Are cordless tools getting too heavy?

[reader2580]

I was at Home Depot last night and looked at a Makita display for the heck of it. They are now selling a combo kit that has 4.0 amp batteries instead of the 3.0 amp batteries. I picked up the drill with 4.0 battery and it was heavy! I couldn't see using it all day long. I would prefer changing batteries a little more often to save on weight.

My main cordless tools are Makita with the 3.0 amp battery. I have four of the 3.0 batteries. I also have a Ryobi drill that I bought because I needed the compact lithium batteries. The Ryobi drill is probably half the weight of the Makita drill I looked at last night. The Ryobi drill gets most things done at half the weight of the Makita with 4.0 battery. Even my Makita drill with 3.0 battery is quite a bit lighter. (I only have Ryobi because of the cordless miter saw.)

At what point do beefier cordless tools and larger batteries just get too darn heavy to use?

 

[shampoop]

I was at Home Depot last night and looked at a Makita display for the heck of it. They are now selling a combo kit that has 4.0 amp batteries instead of the 3.0 amp batteries. I picked up the drill with 4.0 battery and it was heavy! I couldn't see using it all day long. I would prefer changing batteries a little more often to save on weight.

My main cordless tools are Makita with the 3.0 amp battery. I have four of the 3.0 batteries. I also have a Ryobi drill that I bought because I needed the compact lithium batteries. The Ryobi drill is probably half the weight of the Makita drill I looked at last night. The Ryobi drill gets most things done at half the weight of the Makita with 4.0 battery. Even my Makita drill with 3.0 battery is quite a bit lighter. (I only have Ryobi because of the cordless miter saw.)

At what point do beefier cordless tools and larger batteries just get too darn heavy to use?

If the 4.0 batteries weigh more than the 3.0, i don't think it's the biggest difference in weight. The top of the line heavy duty 18v drills weigh a lot more than the lighter duty 18v tools. The lowlier makita 18v drill is great and like you said does most things very well. It weighs WAY less than the HD 18v drill. But the HD version has more power and is designed for people doing the heavy duty tasks all day every day at work that need the drill to survive for a long time. Also has extra features like hammer mode that add weight.

 

[dutchgray]

Most comparable tools have got lighter over time, but the heavy weight top of the range items are always heavy, I mostly use a compact 14.4v drill, but the big 3 speed heavy Makita comes out when I need it. I bet that Makita is putting out more torque with longer run time than the old Ni cad 36v very heavy drills.

 

[Hayzuse]

Idk I carry my 1/2 fuel impact around all day I don't even use my air one unless I'm pressing a ball joint in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Askme42]

Yeah not getting heavier from what I can tell.


You getting older and weaker?

 

[reader2580]

This new drill is definitely heavier than my Makita drill. I have the full size Makita cordless drill, not the white compact ones. I also have a an older heavier duty cordless Makita drill, but it appears the switch went out. I ended up buying a full size brushless drill/impact kit last spring because I was down to one battery and my drill was dead. The kit also has a new faster charger.

I had three of the old style LXT 3.0 batteries and only one is left. The newer LXT 3.0 batteries are supposed to last longer.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I don't have a problem with weight but I do have a issue with every single tool having so much rubber on them, I hate rubber since it irritates my bare hands when I am using a cordless drill all the time. Even returned a ridgid 12v combo because of my hands getting irritated. Texture is ok but unless it is estwing type rubber my hands will get irritated.

 

[Kracin]

i've got a compact 18v milwaukee, the fuel hammerdrill, and 12v brushed. the fuel hammerdrill is considerably heavier, but it also has a lot more to it, the other two don't have components as beefy inside, and don't have the extra hardware for hammerdrilling and such.

if you want a light tool, buy one that will do one job well. ie, if you want a drill, buy a drill with no frills on it and you'll save weight. not to mention milwaukee even came out with a compact hammerdrill now too. so there are options. personally for the amount i do use my drill when i'm at work, i never saw a problem with the weight, i like the weight to it, it feels beefier than a coworkers makita which feels like i'm going to twist the thing apart if i tighten the chuck too hard (just in reference to the weight, its still a great drill)

 

[Kracin]

I don't have a problem with weight but I do have a issue with every single tool having so much rubber on them, I hate rubber since it irritates my bare hands when I am using a cordless drill all the time. Even returned a ridgid 12v combo because of my hands getting irritated. Texture is ok but unless it is estwing type rubber my hands will get irritated.

true. pushing hard on the drills gets the web in between my thumb and pointer all red and hot. gets annoying when you need to drive a ton of screws or holes or something. wish they offered a more slick type rubber grip. doesn't help that i clean my handles off every night, so they go right back to grippy when done.

i tend to wear gloves most of the time when i use them now, helps with rub burning and such, so why not.

 

[bonneyman]

I thought cordless drills got too heavy once they grew past the 9.6 volt Makita's!

And that annoying "bulge" on the bottom of the handle? Yeah, it helped the balance some, and you could stand the drill up on it, but, way to big to get into tight duct spaces.

 

[Caman]

If 4ah batteries are getting too heavy for you, better stay away from the 5ah batteries Milwaukee has out.

I welcome them, I hate having to keep changing batteries in the middle of a job, especially if I'm on a roof or a distance away from the charger.

