Do tools ever…EVER…break when you don’t need them? Spent all day making railing parts for a job I’m desperately trying to get finished and while boring some big holes for some lags my 1/2 DeWalt corded drill just started spinning as though the chuck was unscrewed. Took it apart and the main spindle (driveshaft) coming of the gearbox is snapped! Don’t know how that’s possible (well, I do being a metallurgist’s son but anyway) being 1/2 thick but there ya have it.
Don’t have time or interest really in repairing this one (anyone want it?) since it doesn’t have VS which seems like it would be handy, so I need to buy a new one ASAP. Suggestions?
PaulB
Edited 10/24/2005 3:59 pm ET by PaulBinCT
Replies
I`ve had my 1/2" Milwaukee corded forever....and my 3/8" even longer.
Should either of them ever die, I wouldn`t consider replacing them with anything other.
Lemme get this straight....
YOU BANNED REZ?!?!
Holy bagels and lox Batman!
I've used/abused my 1/2 milwaukee for years. Mine is a hammer drill also, but it works just as well on the non hammer setting.
I inherited a milwaukee with bad switch, replaced the switch, and it is awesome. I would not buy any othe 1/2" drill, and boy does it have torque.
Sounds like I'll be buying a Milwaukee in the morning, thanks guys...
be careful--the guy at my local tool store told me that lately the milwaukees have not been as good as they once were. this was his response to my asking why there was a clearly broken milwaukee impact wrench on his counter waiting to be sent in. my electrician told me the same thing when i asked him about his newer hole-hawg--he said it's been in the shop twice in a few years, but the one he has from 15 years ago is still bomber.i don't really have an alternate recommendation for you, however. for what it's worth, i have a makita hammerdrill and like it. the bosch ones also get good reviews.
Have no experience with their impact wrenches...what model was it? ...my sawzall and drill has always been reliable and I'm very please with the 0616-24 but was surprised that it is manufactured in Czech Republic...no disrespect here...just surprised. Hope Milwaukee's quality continues within TTI's acquisition.
I have a Milwaukee 1/2" 18V Hammer Drill(Lok-Tor) and I use their 2-9/16" self feeding drill bits with it when I do a prewire for audio/video. It goes through sole plates, joists, studs and plywood like butter, unless there's a nail or a big knot in the way. It has been in the shop, but I don't baby it, either.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
Here's something telling about corded drills. My Milwaukee came with an extra set of brushes, they intend for it to be around for awhile.
#5370-1 bought in 1982 for $180. Still on that first set of brushes.
Bought a larger box for my 1/2" holeshooter...it out grew its original box (quik-lok cord, angle kit, drill index, hole saws and various bits)...used the "Magnum" box for my 14.4v 0616-24 cordless (an upgrade for the Makita 9.6v)...only time I've ever replaced an Milwaukee was when my ex sold one during a garage sale and I replaced that with a Bosch worm drive :)
rustbucket
Good call on the Milwaukee.
I bought a Makita 1500 9/16 hammer drill...Has variable speed. This is a very lightweight unit that lacks the torque to spin up a full batch of drywall mud. If it wasn't for the fact it does everything else I bought it for, I'd call it a POS.
Makita has a bigger unit, still cheaply priced, with a rotating D-handle, a bigger body, and more amps, but no hammer action. It spins up mud nicely enough, but it's certainly not a MIL Holeshooter.
costofwar.com/
I'll be the odd man out... got a Bosch 1/2" drill with a hammer setting, fantastic for driving augers, large spade bits, hole saws, plain-shank hammer drill bits, drilling thru steel up to four feet thick, chipping thru kryptonite boulders, breaking out of prison, etc.
lol, etc.
I've got a Bosch hammer drill too David, great tool.
One more vote for the Bosch. Great for thinset and grout. Side handle indexes nicely, and VS works great. Only problem is in hammer mode, the depth stop is a POS (use tape on the bit now), vibrates up, but otherwise, very pleased.
Although......still can't drill sideways between studs......maybe I should get a big red one as a "backup" hehehe.
I see clear justification for a Milwaukee right-angle drill for you! Tell your wife it's a safety issue... more able to control the dangerous torque of large bits with it.
Thanks, will show her your post.
OK, gotta be a contrarian here...
I always felt the Milwaukee was too nose-heavy; didn't like the balance. I have a DW 1/2" VSR that has been real solid - don't know if they make them that good any more :-(. One downside is that it only goes up to 850 RPM, which is not ideal for some kinds of drilling (e.g. Kreg recommends 3,000 RPM or so for their bits).
The DW is $30 less than the Milwaukee (Amazon, $99 vs. $129) and has 2.3 more amps (5.5 vs 7.8). Of course in the horsepower race many manufacturer specs are suspect, but I haven't been able to bog mine down yet, and I've basically abused the heck out of it.
Then I needed a hammer drill; ended up buying the Ridgid. It's made in Germany by AEG. Variable speed to 3000 RPM and variable torque. Seriously powerful @ 9 Amps. Downsides: heavy and the keyless chuck is pure junk - had to replace mine with a Jacobs keyed chuck & now I like it. Still end up reaching for the DW in most situations though.
Ridgid. It's made in Germany by AEG
AEG is nice stuff, some of it was repackaged as Milwaukee.
I inherited the 1/2" Milwaukee angle head 1/2" from my dad, who used it as one of his staple on-the-job tools for many years. I used it for building my house....it has driven 1,000 SDS screws into Simpson hold-downs, too-many-to-list holes through LVL's, double plates and double studs...all without a hitch. But were I to get one today, I think I'd make sure it has a clutch. Dam....those things can be torquie.....and if your hands happen to be gripping it ever so slightly in the wrong way, it'll have no problem rotating them and your arm into awkward positions that usually come with a certain amount of pain.
BruceM
Yeah... I shoulda boought one with a clutch ;) My brand new Milwaukee got away from me with morning already boring some real deep 1 1/2" holes with an extension bit. Holding it vertically, I lost my grip when it caught in the wood and lemme let ya, that handle smarts when it catches you with a roundhouse to the ear...
You guys know which makes-models have clutches?
Only one I know of is the Metabo, but that was a few years ago.costofwar.com/
Corded drills. I have the Bosch hammer drill, a superior tool. All the rest, straight & right angles are Milwaukee, an even more superior tool(s). I have an old half inch Milwaukee from about 1941, weighs a ton, one speed and one direction. I mix mud with it, but it really belongs in a museum.
So long as she`s workin`, she`s too good for a museum.
All in due time.
Lemme get this straight....
YOU BANNED REZ?!?!
Holy bagels and lox Batman!