How many of you are cordless?

[kwired]

my last cordless drill purchase happened to be a hammer drill. I wish I had it sooner. I needed another drill pretty bad after hiring a helper so we would not have to wait for each other with only one drill. was not planning to get a hammer drill, even had another drill in my hand I was going to purchase and then saw the hammer drill and decided to go with that. I had a job the week before that where we had to load the generator just so I could use my plug in hammer drill for drilling only 4 anchors. I have used the hammer drill feature a lot since I have had it many times for just a small number of holes.
I have milwaukee drills have not had too much trouble. I know of a plumber that uses the same dewalt batteries as many of the construction guys and they don't like the factthat he likes to borrow their batteries and put his in their chargers - sometimes his bad batteries get replaced this way even if it is not intentional - maybe.

 

[LarryFine]

Do you have the first run of the 36V or the NANO?

Original flavor. I'm a real man.

 

[kid_stevens]

I still have my original 9.6 v makita. It has the long battery that slides up the handle. And a metal case!
But it is retired and sits on the shelf of my home work shop.

I sold my 9.6 Makita, my first cordless that still ran after 11 years. What a mistake it would still be a good screw shooter.

I haven't had NiCAD batteries in a drill since my Makita.

 

[LarryFine]

I use a Hilti 18 Volt for everthing. Why would anyone ever use a corded drill in a trimout? If I ever saw that I would laugh them off the job.

To me, even that is overkill. We use B&D PD-600 6v cordless screwdrivers.

 

[steelersman]

To me, even that is overkill. We use B&D PD-600 6v cordless screwdrivers.

I actually most of the time just use an offset screwdriver (whirlybird) for switching, plugging and plating.

 

[lile001]

MilWaukee

MilWaukee

The other day I left my cordless drill in the other truck, and had to get out my old corded drill that I used to use as the main drill (3 cordless drills ago) I had a bad end on a 25' cord, and a bad end on the old drill cord, so one time I spliced a 25 foot cord onto the drill, closest thing to cordless for free.

Now one time years ago, before anyone went cordless, we were sharing a Milwaukee Zaw-Saw among about four guys on a demolition job. I complained to the boss that we were wasting money waiting for the saw. He went out at noon and bought a home model saw. We tore it up by 4:00 PM. The boss finally had to choke down and by a REAL Milwaukee Zaw-Saw. It lasted for another 8 months on that job.

I bought that saw from him when the job ended, and still have it. It comes out about half as often as my cordless sawzall. But when you need a corded tool, for a heavy, long, and arduous job, they really work better. If that saw was a guy, it could have voted in the last election and drunk liquor legally afterward.

 

[steelersman]

The other day I left my cordless drill in the other truck, and had to get out my old corded drill that I used to use as the main drill (3 cordless drills ago) I had a bad end on a 25' cord, and a bad end on the old drill cord, so one time I spliced a 25 foot cord onto the drill, closest thing to cordless for free.

Now one time years ago, before anyone went cordless, we were sharing a Milwaukee Zaw-Saw among about four guys on a demolition job. I complained to the boss that we were wasting money waiting for the saw. He went out at noon and bought a home model saw. We tore it up by 4:00 PM. The boss finally had to choke down and by a REAL Milwaukee Zaw-Saw. It lasted for another 8 months on that job.

I bought that saw from him when the job ended, and still have it. It comes out about half as often as my cordless sawzall. But when you need a corded tool, for a heavy, long, and arduous job, they really work better. If that saw was a guy, it could have voted in the last election and drunk liquor legally afterward.

when yousay zaw saw do you mean sawzall?

 

[Fulthrotl]

How many of you use a cordless drill, as your MAIN drill motor, and how many use a corded drill ? The focus here is your MAIN drill motor

My cordless stuff is getting tired, particularly my hammer drill and batteries. I have bought several batteries and Im starting to think its a money pit. Ive either got to keep buying more, or go back to corded for my main drill. or perhaps change brands, I use dewalt 18v.

don't toss the batteries.... send them here.... rebuilds that are
probably better than new....

Customer Service
voltmanbatteries
(419) 526-1570
voltmanbatteries@yahoo.com
www.voltmanbatteries.com

most of us use cordless, i'm guessing.

all of mine are 18v milwaulkee, and i've switched to lithium batteries,
as the nicads aren't that spunky. i didn't want to upgrade to the 28v
lithium, so i just got replacement batteries... the only thing i'm annoyed
with is milwualkee has a 3 battery charger that they haven't released in
a version that will do lithium.

all of my batteries at this point are the first generation 18v. lithium,
and they work just spiffy.

going beyond all reason, of course is this drill.... check out this one..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bogSIokPMcc

and this is only their 12 volt one.... they have one more powerful....

for those of you who are into wood as well as sparks, take a peek
at festools web site. of the festools i have bought, my thought is
that they are hideously overpriced, and worth every dime of it.

when i first entered festoolishness, it was with a 6" dual action sander
that cost five times what a 6" sander at home desperate sells for.

however, that sander will refinish a 10x15 foot hardwood floor all the
way to the point of applying stain and poly, in about an hour and a half.
yep. 150 square feet of red oak, 90 minutes. right to the baseboards
without chatter, and without dust, and without swirls. without removing
baseboards.

most all of the festool stuff i've used works just as well.

randy

 

[electricguy61]

I have 3 sets of Makita's 18v 1.5 ah 1/2 drill, impast driver, and flashlight (1 for each worker). Cost was @ $230 each. I think the impast driver is the greatest thing since sliced bread. We use a Milwaukee 18v "Hatchett" sawzall, and 18v 1/2" drill / hammer drill for concrete anchors.