I still have some old NiCad batteries that weigh just as much as the lithium a and have only 3ah and I don't remember anybody complaining about it then.

 

[efb16acrx]

Kinda unavoidable in the top of the line stuff as power and runtime are constantly increasing. That power has to come from somewhere. I prefer my smaller cordless tools, but they simply can't do everything I need them to, which is why I have the big stuff too. Both have their place.

 

[SASORacing]

2a batteries in my Mil M12 FUEL are very compact but still powerfull enough for any 3/8 bolt.

 

[Scott r c]

Heavy? Ha. We use Milwaukee 28v on our plumbing trucks. Probably twice as big as that Makita.

 

[Farmall450]

I don't have a problem with weight but I do have a issue with every single tool having so much rubber on them, I hate rubber since it irritates my bare hands when I am using a cordless drill all the time. Even returned a ridgid 12v combo because of my hands getting irritated. Texture is ok but unless it is estwing type rubber my hands will get irritated.

Buy some gloves?
Seriously, as I don't think manufacturers are going away from it anytime soon.

 

[neophyte]

I thought cordless tools had gotten lighter since the days of NiCd.

If you get a chance to handle the tools with batteries before buying them, the balance of the tool can have far more effect on user fatigue than the weight.

The older Milwaukee Lok-Tor drills had really good balance. Some of the Festool drills also have pretty perfect balance but I'm not sure about the current models.

 

[Kracin]

I thought cordless drills got too heavy once they grew past the 9.6 volt Makita's!

And that annoying "bulge" on the bottom of the handle? Yeah, it helped the balance some, and you could stand the drill up on it, but, way to big to get into tight duct spaces.

12v stuff with the small batteries the same size as the handle prove to be the reason why i bought them for home. you can fit them inside vent ducting to put anchor points for registers and such. much easier than having to shell out more for a right angle drill or something.

Buy some gloves?
Seriously, as I don't think manufacturers are going away from it anytime soon.

i use gloves when my hands start to get irritated from a lot of heavy steel drilling.

 

[defektes]

I don't have a problem with weight but I do have a issue with every single tool having so much rubber on them, I hate rubber since it irritates my bare hands when I am using a cordless drill all the time. Even returned a ridgid 12v combo because of my hands getting irritated. Texture is ok but unless it is estwing type rubber my hands will get irritated.

I agree with the rubber, but I did notice a plus when working construction, when working on fine finished surfaces it adds another level of protection to the work. We all know we should have that cardboard ontop of that new oak cabinet, but hey..lol

 

[tncatadjuster]

M12 why would you need anything bigger, they work all day long and charge faster than you can use them up.

 

[rice rocket]

I think the drill the OP picked up was the XPH07, which is their 6 lb, 1100 in-lb drill. That drill, while hefty, blows everything else out of the water.

Makita does sell a more reasonable one that's on par w/ the M18 Fuel, DeWalt brushless, etc.

 

[Ign]

Heavy? Ha. We use Milwaukee 28v on our plumbing trucks. Probably twice as big as that Makita.

This. I used to use my V28 drill for EVERYTHING. Loved it, swore by it. Now that I've gotten used to the smaller M18 (even the Fuel 2604 hammer drill which is one of the heaviest M18 drills) I got rid of my V28.

So, no OP, cordless tools are getting smaller and lighter.

I'm also enjoying seeing things like 40V and beyond in applications where it can ballast (weedeaters) or doesn't matter much (lawnmowers). I welcome the big voltages to continue making the world cordless. I hate small engines and I hate cords.

 

[reader2580]

Yes, it was the XPH07 drill I was lifting at Home Depot. It was surprisingly heavy compared to my XPH06 drill I bought last summer. The XPH07 with 4.0 battery is way, way heavy compared to my Ryobi cordless drill with compact lithium+ battery, but the Ryobi is almost a toy.

Nicad tools were pretty heavy and then lithium came around and they got a lot lighter. The trend for some of the cordless stuff is to go bigger and heavier, but the big stuff is to replace bigger corded tools.

I have an old Craftsman drill that is really heavy and a cordless will never replace. It has massive torque. I use it to drill with really big hole saws and I've nearly broken my wrist when a hole saw caught on something.

 

[shampoop]

M12 why would you need anything bigger,

For tasks that require more power, durability, and run time than what a m12 provides.

 

[67King]

No. They are getting smaller and lighter. Had my junk 2.5 A-hr Ni-Cd batteries not all gone talons-up, I would have gotten the batteries in there, too. Cheaper to buy the tool kit with charger and 2 batteries than just the batteries and a charger.

But here is a 2nd generation (bottom) and a 4th generation beside each other for comparison.

 

[Caman]

For tasks that require more power, durability, and run time than what a m12 provides.

Nah, that can't be it?

There is more than just screwing in some sheet metal screws and hanging picture frames in this world. For the homeowners and light duty pros there will always be a place for the light 12 volts. But for those of us who actually have muscles, need power, long runtime, and portability the larger batteries are a godsend.

Try cutting a few 2x4s with a 1.5ah battery on a circular saw, you'd be lucky to get through 10 cuts with it, if that. Or using any kind of self feeding auger bit, probably wouldn't even get through 6 holes.

 

[sam.coll]

Maybe this drill would suit you better, much lighter, doesnt need to be plugged in and the battery never goes flat:

 

[CobraChevelle]

lift some weights