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Author Topic: Opinions on battery powered drills?  (Read 14866 times)

W. Mark Hellinger

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Re: Opinions on battery powered drills?
« Reply #20 on: October 22, 2007, 10:55:51 PM »

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Mike Butler (media)

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Re: Opinions on battery powered drills?
« Reply #21 on: October 22, 2007, 11:32:42 PM »

DeWalt=Black & Decker makes about as much sense as GMC Truck=Chevy Cavalier. Sure, same company. Speaking of same companies, the pro audio industry seems to be controlled by about 3 companies. Does that mean all their products are the same?

For the record, my DeWalt cordless drill has been rockin' for the past 13 years--on the original batteries! And I can't say I have ever babied it, it is my most used tool, that includes outdoors, being dropped countless times. It was even submerged once (not recommended), I blew it out with compressed air and WD-40. That was about 7 years ago. And I haven't been dissatisfied or regretted any of the other DeWalt tools I have gotten.

Other brands I have liked: Porter-Cable router, Bosch sanders, Milwaukee circular saw. I still have an ancient Makita 9-volt drill that still works fine and you can still get batteries for. And an old Crapsman table saw, which while it is no Delta has been 100% reliable for over 25 years.

But I wouldn't own another Skil tool if you paid me, I never had a single one that wasn't a complete P.O.S.--but they didn't make my life miserable forever, eventually they inevtiably blew up so I could throw them away and buy a real tool.

Of course, this is like the perennial Ford vs. GM, Yankees vs. Red Sox, Hog vs. Riceburner debates we have all seen for so long. Nevermind Republican vs. Democrat. Smile
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Mike Butler (media)

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Re: Opinions on battery powered drills?
« Reply #22 on: October 22, 2007, 11:35:27 PM »

W. Mark Hellinger wrote on Mon, 22 October 2007 22:55

...I had a Dewalt jigsaw that absolutely wouldn't cut a straight line... from day one...

Ummmm, and you didn't return it???? Now, whose fault is that?
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Scott Deeter

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Re: Opinions on battery powered drills?
« Reply #23 on: October 23, 2007, 12:04:02 AM »

W. Mark Hellinger wrote on Mon, 22 October 2007 22:55

I had a Dewalt jigsaw that absolutely wouldn't cut a straight line... from day one.

Choice of the right power drill/screw driver depends on what you're fixin to do.


With these 2 lines here, I'm wondering if the JIGsaw was the correct tool for the straight line cut. Rolling Eyes  How long are these lines that it wouldn't cut straight for? My jigsaw normally follows the line I marked and if it doesn't, this is due to the operator. If it's a lonnnnng straight line, I use a circular saw. As when I'm fixin to cut a long straight line that is. Razz  

Mark, was this meant to be funny Very Happy
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Kemper Watson

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Re: Opinions on battery powered drills?
« Reply #24 on: October 23, 2007, 12:24:13 AM »

I've used quite a few cordless drills when they first came out. DeWalt quickly rose to the top for taking severe abuse and almost never having a problem. In fact the only thing I've ever returned by DeWalt was a sawzall that the keyless blade lock broke on. Took it back and it was replaced with no questions asked. My ten year old 18 volt has survived being submerged, dropped from a 12 ft ladder and dropped from the ceiling of an unfinished house. I've had more drills stolen than lost to failure...
Edit: added last line
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W. Mark Hellinger

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Re: Opinions on battery powered drills?
« Reply #25 on: October 23, 2007, 12:29:00 AM »

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E. Lee Dickinson

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Re: Opinions on battery powered drills?
« Reply #26 on: October 23, 2007, 12:34:08 AM »

Mike Butler (media) wrote on Mon, 22 October 2007 23:32

Ford vs. GM,


Toyota, thanks. Smile
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E. Lee Dickinson
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Scott Deeter

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Re: Opinions on battery powered drills?
« Reply #27 on: October 23, 2007, 01:11:27 AM »

W. Mark Hellinger wrote on Tue, 23 October 2007 00:29

Scott Deeter wrote on Mon, 22 October 2007 21:04

W. Mark Hellinger wrote on Mon, 22 October 2007 22:55

I had a Dewalt jigsaw that absolutely wouldn't cut a straight line... from day one.

