Lithium Ion Cordless Tools - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

pn70 · 09-05-2006, 03:32 PM

Hi Guys....

This is my first post here, been reading this forum for a couple months now and enjoy hanging out here at nights.

I am curious to hear feedback from anyone using the Makita, Milwaukee, or DeWalt Lithium Ion cordless tools. I have been leaning towards the Milwaukee setup and was hoping some of you guys can chime in if you've had the chance to work with these new tools.

Thanks!

Pete

bcf · 09-05-2006, 03:55 PM

I've been using the Milwaukee V28 for about a year now, and these tools are amazing. Going from using three batteries a day with the dewalt and milwaukee 18V, I'm down to one. But they are heavier. NOot that the step up in weight formt he 18V is great, but you will notice it.

I didin't need more power thatn the 18s, but I got sick of changing the battery all the time. And the worst part was that I always was on the job at least an extra half hour because the always were dead at the end of the day.

I keep thinkign about going to an 18 or 14.4 drilll to keep the chargetime up and the weight down, but it isn't that horrible of an issue. The sawzall and circ have just about as much juice as the corded versions do. I give 'em two thunbs up.

Ou have to be careful now, because Ryobi just bought Milwaqukee up, and I've never heard anything but problems about that company.

pn70 · 09-05-2006, 04:20 PM

Thanks Matt for your feedback,

I really like the Chuck on the Milwaukee drill and have always used a Milwaukee sawzall since I was a grunt, I really am partial to the Milwaukee brand. I do not like the chuck on the Makita's and that's the biggest issue holding me back with that brand. Unless they made the chuck more like the newer Milwaukee's but hard to tell when you check these drills out at HD or Lowes and they have pulled the battery and have it nylon strapped to the so you cannot really check it out.

On another note...Milwaukee has recently released the 18Volt Lithium Ion Drill and I might just go with that but buy the 28 Volt sawzall and 28Volt circular saws seperately. I think that the 18 volt ion Drill will be easier on the hand for repeated use throughout the day.

I did not know Ryobi bought out Milwaukee, if that's true I hope they keep the Milwaukee people doing their thing exactly how they did it. I've served serious time on sawzalls and magnum drills over the years, hehe.

I have the newer 13amp orbital sawzall from Milwaukee and love it!!!! is the 28 volt sawzall comparable to the new corded version?

Thanks!

bob · 09-05-2006, 06:39 PM

I bought the makita 18v cordless drill a couple of months ago so far I like it

pn70 · 09-05-2006, 06:47 PM

bob, does the chuck on the makita get a good hold of drill bits? any slippage?

wolffhomerepair · 09-05-2006, 08:13 PM

I have the makita LXT impact driver and drill. The run time is amazing. I can go about 3 batteries to 1 against the makita 14.4. The Drill has had no problems as of yet.

R&S Exteriors · 09-05-2006, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pn70

Hi Guys....

This is my first post here, been reading this forum for a couple months now and enjoy hanging out here at nights.

I am curious to hear feedback from anyone using the Makita, Milwaukee, or DeWalt Lithium Ion cordless tools. I have been leaning towards the Milwaukee setup and was hoping some of you guys can chime in if you've had the chance to work with these new tools.

Thanks!

Pete

Milwaukee v28 set is the best I ever owned. The batteries last three times as long as the 18v. They charge in one hour. Almost as powerful as the corded tools. are only slightly heavier.

I think the best thing is that the tools don't slow down as the battery discharges. Your last screw, on a battery charge, is as easy to screw as the first.

pn70 · 09-06-2006, 08:30 PM

thanks for the replys guys, I bought the whole 4 piece milwaukee 28 volt set for $699.00 & tax and they also threw in the newer milwaukee radio for free. I am a happy camper, the tools are nice. I chopped up a warped 2x4 with the sawzall and was quite impressed.

