Cordless drill recommendations please

Another vote for the 18v Makita. Brought one early last year from B&Q. £100 including a really useful accessories and bits kit - not the usual cheap rubbish that comes bundled with power tools. B&Q still had them a few weeks ago.
 
The batteries on my 12v rechargeable finally died : I now use it with a little 12v portable accumulator(originally from Lidl?)
 
Ryobi ONE+ for me as long as they don't do something stupid in an attempt to make more money and change the voltage/fitment or something.

Drill works well although for boat use only as others have said consider one without hammer.

Jig saw works well
Vacuum cleaner filter clogs easily with plaster but may be ok for wood and other things.

Try fluorescent work light. bulb one blows bulbs quite easily and they were difficult to get hold of. Whole range of other tools available including mastic gun.

Prices sensible.
 
I got a good deal with a Makita 12v drilll several years ago which came with 3 batteries. I chose 12v thinking that when one of the batteries finally died I would remove the innards and connect a couple of leads so I could run it off the boat's battery. So far none of the batteries has shown any signs of dying. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Re: Ryobi. I have a Ryobi petrol strimmer which often reduces me to impotent, screaming rage when it refuses to start, which is most of the time. This has tended put me off Ryobi products.
 
Just bought a De Walt DC 725 18V c/w 2 batteries on special at Screwfix.. First impressions are that its more powerful than my old corded drill/driver. Its very powerful
 
Some do last in my experience. I have four 12 volt DeWalts, (one to pilot, one to drill, one to counersink and one to do up the screw!) the oldest 12 years old or more, used daily, still chugging. Good experience with hitachi and mikaita, don't know about Ryobi. Agreed with several above taht hammer action without lots of power or better SDS, is a gimmick.
 
DeWalt or Makita. My 14.4v DeWalt is in its 9th year of industrial use and still spot on, if tatty. Those who say the hammer action is a gimmick obviously don't have to drill brickwork on a regular basis like mine does.

Our Electricians tried a few Erbauers, but they didn't do all that well. Bits became loose on them and they were binned after three years. For domestic & DIY use they are probably fine. They have Makitas now, and they are excellent.

Tim
 
Whichever make you buy, make sure you get 2 batteries.
I would get an 18v or 24v one if you want to do anything serious (masonry or large diameter wood bits).
Might be worth getting a cheapo 12v one as well - keep it on the boat and run it off the boat battery.
Of the makes I have had first hand experience with, the very best make of all is a Festool, but I doubt that many could justify the price. You won't go far wrong with a Makita or Dewalt, both very tough, and I've got a Ryobi 12v which has stood up to incredible use and abuse in the last 4 years, only just recently showing signs of battery failure.
 
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personally I go for the £20 ones from Aldi. Wont last quite as long but then the £70 one wont last 3 times longer.

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On the basis that most of us do not use these tools for a 40 hour week, week after week , I agree
 
I use cheapo 14.4V jobs ... and price is not much more than replacement battery pack.
What to do when pack fails ? Open pack ... cut leads to contacts and seal of. Connect direct croc clip lead to contacts and put pack back in drill. Now you can run it direct of boat batterys. Old battery pack weight still balances the drill.

You can buy more expensive machines - but as another says - the price multiple does not equal life-span multiple.

Local market here was Knaus set - Drill with 2 battery packs, charger, and light that takes same battery pack .... 30 quid. Variable torque, variable speed, reversible with incl. set of screw bits. Done deal !!
 
I have had half a dozen. Two Makita ones outlive anything. I don't know why. Cheaper ones have a mixture of problems. The worst had horrendous runout (where the drill makes a stirring motion off centre). Poor battery performance is the main weakness.

I'd reiterate the advice not to bother with hammer and wall drilling. You'll end up with a 25 volt drill with a bicep building 2 kilo battery which still won't do the job well. Use your mains drill.
 
Check the chuck

Make sure the chuck is at least 13mm....the chuck on my cordless was 12.5 and the bit for the hole cutter set (and every other builders set I found) was 13mm

Ended up buying a corded drill for £20 in B&Q /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Re: Check the chuck

No 2 son is a carpenter, and has been through most of the brands discussed. he doesn't have a good word to say about DeWalt, and uses Makita exclusively. NiMH batteries self discharge - some much more than others. The new Vapextech or Sanyo Eneloop types are much more resistant to self discharge, but Li-ion are the best for holding charge, but again No2 son says that Li-ion are not worth the money. My input is to go for the highest voltage you can get/afford - my 19.2V B&D has been going strong for 10 years!
 
Another vote for the Ryobi One +. I have a combination drill (hammer drill and driver) and a right-angled drill. I needed the latter to drill an awkwardly placed hole behind the chart-table to run a lead, and the set of both drills, two batteries and charger was little dearer than the angled drill on its own.

Alan
 
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