I’m in the market for a new drill and was wordering if the lithium’s market costs have come down any and feedback from various owners. I’m looking at something that can handle a screw and drill a 2″ spade bit with out running out of juice if you know what I mean. I’ve noticed a lot of the buggers have some heft weight attached. Anyone had luck with a good ergonomic light drill that still has some umph! Thoughts.
Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Replies
I have the lithium ion Makita drill/driver, and am astounded at the power and longevity. Haven't used any spade bits, however. ;-) I'm responding mainly to bring to your attention CPO Makita, which is where I got our set (drill/driver and impact driver w/ 2 batteries and charger). Great service and price. There's also a CPO Bosch, probably a couple others I don't know about.
I took a look at the CPO but it indicates it reconditioned. I did find the combo drill/driver/light at amazon for 239. I'm considering that combo. Thanks to all that responded.
Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Edited 10/21/2008 9:01 pm by bones
Yep, sorry, I forgot to mention the reconditioned part. That's what I ordered (don't know if they still have that set available). Saved us a significant amount of $$ over a new set, and was super-clean. As far as new prices go, Amazon may be your best bet.
We bought the set to build our deck with and it's driven 3" screws into PT posts and rails with vigor, and the batteries are lasting a long time. The best, though, is the 15- to 20-minute charge time for the batteries.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 10/22/2008 12:11 am by forestgirl
I hate cordless drills......
But... I purchased the new 10.8 V Makita Lithium combo drill-impact driver with 2 batteries and charger that just came out at IWF at HD for the introductory price of $179. I used a small Bosch at IWF to help assemble machines before the show and felt a cordless could be of use so I would give cordless one more try.
The Makita impact driver has basically not left my hand in three weeks and I am considering the Makita 18V Lithium cordless I am so impressed.
I love cordless drills.... well.. since I got the Makita. :>)
Sarge..
No problem thanks for the info. I just went to amazon and ordered the combo. 277 delivered 2nd day. I could have got standard for free, but what the heck. I need it for the week end. I'm finally getting my shop back in order from the move. My current drill is at the end and I've had good luck with makita stuff so I'll give her a try. I've never used the impact driver so that will be a new experience. Driver + Drill + light & a bag (yehah). I hope the ergonomics is good. We'll see.
http://www.amazon.com/Makita-LCT300W-Compact-Lithium-Ion-Cordless/dp/B000V2BRM2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1224684889&sr=8-1Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
You're gonna love the impact driver. The first time I used it was to pull 2.5"-3" screws out of a 15-year-old shelving unit that was at the barn. You know how hard that can be, what with corroded screws, stuck wood and such. Zipped out 90% of the screws. A regular driver would never have been able to do that.
The impact driver takes notched bits. Or you can use a notched holder, such as an extension, and put normal bits in it. DeWalt sells a driver set for about $30, it's full of #2 bits (un-notched), a couple of extensions, one that's on a swivel, and a couple of bolt sockets, maybe some other stuff that escapes memory.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Wow, I can't belive it. I ordered it yesterday and it got here this afternoon. I have to admit when I opened the package I thought they had left out something because it was so light. At first look, I went oh, it did not look like the makita stuff of old and the things are so dang light I almost started thinking uhoh is this going to have enough torque. Both batteries had a some charge in them and the torque is great in each unit. It took 15 minutes on each battery for a full charge. The charger is kinda loud when charging because of the fan, but no big deal it will be on the shop bench anyway. I'll be putting it through its paces this week-end, so I'll share the results but from first impressions it's light powerful and I like! Times sure have changed since my old 12v dewalt monster. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Dear Bones,
The weight fooled me at first. In low gear, it can be a wrist breaker. Best,John
I could sense that. Just holding it and quickly pulling the trigger, you can feel it jump. I've got several holes to drill with a large spade bit for running 110 for the shop, so I'll know how it shapes up this week-end. I have to tell you though, after using that big dewalt and have it wear my arm out, I am looking forward to the less weight. The batteries are really light. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Dear Bones,
I have used mine for driving lags, holes up to 4 1/4" and drilling out pine with 1/16" bit. Very versatile. I think that you will like it.Best,John
FYI they make a twist type drill bit (normally located in the electrical department, not with the other tools/drill bits)) that is designed for running electrical wires. It is much nicer then a spade bit. And takes a lot less force pushing on it to use. If you have very many wholes to drill you may want to look into this. Just so you know.
