Best Cordless 18V Drills?

WarnerConstInc.

hmmm sony, sounds familiar.

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Inner10

Warner I'm not trying to piss on your parade but there are some valid points here.

Even my old dewalt 18v would twist out of my hand, I realize I'm no hulk hogan but I abused that sucker for 5 years using a 1X18" ships auger on a daily basis.

Hilti also has the overload protection chip in their batteries, and you can charge them from any load without effect because it monitors the charge level...just like Festool.

Makita has a smart charger but there is no protection circuitry in the battery itself. Dewalt has a simple version that shuts the battery down then uses the charger as a re-set.

When you supply tools to a few other guys I'd rather pass them a ryobi too, handing off a festool just isn't right! The biggest mistake I made was buying Hilti twist drill bit sets, its cost me a small fortune replacing thoes broken bits from guys who can't hold a drill straight.

3 year warrenty, whoopie not much above Ridgid/Milwaukee/Makita etc. Espicially if you look at replacement cost.

Brushless motors and electronics make for a more efficient drill with fewer wearing parts but it also adds more electronic complexity to fail. Although I agree that brushless is the way of the future for drills.

Slow chargers can also be really aggrivating, espicially if one night you have a severe case of "gethomeitis" and leave yourself with a fraction of a charge in one battery, next day you drive a few screws and then are forced to wait for the battery to charge.

I think Festool tools are fantastic but their cordless drill (along with most of their tools) are aimed at workshop use not feild use. They have some outstanding features (espicially the badass chuck system) yet for someone in my line of work they would not be a panacea.

WarnerConstInc.

That is a common misconception. Their stuff is meant to be taken into the field and used on site. It comes from places where people dont have shops or any more space than 10'x10'.

It is expensive because it is built to hold up to job site abuse and still be highly accurate.

Don't say it can't when you haven't.
It will out last almost anything out there.

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Inner10

Just tell me its a POS so that I don't end up buying one and wind up single...I'm easy to sell too and I'm good at ignoring yelling.

Closest festool dealer is Brockville, about a 45 min drive, all highway, unless I move or one comes to Ottawa I can't see taking the plunge.

BCConstruction

The problem with overloaded protection is most of these drills can pull way more amps(more than double) than the batterys can supply and thats the reason they heat up. the overload protection is great if you dont over load the drill and stress it but i would be setting that thing of every other second. Some of Makitas LXT tools have a built in system in the high amp demand tools like the angle grinder that will shut down the angle grinder if you overload it. I set that dam thing off almost every time i use it and it pisses me of to no end.


Also i dont think the Festools are designed to be used the way some of use some of these tools. 15v drills aint really desined to bore 1"+ augers and 5" hole cutters. They would run of of TQ before you would finish each hole. Even my makita with almost double the TQ of the Festool struggles with some of the stuff i drill. But there's no doubt they are a great tool if they are within the specs you require.

WarnerConstInc.

We bored 1" auger holes in a piece of 8/4 poplar with the 15+3.

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BCConstruction

I should hope so for the cost of them. I have a crappy porter cable drill with same TQ and it would be able to do that. Porter cable one never used to be able to go through a 12" thick oak beam in a 500 year old cottage though. Even my Makita had trouble doing that. Only problem was battery used to get stupidly hot but it saved my pulling out the angle drill with reduction head on it.

Bone Saw

I've always been a milwaukee man, no complaints with several 18v hammer drills and RAD, BUT, I can tell you that milwaukee's L ion batts absolutely suck $h!t, 2 years ago I picked up another 18 v lion hammer drill, and since then I've taken the batts (2) back to a milwaukee service center at least 3 or four times, upon diagnostic, they havent even been cycled but 50 or 60 times, finally just asked for nicads last time

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BCConstruction

It's to do with the quality of cells in the packs. Dewalts use the most expensive cells at about $2.50 a piece and they have about 15 of these in a cell. But they are a low MAH rating for the cost of the cell. Makita use cells that are about $2.30 a cell but they have more capacity because they are normal LI-ION. Milwaukee use cells that are about $1.20 a cell and they wont hold up anywhere near the length of time compared to the more expensive cells.

WarnerConstInc.

You guys do realize that some of the things you want a cordless drill to do, should be done with a drill that has a cord.

That might save your guy's cordless tools.

Sometimes you cant improve on electricity.

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BCConstruction

Your 100% correct lol. I have 2 sds drills that are exactly the same but one is cordless and one is mains and even when i need to drill a 2" hole in Engineering brick i still try to use the cordless knowing full well it will stop half way through lol. I have corded versions of most of my tools but still the Cordless get used a lot more than they should.

Inner10

Warner I guess what I meant to say was its aimed at woodworking, not something that I do much of, they don't appear to have an extensive hammerdrill and impact driver line.

You could piss a hole through poplar, how about 4 2x6s with a thousand nails?

Absolutly agree, but not having to haul out the extension cord, fight for the one of the few plugs they have on that floor is really swell. After getting a cordless SDS I only haul out the big bugger for serious holes. I realize your rather anti-cordless but I've really been running the watts through my cordless circular saw lately...its just handy.

I know the feeling, nothing like drilling a big awkard hole on a wobbly 24 foot ladder and see that overload light flash and think to yourself "bugger! just drill the hole and catch on fire damnit!"

I've never used a cordless angle grinder, let alone seen one on a jobsite.

BCConstruction

Tell me about it. It's dangerous the way you suddenly lose all power as your using your weight behind the drill to keep it steady then POW no power and your hanging sideways of the drill. The cordless angle grinders do work very well. But again that over load cut off is a hassle at times.

Tell you what though. My mate could have done with some overload or clutch protection on his core drill as he was drilling a 4 inch hole in a wall and the core drill locked up in the wall and he spun the whole way around while holding the drill. Proper messed him up for the rest of the week lol. Funny watching it happen though.

Anderson

I just replaced my Dewalt with the Hitachi 18V lith ion, havent really put it through its paces yet but I will report on how it does

jiffy

Not the best replacement. From what I have read here you will be disappointed in the long run. There is a reason Hitachi battery tools are so affordable. Don't quote me on that.

Kastoria

I just picked up the Bosch 36v hammer drill with fat pack batteries the other day. Really didnt need a drill but got it for a steal at www.onetooladay.com sometimes you just gotta buy it. In any case was wondering if anyone has used this drill before as far as if it has good power, torque, battery life etc. I know its a 36v but that doesnt always mean more power...just a bigger battery. Besides it not like Im going to return it but would like to know what I have in my truck when I do decide to use it. Thanks.

timberframe

I've always used the dewalt 18v but it sounds like I should try the Hilti.

duburban

I talked to my local tool repair guy today. I asked him what the best was and he says they all suck since box stores. Makita Dewalt Milwaukee all low quality. The best he said was Hitachi. Hilti except the service out here is bad from what he said.

jiffy

I would find a new tool repair guy. Hitachi is far from the best. Milwaukee and Makita have the best cordless out to date, for the money.

BCConstruction

Your tool guys need to go back to tool school lol. Hitachi the best!

The problem with these places is most are biased towards what they sell or service even if they know better. They don't have hands on experience with tools and working on site with other trades teaches you a lot about tools. I cant remember how many lunch breaks i used to spend talking to other trades about their tools.