I got it from the local Fastenal distributor, I'm not sure if the free radio was a promotion thru the dealer or straight thru Milwaukee. I did not see the free radio promotion via online stores though but anyway...I'll live!

pn70 · 09-06-2006, 09:13 PM

I forgot to mention, at the store today I got a chance to check out the new Milwaukee V18 lithium Ion drill, circ saw and sawzall. It was nice and they happened to have a scale so I compared weight between the 28 volt ion dill and the new 18 volt ion drill and weight difference was about 8 ounces. The V28 came at around 6.75 and the V18 was at 6.25

I was hoping the new V18 would have been closer to the makitas ion drill weight so I just opted to go with the V28. I'm sure after repeated use the added 8 ounces might be noticeable but was hard to notice in the store comparing them by feel.

R&S Exteriors · 09-06-2006, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pn70

I forgot to mention, at the store today I got a chance to check out the new Milwaukee V18 lithium Ion drill, circ saw and sawzall. It was nice and they happened to have a scale so I compared weight between the 28 volt ion dill and the new 18 volt ion drill and weight difference was about 8 ounces. The V28 came at around 6.75 and the V18 was at 6.25

I was hoping the new V18 would have been closer to the makitas ion drill weight so I just opted to go with the V28. I'm sure after repeated use the added 8 ounces might be noticeable but was hard to notice in the store comparing them by feel.

The little extra weight hasn't bothered me at all. I can drill/drive faster with the v28 anyways

pn70 · 09-06-2006, 09:32 PM

R&S Exteriors, one question for you...

I noticed that the battery has a lil rocking action when installed on the drill, almost like a slightly loose fit. Is that normal?

dougchips · 09-07-2006, 04:35 PM

I am trying a Bosch pocket drill 10.8v before I switch over. The Bosch is very light and has great torque....however it is very s l o w ! Because the battery is so small, it is hard to compare apples with apples. We use a lot of Rigid tools for their warranty and Dewalt because they fit in a garbage can when they die.

R&S Exteriors · 09-07-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pn70

R&S Exteriors, one question for you...

I noticed that the battery has a lil rocking action when installed on the drill, almost like a slightly loose fit. Is that normal?

No mine is pretty tight.

I know this next comment is going to sound stupid (guilty) but which way are you putting the battery on the drill? Because it will slide on from either direction. When I first charged mine up and started using it I loved the power but was upset that I could not sit the drill down, on the battery, without it falling over. It actually took me two days before it dawned on me to slide it on the other direction. Then bam it was balanced and no problem setting up without falling over.

That is the first drill I had that the battery would slide on from the back or front. It was a "blond" moment I know.

RobertCDF · 09-07-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougchips

I am trying a Bosch pocket drill 10.8v before I switch over. The Bosch is very light and has great torque....however it is very s l o w ! Because the battery is so small, it is hard to compare apples with apples. We use a lot of Rigid tools for their warranty and Dewalt because they fit in a garbage can when they die.

The new Ridgid 24 volt lithium ion tools will run off of your old batteries too. So if you have a collection of 12-18V batts you can still use them.

pn70 · 09-07-2006, 08:21 PM

Quote:

I am trying a Bosch pocket drill 10.8v before I switch over.

I've been using the lil 10.8 bosch sucker for a couple months now and I love it, but only use it for small hardware jobs...nothing else. It has it's purpose and comes in so handy!!!

R&S Exteriors...well I knew ahead of time that the batterry could be installed two different ways so that is not really an issue. I just noticed that if you hold the drill with one hand then take your other hand and put it on the battery...you can feel a lil wiggle. Other than that...I love the whole kit!!!! I don't care for the contractor bag, seems very unorganized so I might be individual cases at least for the drill and sawzall.

dougchips · 09-07-2006, 09:33 PM

Thanks Robert, good to know on the Rigid.

PN, I use the 10.8 mostly for service calls or when I need a drill that I can fit in my tool belt and don't feel like clipping on a real drill. If they could only increase the speed I would stock up on them. I used it to drive some 8" timber screws and it had enough torque (I was in a pinch).