Favorite Cordless Drill - Why?

An exclusion related topic here, have been using dewalt cordless drills from the big box for 4 years now, no real complaints but I'm definitely needing to pickup two new ones this winter and associated extra batteries, etc...

Who likes what and why? I realize cost is one aspect, power, length of charge, weight, etc...

Any, all criteria are good for this topic, it is a tool I reach for more than any other and I feel lucky with the abuse and use I've put into the two units I've had that they've made it this long without any issues.

Thoughts?

I sure like my Bosch brand

It seems like many of them are getting smaller and smaller, which I think is a bonus in terms of not just portability but fitting into tight areas without other equipment needed.

Bosch is one I was thinking about, we have some other of their tools and always hold up well.

We use lots of Makita at work. Seem to hold up well.

Justin is an expert at pushing my buttons! I inherited a 14.4 volt DeWalt that I find quite handy. Wish I had another battery for it.

I have always bought Craftsman drills and there is always a battery and a charger that is handy. Not the best drill however.

One of our guys went out and bought a Bosch without our knowledge but with our credit card and then dropped it off a two story.

I now buy all of our drills. They are 18 volt Altocrafts and at less than $20, I bought six of them. And you would have to throw

all six of them off a roof to equal the price of one Bosch. Buying any quality product for an employee is insanity. I also bought a

pair of Master Force drills for around $100 and they may turn out to be the best for the money. Please bear in mind that our guys

do not use drills nearly as much as Justin. What is even scarier is that we just bought a brand new Ford and a brand new GMC for

two of these handy guys.

It surprises me that technicians are not required to have there own hand tools, including cordless drills. In construction and industry, anyone making over 15.00 per hour were required to supply there own tools. Some companies would setup purchasing through your pay check to make it easier to add more, without basic hand tools no job.

When you own the tools you take better care of them.

Kurt Temple

Wink,

If you drop a drill while on a roof and it hits the ground but your wife isn't there, does it make a sound?

No employees so this is strictly for me and though yes I've dropped one before it didn't take it out of commission and
I've taken steps to keep them on me and tethered especially while on roof or ladder...

For now, just wanting two replacements knowing at some point the two I have are going to cash in their chips, they've earned
it in terms of time...

I do of course have extra batteries and chargers so I'm a bit biased to sticking with Dewalt based on that equipment, but
I'd like to get something smaller sized as replacements.

Landscaping years ago I'd agree with Kurt, any guy in the shop over a certain level had to buy their own gear, some still didn't
take care of it, but it was on them...

Makita, Bosch, anyone else?

You're no doubt right Kurt. If we gradually had our employees start buying their own tools, would that be a tax deduction for them?

We wanted to be a company that you could enjoy working for but grossing more and clearing less is not the way companies should be

run. I was never required to supply anything in any of my jobs but I never used equipment that I lost or broke either.

I have the Dewalt 4 piece with the sawsall, skilsaw, and flashlight. It hasn't given me any reasons to shop brands. Considering I should have 3 good pieces to the set if one breaks I will just replace the broken one. I like the battery interchangability.

Broke down and got 2 milwaukee drills...a 1/2" and an impact...love the impact...can do about 1500 screws with one battery....plus batteries have a button on em you can check charge level....that impact is worth the money

Bosch for me. My son and I each have one. They come with 2 batteries. The are small, light weight and strong. Had them for a year and really like them. Did I saw they were strong. Don't remember the price, but not much over #100.00.

The cheap one is a hundred and thirty bucks plus fifteen for the warranty.

The latest fashion is brushless. Supposed to be a better product, with better battery life.

Hey, it worked for shaving.

We have several types but use a Ryobi 18 volt from a multi tool kit set from almost twenty years ago and still working well. We now have switched to lithium batteries, they work much better and have extended life and survives the cold longer.

I haven't done much drill since I was a DI at Parris Island.

But I prefer the Dewalt because it comes with an extra battery, has a built in flashlight for those spots you can never see, it was on sale at Lowe's for $149, and it seems to last forever with those new batteries - nuclear or something. Plus you can be stylish with the yellow and black like all the cool kids. Lol.

Don't get poter cable, they are not whst they used to be. I bought a set a couple of years ago the only things that still work are the drill, batteries and skill saw. The reciprocating saw and flash light broke right away.

Get a hold Trent Masterson and find out what drill he has. It was a brute. Makita i believe. Seen him do a demo with it. He said it was abt five hundred for the package deal. Love to have one. Best drill i ever seen used on the trap line. It turned like a bt45 auger. Gear driven. With super batteries. I was impressed. If you find out what it was let me no. Think he said it just came out last year.

Worst thing abt dewalt is they keep changing there batteries.

Pardon me for asking but why would anyone need a drill, much less a $500 one, on the trapline?

I've been using Hitachi. I mainly use the mini impact driver, but it's gone 7 years with two falls off roofs and still going strong.

Ryobi drill and impact kit from home depot when it I on ale for $99. I use mine a lot and has lasted 5 years. Bought another this spring so I have a spare. Comes with charger, 2 batteries and a case. Light durable and fair battery life. I do pole barn steel quite a bit and works great also cabinet installs. Have also built many decks work them. Some say the cheap tools are wortless and I agree but these are just inexpensive and we'll built. Can't go wrong for the price.

Most of my buddies swear by Ryobi for their quality and being cheaper in price to Dewalt. Dewalt is a good quality product, but is really not worth the price when there are so many options out there. Funny thing is I just burnt up my old B&D a couple days ago srewing boards together for a diller job and now have to figure out what to replace it with myself. Probably going with a small drill with a lithium battery.

Thanks folks some great info! Appreciate it!

He said he was carpenter by trade

Some people take there trapping very seriously. Next time your cheap tools break. Remb quality pays it doesn't cost you.

I ran a serious trapline for forty years and I can't remember needing a drill. Now in ADC work drills are a necessity. All I'm asking

is what you use a drill on a trapline for.

2 traps,

I'm curious too, just in terms of what the trapper was using it for.

Most folks have various hand tools in their kit while on a trap line, trowel, hammer, various snare or chain modifying tools, have never thought of a drill either other than in the shop while adding modifications to a foothold.

I think that is the basis of winks question not an attack on the trapper using one, jist curiosity, what is it being used for "on the line" versus in the shop...

Only 12 V, but I like my "Top Gun" the best. Plenty of "Nad's", 1 hr re-charge. A real workhorse.

If 2 traps is referring to land trapping, I rarely dig dirt holes by hand anymore. If you're running a lot of sets you can't beat a cordless drill with a 2" bulb augur. Minnesota Trapline Products sells both 2" and 3" I believe. And then there's big hole sets, where you use a gas-powered augur with 4" or bigger bits. I also carry an electric drill and power inverter that I hook to my UTV and drill dirt holes that way. Might not be for everyone, but it speeds me up.

Fletch, that came to mind! I can see that!

Okay, that makes sense. I would never have known that. When I started canine trapping, the shovel had barely been invented.

I've been very happy with Milwaukee 12V for some time now. Have the driver and impact driver both.

This may be of help:

http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthrea..._yo#Post4399734

http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/5134624/Re:_Best_impact_driver?#Post5134624

Ha! Mike, thanks for the link! I strive to not duplicate but see the first thread was my question same as this time about the same thing a year ago!

Guess I'm slow to pull the trigger on these drills despite adding ladders like they are going out of style!

Thanks for the links!

Milwaukee 12V small and light
the right angle drill is great for them tight spots.

Now you tell about Milwaukee drills. The guy who bought our house worked for Milwaukee tool. I could have got one for employee's price!