Need a 1/4 hex drive driver.....

[Recoil Rob]

Alas, I missed out on the $38 Bosch combo deal that was at Lowes a few weeks back.

I have had a Makita 9.6V driver drill for the last 20 years and it finally went MIA so it's time to replace it.

My work involves unscrewing things in tight places, taking apart some framing or paneling, the Makita usually did the job but sometime it dogged it. Ususally Philips head but occasionally square drive and Torx.

I'd like a kit with an extra battery, if it's a combo with a drill that's fine but the compact driver is what's essential, and trigger operated variable speed control is a real plus. Are they all impact drivers theses days? Is 18V Lith Ion they way to go?

The Bosch combo is on sale at Amazon for $225, but after seeing it for $38 at Lowe's I'm looking for a better deal.

Any recommendations appreciated.

thanks, Rob

 

[jjjrmx5]

Alas, I missed out on the $38 Bosch combo deal that was at Lowes a few weeks back.

I have had a Makita 9.6V driver drill for the last 20 years and it finally went MIA so it's time to replace it.

My work involves unscrewing things in tight places, taking apart some framing or paneling, the Makita usually did the job but sometime it dogged it. Ususally Philips head but occasionally square drive and Torx.

I'd like a kit with an extra battery, if it's a combo with a drill that's fine but the compact driver is what's essential, and trigger operated variable speed control is a real plus. Are they all impact drivers theses days? Is 18V Lith Ion they way to go?

The Bosch combo is on sale at Amazon for $225, but after seeing it for $38 at Lowe's I'm looking for a better deal.

Any recommendations appreciated.

thanks, Rob

First, LOL. I still too have a old skool Makita 9.6 laying around and it gets used, but it is far from the current technology and battery power out there.

For some reason I;m gonna guess the Bosch sale you missed was likely the 7.2v or 9.6v tools as the 12v, 14v and 18v units are far pricier than that.

As for what you need, it sounds like anything below 12v will not meet your needs , but you may need a smaller sized driver to get into the tight areas you require. 18v and up is the industry standard it seems, but the lower voltage tools have thier uses for electronics, automotive trim and interiors, etc.

As for types, there are impact drivers, impact drills and the old style drill/drivers that do not use the impact hammer/anvil mechanism but use torque to get the job done.

As for brands, I personally prefer Bosch or Makita, but have used Hitachi with good results. Dewalt and Milwaukee both make acceptable drills/impact drivers as well.

There should be a recent thread listing pros and cons of types and brands.

With the Holidays coming up, there should be some deals to be had so figure out what you need then pounce when you see a sale.

 

[Recoil Rob]

For some reason I;m gonna guess the Bosch sale you missed was likely the 7.2v or 9.6v tools as the 12v, 14v and 18v units are far pricier than that.

Thanks for the help and advice but the Lowe's sale was for an 18V Bosch 1/4" impact driver and 1/2 driver drill with 2 batteries. Normally $250, on sale for $38, there was a big thread here on it. People scrambling, kind of nuts. I almost got a couple but the local store wouldn't honor the price.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Thanks for the help and advice but the Lowe's sale was for an 18V Bosch 1/4" impact driver and 1/2 driver drill with 2 batteries. Normally $250, on sale for $38, there was a big thread here on it. People scrambling, kind of nuts. I almost got a couple but the local store wouldn't honor the price.

Sorry. My bad.
If it was in the Hot Deals section, I didn't catch it. And at the $38 price, I can understand how many Lowes would not honor it. Maybe on Black Friday, but that's a "I'm soooo drunk but Imma gonna sell my tools right now on Craigslist" kinda pricing.

LOL

 

[rayh91]

I was lucky to get in on the Bosch deal for the 18v and I have to say, it's nice but I love my 12V PS41 a lot more. The 18V is almost twice as strong but the power to weight isn't worth it to me.

 

[jjjrmx5]

but I love my 12V PS41 a lot more. The 18V is almost twice as strong but the power to weight isn't worth it to me.

And that's teh "fork in the road' that is determined by the majority of work that you use it for.

A lot of our floor specialty assemblers use the smaller 12v tools to tear down automotive interiors and do reassembly on those same items that use the OEM factory fasteners, but tasks like drilling thru body steel, pinch welds or armor plate tends to drain those tools quickly so they use the 14v or mainly 18v drills or drill/ impacts to drill those holes or run up bigger body bolts, sunvisor bolts and the like.

If used in woodworking (be it framing, decks, etc.), the bigger teh voltage the better I have found. Tight spaces or using on furniture or cabinetry may dictate the need for the smaller tools, but not nearly as much as electronics, automotive and other more sensitive type uses.

 

[hammergodthor]

Get the Bosch 12v setup. Lots of power, fits in small spaces. I bought the combo for $130 a while back from Lowes. Expecting/waiting for another $38 deal is slightly delusional in my mind - just saying - no offense to anyone.