Cordless Drills

[Bossman]

I've been using Dewalt for years, but I need to buy several new
cordless drills. The drills will be used on pre-wires and need to be
powerful, have long battery life, etc. I'd like to have a couple of
back-up batteries for each drill, so the cost of the batteries is a
consideration.

What make and model is everyone using/buying for themselves and their
installers?

Bossman

 

[RH.Campbell]

I have had great luck with the 19.2 volt cordless Milwaukee drill.

Pros: It is heavily built and has tremendous torque to drive those six foot
bits
The batteries are very long lasting between charges

Cons: Charging takes a full hour

Also.... the new Rigid 19.2 cordless drill I bought for my son

Pros: Very light but strongly built
Charges in 20 minutes

Cons: Battery charges don't last nearly as long as the Milwaukee, but
certainly an OK length of time

I hate cheap tools !!!

PS: Buy the kits with two batteries. Extra batteries are almost prohibitive
in cost......

R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.homemetal.com

 

[alarman]

Bossman wrote

What make and model is everyone using/buying for themselves and their
installers?

I was on a job with a couple carpenters yesterday, they were raving about
Panasonic. I'm still using my Makita 9.6. Mainly for driving screws, I use a
corded Milwaukee for drilling, had it for about 10 years now. I've replaced
the cord three times, but that drill motor is apparently unbreakable.
js

 

[Norm Mugford]

We've been using Dewalt 18 volt for about 5 years.
Have about 15 batteries in stock. I bought the twin packs
that Lowe's had on sale last Christmas for $99.00. Bought all
they had. Haven't seen them on sale since.

Each drill needs to be rebuilt an average of once a year.
We charge all batteries at night, and each vehicle has a
charger. It's our lifeline on a pre-wire.

Cost of drill with two batteries and a charger is approx. $239.00

I recently purchased a Sears 19.2 with two batteries and a charger
for $99.00. Seems to do OK.

We use Milwaukee electric drills when we have power on site.
Hole-Hawg 1/2", and Hammer Drill 1/2".
We also use 3/8" Right Angle Dewalt electric and battery drills
for top of the door drilling.

Hope that helps.

Norm Mugford

 

[robert]

Robert Wrote,
I used to buy cordless Dewalt drill / hammer drill motors for my installers
and service techs. That all changed one day. I was on one of our job sites
at Kaiser Permanente. I was speaking with the Vice president of facilities
for the whole pacific region. One of my installers was using a hole saw to
make an opening in a 12X12 metal junction box that was mounted on the
concrete ceiling. The installer was on a ladder 14 feet in the air. All of
a sudden a black flash and a loud crash happened at the feet of this VIP.
The Dewalt battery had just dropped straight out of the drill motor and hit
the floor 3 feet away from us. If this had hit the customer I can imagine
what would have happened. I collected all of the drills and replaced them
within 2 hours of this accident. I later sold them at a yard sale. We now
use Porter cable 18 volt cordless drill/hammer drill combination models.
The batteries on these slide in from the back, not the bottom.

 

[rory]

Milwauki 18 volt cordless hammer drill. Rather heavy, but great power
and long lasting batteries, charger is very quick. Not cheap though.