Comments on: Selecting Your Next Cordless Drill

By: Simp

Simp — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:07:37 +0000

In your mention of batteries you say in your list nothing under $300 for Li-Ion. What about the: Makita DF330DW 10.8V Compact Li-Ion Cordless 3/8″ Driver-Drill Kit (includes 2 batteries)?

I know, for most its not going to be enough power (10.4v and 200 INLB) but its around $130 street. I’m just looking for something light and functional for home use and small projects. I want to buy into Li-Ion, but was looking for something closer to 12v (maybe 14 if I can justify it).

Has anyone had any hands on experience with it?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:52:19 +0000

Thanks for these details. knowing what the pros look for when buying a drill helps even a novice handyman.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:18:13 +0000

I know what many people think about the Ryobi small cordless drill but this drill has absolutely been super great for me. I mean I do everything with this little drill and it just keeps purring. I actually keep wondering how long it will keep going.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:02:07 +0000

Based on my experience with the Makita 18v Li-Ions, the power and light weight didn’t outweigh the extremely short life span and extremely high cost of the batteries. I have an ancient Panasonic 9.6v Nicd - 15 years old or so. The batteries have been replaced of course but works fine. I have a Makita 12 V NiMH - works fine.

I’m a gadget hound so I really wanted those Li-Ions to work. I gave up on on those high cost Li-Ions and Ni-MH and bought a CHEAP Ryobi 18v NiCd kit. I still need to get an impact driver to round out the Ryobi kit.

By: Allan

Allan — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:15:52 +0000

Stay away from the craftsman 19.2 volt drills !! I bought a package deal from Sears a little over a year ago,, and while driving some 2 1/2 inch drywall screws,, the clutch let loose !!! I am just your average “joe” homeowner,, have been using the tools to work on house repairs,, and now I have to purchase a new cordless drill !! Sears told me there was nothing they could do since it was out of warrenty,,, I told them with that kind of commitment & quality,,, I’d just buy my electrical power tools from Harbor Frieght from now on !!

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:20:54 +0000

Paul, you might want to look into a cordless Dremel. A huge amount of torque certainly isn’t a concern with tiny drill bits like that, and it’s likely that the chuck in most cordless drills will be too big to handle bits that small.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:01:18 +0000

I want a cordless drill which will handle minature drills from 0.3mm so what should I look for?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:18:54 +0000

I have had a Craftsman 19.2v cordless drill for a few years now. It works good, but like everyone says - the batteries are short-lived.
If I were to go and purchase a new drill (which I may have to do soon), my first choice would be a drill with a LIFETIME BATTERY WARRANTY.
I have heard of a few brands that provide this, one being Ridgid.
A few extra dollars for a lifetime of replacement batteries - count me in!

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:47:57 +0000

For some interesting cordless drill reviews visit CordlessDrillWorld.com

By: Brad L

Brad L — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 02:24:41 +0000

I too bought the Craftsman 19.2v about a year ago with the so-called Ex batteries for “extended life”. Turns out that the batteries for this unit are notorious for a very short life span. The drill itself is great; the batteries are terrible. I would not buy this drill if I had to do it over again.

By: Rabbit Fufu

Rabbit Fufu — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 01:31:34 +0000

It would be nice to have complete data on the amperage of these batteries. Amperage equates to the quantiy of power a battery stores, different than voltage. Perhaps as important as anything with NiCad is the quality of the charging system. How much smart logic and cooling is built into the charger?

I happen to be looking at replacing my 12v Dewalt batteries and am stumped on which charger to buy. Dewalt sells a 1 hour ’smart’ charge, a 3 stage charger and at the high end a fan cooled charger. Based on Dewalts limited information it is unclear which of these 3 competing chargers would be my best choice.

Additionaly I have not seen any information on knock off batteries. Do I really need to buy a Dewalt brand battery as a replacement for my Dewalt 12v drill?

By: Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Carl Golden’s Afraid of Home Depot

Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Carl Golden’s Afraid of Home Depot — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 18:26:28 +0000

[...] One thing I do agree with Carl about: “The power-tool section is particularly bewildering. The selection is so vast that I can’t understand how anyone could possibly choose the proper one.” Well, Carl, we’re here to help. If you get a chance, check out our guide to selecting your next cordless drill. And, in late January check out our Ultimate Drill Test where we’re putting together a massive test of dozens of the market’s most common drills. [...]

