New Cordless tools & quality

[KPerson]

I'm now in the market for a contractor duty cordless 1/2" drill. I will most likely buy the combo with all the other cordless tools recip, flashlight, etc.

I've used the 24 volt bosch set and have really liked it. I will probably buy another as all the new tools seem to be made in china or mexico. The new Rigid line is made by Ryobi and is made in china, DeWalt is made in Mexico and by Black & Decker ( have used DeWalt lots and only had problems with the clutch mechanism failing making the drill useless. I'm not bashing Dewalt). Milwalkee (spelling?) is made in Germany. I want to buy tools that will last and wont crap out after a month. I use cordless tools all the time and am disapointed to see there all being made in china or mexico. Is there still quality control or are they just putting 3 yr warranty's on these products for people to buy it. It reminds me about that movie Tommy boy and selling brake pads and putting a gaurantee on box so people will buy it.

I will most likely buy Milwalkee or Bosch based on there track record and where they are made.

This brings me to ask what is the brand of choice among TDR members for CORDLESS tools for everyday use?



Looking for any opinions on this.

Kurt

 

[PJereb]

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Milwakee makes a neat 1/2" cordless drill, it looks like a holeshooter, but it is cordless. We use them often at work with no problems.



I also use and abuse two 1/2" drive Makita cordless impact guns, they really help out on the job.

 

[Sojourner]

At this point I'm keeping Makita 1/2" 14. 4 volt cordless drills. The gears are steel instead of plastic, but the most important thing is the batteries are 2. 6 amp/hr nickel metal hydride rather than the much weaker ni-cads. The NiMH take far more abuse and have a much longer useful service life. That is where these cordless tool manufacturers get to ya, on having to purchase new lame*** batteries to replace the lame*** batteries they sold you in the first place. I've given up on my 18volt Dewalt as their batteries really suck. I have yet to find a way to get the Dewalt ni-cads to provide any worthwhile service life, and I've talked to alot of Dewalt reps and knowledgeable battery people. When I use my cordless drill I am usually in a position that makes it very difficult to readily get another battery pack, so I need battery packs that last as long as possible, so for me, NiMH works best, even when they are one to two years old.



There is no real difference in the ni-cad batteries for cordless tools, as there are only four manufacturers of batteries (for cordless tools) in the world. Right now the hot tip is NiMH, here in a couple of years the hot tip in cordless tools will be the lithium ion battery.



I was in bLowe's the other day and I saw a very interesting 18 volt tool set made by Hitachi. It had 3 amp hour NiMH batteries, but what really got my attention was the high end battery charger that has three charge modes and an adapter with extension cord to run each of the tools battery-less straight off the charger when your batteries are not charged. I had been wondering when one of the cordless tool manufacturers was going to come up with a corded adapter.

 

[nickleinonen]

when i worked for my pop, i was constently using out 18v maketa 5. 5"[?] circular saw and the 1/2" drill... those tools are now probably 4-5 years old and we are on new batteries from last year. we had 3 of the nicad batteries that were 2. 2ah [iirc?] and they lasted pretty good. they started to loose their charge so we got some new batteries and they are the new ni-medal hydride at 2. 6ah i think. and they get charged 2-3 times a day when they get used a lot [used for cutting siding and soffitt - aluminum and vinyl and lumber work too... ]

 

[MFalkinham]

For my job I use DeWalt 14v only because that is what my company buys. They are OK, but I don't like the clutch ring as it occasionally freezes in place and you can't adjust it.



For my home use, I just bought a new Panasonic 18v with Ni-MH batteries. It's heavier than the 14-15v drills, but has great torque and outstanding battery life. I bought it here... .....



http://www.northwestpowertools.com/drillcordless/ey6450gqkw.htm



- Mike

 

[Dieselholic]

http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/product_info.php?cPath=269_335&products_id=1933



You did say cordless

 

[GFritsch]

Makita- My 14. 4 is the most solid cordless I have owned. Stay away from DeWalt

 

[BRobertson]

Makita brand is hard to beat. I prefer Milwaukee, but they are negotiating with the Chinese for a possible buyout so I'm trying to stock up now!!!!

Bob

 

[QRTRHRS]

Porter Cable gets my vote. I have a DeWalt 18V and a PC 19. 2V. The PC battery is real easy to swap out. Even with my large hands, the DeWalt is difficult. The PC is well balanced and has seen severe duty.

 

[GFritsch]

Could be that Porter Cable battery technology has improved, but they flat out sucked about 8 years ago. Our company bought about 15 cordless drills and the batteries all failed after not too many cycles. Like I said though that was a while ago. I think Porter Cable tools in general are excellent. (most of my finish tools are PC)

 

[merryman]

These threads leave me confused; I am looking for a new drill and had settled on Dewalt. Now I am confused.

I settled on Dewalt based on talking to the crew that did my 40 X 60 metal clad shop and the metal roof on my home. We are talking sheet metal screws by the bucket! These guys have been putting up metal clad buildings for at least the 10 years I have known them and they are always loaded with work. They say, having tried several of all the better known drills on the market, they get the best service from Dewalt.

I now have two Makitas and one Craftsman. The Makitas have been really good, but are both about 15 years old and one is ka-put, while the batteries are gone on the second. The Craftsman batteries just do not stand on on this one. Guess I will keep scratching my head.



Vaughn

 

[GFritsch]

The Makitas have been really good, but are both about 15 years old and one is ka-put, while the batteries are gone on the second

Sounds like you have your answer. ANY cordless tool that goes 15 years is amazing. It still gets me every time some old timer door guy busts out a very old makita and tells me about how ist's been in his box forever. The Makita drills are pricey, but worth it.

 

[Chipstien]

I am going to go against the grain and say the Dewalt is great. I had a 14. 4 Makita and stripped the gears the first week I had it by drilling a 1 inch auger bit in a 4x4. My Dewalt has drilled with a 1 1/2 inch auger bit through a 6x6 with no probs. As for battery life, many people think you need to run NiCad batteries till they are dead to make them last. Wrong Wrong Wrong. Dewalt specifically says DO NOT RUN BATTERIES ALL THE WAY DOWN. I know guys that will tape their triggers to make sure it is dead and then complain when their batteries last less then a year. For some reason unbeknowst to me the XR batteries are not susceptible to creating a memory like the old NiCad batteries.

 

[Elite1]

My crews use both the Dewalt 14. 4 and 18 watt drills and recipricol saws, they have been very good and have held up well. I can't say the same about their rotary saws, have stripped out the gears on those...