Need a new Cordless Drill

Jstas

gdpeck wrote: »

I don't know what the OP is planning on using, but I purchased this Ryobi corded Clutch Driver http://www.ryobitools.com/catalog/power_tools/drills_drivers/D47CK a few years ago, and it has been fantastic for me. I previously had a 12 volt DeWalt, and had issues with the batteries not keeping a charge after very few cycles (user error). I'm an occasional drill user, and the ease of not having to worry about whether a battery is charged or not, and just being able to plug in and go, far outweighs the inconvenience of having to get out an extension cord. It was cheap too. ($40). I'm not arguing against cordless if your frequency of use merits it.

Oh, I didn't say they didn't exist. I just said they are harder to find nowadays. Not many manufacturers even make them anymore and the stores don't carry them unless it's an "online only" kind of deal. Hell, all the corded screw guns that Home Depot has are intended for drywall use. In fact, that Ryobi is the only corded drill that Home Depot carries that has the variable clutch. There are lots of key-less chuck drills with variable speed but that's just how hard you squeeze the trigger. So your options there are very limited anymore. But using a drill without that variable speed clutch that you see on screw guns to do what a screw gun or screw-gun/drill combo would normally do is not going to give you the results your looking for.

sda2mike

my b&d has never let me down, for lot's of jobs...i only needed something beefier when drilling into concrete

nooshinjohn

Binford makes the best drills I has seen to date, I prefer their gas-powered models when going cordless:cheesygrin:...

nadams

I picked up a Makita Drill/Impact set from Home Depot a little while ago - check to see if they still have them. $107 on sale w/2 Lion batteries and charger. Comes in a square silver suitecase thing. Used both tools extensively during a room remodel, and they performed flawlessly. Thinking about seeing if I can buy another set just to get two more batteries... at that price, you're better off buying the set than batteries alone.

This is what it was replaced with - http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware-Power-Tools-Combo-Kits/Makita/h_d1/N-5yc1vZc2ecZyg/R-202945283/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

On my set, the drill has a quick release like the impact does. There's no adjustable chuck on it...

Shizelbs

Willow wrote: »

Still really like my Milwaukee, 18v 2x Lion battery and rapid charger. The thing has so much torque that my wrist moves sometimes.

+1. I love my Milwaukee Lithium cordless set. Plenty of power and lasts all day long.

Rivrrat

For the price, Ryobi (or one of the other brands Ryobi makes) has always treated me well as homeowner tools, the batteries on any drill I've had always crap out before the rest of the drill anyway. I wouldn't expect a Ryobi tool to hold up if it were used commercially, for that type of use I prefer Bosch.

gdb

FWIW...I'm about to send off my two Milwaukee 14.4v battereies to be rebuilt with new cells because I love my old, faithful 1/2" drill too much to retire it. It's NOT a tee handle but is a good old fashioned pistol grip style that allows better straight line, forward thrust. If you'll notice, all the corded drills are pistol type, there's a reason for that. If you can "live" with a cord, I'd say get a Milwaukee Magnum 1/2" "HoleShooter". Enough torque to either snap your fastener,bit or wrist !!!! The hi-dollar deWalts may be great, I was referring to the lo buck models that have garnered dismal reviews lately. I have a 9" DeWalt radial arm saw that's almost my age (59:eek:) great saw, things change. You might check out Hilti also. Good luck and happy shopping. Festool stuff is SICK !!! ($$$ too)

zane77

Jstas. They sell a little bit that fits any drill (coreded or not) that will set drywall screws at just the perfect depth for putting a coat of mud over. I used one of these on my Hole shooter and DeWalt cordless, works great.

dcmartinpc

zane77 wrote: »

Jstas. They sell a little bit that fits any drill (coreded or not) that will set drywall screws at just the perfect depth for putting a coat of mud over. I used one of these on my Hole shooter and DeWalt cordless, works great.

Bosch makes a really nice one that I used to hang all the drywall in my basement. Well worth the investment I think it was called "The Dimpler"

Don

jephdood

Another vote for Hitachi cordless. Best medium duty drill I've owned.

Zeros

nadams wrote: »

I picked up a Makita Drill/Impact set from Home Depot a little while ago - check to see if they still have them. $107 on sale w/2 Lion batteries and charger. Comes in a square silver suitecase thing. Used both tools extensively during a room remodel, and they performed flawlessly. Thinking about seeing if I can buy another set just to get two more batteries... at that price, you're better off buying the set than batteries alone.

This is what it was replaced with - http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware-Power-Tools-Combo-Kits/Makita/h_d1/N-5yc1vZc2ecZyg/R-202945283/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

On my set, the drill has a quick release like the impact does. There's no adjustable chuck on it...

Nadams: Off topic, but if you want to ever add a chuck to your Makita 10.8 drill, look at the comments on this thread to see what parts are needed, where to order them and for how much. The comments are from yours truly, of course :cheesygrin:

http://toolmonger.com/2009/06/23/makita-108v-li-ion-38-driver-drill-kit/

Jstas

zane77 wrote: »

Jstas. They sell a little bit that fits any drill (coreded or not) that will set drywall screws at just the perfect depth for putting a coat of mud over. I used one of these on my Hole shooter and DeWalt cordless, works great.

This is the corded drill I have.

