I need a new cordless drill setup...

[slimpickens]

I know there is a lot of information regarding cordless drills/impact drivers in other threads on this here forum, but I just can't seem to get it! I've read that people seem to like Bosch, Panasonic, Makita and Milwaukee. I'm not any kind of brand loyalist -- I've got the Bosch 4000 table saw, Milwaukee orbital 360 sawzall, Makita 9.6v right angle drill (the old style), Bosch router, Rigid orbital sander, etc.

That said, I'd be willing to have just about any brand of tool in my truck. Except DeWalt.

I drive a lot of three inch screws, Simpson SDS screws, spade bits, etc. I own a corded Milwaukee Magnum for bigger stuff, but I wouldn't mind putting that thing and its cord away. (Yes, this is hopefully going somewhere) Do you all think I should get a kit with an impact driver and a drill driver? I love how small some of the drills have gotten over the past few years and it seems that Lithium-ion batteries are the way to go... I just don't want to be underpowered and I also don't want some huge honkin' tool that I don't need. Do you guys with impact drivers use them a lot? Do they take the place of your regular drivers? Do you use sub-compacts?

Sorry for asking questions that many of you might feel have been answered on the forums already, but I kind of need it boiled down for me.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks

[kreg McMahon]

jeff,

I use the impact drive all the time for driving screws and lags. I have the makita 18v set up, I have the blue one little larger. and the white and black set up.

either of the above would work great. milwaukee has a new lightweight 18 set up also, which I am sure it is great.

they are great plenty of power. usually at hd or lowes they have a kit with the impact and drill for around 270 or less I think.

the small 10.4 volts are good but not for driving 3" screws.

[m beezo]

I have one of the older Makita models that is 14 volt Nicad batteries. It is a drill and impact driver. It seems to do just about anything I want. Both will drive 3 inch screws. The impact has twisted off 3 inch screws for me or if you are not watching closely will bury them before you know it. I bought it to drive in some lags and was very impressed.

From what I know the 18 volt LiOn have a little more ump and the lighter weight. But until mine die I am fine with the 14. In fact the other day it was working longer and I felt better than the 18 volt Dewalt and Hitachi that were on the jobsite. Both of them were NiCad batteries and for overhead work they were unbearable.

One thing I would suggest is if you can make sure you can grab the unit you are thinking about buying and see how it feels in your hands. Maybe I have just gotten used to the heavier batteries but some of the LiOn tools just feel funny in my hands. I did not really like the smaller black and white Makita tools. Just seemed too small and did not fit my hand as well.

[tod evans]

for electric (ac and dc) drills i use milwaukee.

[Joining_heads]

I have Panasonic drills and Impact (NImh). The new Lion 14.4 Pannys look real nice, but until mine die I don't need them. Besides, I'm kinda partial to NImh batteries.

[joseph]

this is a question i would like to ask also - but i do not want to hear from the guy who has X brand thinks it's best ,never used another and loves the adds .
i do not care about how far it can be dropped .
i have had the milwaukee 14.4 for years .bought based on several reviews .have had many batteries rebuilt ,burnt out 4 motors .I believe the timber screws got the last two ,but the 1st one seemed more like miles caught up with it .Salesmen [like they know much] says bosch has a three piece motor .
makita guy claimed theres was made to handle way more torque. Is there a someone who has a knowledge on who has the strongest,longest lasting motor ? As for milwaukee I have could be the replacement motors are just lacking in quality though i have done several arbors in the last year .i would get the Milwaukee brand again .
years ago I had one of the first panasonics, That one was way more complicated inside then any others i have owned . I got a bigger battery for it then it came with .when pushed it would melt /blow the soldered wires off and i would go in and resolder them .but it was still turning when i replaced it.

[m beezo]

I feel a little more info on just what you are doing with a drill and impact might help in making suggestions. I have the 18 volt Bosch drill with the NiCad batteries. The thing is so heavy that I do not think I use it more than about once every 3 months. I would probably consider using a hand screw driver for just about any task that involved overhead work before I would grab this thing.

