20V Craftsman lithium vs 18v dewalt

[fordracing200]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00925737000P?keyword=cordless+impact+wrench
dewalt 18v

sears cordless search results
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=cordless+impact+wrench

20v lithium cordless
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00929297000P?keyword=cordless+impact+wrench

I'm leaning towards the lithium because its lighter and doesn't have a stupid safety pin or stupid rocker switch, but as far as affordable cordless 1/2" impacts go, whose used any 20v lithium craftsman stuff? my friends boss has the reciprocating saw, seems to work really well. Hows the power on the impact? Ive used the dewalt, power is ok, how much better or worse is the cman? or are they the same? which does everyone reccomend

 

[fordracing200]

the thing is, the dewalt has 2 batterys, a charger, and a case and the sears has one battery a charger and a soft bag, and the dewalt can be had for 239.99 on amazon. my question is, what is a lithium battery?

 

[JD6619A]

they probably meant to say Lithium Ion, it's the newer of the battery types that cordless tools use. The older types used to be NiCad (nickel cadmium) and the NMH (Nickel Metal Hydride)

 

[fordracing200]

i know that much, but how much better are they? Anyone else? Whats better about a lithium and any expierence with these impacts?

 

[billymade]

When it comes to: parts, service, support and quality... I think the DeWalt would be better, just my opinion. If you ever need it repaired, serviced or rebuilt; Dewalt can do it. From what I experienced at Sears; they don't service the small tools anymore (because it isn't cost effective) but you could get the parts through searspartsdirect.com, fix it yourself. I have not tried either of these units but I'm just not convinced Craftsman is better then DeWalt; if you listen to all the hype, the Lithium batteries are the new cats meow.... of course if the gun isn't any good, who cares about the batteries! If you are really going to use a tool; you want the service to back it up, all tools will have to be repaired eventually! For the price of these new guns; you might just be able to get a used or refurbished pro gun... something to think about!

 

[wtfovr]

I say go with the Dewalt. All our carpenters use nothing but Dewalt tools here in Afghanistan. Now granted it is what the company/government supplied them but I have never heard them complain about battery life or quality.

Last week I went on a HUGE Dewalt 18v tool binge and bought one of everything it seams. This week I followed it up with a purchase of the Dewalt 1/4" impact driver after I was handling one are carpenter had fixing my busted door. He told me how valuable that one tool was in everyday work and repairs. Hell I went to Ebay and ordered it before he was finished with my door repair. lol

 

[Joe B.]

I have some of the other Craftsman 20v tools and I have been happy with them. The Lithium Ion batteries should get you a longer battery life, not more power. If you are just going to change one set of tires, batter life won't matter much to you. If you are going to use it all day and night, you will want as much battery power as you can get.

 

[fordracing200]

while the service part is true, I heard the new dewalt stuff isn't very good either, since black and decker took them over, the drills use plastic gears, they burn out in a year under commercial use (contractor), thats what I've been hearing and the guy at sears told me this too. any truth to this? The reason I even ask is because the dewalt has the stupid safety pin anvil and even though I could leave a short extension on it, it'd **** for tight spaces trying to change the socket out. And the dual action trigger hates me, I always tighten everything then loosen it, haha.

 

[fordracing200]

I have some of the other Craftsman 20v tools and I have been happy with them. The Lithium Ion batteries should get you a longer battery life, not more power. If you are just going to change one set of tires, batter life won't matter much to you. If you are going to use it all day and night, you will want as much battery power as you can get.

which tools do you have? I want this more for junkyard you pull it kind of trips more then anything, but it is nice for a quick tire change also.

 

[fordracing200]

When it comes to: parts, service, support and quality... I think the DeWalt would be better, just my opinion. If you ever need it repaired, serviced or rebuilt; Dewalt can do it. From what I experienced at Sears; they don't service the small tools anymore (because it isn't cost effective) but you could get the parts through searspartsdirect.com, fix it yourself. I have not tried either of these units but I'm just not convinced Craftsman is better then DeWalt; if you listen to all the hype, the Lithium batteries are the new cats meow.... of course if the gun isn't any good, who cares about the batteries! If you are really going to use a tool; you want the service to back it up, all tools will have to be repaired eventually! For the price of these new guns; you might just be able to get a used or refurbished pro gun... something to think about!

I think I might look for a used snappy, thats also a good route to take.

 

[chevy4lyf]

Through Craftsman Club this month you can get the Craftsman Impact Wrench for $199.99 and an extra 20v Battery for $69.99. On Amazon.com if you buy the Dewalt model through their regular website (and not separate resellers) it is $255.99 new. So you're talking $256 (before shipping) for the Dewalt NiCd vs. $270 (before tax) for the Li-Ion Craftsman Pro. Performance is essentially similar between the 2, both deliver 300 ft-lbs. of torque.

