Drill

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wayne123

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North Carolina
I am looking for a good 1/2" drill. Is the Dewalt D-handle drill a pretty good investment? I have been using a Milwaukee for a while and have found it to be heavy and awkward.I use it mainly for roughing in residential.
 
Re: Drill

go with a simple 12 fire storm. they are very light weight and easy to use the motor stops on a dime they make a very good trim drill with out all the extra weight. I have been using one for about 3 years never had a problem with it. But use the de-walt charger for faster charging
 
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If you're going to be drilling lots of studs and joists for NM cable, you're going to want a good 1/2 inch right angle drill like a Milwaukee. Keep both stubby and long bits on hand to get you out of tight spots. I've had my Milwaukee for 20 years and wouldn't trade it for anything else. For just about everything else though, there are a lot of great 18 and 24 volt cordless jobs out there that pack plenty of torque for any self feeding auger bit I have.
 
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I'll add my 2 cents here. I've used the Milwaukee angle drill with the 3' extension shank for about 8 years now and I can't say enough good things about it. When I'm drilling ceiling rafters I don't need a ladder; when I'm drilling through studs I have a great deal of leverage and using the nail-eater bits makes it easy going; drilling downward - self explainatory. The only problem is using self-feeding bits - they tend to snag up on you and could cause injury. The drill and shank in today's prices will probably cost you close to $500.00 but it's worth its weight in gold. Just my opinion.

Phil
 
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We have a Dewalt D-handle that we use for drilling holes for anchor bolts, etc. on poles.

For residential, we use Milwakee Hole Hawgs for whole house and Hole Shooters for small jobs such as a finished basement.

You get used to the weight of the Hole Hawg, but more importantly, the dependability.

I have a Hole Hawg that a guy ran on high speed through a bunch of stacked joists until the motor shellaced.
A wire brush on a Dremel tool, and that drill is as good as new. IMO, any other would have been tossed in the dumpster.
 
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I thought he was talking about a cordless type. but as far as a handy drill we have been useing the Milwaukee 30 degree angle drill with the 3' extension for over 18 years and there is nothing that would compair to the time saved from not having to move a ladder around and for getting in tight places.
 
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I use a milwakee right angle drill, I like it, but the thing that does the trick and makes it effortless, is a milwakee self-feed bit.(as long as it is a sharp one) That combo, make drilling hole so easy.
 
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Just one quick thought I see many guys talking about there 20 year old Milwaukee 1/2 drills. I agree they WERE very good back than. The last 10 years or so they are junk. I switched to Porta Cable about 8 years ago and still have the same one.

I also had some large core drilling to do and asked the rep from Milwaukee what I needed for the job. Three burnt out rotary hammers later, and a lot of my wasted time the rep refused to credit me for the coring bit (about $200) that no Milwaukee rotary hammer could handle. Luckily the counter guy was in the loop as he knew what I was trying to do and I bought the stuff the Milwaukee rep told me to buy.

Needless to say I bought my last Milwaukee drill. I also find their sawzall too heavy and slow. The only Milwaukee tool I still have is a bandsaw and I love it.
 
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For rotary hammer drills we use only Hilti. We got a new TE76 and it drives ground rods fast!
They also make the best stainless steel expansion anchors, they don't bend like the offshore ones. A box of 1/4" x 1 3/4" is $200, but I set 40+ today and not one bent in 50 year old hard concrete, but did waste two bits.
 
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I will add to the replies about the 30 degree, 3 foot extension from Mil. They are not only a time saver, but a back saver and they are extremely reliable. I have two, but have used one of them for about 15 years and it has only given me one gear problem, which was easily fixed. The time I have saved with it has paid me back a thousand times. Less liability of going up and down a ladder all the time.


Pierre
 
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Bob you've got almost the same heavy duty inventory I have :D My "D" handle is an ancient 300rpm PowerKraft though (it'll bruise you up real good when it binds :p )

I also have a smaller 3/8" VSR Bosch (keyless chuck), a 1/2" HoleShooter, and a couple of Bosch hammer drills. Not fond of the HoleShooter - gobs of power, but if the additional side grip isn't screwed on, it can hurt you quick with the tiny grip.

My cordless inventory is the Milwaukee 18V (with hammer, that great for doing TapCon's for small straps), a 14.4V FireStorm for light stuff (swappable chucks are nice, mine came with two chucks, 5 batteries, and 6 chargers - Orange was blowing out a bunch of demos one day, who lot was $69). Also have a 6V Ryobi for light trim out type stuff. Doesn't weigh much, one charge will do most of a small house trim.
 
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My favorite electrical drill is my hole hog and my milwalkee right angle drills. For cordless the best I ever had have been the 1/2" Panasonic 15.6 v (comes with a handle up front).
 
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For most of the drilling that I do the D-handle is too slow. I use the dewalt drill that use to be called the timberwolf. Two speed - 1200 for drilling small holes - nail eaters 7/8 to 1-1/4. For larger auger bits and large hole saws I use the 300 speed which has a clutch which works very well.

I to was a Milwaukee fan. Hawgs and 90's. I took a hawg in for repair and was told 90 working days before I would get it back. My power tools have been turning yellow ever since.

Thanks for the infor about the 3' ext. I just ordered one last Friday. I have never known anyone to comment on them before.

This forum is the greatest.
 
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a drill of another subject --the new milwalkee 18 volt hammer/drill unit. we were drilling in 5000 pound concrete beams and went through a box of 3/16 x 7/8 nail-ins and never changed the battery!
it's one heck of a hammer drill! bought it "reconditioned" but new---$220.00 unit comes with an extra battery and one hour charger.
 
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I stick with ryobi cordless and dewalt corded for
my drilling out. I've noticed though Ryobi batteries die 2/3 faster then dewalt, but for the price of their kit you cant beat it.

I can drill into concrete for flanges just as fast as a dewalt hammer drill, and ryobi are lighter and easy to balance. 5 years ago I sweared by Dewalt until their batteries stop taking charges and 80$ a pop for a new battery got exspensive.

Been hearing alot of good stuff about Rigid though I might make the change soon

Hope this helps

Jim

Electrical Mechanic
Baltimore, Maryland
 
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