On the other hand when I need to drill out a door for a lock set it will do the job. Does seem that the batteries wear out pretty quickly even the one that is only a year old.

So if you are looking for one drill to do it all that is a harder choice. Or at least it is for me since that is more what I am wanting to have. Not 3 drills, one for each task. I give up a little power with the 14, give up some weight with the 14. But t seems to do the job I need to do.

[Kye GC]

IMO the perfect cordless setup:

Milwuakee V28 combo kit

Panasonic LiIon 14.4 impactor and drill (seperate units not the dual purpose one)

Bosch 10.8 LiIon for the delicate stuff.

The only thing lacking is the Radio. I had a V28 radio but it would get tired after a 1/2 hr and get a lot of static since new, it finally died last month. I bought a Ridgid because it has an ipod jack,(no need to keep up with an aux cord) but I don't have Ridgid batteries so I always have to have plug it in.

Anyway FWIW that's my .02

Kye

[Hickorywind]

http://allprotools.com/manufacturers...=423&dsefu=off
This is a good price. Excellent tools. Why the price? Maybe the Panasonic
21.6 li-ion will be out soon? In 14.4 they now have a rotary hammer drill,
circular saw, grinder, and jigsaw.

[Joining_heads]

http://allprotools.com/manufacturers...=423&dsefu=off
This is a good price. Excellent tools. Why the price? Maybe the Panasonic
21.6 li-ion will be out soon? In 14.4 they now have a rotary hammer drill,
circular saw, grinder, and jigsaw.

That's a great price

[Wngsprnt50]

I know I will probably be laughed at a bit, but for my money, my Craftsman 19.2 has been unbeatable. I have had it for 6 years with no problems, no bettery issues. It drives 3" all day and has lots of torque when needed. They definitely stepped up compared to previous versions and have not changed their setup in quite some time (original batteries still work with new equipment). They also recently made a lithium-ion battery to be used in the stuff that currently takes ni-cad. And the other stuff (saws, lites, nailer, etc.) can be bought without batteries, chargers, cases, etc. so you dont end up with 14 chargers and 21 batteries. So far, all the things i have gotten in this lineup (circular saw, jigsaw,brad nailer/stapler, light, sawsall, caulk gun) have performed very well.

FWIW

[Ray Dru]

I have 4 sets of Crafstman for the last 2 years. Not happy with them, have replaced all 4 recips, one saw and one drill. They are just not top quality, I was told by a salesman (don't know what his product knowledge is) they are not for professional use.

Ray D

[Loren97]

I've been brought up with Milwaulkee stuff and have the V18 system that has served me well. As much power as I've ever needed and it seems a lot lighter than the old NiCad batteries. One of my buddies has the new b/w mini Makita and it (impact) drives screws about as well as my red tool at about a third of the weight. It feels like a toy to me. I guess though that the reviews show mine would send lags home faster, but the little Mak has a MUCH better LED light setup....Milwaulkee needs to take note from them.

[Carapace79]

I have the Makita 18volt LXT kit, and I absolutely adore the impact driver. I use the drill very infrequently, mostly for boring doors. The impact driver has enough ooomph to pop the lug nuts loose on my Tundra pickup. I use it to drive 3" screws and lag screws all of the time, though very infrequently I'll run into a situation where I need something larger, so I resort to my 1/2" right angle drill, but I run into those maybe once or twice a year. I also like the Makita radio, and the batteries have been quite durable. I use them daily, the first set lasted nearly 2 1/2 years before the charger refused to charge them, and my retailer simply gave me new batteries, and the second set are going strong. I have also heard VERY good things about the 14.4volt Panasonic. If I had some extra cash sitting around (or a job on which I could justify it) I would pop for the Festool C12 drill with all of the chucks, but this would be IN ADDITION to an impact driver. Hope this helps!
---Tom

[Ray Dru]

ooooooooo A Tundra, you must be a quality contractor, had mine for 5 months now, greatest truck I have ever had, first truck that I am proud of.

Ray