In the spring I ahd purchased the new Dewalt lithium ion battery combo drill/driver set. Loved the little bugger, even got a free xrp battery from the rep. at the time. I loved the way the new battery technology(in Dewalt’s case) lets you work with full power until the battery runs out of juice, then it just dies all together and then time for a recharge. Only problem with the unit I had, was as the new drill fits xrp batteries and lith. ion batteries, the new ones were a real bugger to remove off the drill or driver. I exchanged that unit for a brand new one but encountered the same problem, uncliping the batteries were a real chore, even having to use a quick clamps to remove it once or twice. Other than that, the unit worked like a dream with plenty of power. Now I have the new makita lithium ion combo, it works well also but as the battery begins to loose power, you don’t have that same punch you had at the beginning of a new charge. Also, I heard that Makita has a built in counter on the charger that “counts” how many charges charges you have used and after the (I believe) the 1000th, your warranty is now toast. Of all the product reviews done here and elsewhere, none of them ever mention little IMPORTANT things like this…….. I guess thats where we get to do it in the real world of testing a a product. Carpenter5
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What do they say? "The devil is in the details." "Gotta read the fine print." "The job isn't done until the paperwork [deleted]is finished[end deletion] has bitten you in the [bleep]." ;-)
I plugged in my (corded) drill last night for the 1,000th time. When I unplugged it, guess what? The spades didn't withdraw into the plug. ;-)
Cordless drills are like printers. They seem economical or even inexpensive at first, but the "supplies" (ink in one case, batteries in the other) will get you in the end.
Ralph,
The cordless stuff gets used on house jobs, everything in the shop has got tails for real power/rel torque. Of course there are the times when the spades stay in the outlet...
BB
I agree that cordless tools pay for themselves rather quickly on job sites. I just don't use mine often enough to keep the (expensive-to-replace) batteries in shape, so I apparently suffer a greater-than-usual failure rate. So, I've returned to extension cords.
When a manufacturer establishes a free battery exchange at the dealer system, I might revisit buying cordless tools. Old people are supposed to be allowed to be cranky. ;-)
...but as the battery begins to loose power, you don't have that same punch you had at the beginning of a new charge."
True of any cordless tool, and best to pay attention to the first hint of loss of power -- that's when you want to put it on the charger. Your batteries will last longer if you don't drain them below that point.
I don't know about the supposed charge-count in the Makita's (I have the set also), but 1,000 charges is alot of charges. Batteries are disposable items, we pay for the convenience of powerful cordless operation. Let's see......say $80 for a battery (just guessing). Divided by 1,000....that's 8 cents per charge. Building a deck? Charge lasts perhaps 2 hours? (need to ask hubby, he was the builder). Doesn't seem outrageous.
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