Cordless Drill

I have a few of both brand. Dewalt is big, heavy, clunky, reliable and very powerful. Milwaukee is more refined, lighter, reliable and powerful. Dont have lithium batteries. My experience with regular batteries is Milwaukee batteries are much better than Dewalt. Last longer and hold their charge longer. You cant go wrong with either brand. Depends on your application. Even though I like both better, many times I took my 12v Makita to the job site as the lighter drill is more user friendly toward the end of the day. Good Luck!
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I would go with DeWalt. Ive been using them ever since I can remember. They never failed on me,and they always got the job done.

 

I got fed up with cordless drill batteries conking out on me half-way through a project, regardless of the manufacturer, so I went out and bought a high-quality, 100' extension cord. Problem solved.

 

I, too, must recommend DeWalt. I've got a bunch of their 18v products, drills, hammer drill, saws, etc... some as much as ten years old, and they're all - every single one - still running strong. Yeah, I've replaced a few batteries over the years, but I use and abuse the DeWalt stuff, and it just keeps on going.

Concerns over the weight? Really? Perhaps you'd be better off with a small purse.

DeWalt. Hands down.

-Tad

 

I agree the Dewalts are too heavy. I bought the wife the 18v compact Makita drill & impact & now I steal them all the time. Once you try the impact u'll never try & drive a screw with a drill again. I broke off huge lag screw heads with that impact & the drill is like the energizer bunny.
my .02

 

I bought a Milwaukee circular saw a few weeks ago (mail order),

sad to see it was made in China.

 

Mike- I think you will be fine with either one for all around use. If your tool budget can handle a drill/impact driver combo, thats a good way to go.

Sean- Hilarious, and spot on!

Tad- You mean that Dewalt fits in the BIG purse you carry?

UroTrash- Unbelievable! Do we make anything here anymore? Ive had the same experience with Delta.

 

Hi, Mike! How are the Lancias treating you?

My wife's son hauled tools from each make all over US - as it turned out, he kept an extra Makita here as I found it in his closet when I needed to drill and screw . . . but I did not have to recharge a battery, as it held a charge for over 6 months - without losing a beat - *boggle*

 

Makita is the way to go for me. I used my Makita battery drill for 5 years professionaly, on a daily bases. After 7 years, the batteries stopped holding a charge. I abused it and it took it.

I just recently bought the dual pack from HD of the new lithium ion Makitas. They are the same power but about 80% of the size.

 

Dewalt. I use the impact 825ka daily. I prefer my 36V cordless hammerdrill when I need to bore holes for decks. Love the purse comment, I may need to use it sometime.

 

DeWalt fan here. The Milwaukee stuff seems more consumer grade. I have gone through 2-3 of the DeWalt combo kits...

I recommend you stick with the Nicad powered stuff. Lithium batteries are VERY tempermental. One overcharge and they are fried. Over drain it? Fried. Too cold out side? Won't work. Want to draw a lot of amp's? It safety shuts off...

 

Place the Milwaukee or any other brand on the top shelf of an 8' step ladder on a concrete floor. Then kick the ladder over. Do that about 50 times and you will understand why most in the field installers use the Dewalt drills.

 

I recommend you look at the Hilti tools, A/C and battery operated. As my older tools wear out I have been going to Hilti.

aehaas

 

Hey Mike!
When I was in the trades I preferred my DeWalt Cordless tools more than any other brand. But then I did use them pretty much every day for 5 or more years. I haven't used them for a loooooong time, but I still have them. I did buy a Rigid Lithium Ion set a few years ago, and it sucks due to when you don't use it, the battery drains out. So, when you go to use it again, You Are Screwed. You have to charge it to use it. I hate that. Not sure if this helps.

BTW! I still have your 2 mugs waiting for when you come up for CI