*
After looking at some archives on the discussions of drills, it seems that most would prefer the Milwaukee. I am looking to buy a cordless drill, one with more than one speed. Im pretty small, so the extra strength is too much for me all the time. Im debating a dewalt, or a makita… but honestly Im up for any input on all!
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
The "She Build" initiative is empowering women in Seattle, WA by ensuring they have safe, healthy homes.
Featured Video
SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than BeforeHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
What I do is go hold them in my hand and buy the one that feels the best, or the one that looks coolest.
*Debi, I'd (kinda) agree with Lonecat. Hold 'em, hug 'em, and buy the one that's most comfortable for you.From what I read in your post, I'm guessing you're not a pro (neither am I), and this won't be a continuous use item. That being the case, durability should not be that big an issue. In other words, just about any major brand is going to probably last well enough. I will get castrated for saying that, but DeWalt vs. Makita vs. Milwaukee vs. Bosch vs. whatever isn't going to blow up unless you really stress it out, the way a contractor does, or you're abusing it.So, I would advise you get a basic contractor 'class' drill, but, a better homeowner model would probably be sufficient. (To my way of thinking, tool vs. toy, but with apologies to Mike Smith, 'Whadda I know?') You say you don't want one too powerful, but try to imagine the toughest task you're going to do with it. Then try to match a drill to that purpose, and buy the next most powerful. Personally, I have a Craftsman 'Industrial' 14.4v model. (I'll get castrated for blaspheming and saying the C word, too ;)) It has tackled everything I have ever asked it too without fail, except of course when I forgot to charge the backup battery... I will kiss the inventor who comes up with the self-charging battery.Good luck!
*Makita 6095.
*I have three makita cordless drills--a 9.6v(6095D), a 12v (6011DWE), and a 12v (6213D). Obviously, I feel these are the best quality cordless drills ever made. Heck, even NASA thinks so--they took one on a space mission (the same 6213D I own!) you can't beat that.
*Wow! NASA knocked on your door and asked to borrow your drill? You're even more reknowned than I thought. LOL!Sorry, I couldn't resist...
*I use the Makita 14.4. Varible speed and nicely balance with the battery. If you are looking...comfortweight2 batteries keyless chuckcool colors (I prefer blue)casePeace,Martin
*DeWalt 18 volt cordless. Comfortable, great ballance, good power, adjustable racheting, batteries last forever...and they make a whole line of other tools that take the same battery if you ever decide to expand your tool collection. Hard to beat.
*Probably the next drill I'll buy, I've used it and I LIKE/LOVE it. But, I was trying to be objective.
*I bought the Makita when it first came out. It was the only one at the time. Worked great. But it seems that the battery packs in other brands hold a charge longer than Makita. I can not use my Milwaukee for a few days or even weeks and the battery still has power. The Makita seems to drain when not in use. My wife bought me a new Makita when the other one was stolen (bless her heart) and I keep it at home in the garage with a battery in the charger at all times.Ed. Williams
*When you met your true love, were you "objective" about her? Well tools are just the same as that. There's no objectivity about it, you just fall for 'em. It's ok, really. You're not alone. HI, MY NAME'S JIM. AND I'M A TOOL JUNKIE!
*Hi Jim, you're not alone. Please sit down and tell us your story :) Have to second the vote for the DeWalt 18v. Have it, love it, use it all the time.Later. LJ
*I love my 18v DeWalt, but... I just spent 2 days retrofitting drawer glides and hardware in an old house. At the end of the day that big yellow boy felt like a bowling ball. It was getting hard to hold steady and hit some of those small holes.I am thinking about buying a small, light 12v just to do stuff like hardware and other jobs where space is tight. Don't need all that 18v torque on some jobs,either.Am I nuts, a tool junkie just looking for a buzz, or what?
*Speaking (?) as someone who hasn't yet seen the light and converted to cordless electric tools I have to ask - isn't a drill with a wire coming out the end of it that plugs into the wall lighter and more powerful and more convenient about 70 per cent of the time?
*no.