Choice of the right power drill/screw driver depends on what you're fixin to do.


With these 2 lines here, I'm wondering if the JIGsaw was the correct tool for the straight line cut. Rolling Eyes  How long are these lines that it wouldn't cut straight for? My jigsaw normally follows the line I marked and if it doesn't, this is due to the operator. If it's a lonnnnng straight line, I use a circular saw. As when I'm fixin to cut a long straight line that is. Razz  

Mark, was this meant to be funny Very Happy



I had to run the saw about 30 degrees cocked to the right to get it to cut straight ahead... about 1/4" into the cut.  The the blade would angle about 30 degrees beveled on the cut after about 1/4" in. After about 2" into a cut on a 1/2" piece of plywood the blade would be beveled at about 45 deg and I'd be holding it at about 45 deg to cut straight.  By 3" into the cut either the blade would be smoking or broken.


OMG Laughing  this seems like an episode with Tim "the tool man" Allen with a saw that does cut straight.
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Lee Patzius

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Re: Opinions on battery powered drills?
« Reply #28 on: October 23, 2007, 01:21:30 AM »

Milwaukee cordless 18V with 1/2" drive and hammer drive function.

It's been my personal favorite for over 7 years solid. After years of borrowing the shop's drill, I finally broke down and bought my own approx 1-1/2 years ago. $250.00 with a FREE Milwaukee/Rockford Fosgate boom box stereo included, that surprisingly kicks ass, even in a loud Ethanol Plant.

Go to Milwaukee site for FREE stereo deal.

I continuously cut, drill, and build electrical panels daily, including conduit and electrical gear installations, driving anchors and blasting holes in concrete, to boring 7/8" knockouts in stainless steel, this thing is a solid workhorse.

Batteries are brutal and powerful. They last for hours on repeated usage. Unbelievably, they charge in about an hour or so (like most brands).

All ergonomic trigger and reverse switching, for one handed operation in tight quarters, but be careful not to let the torque break your wrist.

The battery mounts both forward and reverse. Forward for center of gravity balance at the trigger finger, or reverse for clearing obstacles when needed.

On the down side, there are a couple of things... Just like any drill, it's only as good as the batteries. I had two batteries (out of 6) in seven years go bad. They either got dropped or banged up pretty good (from rotational torque getting away from me) but in both cases, the spot weld broke loose at one of the battery terminals. But the coolest thing is, the battery case unscrews and comes apart VERY easy, exposing the battery circuit for a quick scrape and resolder job. (Not a cheap disposable glue-jobbed battery case like most others.)

Also, my Milwaukee's "hammer function" is nothing like a real hammer function (as found on my Hilti hammer drill), it only has a ratcheting action, that hammers smaller holes in mortar or most concrete... Not good for the big boy jobs, like anchoring 1x6 threaded studs for 20 ton presses or anything like that.

For a REAL hammer function, you gotta have a piston drive that acts like a battering ram. My $500.00 Hilti on the other hand, drills and blasts through concrete like butter... But that's another post.

I own a contractor grade Dewalt cordless too, along with many cheapo's for around the house, and have all major brands at my disposal every day. But for cordless drills, I use no other than my Milwaukee on the job site.

Seriously.

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Lee Patzius

 

waldo [Casey Williams]

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Re: Opinions on battery powered drills?
« Reply #29 on: October 23, 2007, 05:26:49 AM »

Quote:

For a REAL hammer function, you gotta have a piston drive that acts like a battering ram. My $500.00 Hilti on the other hand, drills and blasts through concrete like butter... But that's another post.


Ahhh, Hilti rotohammer. Now that's a sweet ride!

waldo
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