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I’ve had a Bosch 12V for 6 yrs now and would buy another. The Bosch, like most cordless drills, howevever are prone to clutch burn-out if you don’t positively set low/high. I’ve seen many (all brands) succumb to this if the low/high is somewhere in between.
Good luck w/your purchase. All brands, I think, in the $150. -$250. range will do the job.
14-0
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I've used my Panasonic almost everyday for five years now and the battery is just now starting to fade. I find the balance is good, it has lots of power right to the end of it's charge, it recharges over coffee break and it is smaller than most others. I threw the pig plastic case away and made a more useful case. (Why do manufacturers make such useless cases... all plastic and no useful space. Milwaukee makes the only useful drill case I know) Any way I recommend the Panasonic. I still use the batteries and accesories for my old 7.2 volt Makita (flashlight)and found one at a garage sale. It now does good work around the bench at home.
*Scooter,I started out in carpentry about 2 years ago. After using an older drill and wanting to purchase, last summer I did a review and handled all the drills extensively. I seem to choose things that fit in my hand well and I know I will have to use a lot. I chose Porter Cables 14.4 and I like it a lot. The charge lasts a long time and its got just enough power. It doesn't have an exciting color--grey but it works!
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After 10 years of faithfull use, my Makita 9.6v driver drill crapped out. I will need to pick a substitute very soon, and wonder what everyone's preference is now.
I like Makita simply because the batteries ran a whole plethora of tools, like the drill, flashlite, saw, etc.
The only two I see with those features seem to be the DeWalt 18v, which has a bunch of accessories; and the Porter Cable 19.2, which seems to have only two, the drill and a saw.
So what are your preferences in a driver drill?
*Q: Aren't the high-voltage battery tools kinda heavy, and the batteries short-lived?Still like the DeWalt 14.4V drill/hammer y'all talked me into a couplem years ago.
*Scooter/andrew, I like my Makita 18v Drill/Circ saw/lite set a lot. Has the new Ni-Mh batteries, they charge fast. To me, the 18v was a good compromise between power and weight. You usually can't go wrong with Makita.jim
*I've had a Bosch 12V for 6 yrs now and would buy another. The Bosch, like most cordless drills, howevever are prone to clutch burn-out if you don't positively set low/high. I've seen many (all brands) succumb to this if the low/high is somewhere in between.Good luck w/your purchase. All brands, I think, in the $150. -$250. range will do the job.14-0
*Scooter:When I was in your position about a year ago I "test drove" several drills on site and felt that the 19 v ones were a little heavy/bulky for all day use. I opted for a 14v Dewalt drill/driver and have been very happy with it. I also got a circular saw and flashlight that uses the same batteries, and I believe that there is a hammer drill, reciprocating saw and right angle drill that are compatible.Here is a JLC tool test article 14.4- Volt Cordless Drills from a few issues back. Check it out.Here is a Fine Home building tool test article The New Generation of 12-Volt Cordless Drills, although I think it is a couple of years old.And here are some links from the b BT Tools subfolder: DeWalt 18V Cordless Driver/Hammerdrill......Problems? Cordless drill/driver Makita 18volt drill/trim saw users yet? Porter Cable Cordless Drills Panisonic Predator Drill & Saw combo pack Repair DeWalt 12v Cordless Drill? Experiences with Porter Cable 14.4 V Cordless Drill Drivers?I could'a given you a bunch more if I had used the b BT search function, but I kinda figured the 100+ articles and posts that are accessible from the above links should be enough info for just about anybody who is shopping for a cordless drill/driver.
*Yellow tools suck....Really I feel like an idiot for buying anything yellow after owning Makita tools that almost never failed me and never failed me without at least using the crap out of them....Selling my yellow tools near the stream,ajMy 18v yellow tool clutch crapped out in three months and the speed change button started freezing up after two months of frequent use.One thing good I can add...the weight wasn't as big a deal as I thought it would be...Best plan...Go huge and small (the best of both worlds.)
*Scooter I have a love/hate relationship with this topic !!I work in the film industry (building sets) which is very dependant on c'less tools. My carps wear a c'less like a hammer and the most comfortable/adequate tool is the 14 V. But what do you intend to use it for ? We have both the 19 V grey saw/drill kit and Numerous 18 V yellow saw/ drill kits. The grey one is in the shop being repaired and as I say we have numerous yellow ones. I guess what I am trying to say is that if you need a drill and will use it alot, especially in a holster , buy a 14v.If you want the other tools (saws etc.) buy a yellow 18. Hope this helps RF
*Scooter,1) I agree with adirondack jack, yellow's not all its cracked up to be. not as robust as some.2) No complaints about the Makita, the 18v drill is about as good as it gets... they'vee got a new 14v II think) drill/driver which excels at driving screws... a little trick the Makita rep showed me.3) The Panasonic 15.6v is in the same category as the Makita... maybe nicer, AND; 4) Don't take this as a recommendation, but I just bought a Grizzly 18v for about a third the price (no kidding) of my Panasonic and Makita. So far (one day) its a great buy for the money.Ron