Doug M
Thanks, I'll check it out. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Aren't they great little beasties? Have fun, bones, you're gonna love 'em!!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Don't be afraid of reconditioned. Most of those are units that were returned in the first 30 days "no questions asked" period, so they are like new and have the same warranty as new.Go with the Makita green, rather than the white. The batteries have more amp hour capacity. My 18V Makita lithium drill weighs the same as my old 12V drill did and the belt hook is handy when working on a ladder. I have drilled a lot with spade bits up to 1 3/8" and forstner bits up to 2 1/8". BruceT
Edited 10/23/2008 9:13 pm by brucet9
FG,
How is the trigger on the Makita-smooth or crushing rocks?
I use a drill for furniture work in the shop, and a smooth trigger is one of my biggest requirements.
Stay away from DEWALT!
Thanks.
Pete
Dear Pete,
I think that the trigger is nice. I have used mine for cabinetry as well and the light is even useful!Best,john
That was really all I played with last night (till the wife said enough). It will go from a crawl to full bore. I had no issues with that. I have to admit, at first I thought the led light was a gimmic, but the more I think about it, it could come in handing. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
The light can be very useful. Sure if you're in your shop with all that fancy task lighting, you might not care, but if you take it out in the real world, it'll help!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I'm also noticing as I'm maturing, my ability to see the details is becoming more challenging.Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Hah! It doesn't get any easier the older you get, for sure. I used what's called "monovision" with my contacts for maybe 7 or 8 years to get past the difficulty of reading without cheater-glasses. Finally, my near-vision got so bad I had to give it up. Am now corrected to 20:20 for distances and keep my great CliC reading glasses around my neck.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Oh you kids! Wait till you get almost 76. You are talking about cataract surgery, two or more pairs of glasses etc. But they say getting old beats the alternative.
Edited 10/26/2008 5:25 pm ET by Tinkerer3
I'm actually looking forward to the day I have cataract surgery, though it's surely 10-15 years off. By the time I get to that point, they will have perfected the new lens that actually adjusts just like the one you were born with. For me, that will be quite exciting, because I have 20:400 vision, extreeeeeeeeemly nearsighted. With the new lens, the vision will be better than I've ever had!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Hang in there, my mother-in-law just had cataract surgery (she's 88), the new lens gave her 20-20 and corrected her astigmatism. When I'm ready, they should be just about perfect.
I had my right eye surgered a couple years ago. It was about 100:20. now it is 20:20. Too bad it wasn't the left eye - 200:20. It does have its good points though. If I have no glasses I can read with my left eye and see distances with my right eye. One thing for sure, you must have glasses to read after the surgery. I have a separate pair of glass for looking at the computer.
"One thing for sure, you must have glasses to read after the surgery. " That won't be necessary with this new procedure. The new artificial lens attaches and is adjustable just as the lens you were born with, so you can see far and near. I guess for people as nearsighted as I am, they put in a lens that compensates.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
"New artificial lens attaches and is adjustable just as the lens you were born with........."
Proven wrong again but I want that. I believe you mentioned that before. I don't see how that could work. How does the lens know when to change focus? You might consider changing to that now. The doctor told me that with modern medical methods, you don't need to wait until your eye gets bad. Seems to be equivalent to lasics (sp) surgery. I would have considered that if I were younger.
I don't think I could get the insurance company to pay for it now, LOL. Besides that small financial problem, the procedure isn't perfected yet. It is available, but I wait until my conservative eye doctor gives me the "thumbs up" on anything new, because he waits until the wrinkles are ironed out and there is a proven track record.
It's sorta like not volunteering to be a beta tester for a piece of software, only more important -- not giving my body up as a beta test!
My understanding is that the lens is flexible (like our lenses were before they started stiffening up with age), and attaches to the muscles the same way. The muscles are what pull or relax the lens, according to whether something is close or far away and what focal length we need.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Yeah, I wouldn't want to be the first guinea pig. What I was thinking of was that it doesn't take too many pairs of glasses to equal the cost of lasaic surgery. My doctor was ready to operate on the other eye for cataract but by waiting till the procedure, of which you speak, is perfected may well be worth waiting for.
[I guess this drill thread is on a new track, LOL! Sorry, Bones!!]
Ooops, I missed your comment in #42 about Lasik surgery. Different animal, that is. I was planning on having Lasik 2 years ago, but my eyes didn't pass the eligibility test. Here's the scoop:
Lasik shapes the curvature of the cornea of the eye to change where images focus within the eye (after it passes through the lens). If I remember right, nearsighted eyes have the image focusing before it gets to the retina. Lasik would be done to help the image focus further back in the eye, hopefully at the retina.
