Bubba po

I know cordless drills have been covered before, but I've done a search and the threads all seem to be "under £100" or "under £50".

What I want to know is what is the best pro-quality cordless drill-driver out there. I'm looking to replace my deWalt 18v because it had a major fall from a high place a while ago and the handle has fractured. I don't want to go for deWalt again because the chap I w*rk with has two of the current 18v models and both of them are suffering from glitches of one sort or another.

I'm not of the "buy cheap, buy twice" brigade - my existing drill has been great for seven years.

I'm thinking Makita, with two 3AH battery packs.

Any thoughts?

TopBanana

Kill, kill, kill them all.

Well, you did ask

OllyK

Standard drill, percussion hammer or SDS hammer?

Mate is a sparky and swears by one of these: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BOSCH-GBH-24-V...QQcmdZViewItem if you want SDS

alanbell

iTrader: (6)

7 years thats good, Ive had my Dewalt for about 5 years ( faultless ) when it breaks I will replace it with a >>> new Dewalt.

Bubba po

Straightforward drill/driver - they all tend to come with percussion hammer, don't they? -mostly crap, but usable at a pinch. I'd like 3-Speed with torque settings and a strong gearbox.

I already have a mains-powered SDS.

ronjeramy

iTrader: (1)

Makita are top notch bubba, i have a 7.2v battery drill/screwdriver from my days as a caravan fitter. Doesn't get much use now, but still works fine. its very well made, quite sturdy. its had a hard life dropped onto concrete floor a couple of times but that's never bothered it in the slightest. if memory serves me right there are two models one being professional

alanbell

iTrader: (6)

The 24V is good if you need to do a lot of drilling, my 18v does the job for the few times I can not get electric,

Bubba po

Is yours the 18v model without the alloy casting on it? If so that's the one I have. Of the two newer examples I know about, one of them has developed a short-out that boils batteries, and the other keeps getting stuck on "hammer". Both of them have problems with their forward-reverse switches.

OllyK

Well the drill/drivers don't tend to have a hammer as they are more glorified screwdrivers than drill. The cordless drills do tend to have percussion hammer which is fine for drilling through cream cheese but not much else compared to SDS

I've been hanging my nose over the Ryobi one plus range but only for light domestic use and more for the flexibility across the range than anything else

Andy S.

if money no object then the Bosch 36V lithium ion ones are the dogs danglies!!

see http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=24048

We have got 2 off these


they even do a SDS version

Bubba po

I want something that will send a 25mm auger bit 6 inches into a solid oak door without breaking sweat, and send dozens of 100mm screws home in a similar fashion. I want all the switches to work positively without developing looseness or intermittency for the life of the tool and I want the casing to be utterly solid - no flexing and won't break if dropped.

alanbell

iTrader: (6)

Not sure ?? Think its a full black case, Its in my van , Ill tell you mod number tomorrow, cheers,

Bubba po

36 volt!!! Facking hell.

ronjeramy

iTrader: (1)

this is similar to the model i have but mine is probably about 10 years old and wouldn't be up to the jobs you want it to do, but the casing is pretty solid on this small drill

http://www.tool-net.co.uk/data/tools/drdr6019dwe.jpg

Bubba po

Yep, Ron, I know those tools were and are pretty bulletproof, but I'm looking for something a bit meatier.

mattsan

24v bosch sds drill.

pete higham

panasonic 18volt 3.4 aph

im a joiner and that is what i use daily now, best drill ive owned the batteries last forever

previous drills

de walt
milwalkee
black and decker
makita

Kyl3cook

What about Hilti? They do some top notch cordless drills.

sammyh

iTrader: (1)

I use a 36v Hilti never goes wrong battery life is incredible and has interchangeable chucks even has the facility to hang the battery pack on your belt to reduce the weight of the drill also the service and support is second to none.

G00ner

Mate, they don't make them like that anymore, the newer stuff is carp.

All my gear is Dewalt from about 5 years ago and is still going strong, the new stuff doesn't compare.

Manda_po

I'm looking at the Hilti 18v now, but I can't seem to get a price on it. Anyone help?

Bubba po

Oi! It's me that's looking.

CrisPDuk

My DeWalt is a pre Black & Decker and is still going strong. It is easily outlasting the newer versions of itself that people I know have. When (if) it dies I will be replacing it with a Makita, I bought one of them little cheap (£75) ones that Screwfix were doing last year, just for banging screws in, and am impressed with it.

On the subject of the hammer function & drilling through walls, IMO when people are complaining about the drill not being up to the job, it's usually the bit that's f**ked. My DeWalt has never had a problem drilling through double skinned walls for powercables & such like

Bubba po

Any more for any more?

DCI Gene Hunt

Hitachi 18V Pro........ I swear by them............

Fart

Good prices for makita here: http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/

DCI Gene Hunt

"******* Hitachi"................ told you

Bubba po

Those are EXCELLENT prices!

Olly

Dewalt are garbage for pro use: great for decent DIYer's but I would destroy one in 6 months.

I use a cordless all day, every day, (and currently all weekend too) and can't seem to wear out my 14v Hitachi. Just one trigger in 7 years of HARD use (I neglect everything) has been needed.

It does everything required. 18 volters are too heavy for me.

This morning it has been winding in dainty 3x16 hinge screws, tonight it has been mixing plasterboard adhesive.

Batteries are slowing down now (still originals, and I do sometimes part-charge them), but I will be having another one. Which of course, due to sod's law, will be a complete dog.

Other than that, Metabo are considered The One To Have.

Bubba po

I'm really fancying the new Makita with Lithium-ion batteries.

£240... hmmm.