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/tools/drills/pistol-drills/1-2-inch-drills/1-2-inch-magnum-drill-0-850-rpm/0299-20




I got this little bitty bit for it when I started doing drywall replacement in a couple rooms upstairs.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100138402/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=drywall+bit&storeId=10051




I got half a room done before that collar broke and slid up the bit and stopped setting properly. I borrowed a friend's DeWalt to finish the work I had to do.

Besides, that 1/2" beast of drill is heavy after holding it for hours on end trying to sink screws. Especially since all the weight is forward of your grip. With the cordless drill, the motor is set over you hand and balanced over your wrist to reduce fatigue. The cordless screw gun is much better at it and much more comfortable. Easier and more accurate to control too.

mrbiron

Ryobi is junk....plain and simple.

Tools last as long as you don't abuse them. I'd brush my teeth with my Dewalt Impact. The best and Favorite tool i own. Like dcmartin, i remodeled my entire basement with it. Sheetrock, framing, general **** needs.
Get what you can afford and what feels good in your hand. Go to the depot and/or lowes and get a feel. If the price is too good to be true, it is and it is junk.....JUNK!!!
Most commons tools on our jobsites (150-200 people daily) the common tools are Dewalt, Rigid, Makita, Milwaukee and Bosch for the bulldogs and larger hammer drills. They wouldn't stick be them if they were junk.

Festool

Have the hepa vacs on site hooked to our chop boxes. Although they are great, the price is outrageous. Not everyone has "FACE" money

audiocr381ve

Brought home a DeWalt

nooshinjohn

looks purdy.:cheesygrin: Don't go tellin' the GdB though... he might go off on one of his loony-bin fits.

audiocr381ve

nooshinjohn wrote: »

looks purdy.:cheesygrin: Don't go tellin' the GdB though... he might go off on one of his loony-bin fits.

Thanks! Lowe's had a pretty decent deal on the kit too from Fathers Day

Upstatemax

I picked this set up:

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware-Power-Tools-Combo-Kits/h_d1/N-5yc1vZc2ec/R-202951723/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

They are both awesome and have been able to handle anything I can throw at them.

sucks2beme

I have been thinking about my next drill. The Dewalt hammer I got works ok, but 2 of my 4
batteries bit it, and the other two seem to be loosing runtime. Given the price of batteries, time for
a new set. As far as corded goes, I bought a Bosch drill/hammer drill for $10 at a pawn shop.
The drill had been dropped in a container of paint, and the chuck was rusted up. I cleaned it up,
soaked the chuck in wd40 overnight. It's been running for 10 years now. And boy, does it ever
eat holes in concrete. It works great as a drill even with big hole saws. Best $10 spot I ever spent.

Upstatemax

sucks2beme wrote: »

I have been thinking about my next drill. The Dewalt hammer I got works ok, but 2 of my 4
batteries bit it, and the other two seem to be loosing runtime. Given the price of batteries, time for
a new set. As far as corded goes, I bought a Bosch drill/hammer drill for $10 at a pawn shop.
The drill had been dropped in a container of paint, and the chuck was rusted up. I cleaned it up,
soaked the chuck in wd40 overnight. It's been running for 10 years now. And boy, does it ever
eat holes in concrete. It works great as a drill even with big hole saws. Best $10 spot I ever spent.

My father and I have been running the set I picked up through its paces (He is a contractor) and he loves the drills I picked up. He also has been running DeWalt for nearly 10yrs and his batteries also seem to have bit the dust.

The DeWalt XRP drills he has been running still run strong as hell, just die too fast now and compaired to new drills they weigh a lot. So he plans to pick up the same set I did now that he has had some quality time with them.

gudnoyez

My 18 volt Hitachi driver/hammer drill has never given me a problem.

gdb

Good luck with em !

jbooker82

Here you go.

Jstas

jbooker82 wrote: »

Here you go.

I have that same drill as well as one that is much older in my basement right now.

jbooker82

Jstas wrote: »

I have that same drill as well as one that is much older in my basement right now.

Yep it is only as crappy as the battery that runs it.

JimKellyfan

I hear Dewalts are good, but they are pricey as well. Lowe's usually has good sales on these. Personally, saving money, I go with the Craftsman 19.2 and litium ion, as it has a battery meter on the lithiums and they are lighter and better batteries. I have a few drills actually probably way too many. (right angle, and two basic drills and two impacts) I have a couple corded, but for the 19.2, I have the 3/8 and 1/2 inchers, but I also found the 1/4 impact driver more suited for most of my needs. I also have the 1/2 inch impact hammer as well. But, I am in the automotive field, so I use my drills and impacts on cars. But, using the 1/4 inch, that would have been better when I was doing my deck and shed. I would consider the duty you plan on to determine the quality, weight and money to spend. Also the voltage as well, and any compatable tools available. Me, if Dewalt had the radio they sell capable of using their new 20 volt set up, I was going to go with them. But, too new, I guess. Also the Dewalts were more money. For quality, say in the 1/2 inch impact hammer for cars, Snap On has most of them beat with a 400 foot pound cordless, but, it costs 3 times as much as Craftsmans 200 foot pound model. I built a deck and a shed with my Craftsman staple drill (my first 19.2) and still have it, it has a slight wobble but works fine still. So, for severe duty like that, maybe two drills would have been ideal to let one cool off some. The other thing was I believe the impact driver would have done a better job for the heavy tasks. Good luck in your quest. Battery life and weight are factors you want to consider before commiting.