Replies

1. 
   mapleman | May 27, 2007 04:18am | #1

   PB,

   I have recently chunked my dewalt 18 volt drill/driver due to ongoing problems with the batteries. I bought a 10.8 volt bosch li-ion driver, which I like incredibly, due to it's small size and light weight. I also bought a 18 volt li-ion hitachu impact driver. This thing smokes the competition! Very light weight and very powerful.

   Good luck with your choices

   Lee

2. 
   Quickstep | May 27, 2007 05:43am | #2

   I bought the 18v LiOn Makita Hammer Drill and Impact driver combo from http://www.coastaltool.com  and added a smaller drill later on for when I don't need the power of the bigger drill. I use the drills only for drilling and the driver only for driving.  I can't conclusively say it's because of the fact that I use them that way, but the batteries last a long time in both. Also, there doesn't seem to be much the impact driver can't drive. Coastal Tool has great prices and excellent customer service. For the record, I have no affiliation with them other than being a VERY happy customer.

3. 
   USANigel | May 27, 2007 08:31pm | #3

   Check out this link http://www.cpomakita.com/combo_kits/12_volt_combo_kits/ The new li-ion is good but the drill is a little big for all day use.

4. 
   JMartinsky | May 28, 2007 04:19pm | #4

   Dear P,
   I bought this: http://www.tools-plus.com/makita-bdf452hw.html

   Makita 18V Compact drill driver. I bought it over the winter and have used it frequently. I am a contractor with a similar market to yourself. In a nut shell:

   The good:

   1) Very light and powerful.
   2) I though that the light was stupid until the first time that I was installing a lower cabinet and could actually see what I was doing.
   3) Be prepared for everybody borrowing it... with or without permission.
   4) The price is right.
   5) Batteries charge in 15 minutes or less.
   6) It works as advertised....... go figure!
   7) You can actually put a box of drill bits in the case with the gun.

   The different: Li-on:

   1) There is pretty much no warning that the batteries are running low. They just stop. Not a big deal as the batteries charge in a heartbeat.

   2) Nice, smooth slide on and off batteries.

   The bad:

   1) Be prepared for everybody borrowing it. I haven't seen a screw-gun so popular since the old PC 12V Magnaquench. (Remember that!)

   You won't be sorry.

   Best,

   John

5. 
   dukeone | May 28, 2007 05:52pm | #5

   Ya know another thing new to cordless power tools are the brushless motors. This could be more important then the new battery types.

   Duke

   http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/bp_cordless_tools/pdf/Li-ion_catalog_06.pdf

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6. 
   nikkiwood | May 28, 2007 06:03pm | #6

   The problem with cordless tools is that none of them are compatible with one another.

   Thus, most of us pick one system (brand) so the batteries can be used interchageably among the various cordless tools you end up buying.

   I started with Panasonic some years ago, mainly because the batteries received so many accolades from reviewers and users. My own experience has now proved that to be the case.

   I have used (but do not own) Makita's, and from what I have seen and heard, this too is a good system. Bosch also has its strong adherents.

   Therefore, if you had a good experience with Makita, there is every reason to stay with that brand.

   As far as battery technolgoy is concerned, I have had very good luck with NiMH, and so far, I have not seen enough advantage to the newer lithium batteries to justify moving to them.

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

7. 
   Hendo | May 28, 2007 07:35pm | #7

   This is a timely post for me, as my trusty old Makita 6012 is getting pretty long in the tooth, and will need to be replaced before long.

   I kinda feel like Rip van Winkle;  a lot has changed since I bought the 6012 waaay back when.

   So I have one dumb question...   many of the newer driver/drills are advertised as impact devices, and I was wondering about that.

   In the past when I have  used an impact drill it has provided an axial blow (along the axis of the bit) many times each rev, and was used for drilling through concrete, etc.

   Somewhere I got the impression that the newer impact driver/drills were applying an impact in the torsional direction, more like an impact wrench used at the tire shop.

   So I'm hoping somebody can eductate me..  are the impact driver/drills providing a torsional impact to help free tight screws and to provide additional torque when installing screws?  Or does it provide axial impacts for drilling in hard media?  Or both?

   Thanks in advance for your advice, and patience with a newbie!

   -Tom H. Ventura, CA

1. 
   Quickstep | May 29, 2007 01:12am | #8

   You're correct. The impact driver provides impacts like an auto impact wrench, but on a smaller scale. The units for driving screws are light and compact (see picture). Compared to the drills I've used for driving screws, the impact driver drives screws like nobody's business. The only downside that I've found is that it will break a small screw if you're not careful. It doesn't have a torque limiting setting like a drill does. The hammer drill works like the concrete drilling tool you described. Makite sells a kit that includes the hammer drill and the impact driver. Batteries are interchangeable between the two and they share a charger. I also got the BDF452 while I was at it. It's a compact cordless drill that's convenient to have when you don't want the size or weight of the hammer drill. The batteries for the impact driver and the hammer drill fit the compact drill, but not vice versa.

   
2. 
   nikkiwood | May 29, 2007 06:41am | #9

   On a practical level, I think impact drivers are great for construction carpentry (like building a deck), but for cabinet making, I think they are unnecessary -- and in fact, often times they are just too powerful -- kinda like using a sledge hammer to drive a nail.********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

8. 
   timr | May 30, 2007 12:24am | #10

   I bought one the smaller Bosch 10.8V PS20 Drivers a couple weeks ago.  I put it through it's first test shortly after that helping a friend erect a prefab vinyl shed.  It drove about 300+ screws that day... about 50 - 3" deckmates and ~ 250 - 3/4" assembly screws.  I was very happy with it's performance and the fact that it did fit in my tool belt apron.  The next week I noticed that Bosch is now coming out with a 10.8V Impact Driver, the PS40.  I had a tiny bit of buyers remorse, bit figured the PS20 was better suited for around the shop.  Like others have said, an impact driver may be better if you are doing more work like the guys over in "Breaktime"... deck builds, and cabinet installs.  I would definitely give both of the smaller Bosch drivers a look.