12V screw/drill drivers - opinions

[TxAgs]

Hey all,

My wife's family does a secret Santa thing and this year I've been thinking about asking for a 12V screwdriver/drill. All of my cordless tools are DeWalt, but the DeWalt versions are in the $150 range.

Does anyone have any experience with the Craftsman versions? Should I just stick with the DeWalt?

Looking for some good ideas!

Thanks,

Jason

 

[wxm]

I have been using Milwaukee M12 screw drivers, love them. In fact, I have series of M12 tools from impact drive to drill and am very happy with them.

 

[Holt]

I don't have the dewalt or the craftsman versions but I have the bosch 12 impact and drill driver. PS41-2a and PS21-2a. I got both for 150 off ebay from a factory authorized seller. You can buy each for just 99 bucks. For 12 volts they kick some serious ****. I love them. I use the professionally and they haven't failed on me yet. I have also heard about Milwaukee 12 line up is good as well. If you are getting a new drill chances are it will have the lithiom ions batteries. There a little different to use then the old nicads as they don't have the long slow die off period. Batteries stay strong till the end then the die.

 

[wreckercologist]

I have the Makita 12 Li-Ion drill and impact driver. About six months old and they do the job required of them. In hind sight, I think I may have bought the Milwaukee's instead because they offer a right angle drill, 1/4" drive ratchet, and small saber saw on the same battery platform. The only other tool I can get from Makita that uses the same battery is a freaking flashlight........

 

[wxm]

I have the Makita 12 Li-Ion drill and impact driver. About six months old and they do the job required of them. In hind sight, I think I may have bought the Milwaukee's instead because they offer a right angle drill, 1/4" drive ratchet, and small saber saw on the same battery platform. The only other tool I can get from Makita that uses the same battery is a freaking flashlight........

Good point. Not to mention. Milwaukee just added a 1/4 ratchet to the M12 line. I have one on order, have not received it yet...

 

[Holt]

Good point. Not to mention. Milwaukee just added a 1/4 ratchet to the M12 line. I have one on order, have not received it yet...

They also have a heated jacket that runs off the battery.

 

[metal1313]

i beleive there is also an m12 inspection camera, tubing cutter, and rotary tool amoung other things

 

[Jawn]

The only other tool I can get from Makita that uses the same battery is a freaking flashlight........

If it's the one I am thinking of, I know there's a small circular saw too. I have the kit that came with it and the non-impact drill/driver.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=Pv_BTtO1O8HkggeTptHPDg&sqi=2&ved=0CGoQ8wIwBw

 

[wreckercologist]

If it's the one I am thinking of, I know there's a small circular saw too. I have the kit that came with it and the non-impact drill/driver.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=Pv_BTtO1O8HkggeTptHPDg&sqi=2&ved=0CGoQ8wIwBw

You are correct. I had forgotten about that one as a circular saw is just about useless to me in a truck shop The Makita's are still nice tools, but need more tool options IMO. One upside to the Makita's is the batteries charge up in 20 or 25 minutes ( I have four) and my Cornwell dealer price matched them to a mail order flyer I had. Not a smoking good deal, but about $40 cheaper per tool when said and done over Cornwell's original asking price.

 

[Jawn]

Ah, see, the saw and drill get tons of use in my basement (building a model railroad - lots of 1x lumber and 3/4" MDF). Might get that impact driver just so I'm not swapping bits back and forth as much... plus it comes with more batteries and a second charger. (the saw eats batteries quickly).

 

[Easterlake]

I also own several m12 Milwaukee tools. I have an18v makita that I like, but hardly ever pick it up since I purchased the Milwaukee. Small, lightweight with plenty of torque. If I were you, I would skip the box store and hit a tool specific store that carries the entire m12 line. There are at least 4-5 drills/drivers to choose from.

 

[TxAgs]

You guys are awesome! Thanks. Looks like I am looking at a Milwaukee....

 

[route246]

I have Milwaukee and Bosch. I prefer the Bosch because it feels better in my hand but I prefer the Milwaukee 12V Sawzall which is one of the greatest tools in my box.

 

[Adrien]

I just picked up the Dewalt 12v Max drill and impact driver. I used the impact driver yesterday for the first time and I was blown away. However, I do wish Dewalt had a few more "useful" offerings in their 12v line.

Adrien

 

[rlitman]

I love my Bosch impact driver. They make a multitool and a sawzall type tool that uses the same battery too. Bosch has almost as many products available as Milwaukee.

My father has the Craftsman Nextec 12V drill. It's not bad, but it doesn't compare to my 18V Dewalt. One thing to be said for the Craftsman, is that the batteries go on sale for less than any other 12V lithiums other than the HF. Oh, and their multitool blades are very reasonably priced.

 

[Greatbear]

If you already have DeWalt cordless tools and batteries, you can save quite a bit by buying the "bare tool" version of whichever tool you prefer. This goes for most brands.

 

[reptilezs]

i have the craftsman nextec. for the price its pretty good. charges quick and enough power for most small tasks. about 40-50 on sale. usually goes for 50 on sale then you use the 5 of 50 code with a small filler item

 

[speed bump]

I have a Hitachi impact driver and it has been great for the $60 I paid for it with 2 batteries.

 

[Jackman]

I bought the M12 driver when it first came out. It is awesome. I run into trouble with big tasks like 4" screws, but it can pretty much handle everything. My wife got me the oscillating Multi tool for Xmas last year, awesome as well. It has adapters to fit accessories by any maker. Also bought the flashlight. So now I have those 3 and 4 batteries. I plan to get the rotary and the jigsaw. Very happy I went with the Milwaukee, as I almost got the Makita as well. Seems like sky is the limit as far as tools for it and now I can just buy bare tools.

 

[IndyGarage]

I have both the Bosch and the Milwaukee compact 12v (actually they are 10.8V) tools.

The Bosch's are faster and more powerful, and I like the batteries better. The Milwaukee line is more extensive and I like the ergonomics better. But overall they are pretty equivalent. Milwaukee has their High Capacity battery and it's great.

I still think the best 12V tool I've ever had was my Panasonic Drill with the 3.3 AH batteries. Panasonic also invented the Impactor, and theirs was great also.