I ask that when they're doing a full rough-in, they use the Milwaukee Hole Hawgs (we do a lot of re-wires, with really tough old studs)

Each is also issued a Bosch PS20-2 10.8 volt "pocket driver" for trim. Great, light weight, powerful and has the "old man light".

I just bought myself the Makita 18v 3 ah set with the all the above tools, plus a cordless reciprocal saw. The reciprocal is way too heavy!

 

[Rockyd]

DeWalt fan overall. Did find a rare gem recently though! Greenlee makes a Porta-band that goes quite a distance. Don't get the Milwaukee cordless battery Porta-band, batteies died after just a couple of cuts.

 

[tom baker]

I have 3 sets of Makita's 18v 1.5 ah 1/2 drill, impast driver, and flashlight (1 for each worker). Cost was @ $230 each. I think the impast driver is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I have the same kit. I use the impact drive more than the drill. I assemble a strut rack and use the impact driver. What a great tool.

But if I purchased again I would look closely at Hilti cordless tools. You basically lease the tool for so much a month, includes two batteries a year and after 3 years you get a new tool. And you get the great on site service.....

 

[asti1]

24v Dewalt Sets on 3 trucks For 2 years now the do the job just fine.

 

[jjhoward]

28Volt milwaukee hammer drill, sawzall, flashlight, skill saw. 2 chargers, 4 batteries.
The Li bats hold their charge forever if you are not using them.

We love the ryobi impact screw guns. Get the ryobi 18V Li battery, same idea as the milwaukee, the battery holds its charge.

The Nicads kill themselves when not in use.

 

[Greg Swartz]

I actually most of the time just use an offset screwdriver (whirlybird) for switching, plugging and plating.

I guess that would count as cordless. :roll:

 

[LarryFine]

24v Dewalt Sets on 3 trucks For 2 years now the do the job just fine.

I still have a 24v set, too, including the 120v power supply adapter and a 12v charger.

 

[quogueelectric]

I bought my V28 Milwaukee right angle and got my V28 Hammer Drill without a battery or charger for free. The promotion is over.

The Right Angle was 425 at Grainger. 1.5 hours after I bought it I was punching holes for a job that called me while i was at Grainger. It took an hour to fully charge the battery. Now the batteries have a 5 year 2000 charge warranty.

We will see what promos will be between now and xmas It apears that milwaulkee is changing thier entire line good luck with the dinosaur bones you bought. Let me know how that works out for you. Rigid tools now have a lifetime bat guarantee same parent company.

 

[Greg Swartz]

You should really fix your company logo pic @ the bottom of your signature

~Matt

I did! It looked great...
In fact, it looked so good that a mod PM'ed me and let me know that I looked too good, and removed the logo.

 

[Legrand]

36v dewalt always, even rough in through studs, if I charge the battery when it's cold it does'nt hold out as long. I've been pretty rough on it, throw it in the mud, snow, rain, and it works fine. I've had it for two years, when it dies, I'll buy a new one, even if I have to spend three-hundred a year on my drill, it's well worth not ever hauling a cord around. Only thing the cord is for, is pounding ground rods with the hilti. 10 in 1 for trim.

 

[macmikeman]

I used to be hooked on Panasonic 15.6 volt cordless drills, but then again I burnt up three over the years drilling wood studs with them. I have heard of romex ropers who use Dewalt 18 volt for entire rough-ins day after day with no problems. The Panasonics will not hold up for that. For house wiring jobs I mostly drill with corded Millw.1/2" angle drill, and a Hole-hawg for the beams and top plates. When my Millwaulkee finally dies, I am going for one of those Timber Wolf angle drills with the clutch. Trouble is - that millwaulkee is like the energizer bunny, it just keeps going and going. I also have an old Miller Falls 1/2 chuck Hole Hawg all steel housing frame drill that I've had for close to 40 years now, but it stays in the shop like an old dog. Trim outs I use Makita Lithium 18's .

 

[Pullnwire]

Black and yellow for me!

Black and yellow for me!

I fell in love with dewalt 14 years ago when I borrowed my bosses drill to drill a couple of holes in a panel. I was impressed at the power over my makita 9.6, so I leaned into it. and the smoke came! I heated the brushes red hot, and the drill still worked with no problems!. I had a new Dewalt within a week. Now my dewalt fleet has grown to...
18vDrill/driver/hammer
18v impact
18 v sawzall (8 years old no problems)
18 v grinder
18 v metal circular saw. (found above ceiling tile 1 year ago)
18v sds rotohammer
18v rightangle drill.
newest addition is a nano Impact. my new favorite.

12v xrp Drill/driver. (daily driver in my holster.)

I usually pick up a two pack of 18v batt. at home doodoo when they go on sale for $100. I have 5 in rotation in the truck, and 3 waiting in the cabinet at home. I might have to convert to the nano though, I like how they fit the old tools