HELP! Cordless Drill!!!

[GrayBeard]

This afternoon BOTH my of my pair of matching cordless drills shot craps!

Chuck jammed on one and the other blew its 'clutch'!

Any recommendations from my astute and ever knowledgeable friends will be appreciated...

I  have my eye on a  Makita LCT208W-R 12V Cordless Lithium-Ion 2-Piece Combo Kit for the lighter duty and will purchase same at a later date.

BUT I need an 18 volt workhorse for the heavy stuff.

Your knowledge and experiences will be appreciated.

~~~GrayBeard~~~

[Gabby]

I can only tell you to stay away from Crapsman. I've had good luck with Black and Decker.
Honest I didn't hit her! LOL
Some of the others I am sure will chime in. The main problem I ever experienced was with the charger dieing or those old nickel cadmium batteries not taking a charge anymore. replacements cost almost as much as the drill!
Gabby

PS some of the lithium batteries can ignite while charging, can't remember if it was Li-poly or li-ion,
The RC'ers take extra precautions by charging them out side of the house in the event of fire. They can't be put out once started as I recall as they produce their own oxygen and require their own charger as one for nicad or nimh won't work with them.
G

[tux_linux]

GB, go with the 12V system. That will do everything you want. You do not need 18V. If the 12V Makita doesn't do it, you're in trouble and need for some cord powered tools.

I have a 12V NiCd System (6271) that works great. I even drill holes in massive stonewalls with that one! No problem at all.

@ Gabby
That's a RC thing. Drill batteries are charged different. I have been racing RC-cars for some years, where the batteries are discharged to their max and then charged with up to 20A. Those batteries could burn from time to time (have seen it 2 times -never my onw ones).
That will not happen to drill batteries.

[SheGold]

I use a cordless Dewalt.. Sheila in Tx

[msdameng]

I have an 18-volt Dewalt I wouldn't trade for anything.  It is about 6 years old now and the batteries hold a charge as well as they did when they were new.  The only complaint I have
is it will twist your wrist off, if your not careful.

[SheGold]

Msdameng it sure will.. Has jumped out of my hand a time or two.. You should see me dance...  .. Sheila in Tx

[GrayBeard]

I took them apart and built one good one out of the two so I am OK for the time being....

I have both a 3/8" corded and a 1/2" corded hammer-drill so I am not looking to drill thru I-beams...just a long lasting battery.
Looking mainly at the Makita because of review I read at Lumberjocks ... I like the 'mini-saw' attachment.

I have had very good luck with CPO refurbs in the past also!
http://www.cpoindustrialpowertools.com/factory-reconditioned-makita-lct208w-r-12v-cordless-lithium-ion-2-piece-combo-kit/mktrlct208w-r,default,pd.html?start=1&q=Makita%20LCT208W

~~~GB~~~

[mrsn]

my husband swears by milwaukee in his shop, he is really hard on tools and uses them alot. I have a makita of some sort (i can't remember which model) it has always worked when I needed it.

[BilltheDiver]

I recently bought a two piece set by Porter Cable.  Drill and impact driver.  They are 12 v, but lithium Ion batteries.  If they aren't strong enough, then I should have been using a corded drill instead.  The combo is great, and the batteries charge quickly.

[woodcutter]

I use an 18 Volt Dewalt drill for carpentry work and love it.           
It came with two batteries and a carry case.  The drill I had before was a Makita 12 volt but the dewalt has lots of power for what I use it for.

Jim

[WigWag Workshop]

Mine just died the other day also, Just picked a B&D 12v - so far so good

[towdude3]

i use an 18v Ryobi. Have had it for 2 years. No problem doing whatever I need.

[GrayBeard]

OK...I looked at all the 'recommendations', read lots of  reviews and made a decision!

I just ordered the following:
http://www.cpotools.com/factory-reconditioned-bosch-ps31-2a-rt-12v-max-cordless-lithium-ion-3-8-in-drill-driver/bshrps31-2a-rt,default,pd.html?start=4&cgid=bosch-cordless-drills-and-hammer-drills&prefn1=batteryType&prefv1=Li-Ion&prefn2=voltage&prefv2=12V#pr-header-bshnps31__2a

I want a light weight, easy to handle, very portable but strong drill/driver and I will also eventually get another more heavy duty unit also.

According to the specs and reviews I think this one will fit the bill for now.
Ordered last night and it should arrive in a few days and I will post 'first impressions' as soon as I get to try it out.

Thanks to all my Forum Friends for your input!

~~~GrayBeard~~~

[tux_linux]

Bosch blue line - that's also fine stuff. Good decision.

[Gabby]

By the way any of you know who made the FIRST cordless drill?
No fair peaking.
Gabby