Time for a New Drill - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

gtdail · 10-12-2006, 08:47 PM

Not trying to start a brand war but I am in the market for a new 18v (or bigger) drill, what are you guys using? If you were going to buy a new one what would you buy? Thanks

Downeast · 10-12-2006, 08:54 PM

I have a bosch 18v ,don't use it much . I may look at the makitas if I were in need again. They always seem stong and tough.

Richard · 10-12-2006, 08:58 PM

Gtdail,

I roll with an 18V craftsman. It's ok...for a 1 speed cordless. I need to invest in another battery. I have a cheaper Ryobi w/cord for a backup. But then again, I'm a painter!

BUT...I'm telling you what, if I could afford it (right now, instead of watching deal or no deal with this cute southern chick on) I would be at the store buying a Dewalt.

Oh my word, these drills are solid, fast, and have so many options. My suggestion is to go to a store that carries them all, and operate them...you'll see pretty quick which ones are worth the $$$.

See ya' round

mdshunk · 10-12-2006, 08:59 PM

For battery drills right now... you're pretty much going to be buying the Milwaukee V28 if you want the latest and greatest.

Greg Di · 10-12-2006, 09:02 PM

I used to have all Bosch 18V until last week.

I just picked up the new Makita 18V Li-ion set and it blows the Bosch stuff away. The Milwaukee setup is good too, but it is much, much heavier. To me, light and fast is the way to go.

I would avoid store brand tools at all cost. They are not heavy duty for full time use.

hjm · 10-12-2006, 09:19 PM

I generally stick with dewalt, I have many other 18v drills and the dewalt seems to out last and out do.

mdshunk · 10-12-2006, 09:23 PM

I think you'll find that this will turn into a Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge type of question. Guys like what they like, and that's that. I was an AEG battery drill man, then I turned to Milwaukee. I've used DeWalt, Porter-Cable, Makita, and Hitachi. They're good too. It sometimes depends on the exact duty to which you'll need the drill for as to what brand will best serve your niche. You can't go too wrong by just buying any well known brand. There's no big name that is plain junk.

RobertCDF · 10-12-2006, 10:37 PM

The most important thing is these few things.

1. Does it fit your hand well. Are you going to be comfortable with holding it for hours?

2. Does it have the power you need.

3. Does it have the features you need.

I personally own Ridgid drills and impacts. I like how they feel in my hand. The next one I buy will be their 24V lithiums... They did them right. All Ridgid's 24V lithium tools will also run on thier 18V batts as well. No need to toss your old collection of batts in a bag somewhere.

**Teetorbilt** · 10-12-2006, 10:45 PM

All 3 of my original Panasonic 15.6 are still going strong. Of the 6 original batteries, 1 has weakened but is still good for about 6 hrs of moderate use. I posted when I bought them, it's been a few years. Search 'Panasonic' and the date should pop up.

Mike Finley · 10-12-2006, 11:03 PM

Dewalt, I've got a crap load of batteries, I think I'm up to 10 now, so I'm sticking with them. I just got done looking at their new 36 volt line, but I don't really have any pressing needs for anything they do.

But talking about a cordless drill, anything @ 18vt how can you go wrong? What's the biggest difference going to be other than the color of it? I'd look at the whole line of a company and make your decision based on that, instead of one tool, since once you start getting a lines batteries and chargers you are going to be hesitant to start accumulating multiple brands.

415moto · 10-12-2006, 11:05 PM

dewalt here.
they take a beating and keep on spinning. 18v of course.

cmwacasey · 10-12-2006, 11:12 PM

years ago makita 9.6 was alll i used.then it seemed their batteries started going downhill.then i tried P.Cwith two batteries about 6 years ago.the first battery quit in about 3 months after purchase. the other battery i still use in my flashlight.milwaukee18v recently and the guns are O.K but still some ot the batteries keep going &going and the others quit to young.anyone interested in a bunch of old drills w/o batteries.

widco · 10-13-2006, 01:51 AM

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dayspring · 10-13-2006, 05:04 AM

I have a Makita 18 volt I've been using pretty hard for 3 years, Never had a minutes trouble, still using the same batteries that it came with! I love it! I also have a Milwaukee 18 volt (hammer drill) about 10 months no problems. I've had my eye on the Mil V28 package but the drill is very heavy.

pn70 · 10-13-2006, 07:57 AM

I have the 15.6 volt Panasonic and love it!!! I also recently bought the Milwaukee 28Volt combo and love it so far. The 28V drill is heavy in comparison to the panasonic 15.6 but I use the 28 volt for bigger drilling jobs and use the panasonic for every day small drilling tasks.

The other day I had to rough in two hose bibb fixtures at a current reside job and ended up using my 28Volt drill to bore a couple 1" holes through the rim joist of the house. My 28v drill made these holes effortlessly, not sure how my 15.6 panasonic would have done but don't even think about using it for bigger drilling jobs. I'm happy to have them both.

I could not see using the Milwaukee 28 volt as a primary drill, just a lil overkill for most tasks.

**Teetorbilt** · 10-13-2006, 08:35 AM

My Panasonic routinely drills 2"+ holes in fiberglass boat decks for mounting outriggers and rod holders.

Downeast · 10-13-2006, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teetorbilt

My Panasonic routinely drills 2"+ holes in fiberglass boat decks for mounting outriggers and rod holders.

I never owned a panasonic,but from consumer reports I have heard that they are an excellent drill. Just don't see them in the lumber yards ,or contractor supplies around here.

**Teetorbilt** · 10-13-2006, 08:46 AM

Find your Panasonic dealer here; http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs...00000000005702

BuildingHomes · 10-13-2006, 10:43 PM

I picked up the DeWalt 36V kit a few weeks back. Amazing!

Drill/driver/hammer. 3 speed gears. Self tightening 1/2" chuck.

The heavy part is not the battery, it's the giant gear box. The battery itself weighs about the same as my 14V NiCad.

I did some 2.5" holes through 3/4" plywood today with no 'slow grind' noises at all. And this was after the drill was sitting in 0C temperature all night.

Lithium Ion is the way to go. No memory. Longer shelf life. Full power right to the end. And it doesn't seem to care about the cold.

I am now looking for a smaller Lion drill to use for smaller tasks.

house bldr · 10-13-2006, 11:47 PM

I have Dewalt and makita like em both but for the price its hard to beat a craftsman. you can buy em for about $75 on sale and they work fine!