Someone else has the Dewalt for $219 and $239 through amazon.com but you don't necessarily know what your'e getting or what the return policy is, if there even is one.

However, the Dewalt is single speed forward/reverse. The Craftsman Pro is variable speed. I don't know if that will make a difference for you, but it might. The Lithium-Ion will definitely make a difference though. The Dewalt NiCd XRP battery is powerful, but once the power drains, so will your ability to use the tool. With Li-Ion, you pretty much maintain peak power output until the battery is nearly out of energy. The Li-Ion battery will also likely last longer (greater cycle count).

 

[billymade]

The batteries sound like a good improvement but what if the impact itself isn't very durable, fails; then you try to get it serviced? The Craftsman power tools are pretty much disposable, throw away and replace, at this point!

 

[fordracing200]

I think I'll go check out that impact wrench tommorow...I've got some money, I just hate the dewalts trigger and anvil so bad...and how heavy and cheap it feels...I hear so much great about dewalt but tbh I'm far from impressed, it does what its intended to do, but the features ****.

 

[isr2kba]

while the service part is true, I heard the new dewalt stuff isn't very good either, since black and decker took them over, the drills use plastic gears, they burn out in a year under commercial use (contractor), thats what I've been hearing and the guy at sears told me this too. any truth to this? The reason I even ask is because the dewalt has the stupid safety pin anvil and even though I could leave a short extension on it, it'd **** for tight spaces trying to change the socket out. And the dual action trigger hates me, I always tighten everything then loosen it, haha.

I'm no fan of Dewalt, but for the sake of accuracy, Black and Decker owned them since before the cordless drill was even a big deal (probably since the early nineties).

Black and Decker also owns Porter Cable and Delta, two brands that have duly earned respect.

 

[fordracing200]

Yeah but they only owned a percentage, as of late they took them completely over, or so I was told.

 

[isr2kba]

Yeah but they only owned a percentage, as of late they took them completely over, or so I was told.

Couldn't say about the percentages, but I do know that it was B&D money behind the original Dewalt cordless tools, both R&D and Marketing. I was working with Builder's Square at the time and it was B&D execs coming in touting the Dewalt brand and doing all the bragging -- basically forcing everyone to carry the stuff.

 

[speed bump]

If I remember correctly Dewalt is what B and D industrial used to be but Dewalt was a better marketing gimmick. Everyone uses them because they are carried everywhere. The older ones where damn tough but after a while they get scary. By scary I mean it feels like its going to blow up/break because of the cheap plastic inards.

Personally I would skip the two choices and pick up either a Milwaukee or if your right handed a Hitachi

 

[fordracing200]

I checked out the Cman in person yesterday, same power, but in feel, weight, everything its worlds ahead of the dewalt, I'll either get one of those or look for a used snap on.

 

[Joe B.]

which tools do you have? I want this more for junkyard you pull it kind of trips more then anything, but it is nice for a quick tire change also.

Slow response.... I have the drill and the circular saw. Both have worked well for me but I must admit, I have not done any huge project with them. I really did not need a cordless circular saw but the set was not much more than just the drill.

My only complaint about the drill is that the side handle is held on by a metal band that you tighten down instead of having the threaded hole for the handle the screw into.

I have also seen the jigsaw version of this going for almost nothing nothing on the Sears Liquidation site if you don't mind open box returns. (They also have a lot of DeWalt stuff. They have been selling Skil Worm Drive saws for under $50.) http://auctions.searsliquidations.com/

 

[fordracing200]

is the liquidation site legit? have you bought anything off of there? How long does the 20v battery last? can you compare it to the 19.2? it seems like the 19.2, you use it once good and hard for only a few minutes and it gets weak almost instantly....and mines brand new..

 

[FNFS2000]

umm neither....

 

[wakeboarder311]

i would go with dewalt that what i have and i use everyday at work. they get abused at times with no complaint. a guy at work started out with craftsman and within 2 months sold it and bought dewalt like the rest of us

 

[fordracing200]

i would go with dewalt that what i have and i use everyday at work. they get abused at times with no complaint. a guy at work started out with craftsman and within 2 months sold it and bought dewalt like the rest of us

a lithium 20v craftsman or the old 18v 220ft lb cman?

 

[fordracing200]

umm neither....

well then whats your pick? I'd really like a snap on...but the coin is ridiculous. Shoulda ordered one with my student discount..

 

[billymade]

IF you are going to use this allot (oh, hell even if just once in a while); I would not considor a Craftsman.... period! NOOOOO!!!

