12 Volt vs. 18 Volt

[bg819]

Hello all,

I found this forum while searching for opinions on best cordless tools and have a question. I am a DIYer and the most I would use the tools for is finishing a basement and possibly building a deck. My question is what is the point where an 18 volt tool is necessary instead of a 12 volt tool. I like the idea of the small, light compact 12 volt but I'm not sure if I would be able to drill through 2x4s and drive screws in them. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Right now you think you will only use it for a few things. Once you get a set of cordless tools, you will use them more than you imagine.

 

[gc11090]

I would go with a good quality 18 volt without a question unless money is a very large issue. I used a 12 volt for basic small stuff for years, borrowing my dads 18 volt when I needed something more serious. A few months back they put a dewalt 18 volt combo kit with an impact driver and drill on clearance at lowes. I brought the kit and have never looked back. I have built many decks, fences, and walls with it, and looking back I can't even imagine doing it without that drill. You will be thankful for the extra power when using it.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Ive got Bosch, 9.6, 12 18 and 24 Volt drills, I use my 12 volt 99.8 percent of the time, only because is sooo much lighter than the 18 and 24 volt. I'm in the middle of a 100k plus remodel, the two guys working with me are running 28 volt Milwaukees'. The 12 volt runs right along side, chasing the same screws, I have not reached for my 18v once since April, and don't even have a 24v with me. The only thing my 18s and 24s will do on this job that the 12v wont, is break the screws, and the 12 is so much easier on my hand and arm. Food for thought. (I should clarify, Im primarily driving 1-5/8s" to 6" deck screws through 100 year yellow pine with the 12v)

If your going to be running fasteners greater than lets say a #9 deck screw, like a 1/4" lag bolts, youll probably want a 18v or larger. You could also jump on a corded drill for larger fasteners. Milwaukee has a "hole shooter" line of corded drills. My 1/2 Holeshooter will snap your wrist it has so much torque, before it will stall, or it will break something... but it dont stop turning, thats for sure.

 

[back2class]

18v will give you longer life. Not much more power. For home use a good quality 12v will be pretty good.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

18v will give you longer life. Not much more power. For home use a good quality 12v will be pretty good.

Id have to disagree with your there on power, in the same model line of my boschs', the difference between my 12 and 18 is staggering. In weight and power, problem is the 18 has so much torque, I just don't need it, or my work doesn't call for it, but is a really big difference in power (at least double the torque and weight). My 9.6 is so weak, Ive misplaced it, and have not taken the time to look for it, but it is nice when working on small stuff requiring little to no power.

 

[Cummins_Powered]

Consider a drill plus impact. After using an impact recently to drive screws it was awesome. No more screws driven only 3/4 of the way in then the bit camming out.

 

[gc11090]

Consider a drill plus impact. After using an impact recently to drive screws it was awesome. No more screws driven only 3/4 of the way in then the bit camming out.

And if you want to 100% avoid this problem, use the grip rite torx head screws they sell at lowes. I swear I will never buy a phillips head screw again.

 

[mrshaun]

18 volt is more popular than our 14.4 ( we got rid of 12 volt).

 

[Stuey]

18v will give you longer life. Not much more power. For home use a good quality 12v will be pretty good.

The opposite is actually true. Greater voltage = beefier motors = greater power.

12V is definitely capable of drilling and driving fasteners into 2x4s.

I don't see why the choice has to be 18V or 12V. I use both.

 

[fomocoforrester]

12 volts means that if you are ever away from a charging point or, if in the future batteries are no longer economically replaceable, you can run it off a car battery.

 

[v7guy]

I've only bought the cheap black and decker cordless tools. the 18v seems to routinely do the job with no problem but it is heavier than the smaller battery counterparts. I've used some dewalts that were 12v and they worked well at work.
just another data point, most of the guys here have a lot more experience with a variety of tools.

 

[Dark Horse]

18V lithium Impact with torx head. Light as a 12v, if not lighter.

 

[Monte]

Depends on the "AH" size of the Battery .

For example:

18 Volt with 1.3 AH Battery = 234 Watt
12 Volt and 2 AH = 240 Watt
-------------------------------------------
= 12 Volt/2AH more power.

 

[wxm]

I have both 12V and 18V. The 12V (Milwaukee) is used for the day-to-day around the house jobs; it is light and small and both wife and the kid are comfortable to handle it; whereas the 18V is used more for the "project" - installing garage door opener, wall panel and remove the lug nuts etc. If you have to choose between the two - I'd start with 18v; first make sure the jobs get done. You can then add 12V in the future - small, light weight is a luxury not necessity. Just my $0.02. That's said if you are certain all you need is to drill through 2x4 and drive the wood screw. The 12V is more than capable for that.

 

[bg819]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'll go 18V for now in a drill and impact combo. Seems like any saw would best work corded. I'll go 12V if money and need allows.

 

[Rudyjr]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'll go 18V for now in a drill and impact combo. Seems like any saw would best work corded. I'll go 12V if money and need allows.

This is the kit I just bought to replace my older cordless and the company I purchased it from. This set has really proven itself to me already and you cant beat the great price and service and free shipping.

http://expresstools.com/Makita-LXT211-Combo-Kit.aspx

 

[Stuey]

12 volts means that if you are ever away from a charging point or, if in the future batteries are no longer economically replaceable, you can run it off a car battery.

All those compact cordless li-ion power tools use 10.8V batteries, not 12V.

I also don't see anyone (well, 99.9% of people) hacking together a power cord for their compact tools.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Consider a drill plus impact. After using an impact recently to drive screws it was awesome. No more screws driven only 3/4 of the way in then the bit camming out.

Yes, one of my co-workers on my job is using a Milwaukee impact driver to run screws, it does work nice, but Im guessing you've doubled the budget at that point over just a drill/driver. Thats the only thing that has kept me from buying one, I will at some point, when one of my drill/drivers takes a formal dump.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I have a 12v DeWalt drill. It has no balls and terrible battery life. I wish it was an 18v. As a mechanic i use it for things like drilling out broken bolts and it's not very good at that. I wouldn't go for anything other than 18v in future.

 

[kc-steve]

Hello all,

I found this forum while searching for opinions on best cordless tools and have a question. I am a DIYer and the most I would use the tools for is finishing a basement and possibly building a deck. My question is what is the point where an 18 volt tool is necessary instead of a 12 volt tool. I like the idea of the small, light compact 12 volt but I'm not sure if I would be able to drill through 2x4s and drive screws in them. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

I could be wrong, but I think some of the guys who have posted here are mistakenly thinking that the 12v tool you mention is the same as the old version. Drill makers now have "compact" versions called 12v tools that are much better than the older versions.

That said, I recently went from an old B&D 14v tool to an 18v Makita and am seriously impressed with its power and it recharges quickly. Not to mention the battery life is extremely long in comparison. (lithium ion) I haven't tried the new compact versions though.

In my opinion, the Makita 18v cordless is the best drill on the market. It is professional quality but the only drawback is its size. But I am not using it in my day job.

My next step is to buy a quality set of drivers. Don't expect those HF drivers to do the job with a Makita.

Steve

 

[fomocoforrester]

All those compact cordless li-ion power tools use 10.8V batteries, not 12V.

I also don't see anyone (well, 99.9% of people) hacking together a power cord for their compact tools.

Apparently people are doing it for 18 volt drills as well by using two 12 volt vehicle batteries in series. (NATO socket for you guys with military vehicles)