Replies

1. 
   jimmy | Dec 05, 2009 04:22am | #1

   Makita 18v are real nice.  Great hand feel...Jimmy

   Festool are real nice...if you have the bucks...

   
   

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   Edited 12/5/2009 6:58 pm ET by Jimmy

2. 
   miserybob | Dec 05, 2009 04:26am | #2

   I really liked my Milwaukee 18V li-ion until all THREE batteries died after a year of medium duty.

3. 
   Taigert | Dec 05, 2009 08:33am | #3

   I picked up a couple of Makitas at Woodcraft this past year. One is a drill/driver and the other is a impact driver (my first). It was just under $200.00 for the set. They are only 10.8 Volt Lithium Ion.There just little things, their great in tight space and I have yet to find anything they can't do around the shop. They have a good run time per charge, then a short time on the charger, small soze that you can easily carry in your pouch without being pulled to the ground dragging rhat big heavy Dewalt all day. I really can't belief I'm going to say this but, they have become my go to tool.

   Back in about 93-93 Makita was about the only one was who pushing cordless, for the pro buyer. I had top top tool they had, It was something like 9.6 volt Ni-Cad, man they were a pain in the butt. They had this long slender battery, were talking 8"or10" long. They were never desugned to fit in your tool pouch. that and you had to completely kill the battery. before charging it. You had to guard against the battery developing a memory. Then it was a overnight charge, to bring it back to full life for a while. The battery was the short coming for the Makita. This is around the time Dewalt came up with their cordless. And up till a few months ago I have been using Dewalt. But Dewalt seems to slip in quality over the past few years. They seem to be more interested in the DIY market. I'll be the first to admit that we abuse the hell out of these to tools on the job site. The new Dewalt just can't take the beating anymore. Dewalt is still pushing the same style and look that they have had since the beginning.

   The largest battery I have had was the 14.4 volt. It has always done the job, the battery can last close to eight hours of hard use. I could never justify going to 18 or 24 volt. It's bigger physically, weighs more, so I don't really under stand the need for the higher voltages for screw guns. Because when you get right down to it most of us use them as screw guns 90% of the time. The tools that are coming out of Japan right now are far superior to what our companies are feeding. It doesn't matter if it's Panasonic, Hitachi, or Makita. They are powerful. light weight, and all kinds of little extras, like fast charging batteries.

   The other company to watch is Festool they have finally upgraded their batteries to the Lithium Ion technology. I had the opportunity to fall in love with Festool while attending school. I don't know what kind of deal Festool gives the school, but we had a lot of their tools to use. I think the marketing must be get the students hooked on them. Then when we go off on our own a few years down the road hopefully we will be buying Festool. The C-12 is a very well designed tool, with the ability to change the drive configuration to four different tools they win hands down. Most of the other manufactures design there screw guns to last lets say 50,000 screw. Festool designs there screw to just keep going well past that point, like years past. Just like the Eveready Bunny it just keeps going and going. Everyone says that Festool tools are too expensive. Well sit down and figure out how many of the drills marketed to us are you to have to buy before that expensive dies?? so if you figure it out on a a long term investment, Festool will most likely say us money in the long run.

   Sorry that this ended up so long, it must be because of not having anything to do today I'm full of energy, still. And that really sucks. All pumped up and no where to go. I can't wait till are economy gets back up and running again. So we can all be making lots and lots of money. So we can all buy those new Festool Tools. Right??  hahahaha

   Taigert

1. 
   woodworker57 | Dec 06, 2009 05:51am | #9

   Thanks to everyone who replied to my post.  These decisions are never really black and white.  There is always the personal taste factor involved, but this gives me something to talk to Santa about.  WW 57-------

1. 
   Tinkerer3 | Dec 07, 2009 12:07am | #10

   Well, if Santa is bringing the tool, I'd wish for the most expensive or at least the very best quality since it won't cost you any way.  I wish we had a chimney so Santa could come to our house.

4. 
   danmart | Dec 05, 2009 04:06pm | #4

   http://www.tylertool.com/makita258.html

   Makita LCT300W 18V LXT Lithium-Ion 3-Pc. Combo Kit

    

   The Makita 18v lithium is a joy to use. I could go on but nuf to say: it feels great, charges in 12 minutes and its light as a feather. Might add it fits in tight spots too.

    

   Tyler tools has the 3 piece set about as cheap as I can find and they have a 5% sale ending today on the listed sale price. Its funny but their 3 piece(flashlight) is cheaper than the 2 piece set??

    

   I like the smaller battery set up. I have no need for the bigger battery-- I am not up on a roof for hours at a time I work in the shop. With the smaller lighter battery you can be recharged completely in 12-13minutes.

    

   Its my favorite drill/driver. I don't even reach for the yellow stuff these days.

