Hello all,
The all mighty Craftsman 14.4 Cordless is finally giving into its age, so I’m beginning to look at whats out there. The guys that I work with have raised some interesting concerns, and was curious as to what you guys thought.
Dewalt: everyone has them so you’d be donating batteries to everyone else, chargers don’t last.
Porter Cable: Charger doesn’t last, Drills burn up fast
Milwaukee: Battery changes hard to accomplish
Rigid: Poor Support
Bosch: Cheap design, Low speeds compared to other brands.
Are these legitimate concerns? I’m worried more about a quality company that will stand by their product, decent run time, and a high RPM and torque rating. I do a lot of side jobs involving framing, window install, deck building, etc. Does anyone have any experience using Hitachi’s new Cyber design cordless tools or the Makita Makstar system?
Thanks much, I appreciate the advice in advance.
Jeremy T. Johnson
Replies
Yur in the right folder.... And a gazillion threads on the subject..
Now start reading backwards on cordless tools by clicking on the folder's header bar and then as you go along pick the nevt 50 and then the next 50 and the next 50 and so on and so on.......
or get a Ryobie to replace that Crapsman... Same thing...
As far as your wishes and what you had to say about those other brands...
Lots of luck...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....
WOW!!! What a Ride!
My 14.4V DW is getting long in the tooth.
I've been thinking about getting the Hitachi 14.4V impact driver now and when the DW gives up the ghost buy the 14.4V drill. IMHO, the added torque of 18V drills is great, but the added weight (over the 14.4V) is a real drag.
Panasonic's stuff also looks good.
The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.
- Fyodor Dostoyevski
Depends on what you need. I think Bosch is making a nice line of cordless tools now. Would really like their cordless jig saw, and power planer. The circular saw and recip are alright, but I don't think they stand out above others. The drill that comes in the 18 volt kit is larger and heavier than I care for. But for getting a good collection of tools that all take the same battery - I think I would go Bosch.
I like 12volt Panasonic drills and 12volt Panasonic impact drivers - best power to weight ratio and by far the best batteries (3.5 amp hour nickle metal hydride). Wish they made a nice jig saw as well.
Thanks all for the suggestions so far. I think that I'm leaning toward a Makita, as I just saw on their web site that if you buy either a 12V or 14.4V Impact driver, they will give you a cordless free. I've been lusting after an impact driver, especially with a couple of deck projects coming up. And they offer a 6.5" circular saw in their 14.4 system. One of those would be nice for the occasional 2X4 that only needs to be trimmer.
Any thoughts and opinions on those?
Thanks Much,
Jeremy T. Johnson
Rumour has it Bosch is coming out with an impact driver very soon. THe have a kit with Drill, Light, Recip, Circular, Jig, couple batteries and a charger - all for around $500. Marathon tool has been offering this same kit, and throwing in a cordless planer all for $535.
Makita is nice stuff too. Still like Panasonic the best, but, it is by far the most limited line.
Regardless of whose you buy, you will be glad you got an impact driver - hardly even use my drills anymore.
Just to add my two cents worth, You won't regret a panasonic. I have the drill, the impact driver and a couple of flashlights. I love them all.
The power to weight ratio is great.
Karl
I have alot of 18v Dewalt tools. They work well but you are right about donating batteries. After losing a $75 battery I decided to take my stencil that I use on all my boxes and paint the bottom of my batteries. You cant miss my batteries now. I did burn out a charger in about 8 mos but I took it to the service center and got a new one no questions asked.
Several years ago Dewalt definitely had the best cordless stuff out there.
Today I'd have to say for a cordless drill, Panasonic is tops. First time I heard that I laughed.
"Panasonic?"
But now I be one o da converted...
i bought a ton of rigid tools just before xmas last year. got lifetime warrenties on everything. batteries.. .. the whole everything.
im pretty dang happy with their 18v drills.
that 18v circular saw.. you can use that for a boat anchor
Interesting post.
I bought the 4 piece Ridgid kit about the same time. I use the Circular saw a lot, the recip ocasionally and think the drill is an anchor. Course I have been spoiled by using Panasonic drills for the last five years or so.