By: Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Finds: Craftsman 19.2V Drill/Driver w/LED Light

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 17:26:00 +0000

[...] I picked up one of these a while back when my previous (really cheap) drill/driver gave up the ghost. I was on an extremely tight budget, so I did some serious shopping, which lead to our “Selecting Your Next Cordless Drill” post, and sort of the beginning of Toolmonger. (I know, I know — that post needs an update, and I promise one before Christmas, ok?) [...]

By: Ruben

Ruben — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 01:34:14 +0000

LiIon is definitely the way to go. Ridgid seems to have the best deal - lifetime on everything including the batteries! If your livelihood depends on your tools, or you just love a good investment, then thie Ridgid combo is for you. Just think, for the next 10 years you’ll never have to buy another power tool combo or batteries again!

From what Philip Iadevaia lays out, I think the Ridgid combo fits perfectly into his criteria. I’m saving up for mine now!

Also, yeah, this article rocks!!! I’m an information monger and this is like a dream come true. Thank you Toolmonger!

By: Philip A. Iadevaia

Philip A. Iadevaia — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 22:50:12 +0000

For electricians, here’s the criteria for selecting a combo kit:

(1) ease of use: not too heavy vs. torque and speed for metal drilling and hole-sawing.

(2) performance in the field: battery life vs. charge time (Li-Ion batteries are the ones to go with!)

(3) affordability: cost vs. versitility. In other words, if your tools make the work easier, the sooner they’ll pay for themselves in time saved and labor expended. (If you’ve ever drilled concrete or stucco with a drill/driver instead of a hammerdrill, you’ll know what I mean. And boring a hole through a top-plate in a 180 degree attic with a tool that has the power of a hole-hawg or a 5.5 or 8.0 amp magnum would be nice without humping a cord along with you.

By: Philip A. Iadevaia

Philip A. Iadevaia — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 22:29:32 +0000

I am shopping for a combo kit, and like a kid whose eyes glaze over at the sight of Lincoln Logs, or a teen with his glazed eyes drooling over an X-Box, I pine for the 4 and 6 tool combo kits at the displays in Home Depot. The Marina Del Rey, CA HD has a display case featuring DeWalt, Milwaulkee, Ridgid and Makita.

Since I am an electrician, the drill must have the hammer feature, and this is almost universal in all the kits by all manufacturers. But I don’t need THAT much power, only enough that I don’t have to haul a Hole-Hawg 60 feet under a house to bore one hole for new outlet. (Yet, I’d like enough power to bore a two-inch hole through a double 2×4.)

My Makita 12v is great (just need a new battery), but it lacks the hammerdrill. So, with the combo kit, I can cut pipe, unistrut and drill concrete and stucco.

I’m leaning toward DeWalt, because it’s 18v XRP drilled 18 anchor holes in reinforced concrete (parking structure concrete, which is harder than impossible), and still had ample juice to spare. The 36v is lean and mean, but too much money. Milwaulkee’s 28v monster is a dream to handle and fits my hands better than DeWalt’s, and the Ridgid 24v comes with a lifetime free parts and service agreement. So which one should I go with is a quagmire, and I am kind of stuck.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 23:19:04 +0000

Fun to stumble across this. My new drill, Tikka, comes up near the top in power (and price!) That’s why I bought it! Reassuring…

Matthew

By: Toolmonger » Blog Archive » PowerBlade Drill-Powered Cable Cutter - all tools, all the time.

Tue, 23 May 2006 22:36:27 +0000

[...] The minimum requirement for this cutting attachment is a 12 volt drill system when using it with a cordless drill. (You can use it with corded drills as well.) However, as we have found in our cordless drill comparison article, not all cordless drills are created equal. So your results may vary with lower torque drills. [...]

By: Mombian: Sustenance for Lesbian Moms » Blog Archive » Cordless Drill Review

Sat, 20 May 2006 18:36:03 +0000

[...] Toolmonger has a detailed post on Selecting Your Next Cordless Drill. Whether you need a drill for an upcoming project, or just for your sweetie’s birthday, you’ll find lots of information here. Voltage, battery type, torque—it’s all covered. (Thanks to MAKE for the tip.) by D | posted in In the Workshop, Essential Tools [...]