can't decide!

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Rewire said:
The biggest headace is a guy has six batterys and not one charged.
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Grrr! :mad: Nothing makes me angrier than finding that the spare battery is also dead.

I am anal about keeping that from happening. I have two rules:

1. As soon as a drained battery is removed from the tool, it is placed in the charger.

2. If Rule 1 can't be followed, the drained battery goes back on the tool when it's put away.

I'd rather 'discover' the dead battery while the spare is still charged than when both are dead.

It's like loving to have ice in your drinks, but having no ice-maker:
You must develop the habit of filling each ice tray the moment you dump it.
 
c2500 said:
Also, they just die. I prefer the gradual slowdown the NiCad's have.
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It does take getting used to the instant plop to zero RPM, but when I yell out "Battery!" and get one handed to me quickly, it's not too bad. That requires bringing in the whole case, not just the drill. (Another peeve.)

I think the DeWalt 36v battery's internal electronic package shuts it down to preserve battery life. Besides, as we know, it's not good for a motor to be run under load with a low supply voltage.

It causes jingling. :grin:


Added: By the way, the jingle is usually the result of what's known as "throwing solder", because the armature winding leads are soldered to the commutator segments, and overheating melts the solder.
 
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MarkyMarkNC said:
The Craftsman drills sometimes have plastic gears on one stage of the planetary gears - sometimes not. Usually the batteries are lower amp hour cells. Other than that, they seem to be similar quality to the Dewalt, Milwaukee, etc. The only reason I would not buy one personally is that I have not seen any that have a 1/2" chuck.
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FWIW the Crafstman stuff is made by Techtronic Industries (TTI.) If you carefully examine the Crafstman stuff, you will instantly recognize many similarities with Ryobi, with some subtle differences.
 
peter d said:
FWIW the Crafstman stuff is made by Techtronic Industries (TTI.) If you carefully examine the Crafstman stuff, you will instantly recognize many similarities with Ryobi, with some subtle differences.
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At least right now. Sears puts their Craftsman stuff up for bids every so often, and low bid gets to make their stuff.

I've gotten sawblades there marked Vermont-American, and dril bits stamped Black & Decker.
 
LarryFine said:
Grrr! :mad: Nothing makes me angrier than finding that the spare battery is also dead.

I am anal about keeping that from happening. I have two rules:

1. As soon as a drained battery is removed from the tool, it is placed in the charger.

2. If Rule 1 can't be followed, the drained battery goes back on the tool when it's put away.

I'd rather 'discover' the dead battery while the spare is still charged than when both are dead.

It's like loving to have ice in your drinks, but having no ice-maker:
You must develop the habit of filling each ice tray the moment you dump it.
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I have a simpler rule: No one else touches my tools. That way, they can't drain a battery and leave it for me to figure out.

Many times, I must put a dead battery back in the case because I'm working where there's no juice. That's why I have 4-6 batteries, depending on the tool.
 
Craftsman

Craftsman

Well, went to the sears website

There are 2 levels: C3 and Craftsman Professional
The C3 combo kit (4 pack) runs for $169
The Professional kit (4 pack) runs for $579

I think there is a slight difference.

Anyway, the next time I'm in the market for a kit, I will ask about the extended warranty. If it covers damage as well... I know where I'm buying.

I know they make Craftsman hand tools right here in town... nearly across the street from Intel...

I know the electronics are made elsewhere, but the warranty can not be beat.

I'm not looking at Harbor Freight specials, which you expect to break, and they offer the same extended warranty... "for only $39.99, you can extend this warranty for 2 years, and unlimited replacements."
I know that I will return weekly, if not daily... there is no value there. Just lost time.

I think that Craftsman makes a good Professional grade tool... if you buy the Professional grade.

The guy that bought his 19.2 back in 2003, that got the warranty I talked about... well, I took his 19.2 vs my 18 DeWalt... and Craftsman won.
His beat mine in battery length, overall strength, less weight and better cost. Of course, this was a jobsite test... nothing you could hook a dyno up to...
 
dewalt has done me well - makita is like a toy

dewalt has done me well - makita is like a toy

I will say this.

