Need Recommendation for Lightweight Cordless Drill

[Craig McCormick]

In our business we are using the Bosch 12v line. Were now up to 5 tools and love them.

Craig McCormick

[Steve Griffin]

Bosch 12V have preformed perfectly for several years of hard use. Let me put it this way--if these gave up the ghost today, I'd feel like I totally got my money's worth and buy new ones.

The stand up feature of the Dewalts would be appealing though. I suppose they are little less comfortable reaching into small spaces, but I know I'd prefer standing them up around the workbench instead a laying them down like the bosch.

[Paul Wunder]

Mike,

I have the Milwaukee M12 driver. Very lightweight, good power and chuck and fast recharge. All in a sensible canvas case. I am very pleased. I have driven 3" deck screws with it into 40 year old studs without complaint. I also have have a standard size PC Drill/driver (14.4). I reach for the Milwaukee more and more

[Von Bickley]

Mike,

I have the Makita 10.8 volt combo kit and it works GREAT......

http://www.amazon.com/Makita-LCT203W.../dp/B001DNMUZG

[Terry Beadle]

I bought the Milwaukee 3/8ths chuck. It has drill, screw, and hammer settings on the single unit. A little over $150. Comes with two batteries and quick charger.

Lots of folks recommend the Makita as being the best. This may be true.

However, after two months of use, I'm really pleased with my Milwaukee. Lots of power. 3 inch screw in red oak no problem. I too like the battery indicator on the side. It also has a LED that lights up when you pull the trigger and it's surprised me in how helpful it is with these older eyes.

I too was temped by the HD brand drill with the life time warranty on the batteries. It just didn't fit my hand as well and I've had a great experience with the Milwaukee D-handle router I bought 4 years ago.

I think you can't go wrong selecting either the Makita or the Milwaukee. My other drill is a 14.4v Ryobi and it's still going strong except for the two batteries that came with it. I've used it for about 8 years. I bought a replacement battery at HD for $32 and it has brought new life to the drill. Having both ready to work is very handy. Drill bit in one and counter sink in the other...cake and eat it too! Hoot!

[Bill White]

I have the Makita 18v L-ion. So far, so good. Of course, right after I bought it, the impact/driver kit was selling for just a little more than just the drill. Oh well.....
Bill

[Ron Natalie]

All of my tools are either the 18V (XRP) dewalt or the M12 Milwaukee stuff. They had a little inexpensive M12 kit with a tiny hammer drill and an impact driver which are rapidly becoming my favorites.

[Paul Wunder]

Mike,

Milwaukee is having a buy one tool get one free REBATE. For example, If you buy a M12 3/8" drill/driver kit for $123 (Amazon) you can get one of three naked tools free. I chose the Milwaukee Angle drill/driver (street price $89 as my free tool. The $123 kit includes two lith-on batteries, quick charge and a nice soft case

http://www.toolbarn.com/specials/reb...nufacturer=245

The rebate form is available at the Tool Barn link, but Milwaukee CS told me that I can but it anywhere except FleeBay.

P.S> I own the driver and the drill/driver. Quite pleased

[Mark Ashmeade]

Robert Bosch GmbH all the way for me. Yes, they're expensive. But they stand behind them. A bit of a no-brainer really, they make them right in the first place.

Over the years I've had many items by old Bob. Drills various, a sander, dishwashers, fridge, washing machine, dryer, freezer, fuel injection systems, and most recently, a world-beating CMS, some great 18V Li-ion tools, and a set of the 12V stuff.

The 12V drill (new one) is nearly as powerful as my 18V DeWalt is heavy. The batteries were dying on the DW, and with an existing suite of Bosch 12V (Impact driver, ordinary driver (old & new models) and a multi-tool), I took the plunge on the drill, in a combo set with the inspection camera. Couldn't be happier. It doesn't quite have the torque of the DW, but it's way lighter and easier to apply finesse to in terms of positioning. If I need to kick ass, I have its 18V Brute Tough big brother which laughs at the DW. So now in Bosch 12V world, I have 7 batteries, 3 chargers and 6 tools. Very happy I made the right choice.

[Mike Henderson]

I had a chance to use the DeWalt combo drill and impact driver today (that's two units, a drill and an impact driver). I didn't have a lot of time with them but I'll give you my first impressions.

The drill is great. It's about as long as the Festool CSX and just a little taller. Hard to tell the difference in weight - seemed pretty close. Feels good in my hand. It seems to have a brake on the drill. It goes from high speed to zero quickly and I hear a "clack" when it shuts down. Anyway, great little tool.

The impact driver is a bit harder to use. If you pull the trigger all the way, it goes fast - you could drill with it. Good lighting with the three LEDs on the front. I only drove a couple of screws and it worked fine - I just had to be careful to "feather" the trigger to keep it from driving too fast.

I noticed that the DeWalt batteries are rated at 1.1 amp hour, while the CSX has a 1.5 amp hour battery (they recently upgraded from the 1.3 amp hour battery). One nice thing on the Festool is that you can hang the charger on the wall (two screw hole slots in the back of the charger). I wish DeWalt did that.

Anyway, a very good set of tools. I'm sure I'll enjoy using the Festool CSX but I probably would have been satisfied with the DeWalt set.

Mike