Cordless tools

admin

The last cordless tool I bought was my 1987 vintage 9.6 volt Makita drill. I used the crap out of it in my aircraft career, Removing a 1000 screws a day was not unheard of. Of course you needed to have 3 batteries to pull this off. Now, I'm looking to upgrade. I don't use cordless tools as much as I used to. I'm looking at Dewalt 18 volt compact tools. Has anyone who has use both the conventional Ni-cad and the Lithium-ion batteries? If so were they worth the extra cost?Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:there is no comparison. the lithium is better overall.only negative on mine is that there is no slow-down or warning that battery is going to quit. yes,there's a built-in series of lights to show the power level ,but who stops working to check?
Reply:Originally Posted by tresiThe last cordless tool I bought was my 1987 vintage 9.6 volt Makita drill. I used the crap out of it in my aircraft career, Removing a 1000 screws a day was not unheard of. Of course you needed to have 3 batteries to pull this off. Now, I'm looking to upgrade. I don't use cordless tools as much as I used to. I'm looking at Dewalt 18 volt compact tools. Has anyone who has use both the conventional Ni-cad and the Lithium-ion batteries? If so were they worth the extra cost?
Reply:On my new bosch 12 volt drill it will give you a warning by stopping and starting again to let you know it is running down plus it won't let you run it down to far to keep you from hurting the battery,I like it so far compared to nicad or nimad plus 30 minute full charge plus no memory effect from battery on the state of charge it is left in. Attached ImagesMaxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:I was gifted w/ a 20v  Craftsman drill 4 yrs ago and it has performed flawlessly. I've used it a lot and still have the two original batteries. I still have the old Makita 9.6v I use for light jobs and where I don't want pack the heavier drill around, like overhead. My shoulders don't put up w/ much overhead work anymore.                                             MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:My next door neihbour uses RIDGID rechargeable tools from Home Depot."Why", I asked?"Lifetime replacement garantee - and that includes batteries!"He used that lifetime warantee to replace his drill batteries one time - saved !$160.Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:Cordless porta-band? that's a new one for me? Weight a bit of an issue for me. I'd have 28 volt milualkee if cost and weight weren't issues.The weight and that the fact that I only use the occassionaly is why I'm looking at the compact models. I have a set of 19.2 volt Porter Cables that give to me. They are a bit heavy and the charge shot craps, the batteries were getting weak before the charger went. When the cost of a replacement charger is added to rebuilding the batteries are added together new tools make more sense. I'm back to the point that I can handle full size 19.2 tools but it still bugs to use them overhead pretty quick.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:I am glad to hear of your progress Tresi! I used the 9v NiCad Makita's for years (in construction) before my current drills. I have a NiMH 18v Makita that has held its own for 6 years. I still use the original 2 batteries and I just got a third, which has joined the rotation. You have to use the batteries, it sounds weird I know, but they don't take well to being left alone for long periods. That's what nearly drained my 12v NiMH for the angle drill, my fault, but the drills are something else. I have had the 18v drill repaired 3 times from various damage that I inflicted, I hate to think of giving it up now because I am not yet sold on the lithium versions...Those Bosch drills are nice, the boss has them.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Bosch Ni-Cad batteries suck, leave them on the charger too long and they die.Craftsmans Die Hard 19.2 volt lithium ion batteries have never worked for me. (I went through 3, all of them brand new, they just wouldn't hold a charge)Those are my sour experiences.Now... The Craftsman Die Hard 19.2 volt Ni-Cad batteries are another story. They are troopers. I'm on my second day of installing peg board in our new garage. And it still feels like its just been charged.
Reply:i like my dewalt 18v drilla lot, but i'll agree with rojo on the batteries. mine seemto fail in the charger..smoke, snap crackle and pop..got so hot thge battery deformed and physically wont fit into the drill anymore....i think im gonna just get a good drill with a cord..they probably give em away because evryone wants cordless...pisses me off to pay $100 for a battery ...
Reply:I just bought a new Milwaukee 1/2" corded drill.  Call me old fashioned but for work, corded tools are still my first choice.  Batteries are ok for honey-do projects around the house; stuff where time doesn't count.  But when someone else is paying for my time, the tools have to work first time, every time.  I have the worst luck when it comes to dead cordless tool batteries, so I don't use them professionally.  That said, I like the new 18V Dewalt tools.  Not sure I'd pay extra for Li Ion batteries, because the benefits of Li Ion don't mean much to me.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:I just junked my second Dewalt 18V a few months ago. The first one lasted for five years of putting tin on metal buildings. The second lasted 5 months. It never was as powerful as the first. I will never buy another.Ridgid is just too heavy to use all day and Home Creepo would'nt honor the warranty as I didn't fill out a certain paper when I bought it. I've bought two Makita 18v Li Ion this year and I think these are near perfection but will let you know in a few years if they hold up. They are very light, last as long as the Dewalt and are much stronger. I haven't needed batteries yet but I got an extra with each drill for free when I bought them. I also got a free flash light and it is really a nice light.
Reply:Originally Posted by tresiCordless porta-band? that's a new one for me? Weight a bit of an issue for me. I'd have 28 volt milualkee if cost and weight weren't issues.The weight and that the fact that I only use the occassionaly is why I'm looking at the compact models. I have a set of 19.2 volt Porter Cables that give to me. They are a bit heavy and the charge shot craps, the batteries were getting weak before the charger went. When the cost of a replacement charger is added to rebuilding the batteries are added together new tools make more sense. I'm back to the point that I can handle full size 19.2 tools but it still bugs to use them overhead pretty quick.
Reply:In the last 2 years I've switched over to the Dewalt 18v tools from my older 14v ones. I predomiantly use the "L" type hammer drills, and they are one of the only companies that makes them. ( I LOVED my old 9.6v Makitas) I moved to the 18v ones from the 14v because the batteries went on the 14v and the replacement costs were almost the same as getting a new tool with batteries. 2nd they no longer make very much of a selection in 14v. I would have loved to have picked up a 14v circular saw and sawzall, and could of if I'd paid the extra and ordered online, but I'd be SOL if I wanted the jig saw, grinder, impactgun or any of the other tools. I'm already carrying too many different batteries as it is. At least this way all the major tools use the same batteries, so if I'm running thru them quick I can just grab one from another tool and keep going untill ther rest charge up.The only things I have now that are not 18v is the 12v drywall gun (nice that it's light, but I run into issues when the batts run low, and the 14v for the flashlight. ( even "dead" batteries seem to do a decent job with the light and it means I usually will have at least one light with a charged battery at the end of the day to load the truck.I have not used any of the Li batteries yet. Doing so would require I switch out chargers. I'll probably end up with one eventually whenever I get a newer 18v tool, but until then the standard batteries have been working fine..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I cant belive that Hitatchi have not got a mention yet.Their 18V cordless stuff is used by a lot of people here in OZ.  Used by a lot of tradies here.  Had my set for 12 months now and used hard.  Still going strong.Have had Atlus Copco and Milwaukee stuff in the past and it wasnt as good as my Hitatchi.