I have owned a DeWalt 18 volt XRP drill for 6 or 7 years now.
about 2 years ago i took it in to DeWalt repair to be completely rebuilt. New motor, new transmission, new trigger, new clutch. everythin except the case.
guaranteed fixed for $98.00 or less, satisfaction guaranteed. (I really only needed a new trigger but had everything done at once)

last month i took it in to have the case replaced because it torqued itself to death on a
2 3/8 hole saw in thin sheet metal (masting a roof) snapped the handle right off....

you could tell that there were existing (older) stress cracks in the same place)

that repair cost me 44 dollars including the cost to re-grease the metal transmission gears


that drill has been a real workhorse, and i use it for alot of heavy stuff; larger size unibits, holesaws/carbide tipped cutters, 1 1/4 ship auger bits thru top plates, driving Lag Bolts, and large drill bits in thicker steel.
I always use it in low gear for heavy demand, and I NEVER run the batteries (NiCAD) all the way down.
As soon as they begin to wane i stop and charge them. if there are no more fresh batteries, I WAIT.

Now about Lithium Ion:

The company i work for recently bought about 12 makita LI-ION drill/impact 'Lunchbox' combo kits with 18 volt, 1.5 AH batteries.

while these little things are GREAT for roughing in walls (zipping in panhead screws in metal studs) or running conduit on sheetrock walls with sheetrock screws,
they work OK for drilling holes in steel.
Pilot holes are usually not a problem, but using unibits, one could not expect to get more than maybe 4 or 5 holes out of a 3/4 inch (not conduit size,but perfect knockout stud size) unibit on low speed
hole saws are about the same


that being said, i know that cordless drills arent neccessarily made to be used that way, but my dewalt and its batteries will hold up to that quite reliably if taken care of and last alot longer than the makita drill..

what im saying is, even though ive had to have my dewalt rebuilt, (and it still worked pretty good when I had it rebuilt) it was still worth rebuilding.
the makita drills we are using (some are abusing) will not be worth rebuilding at all.

but the worst thing about Lithium Batteries - COLD Weather..

we have had Alot of Cold Weather here in arkansas lately, and we have had to store the batteries in a heated office trailer JUST TO KEEP THEM WORKING
some of those batteries that have been stored and charged in the cold
(around 30F overnight) dont work at all, and others can barely drill six 3/8 holes in a panel on one charge.

so, as far as makita goes, if youre buying for the OCCASIONAL use at home, they are COOL
I LOVE the impact.

if you are taking it to work, or helping your buddy build his deck, STAY AWAY
 
CopperTone said:
don't buy dewalt from home cheapo or blowe's. They use plastic parts in their drill that they sell at those stores - go to grainger or a store like that to buy dewalt - they are more expensive for a reason.
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Where did you get this info? I've checked, and they're the same model number, so I don't see how that's possible. I'd like to hear more if this is true. PM me if you don't want to post.
 
bjp_ne_elec said:
Greg - is this Tool Doctor someone local to you, or are they a franchise? I've never heard of them around NH.

thanks
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They're a franchise.
We have them in our local Kel Welco / White Cap store.

They fix the tool unless it's really difficult. If that's the case, then off to the Manu. Esp if it's under warranty. They'll ship it out for you... for free!
 
As much as I don't want to say..I have Milwaukee tools only to have battery issues with them and have stopped buying them as of late, they just done seem to hold a charge that well, even the new Lithium batteries aren't up to par.
The Hitachi and Makita have been the most reliable for me and they get used and abused. Only my Panasonic drill and saw comes in at a close second and I've had them for 2 years and never had to do anything but replace the trigger.
The 3 Dewalt's I have had all have cracked outer cases and arent worth fixing.
 
Good morning,
We have been using Ridgid tool for better part of two years, one of my co-worker damaged his drill and they replaced it for free. They have a lifetime guaranty when you register on-line. They have also replaced my battery that wouldn't hold a charge. Very comfortable tools. Our assembly department uses the 12v screw guns and really work them hard and every time we had a problem they have replaced part for free no questions asked. If the parts can't be replaced in a reasonable time frame they have replaced the entire tool.

LHarrington
 
izak said:
but the worst thing about Lithium Batteries - COLD Weather..
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Lithium Ion batteries should work fine in the cold, but they should NEVER be charged in cold weather. Lithium Ion batteries require sophisticated chargers that monitor the charge process, and cold weather could provide feedback that can screw up the charging process.
 
I have the 18 volt Hitachi (not from a box store). It really is an awesome drill. Although I do have to admire some of the carpenters that have Panasonic and Festool. I am too vested in Milwaukee at this time to make a major change.
 
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