montster Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 (edited) If you are going to get a new one, do yourself a favor and buy a DeWalt 14.4 volt cordless. Get a 1/2" chuck and you'll be able to do 90% of everything you will ever need. If you want to spend a little more, get a cordless hammerdrill, and you will be able to do 100% of what you'll ever need. Don't waste your money on anything else. At the risk of turning this into a tool-advice thread, how useful is the hammer drill? I started woodworking last year and like it a lot, but I don't see myself branching out into anything that would require a hammer drill. edit: Actually, I just watched a video of a hammer drill. I might need to get one now. I was actually looking at the Makita 18V drill. Good ratings, and I know some guys personally who like theirs. Same price as DeWalt, but it's 2 pounds lighter. The DeWalt is the same weight as the Craftsman, which caused my weak, spindly arms soreness and discomfort. However, I know DeWalt is a good brand. just take it back to another store or at another time without the receipt...tell them it is F'd up and you want to exchange it for another drill....when they ask when it was bought just say it was a fathers day gift or something like that....don't settle for NO from a sales person...ask for a manager...and then harp about craftsman warranty and not buying anything else from sears etc... I might try that this weekend. I need to go when I don't have two small kids with me, which was the case today. Although, I could probably get some compensation by saying, "Look how your faulty drill makes my daughter cry," and then have her sob on demand. Edited February 8, 2011 by montster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Dick Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 At the risk of turning this into a tool-advice thread, how useful is the hammer drill? I started woodworking last year and like it a lot, but I don't see myself branching out into anything that would require a hammer drill. edit: Actually, I just watched a video of a hammer drill. I might need to get one now. I was actually looking at the Makita 18V drill. Good ratings, and I know some guys personally who like theirs. Same price as DeWalt, but it's 2 pounds lighter. The DeWalt is the same weight as the Craftsman, which caused my weak, spindly arms soreness and discomfort. However, I know DeWalt is a good brand. I might try that this weekend. I need to go when I don't have two small kids with me, which was the case today. Although, I could probably get some compensation by saying, "Look how your faulty drill makes my daughter cry," and then have her sob on demand. The hammerdrill is one of those tools that you need once a year or once every couple of years where you need to drill one or two holes, so it's nice to have. I recommend DeWalt for two reasons: 1. I worked for them coming out of college, and I know they make a good product, 2. This is all I used when I was doing contracting work, and they hold up well. DeWalt makes a 14.4v cordless hammerdrill, so the weight is less than the 18 volt because of the battery size. Plus it has a 1/2" chuck. Make sure you get that whatever drill you buy. A 14.4v will give you plenty of run time and torque for all of your home applications. Makita does make good stuff. At the time I worked for DeWalt, their cordless were made in the USA, so I've always liked that. Not sure about that now, but I think they still do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 makita is better than D. the batteries last longer and hold a charge longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 How's the kid's outhouse holding up? It looked pretty good on the pocs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 DeWalt and Makita are the only cordless tools I'll buy. I agree with SEC on the Milwaukee products for corded tools for the most part. If I'm hanging pictures or only doing about 5 minutes worth of work I'll use a cordless tool, but if I'm going to work all day, give me something with a cord on it. I'd never buy a cordless hammer drill. If you are going to get a hammer drill get a Hilti. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrumjuice Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Def get a 1/2", and get one that comes with two battery's. I got an 18V Black & Decker Firestorm and it has done everything I have asked of it. I don't need a $300 drill, this one was $150 I think. Lowes carry's them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holy Roller Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Get the DeWalt. it's yellow and easy to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Dick Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Get the DeWalt. it's yellow and easy to find. The way my memory is going, I'm gonna buy a can of yellow spray paint and paint my wallet and my keys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEC=UGA Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 DeWalt, Makita, Hilti, Milwaukee, Metabo... Just look for these. I would say I hold DeWalt in lower regard than I probably should, but that is just a personal issue on my part. I would look for a 1/2", you get into working walnut, hickory, cherry you're gonna need the extra HP and you never know when you're gonna need to use a hole saw bit attachment for wood working (If you're trying to put a 3" hole in something you'll appreciate the power.) Get a cheap cordless for the house for quick small holes in pine, get you a good corded one for the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I'd never buy a cordless hammer drill. If you are going to get a hammer drill get a Hilti. I, and the guys I work ,with use cordless hammer drills almost every day, Dewalt's and Milwaukee's. We do have a corded Hilti that's a hammer and it does work great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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