decent starter drill (cordless)

[dxdexter]

Well, it may have been said that DeWalt *****, but the general consensus was just that DeWalt was overrated. In other words, there are other brands out there in the same price range that are just as good, if not better. That's it, nothing more.

BTW, if you want to talk about jumping on the bank wagon, I would have to guess that most people who buy DeWalt cordless tools do so because they see all the construction guys using them. Hey, and I can't blame them because we often depend on other people's experiences to help us make decisions when buying tools.

This is what happens when I get off early from work and start reading the posts that say an 18v drill can't set a 3.5" screw. I should just shrug it off, but I just can't. I need help!!!!!

 

[billymade]

Hey, I support your new approach to this process of evaluation with "actual" evidence! I hear people say stuff on this board that is the exact opposite of my experience all the time; thats why I get all worked up sometimes and post a aggravated/emotional response to things I see people saying! Good job! I hear the "****" being thrown at tools all the time and I follow up by asking people "why do they ****, explain why?"; because most of the time my experience has been the opposite or maybe I can avoid a tool I haven't purchased yet! By the way DeWalt seems to be good stuff; they also have service to back their products up and they have flat fees for repairs. This is one of the key things that professional grade tools offer over the lesser brands; at sears if something is out of warranty we usually just recommend they buy a new one, as it is not cost effective to repair but sears does sell parts for their tools. This is sad but is a reflection of the throw away nature of the majority of products sold today! Good work keep it up and I think we are on the same page; now if I can learn to just "let it go" when someone says something that is the exact opposite of my own personal experience; my life would be more peaceful!

 

[nissan_crawler]

Sorry guys I just can't let your trashing of Dewalt name go unchallenged, especially since my experiences have been so different than anything you guys have written. I decided to perform a little experiment using my oldest 12v cordless and a fresh battery. The drill used was a 6 year old DW974 which at the time of its purchase was $250. This tool was considered commercial grade at the time and has had thousands of screws through it. I actually consider this unit superior to my 14.4v.

While I am not saying that the Dewalt is any better or worse than any other brand, I find it unacceptable that they be trashed by anecdotal evidence based on issues with a few tools, especially with the astronomical number in service. Sometimes the problem is with the gunner and not the gun and its a poor craftsman who blames his tools.

While I hope you accept what I say as the truth I have also included photos.

Where did you get it from? I've seen plastic gear dewalts come out of the box stores, and you can upgrade them to metal ones that the heavier ones have. Such might be the case with the one you have.

Either way, I've seen plenty of them fail, especially with batteries. My uncle, a general contractor, won't buy a Dewalt tool to save his ***.

I doubt my dad was "using it wrong", seeing has he's been making furniture for over 40 years, and has sold some $20,000 pieces to doctors. Plain and simple, it didn't cut the mustard. The case has cracked twice from use (his B+D one has cracked the case 3x from twisting, though).

My 14.4 Bosch had no issues with it, and will run a 1 1/4" holesaw right through a 3/16" thick air compressor tank (put 6 of them in it). I use it all the time to run a holesaw in steel, drill up to 1" holes in frames, etc., and it just plain works.

Yours being 6 years old makes a big difference, and I bet $ if you take yours apart, it has steel gears. Now go buy one of the current p.o.s. plastic geared dewalt drills from a box store and get back to me. I can't count how many people at work have stripped them out. The tool crib at work takes all the new Dewalt drills apart, throws the plastic gears away, and puts new steel ones in before they'll even check the drills out for us to use.

 

[Crasen]

I use an 18v Ryobi drill at work everyday, I have had it for about 28 months and it has held up fine. One of the batteries is starting to not hold a charge very well. But as cheap as the batteries are 2 for $40 it is not that big of a deal. Some other people have had 12v Dewalt, they work fine for light work. 18v Dewalts have worked just fine. An 18v skil lasted about 3 or 4 months. The 14.4 volt Dewalts and Bosch worK good just not as powerfull as an 18v dewalt or even a Ryobi. We have a few Bosch 10.8v Lithium ion pocket drivers and they are great For driving screws and lag screws. We drive a lot of screws, drill anything from small to large 2 inch holes in sheet metal and plywood. If you want to go the less expensive route I would Consider an 18v ryobi or craftsman. If you want to spend a little more money consider the 18v compact lithium Ion drills.

 

[dxdexter]

Where did you get it from? I've seen plastic gear dewalts come out of the box stores, and you can upgrade them to metal ones that the heavier ones have. Such might be the case with the one you have.

Either way, I've seen plenty of them fail, especially with batteries. My uncle, a general contractor, won't buy a Dewalt tool to save his ***.

I doubt my dad was "using it wrong", seeing has he's been making furniture for over 40 years, and has sold some $20,000 pieces to doctors. Plain and simple, it didn't cut the mustard. The case has cracked twice from use (his B+D one has cracked the case 3x from twisting, though).

My 14.4 Bosch had no issues with it, and will run a 1 1/4" holesaw right through a 3/16" thick air compressor tank (put 6 of them in it). I use it all the time to run a holesaw in steel, drill up to 1" holes in frames, etc., and it just plain works.

Yours being 6 years old makes a big difference, and I bet $ if you take yours apart, it has steel gears. Now go buy one of the current p.o.s. plastic geared dewalt drills from a box store and get back to me. I can't count how many people at work have stripped them out. The tool crib at work takes all the new Dewalt drills apart, throws the plastic gears away, and puts new steel ones in before they'll even check the drills out for us to use.

You could be right. It just not been my experience. I sure could have used my 8 month old 12v, DC940 in my experiment and achieved the same results, but I no longer care and don't have the ambition to pull a new drill apart.

Support offshore manufacturers.......BUY FOREIGN.

 

[chappys4life]

wow this thread is getting interesting and I am still lost on what to get

 

[chad s]

Well, it may have been said that DeWalt *****, but the general consensus was just that DeWalt was overrated. In other words, there are other brands out there in the same price range that are just as good, if not better. That's it, nothing more.

BTW, if you want to talk about jumping on the bank wagon, I would have to guess that most people who buy DeWalt cordless tools do so because they see all the construction guys using them. Hey, and I can't blame them because we often depend on other people's experiences to help us make decisions when buying tools.

Agreed 100%