For those of you who use one on a daily basis I am sure you have been through several different sizes and brands. I am in the market for a cordless drill and there are just too many to choose from. It is my understanding that there are actually only a handful of different outfits making them and that all the rest are re-badged to different brands (true?). I am not in a position that I will need it on a daily basis but I would like one that is built to handle that kind of workload. I want a 1/2" 18V or better (though open to suggestion). I had a 14V Ryobi that just died and it was OK but not up to the bigger jobs - - i.e... Drilling hard steel, turning large hole saws etc... What eventually wound up killing it was using it for a portable pump motor for pulling WVO from my collection barrel. Anyhow I just thought maybe some of you had some insight on this subject - preferably something that doesn't break the bank - -

 

I think dewalt is up 36v tools, and milwaukee is up to 28v tools, don't knoe how good they are though.

 

I'll tell ya, I was all about 'cordless' for years, now, I want a cord. It never fails, they either die or are dead when you need them. I have always used Dewalt (a fancy Black and Decker) and have an 18 volt that will twist your arm off. But, I think if I ever spend money on another drill, I'm buyin' a Hilti. I just bought a Hilti screw gun a while back and the quality is compared to none. They are expensive, but I have used no other screw gun that compares. I wouldn't use a Milwakee (or how ever you spell it) unless it was free. POS!

Call Tony at toolsunlimited and ask him about cordless drill specials. 1-800-537-1993 Tell him Jory in OK sent you and he'll save you some money. He just called me yesterday with a swinging good deal on Dewalt drills, if that is what you want. He has a lot of stuff. He has taken care of my father's body shop as far as tools for years.

 

I had a few cordless drills,all the name brands. By far the best drill i bought was a Panasonic 15.6 volt.

 

http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/to...roductID=15290

thats what i use almost on a daily basis for work, we hang alot of transformers so were always having to drill holes through thick angle iron for all thread supports n such, and that thing is always up to the task. i can vouch for it, i had 2 rigid brand cordless drills an 18 volt and a 14 volt. the 18v chuck got smoked after a few months (9 or so months) and the batter was shot, the 14v rigid drill i was using it to drill through some angle iron and well the motor started smoking and got really really hot, it never recovered so i pitched it and picked up a dewalt drill, its a lil on the heavy side but its good for what i need it for

 

thats the only thing i used my drill for, drilling through steel with a hole saw The dewalt did last for a while, but i burned up the chucks in them. It was abuse no doubt. Although my panasonic is taking the abuse

 

The latest Ryobi from Home Depot is the absolute best deal for the money. The one with the tapered chuck. It comes in a set with about six tools and they are all good.

Of course the batteries are the real final word on any battery tool, they have to be good or the rest doesn't matter. Some may have more power, like the 24 volt Milwaukee. Or a better reputation, like the Makita. But all of them have some weak link. Like the Panasonic. Very good chuck, quick charge, compact design. But when the battery gets weak it burns out the charger and the replacement cost of those two things is more than the whole set! The Makita never breaks but the batteries get weaker and weaker till it's frustrating. All of them are powerful enough to twist off a #10 screw. Some are so heavy that they are hard to handle in tight spaces. Again, the Ryobi is a very good compromise at a very reasonable price. And the skill saw and sawsall that come with it are good tools too. Just get the latest generation with the tapered chuck and the quick disconnect blade sawsall.

Wetspirit

 

I love my Bosch 18V

 

I used to be a Dewalt guy but now it's Hitachi all the way!

Check the weight as using a 18v + all day can get tiring!!

Rick

 

Love my Bosch 18V hammer drill

 

dewalt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Another for Bosch, a well balanced machine!

 

Panasonic??? Hitachi??? Where are you guys buying your drills, Best Buy??


Personally, Dewalt 18v for years now, rarely have I ever had a problem.

Tom

 

I've had and just about seen all corless drills in action.
I've had Portercables, Dewalts, milwalkee,bosch.mikita.etc
I currenty have a Milwalkee 14.4 and a 28v.
The 28 volt is bad *** it weighs about the same as a dewalt 18v with a lot more power. milwalkee is the best cordless drill out thats all we use at our shop of about 100 guys and we use them all day.I got my set wich came with saw zaw, circular saw,cordless hammer/drill, flashlight and 2 batteries ,for $465 on ebay.at home depot they are $730.

 

I have probably 15 cordless drills in my production shop and don't think there are many brands we haven't tried at one time or another. For years we had nothing but Makitas but they got where they would not honor their warrenties.
We pretty much now have all Milwalkee 18v and they are tough. we also have a few Porter Cables and they have proven to be real durable.