    

   dan
1. 
   Ron01960 | Dec 05, 2009 05:53pm | #5

   Bosch mini-drill and or the mini drill/driver. I bought the set. category with it's new 10.8 volt Pocket Drill.Bosch's drill features the Lithium Ion technology, so it's got the same long run time and and fast charging of it's peers. One nice feature I've not seen on other entry level drills like this: Bosch integrated LED task lighting for darker spaces. I think the just came out with a newer version with a conventional key-less chuck.Available $130.If these were lost or went missing I would not hesitate to repeat the purchase.I have been working on a 200 year old large house, driving screws into these old beams and timbers is a breeze. I have not picked up any of my Makita or Milwaukee drills since. Prior to the driver I would often pre drill, I'm no longer arm weary. I hope this helps, Ron in Peabody

5. 
   brownman | Dec 05, 2009 08:50pm | #6

   18 Volt Makita combo as previously mentioned is what I've been using for over a year now and they are the best cordless drills I've ever owned. I've previously owed Ryobi, Bosch, and Panasonic cordless drills. Sorry Taigert, but Festools are too expensive! Great tools, but as far as I'm concerned their pricing is just another reflection of their Germanic arrogance! I hate that they also lock all their dealers into fixed pricing so there's no competition. I for one am just not going to support this kind of marketing. It's just not the American way. Sorry for the rant , but if we all had this same attitude their prices would probably come down to reality or maybe not, they might be just that proud, that they would pull out of American market place.Unbelievable!

1. 
   Taigert | Dec 05, 2009 09:00pm | #7

   I did not mean that I agree with their price structure, or marketing method. My point was that they are not made to be a throw away tool. The retailers that sell festool make good money on them. If I owned a tool shop that sold Festool, and you worked for me Festool dictates what discount you get when buying their tools. Festool keeps a tight fist on their product. You look in my shop, there isn't very much Festool.

   Taigert

6. 
   byhammerandhand | Dec 06, 2009 02:35am | #8

   After wearing out batteries on two Makitas and starting to get that way on a Hitachi, I got a compact Ridgid about this time last year. My deciding factor was the "Lifetime Service Agreement" that covers batteries for life. I read a few reviews prior to my decision and while not the top performer, the LSA tipped the scales in its favor.
   http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/R82007-Lithium-Ion-Drill/EN/index.htm

   As a lot of the time, I'm carrying it to the work site and often working inside furniture, I appreciate its compact nature. The LED light is an added bonus.

   I must say though, that last month the batteries were acting funny. Took it to the factory repair shop and they said they were seeing a few where the switch was failing and shorting out the batteries. Now the batteries are on back order, so apparently, it is a widespread problem. I got one for one of my sons-in-law and he has not had a problem, though I don't imagine he uses his as often as I do.

7. 
   blewcrowe | Dec 07, 2009 05:03pm | #11

   In my opinion, most have good torque, and longevity can be accomodated by adding more batteries. The important thing to me is balance and feel, and that's something that your locked in with once you own the unit. Get out and handle these things.

    

   Denny

1. 
   woodworker57 | Dec 08, 2009 06:06am | #12

   BTW, what is the difference between the  silver colored Makita tools and the traditional blue stuff????  WW 57-------

    

1. 
   blewcrowe | Dec 08, 2009 03:37pm | #13

   No clue. 

   Denny

8. 
   Nick54 | Dec 08, 2009 05:56pm | #14

   I have both the Makita 10.8v driver and impact AND the 18v drill and love them both. The 10.8 units are great for installing drawer slides and accessing places a 18v driver could never get.  Oh ya, incase your wondering the 10.8v has all the power you will need to do most anything in the shop.

   
   

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   Edited 12/8/2009 9:57 am ET by Nick54

1. 
   woodworker57 | Dec 08, 2009 09:17pm | #15

   Hey Nick,  Do you know the difference in the silver/black Makita tools and the traditional blue tools from Makita?????   WW 57------

1. 
   Nick54 | Dec 09, 2009 01:31am | #16

   I believe that the black/white are lithium ion batteries vs. NiMH or NiCD. take a look at this link for explanations of the pro's and con's of each.

   http://www.greenbatteries.com/libafa.html#Advantage%20of%20Li-ion

   Hope this helps. I don't think you will regret buying Li battery tools.

   Regards

1. 
   woodworker57 | Dec 09, 2009 04:53am | #17

   Thanks for the link.  I think Mikita is my choice.  WW  57--------

9. 
   popawheelie | Dec 09, 2009 07:14am | #18

   For me , I wanted something with a chuck.

   Most of my drill bits will not work in a drill with 1/4" drive.

   I ended up buying the Bosch 12V li-ion.

   "There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."
   Will Rogers

   
10. 
    YesMaam27577 | Dec 09, 2009 11:03pm | #19

    I have a Panasonic 15.6volt, with Nickel-metal-hidride batteries. I've had it for about 6 years now.

    I use it a lot -- not quite daily -- in my business as a small-jobs contractor. It will drive three-inch screws into framing lumber, and into pre-drilled hardwoods (pre-drilling is always a good idea in hardwoods to prevent splitting).

    And it will do that all day long, because the batteries last longer than it takes them to recharge.

    I bought mine just after Fine Homebuilding did a review/test -- it was very highly rated -- but I'm fairly sure they are still available -- try Amazon.

    I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone,
    And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone;
    I can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone,
    So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here. (Phil Ochs)