would it accept hole saws, forstners, etc.? 

   There's also another issue I've wrestled with.  Alhough having just the one tool would be nice, I believe I am more efficient with a drill setup with a pilot/countersink and the impact driver ready to drive the screws home.

   So for now, I'll keep the 400 bones in my pocket.

    "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."  Invictus, by Henley.