Cataract surgery addresses the clouding of the lens in the eye, a natural occurrence as one grows older (60's plus?). Currently, in the run-of-the-mill cataract surgery, the patient decides which artificial lens s/he wants (usually a 20:20 lens for distance vision, I'd guess). The lens that's inserted is a static shape, and cannot change to accomodate objects that are closer -- the lens we were born with could stretch or bulge depending on how far away what we're looking at is. As one grows older, it kinda stiffens and that's why we have a hard time reading without glasses.
So, this new lens and cataract procedure would give us a lens that the eyes' muscles can manipulate to make it stretch or bulge according to what we're trying to see. No reading glasses! Yippppeeeeee!!! And, I hope, no contact lenses!
If you're just dying to read about the eye and how it works (or doesn't) you can Google, or start with this site. I just glanced around there, but it's got some good drawings and explanations it seems.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Well, some of that I already knew and shouldn't have mixed the two. But your post is very educational. I think a person that is approaching cataract age is wasting his resources by getting lasik. My daughter and son in law (30's) had lasik and really love it. I've had enough glasses that it would have paid for the surgery several times.
I was given the choice of cataract surgery for my left eye - 20:200. That would be neat if I could get the elastic lens of which you mention. I don't think I would bother to get the right redone. By the way, it looks like only you and I have been on this thread for some time. It has run its course. I don't feel too guilty for hijacking it.
Edited 11/3/2008 6:33 pm ET by Tinkerer3
"I don't feel too guilty for hijacking it." Neither do I -- Bones ordered his Makita drill/impact driver set waaayyyyy back on the 22nd!
It's been fun! If you and I are still around in 8 or 10 years and I get that lens, I'll let you know!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
My dear Mother had cataract surgery at age 82. In the recovery room the ophthalmologist told her that she would be able to drive the following day. She was so excited! Mom had never had a driver's license in her life . . .
That's funny!!! forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
One of those really funny true stories. Mom suddenly perked up from her anesthesia and said, "Really?"
With the right anesthesia, one would believe such a transformation (non-driver to driver), LOL! Drugs, gotta love 'em. When I had menigitis last May, yet to be diagnosed, they had me on Valium and Roxicet. Evidently one Friday I had a CT scan. Still don't remember it though. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
We have the pharmaceutical giant, Lilly here in Indianapolis. My Young Bride's grandmother worked there many years ago (1916-1918). Believe ot or not, she was one of the ladies who packed cocaine into vials and capsules for prescription use! ("Symptoms? What symptoms?")
She developed such an acute sensitivity to narcotics that she could not take ANY of them for the remainder of her life. (She lived from 1895 to 1990).
Who knows what all is contained in what we take today? Did you recover fuloly from the meningitis?
"(She lived from 1895 to 1990)." 95 years, fantastic. She saw the world change in dramatic and incredible (literally) ways!
Yes, fully recovered. Fourteen days I do not want to repeat in this lifetime or the next!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
"Who knows what all is contained in what we take today? "
I work in the phramaceutical industry. While I don't do the science, I do the computers. It amazes me how we have been able to take peoples ailments and either make the problem go away or help them live with it. We take for granted how well we actually live today due to the minds of some brilliant folks. I've talked to people that have taken some of our drugs and been told point blank they would be dead today without them. Makes you feel good about what you do. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
I have to agree with you about DeWalt. While I have been satisfied with their cordless drill motors to date, I am not going to buy DeWalt again.. why?..the batteries are 70 bucks apiece(I have 6 and 3 drills) Based on everything I read, I'm going to Makita next.
Dear Bones,
I'll second the Makita L/ion compact gun (18v Black & White). I just got done installing two bathroom vents. Two holes, 4 1/4" holesaw through sidewall shingles, backerboard and OSB. one battery, no problem. Very powerful, very light.
Best,
John
I'm with the others in recommending Makita. I haven't used a spade bit, but Forstners and various sizes of masonry bits have not been a problem. I could not begin to count the number of 3" and 3 1/2" screws that little machine has installed in various applications. If and when it ever dies, I'll be looking for another Makita.
The Makita is great! I picked up a drill / impact driver combo at the orange borg for 270 bucks. The battery charges in 15 minutes, tons of torque. If you've never used an impact driver to drive screws, you're in for a revelation.
Dennis
Put me down for the Makita. I've used one a bit and can't get over the weight (or lack of). Great balance, a surprisingly useful light (stays on after trigger is released for a while too). When by Bosch dies, this'll get the call. But by then there'll be a newer and greater tool, but that's beside the point.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Hitachi have a nice lithium-ion unit in 18 or 14 volt also a hammer drill
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