 

[MAD]

I don't have the 1/2" drive Craftsman 20 volt lithium ion impact wrench, but I will probably get one soon. I received the 20 volt cordless reciprocating saw as a gift a couple of years ago and since then added the drill and 1/4" impact driver. These are powerful, heavy duty tools with metal gears, excellent chucks etc... They all have a two year, professional use, warranty.

I have used mine fairly heavily but not on a hard every day basis since these are my home use tools. I have had no problems and prefer these tools over the Dewalt 18 volt nicad tools I use at work. The drill can be on the heavy side for driving screws all day long but has plenty of power for heavy drilling. Now that I have the impact driver, the weight of the drill is not an issue for driving screws. These tools will kill cheap bit holders in a heartbeat.

The Craftsman Professional 20 volt lithium ion tools are made for Sears by a Chinese company called Chervon. I don't know much about the company except that they are a major manufacturer that makes tools in China under contract for many different major brands (Bosch, Ryobi, Skill, Black & Decker etc)

I have not tried the Dewalt 1/2" cordless impact so I cannot offer an opinion there. B&D has been making electric impact wrenches for a long time though. The point billymade brought up about future availability of parts is something to consider.

 

[fordracing200]

The thing with the dewalt is how big and heavy it is and how non user friendly it is, its the same size or a hair bigger then the HF 19.2 which everyone complains is way too big. And the cman just feels like its built better. JMO. Definitly buy one and tell us how it works.

 

[kf4zht]

Go with bosch or milwaukee

My 14v bosch would probably break my 19.2v crapsman in half if I ran them against each other. Dewalt is not worth the name they have with the construction guys.

 

[billymade]

Don't limit yourself to Craftsman and DeWalt; what about other brands?

chicago pneumatic:
http://www.google.com/products?clie...ench&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wf

ingersoll rand:
http://www.google.com/products?q=ingersoll+rand+cordless+impact+wrench&hl=en&aq=f

Maybe you can get some feedback on these other brands/guns!

 

[FNFS2000]

Bosch, Metabo, Festool. Bosch is on the low end of good stuff. Anything you can find in a big box store is not made for professional use...

 

[Monte]

How about one of these siblings ?

 

[fordracing200]

because for a bare tool, they're the same price as the fully loaded dewalt with 2 batts and a charger

 

[FNFS2000]

because for a bare tool, they're the same price as the fully loaded dewalt with 2 batts and a charger

and that should say something about quality...

 

[FiftyCalAl]

FNFS2000

what do you suggest for a lithium ion brand? I need cip saw, drill, impact driver. circular

 

[MAD]

Anything you can find in a big box store is not made for professional use...

More importantly, you don't want snobs looking down their noses at you while you are doing your job. You may want to hire a guide and go on a tool buying safari to Europe or Scandinavia. I hear that the best brands are not even sold in the U.S., for the reason that their names are too difficult for most Americans to pronounce.

 

[fordracing200]

and that should say something about quality...

Yeah but I'm only 18...I don't have 600 bucks laying around for an impact gun..

 

[FNFS2000]

FNFS2000

what do you suggest for a lithium ion brand? I need cip saw, drill, impact driver. circular

If budget is a concern I'd go for hitachi or Makita, otherwise, look at Metabo, festool or other higher end stuff. I'd stay away from the brand of international caution colors yellow and black.

 

[DHCrocks]

I use Dewalt and have no problems except for the batteries wearing out. The old XPR batteries didn't seem to last very long. I've since replaced them with the new Nano li-ion batteries and those are great last long, more power, lighter no down sides really. I don't know why people hate dewalt, I think it's pretty good, no complaints and they last a long time, I've had my 6pc set for about 10 years now and it's still going strong.

 

[dledinger]

Many B&D and Dewalt tools were nearly identical. I had a 9.6V cordless made by each that was absolutely the same...every part was interchangeable. The B&D came with a cheaper charger and one battery, versus two. The old B&D Professional circular saw had a Dewalt counterpart that was the same also. I have a B&D model....and it is a great saw!

Sadly, I have seen a signifigant decline in the quality of Dewalt tools. Now, I'd buy anything but.

 

[CamarosRus]

Using this thread to ask the following question.................

Guy in Seattle area has Craftsman 1/2" Cordless 11540 Drill, Two Batteries and Charger in Very Good Condition for $40.00.

I am a amatuer home owner user, not a pro

I dont know if the 11540 has double sleeve chuck, and if I can live with it or NOT ?????

Should I just buy and be happy.................or spend a lot more money to buy Lition Ion, yada, yada..........

Thanks for your immediate response..........I'll subscribe and wait ????????????
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