*b TVMDCDeWalt 18v for heavier work.DeWalt 14v for light and medium work.But you should check out the Milwaukee Cordless: Metal keyless check, great balance, battery fits on the handle both forwards and backwards. They are made by AEG in Germany and are really cool! As much as I love the DeWalts, I suggest you also check out Milwaukee.
*Wow, for the longest while I thought I was only one.
*Makita's are blue.DeWalt is yellow.Milwaukee is red.Sears [Craftsman] and Panasonic are black.I think Hitachi makes green tools.Don't know of any current manufacturers of orange or purple tools. [I have an old Black & Decker orange 3/8" drill w/o reverse.]Why doesn't anyone make purple tools?
*Ron:A second for JB's "no" - Some of us spend 70% of our time working in places where live electrical outlets arn't readily available, as the electricity is often the last thing to get turned on a house under construction. So, ya have your temp power pole, and if there's more than 1 guy at the site ya got 4 cords hanging off it, a bunch of splitters and still the guy shows up with "would you mind if I plug my 5 hp compressor into your cord?". And, who want's to mess around with cords on scaffolding or on the roof? And even if there is plugs available, who want's to hastle with extension cords?So ya carry 2 drills - the battery one that you use 70% of the time, and the HD corded Milwalkee for the jobs that take some real !!power!!And the keyless chucks are a dream.(yea I know some corded drills come with em too).I'm thinking that one of these days corded power tools will be few and far between (probably not in my (working) lifetime though). And I'm still waiting for my laser miter box that instantly cuts shoe molding, paver bricks, and I-beams with .0001" accuracy and no dust!
*Jim, no, I am not entirely objective. I too am a tool junkie. I was trying to help Debi to find a true love of her own, and if possible avoid becoming a junkie herself. It's too expensive a habit (for this DIY, anyway). I (almost) wish I were in construction so I could more readily justify buying new toys, er, tools. Peter, you forgot PC = grey (or gray). I think I'll start making brown tools. That way, when Adirondack Jack complains about yellow crap by the stream, he can have some more 'regular' crap to complain about... ;)
*The 12volt Panasonic drills are a nice balance between power and weight, and with the new line of nickle/metal hydride batteries out there the old nickle/cadmium sets are being closed out cheap. I got a 12volt drill, 5 3/8" cordless saw, 15 minute charger, 2 batteries and a case all for $219 at Menards in Minnesota. If you want more power, the Panasonic 15.6 nickle/metal hydride is a great drill for about $180
*Can someone tell me why NASA need a drill for their space mission? What for? How many drill/driver bits do they take? Extra chargers and batteries? A corded one for backup? Or is this the backup? What else do they bring? A sawzall? A router? I think a SCMS is a must. Everything is possible now. If a toilet seat costs them $100, their tool box probably worth a million. No wonder!
*Mebbe on a satellite repair mission? I dunno know...
*Can the astronaut operates the drill with their thick gloves on? Will the battery work below zero degree and above 100? Do they charge the battery with 120V AC inside the spaceship? Do they have 120V? 240?
*Boy, this is exciting! I think the reply button is going to work!Matt, you're right, of course. I'm a renovator. I haven't built a house in almost two years. There's always electricity where I work.Ron
*The Makita and Dewalt brands are less expensive than the Milwaukee brand so far as I have seen. I buy Milwaukee and like their products, always have. I like the feel and handling of their cordless drills, there is plenty of torque and lasting power for big driving jobs. If your small in height, that is a big consideration and I'd shop around and test the weight and feel for what your're interested in. I'd go with Milwaukee, but that depends upon your budget too, at the very least I'd stay away from the no name brands or those that are offered at Harbor Freight.
*i didn't read all this- just wanted to say- DRILLS BORE ME!i'll be here all week
*man have I got drills! three milwakees ,a porter cable and a makita and a dewalt. I have had one of the milldoggy's for twenty years-road hard and put to bed wet all too often.get a dewalt cordless with a clutch- great tool. pick your voltage...if it is too heavy hire a sherper...
*Dewalt 14.4 with clutch and hammer drill -- nice tool, less expensive (though far from cheap!)But find something that feels comfortable, so you'll use it all the time. Consider your needs first. Power is proportionnal to voltage -- maybe one of the consumer-grade 9.6V is all you need. A good tool for odd jobs, where you're always 7' from the power with a 6' cord.Cordless is absolutely fantastic. Too bad they don't come with fusion power cells or something.
*I'd second this: the 12v. Panasonic. It fits in my hand, and the fwd/reverse control falls under my finger/thumb - it's the best laid out tool I've ever owned - FOR ME.
*Makita really started the cordless craze...This tool junkie has owned their whole 9.6v line of tools now for fifteen years or so...I have a large tool box overflowing with Makita...That volatage is plenty strong or go with 12 volts for your lite set up...I do own Dewalt 18volt stuff...the whole set, 'cause the price was right...I wanted the Milwaukie 1/2" angle drill and sawzall but now that all are going 24 volt, the big tools are looking useful. A 24 volt circle saw for pickup "quicky" jobs, along with the big hammer drill and sawzall....Panasonic actually makes by far the most precision drills in the cordless world...I don't own them as my theory was always have interchangeable batteries and chargers....May toss the theory some day...Dewalt stuff is super till it breaks and my stuff has broken often when pushed hard....In all the Makita I have owned, only one switch went bad and I got lucky and fixed it myself one night for fun.It's all good stuff if ya don't push the hell out of it...near the cordless jungle and trickle charging stream,aj
*Well, you can get my email addy. Drop a line, gimme a fair price on the "yellow crap by the stream" you don't want and I'll even drive up to pick it up. First time I've heard you compliment DeWalt, AJ! :)
*Well Pita, you are right!...My DeWalt 18v drill is now working well and doing major mixing of tennis coatings for us...I still can't believe that the tool repair rep. scolded me for dropping it to cause the switch to malfunction...We use it, and way less than fifteen years worth like the Makitas and the Makitas held up way longer...That's my experience...and I never saw the DeWalt dropped in a big way and the tiny little dent that stopped the two speed switch from going into full 2 position had to be seen with bright light, reading glasses and the rep pointing at it with a jewelers file.DeWalt is staying put unless you got the bucks to haul it off...near the stream, learning to like the DeWalt but not more than others,ajDa Yellow DeCrap is daworking betta near da stream! ha ha with ya, Mr. Pita!
*I've gotten lots of use out of a 12-volt and 18-voltDeWalt cordless.Can't remember the last time I picked up a corded drill. (Have several Makitas in the tool chest.)
*Jack, If you ever feel the urge for a new cordless drill - I say urge as it sounds like an actual need will not come along any time soon, you should give up the interchangeable battery theory and buy a Panasonic. You will not regret it. Know what you mean about those old Makitas though. I also have a 9.6 volt that I got in 1988 that runs fine to this day. Worked so well it kept me from owning anything new until I broke down about a year ago and got the 12v Panasonic. Hard to believe they can pack that much power in such a small light weight case, and only 15 minutes to recharge.
*I own 3 cordless drills- 9.6v Makita, 12v Porter-Cable, and a 14.4v Black & Decker drill-driver/hammerdrill. If I could only have one of the three itwould be the 9.6v Makita. This drill has been inthe Makita lineup virtually unchanged ever since itfirst came out. Makita has since introduced many other cordless drills of all voltages but have seenfit to leave this one in the lineup without tinkeringwith it.
*Dewalt and Makita's are good tools, I don't own any of their cordless tool but own and use some of their tools. Dewalt's are heavier than Makita's if weight is a problem to you. Panasonic also seems a good buy, but I haven't own, used or even seen one from where I live, most of the reviews by users highly rate the Panasonic. I have a few Black and Decker Cordless drill, but the tools are for light duty only, I used only for very small screws and to open Computers and alike. I do also own 12v Cordless drills from Atlas Copco and Metabo. They are the ones I used heavily and works excellently for me.
*
After looking at some archives on the discussions of drills, it seems that most would prefer the Milwaukee. I am looking to buy a cordless drill, one with more than one speed. Im pretty small, so the extra strength is too much for me all the time. Im debating a dewalt, or a makita... but honestly Im up for any input on all!