Need a suggestion to replace my drill (battery operated)

[richg99]

What is out there that is small; reasonable in price; charges quickly; has at least two set speeds ( not a variable speed that you cannot every control properly); a hand-tightened chuck...and will last?

The story of my loss is below if anyone cares why I need a new drill.
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I've had lots of drills over many years. About 9 or 10 years ago, I bought an A123 battery operated Black and Decker VPX 7 volt drill. In fact, I bought two of them. Now, I wish I had bought four or more.

As you probably know, the entire A!23 battery company went out of business and the remains were sold to the Chinese.

IMHO, the A123 batteries, while low in power, were great for my needs. They charged in an hour or less. The drill itself was small, lightweight and had plenty of power for my around-the-house/garage/boat usage.

Anyhow, the last of the two drills died today. I am hoping to resurrect one good one from the two defunct relics, but I have to be a realist.
Thanks for any help or suggestions.
richg99

 

[engineer2]

Look at the Makita sub-compact drill like the XFD11 or the Milwaukee M12. I'm sure DeWalt has something too.

 

[kctyphoon]

Milwaukee m12.. the brushed options are very good, very reasonably priced. The m12 fuel options are there too if you want bigger power. Even hammer drill options exist. Best part being that once you have a battery or two, they have a huge system of tools that operate off those same batteries (available in many different sizes now btw) ranging from heated clothes, to portable lighting, and even new stubby impact wrenches coming out that are more powerful than some 18v options. I use to have that black and deck vpx stuff too. Those were my first ever lithium tools. The fact that those batteries could sit for a year and still have a full charge is what made me finally upgrade from my 18v dewalt nicad stuff to milwaukee m18.

 

[finn]

My wife appropriated my 12v Bosch driver. Small, light, and easy to handle.

Most of the new LI drills charge in fifteen minutes or so.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

M12 will do ALOT of work in small package. I have a few between the house and shop.

This and a spare xc battery will handle most anything.

https://www.cpomilwaukee.com/milwau...MIipGnuOX82wIVlFuGCh00-wYbEAYYAyABEgIUe_D_BwE

https://www.cpomilwaukee.com/milwau...n-battery-pack/miln48-11-2430,default,pd.html

 

[richg99]

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

Search is over. Went to Lowes. Found a Bosch deal. $99.00 for BOTH a 12-volt, Two speed (very important to me); TWO batteries (also important to me); Charger, and a 12-volt DRILL and a 12 Volt DRIVER, plus carrying case.

Two tools; two batteries; good name... I couldn't find anything better than that.

regards, Rich

 

[theoldwizard1]

Milwaukee m12.. the brushed options are very good, very reasonably priced. The m12 fuel options are there too if you want bigger power. Even hammer drill options exist. Best part being that once you have a battery or two, they have a huge system of tools that operate off those same batteries.

Concur, especially on the brushed vs brushless (Fuel).

Save yourself some money and get a 3/8" drill instead of a 1/2" drill. If you shop around, you can find a full set of bits that are turned down to fit a 3/8" chuck. (If you find yourself really needed a bigger drill, find a triple gear reduction, 1/2", CORDED drill. You won't be sorry !)

Frequently, the next battery tool purchase is an impact driver. Here I would spend the extra on an M12 Fuel model, but I also recommend getting a 3/8" square drive model (2454) and then a 3/8" square to 1/4" hex adapter. Much more useful than getting a 1/4" hex impact and then the 3/8" adapter.

 

[cummins_on_you]

I have a m12 drill i use every day its awesome

 

[Jonny Rotten]

I bought a Costco Greenworks drill and impact drill combo for $100. Works good. Costco lifetime warrenty

 

[jetnow1]

I have and use my Makita daily, also have a dewalt set. Dewalt batteries take 3 times as long to charge, the Makita recharges as fast as I can run the spare down. But the Dewalt
recip saw is better than the Makita one, and I rarely need to cut that much to run the batteries down, if I do I get out the corded Makita. Would not buy anything that was not
Lithium batteries.

 

[Clutchrider]

I had the Ryobi blue/yellow drill that went with the flashlight, circular saw, sawzall, etc. It didn't seem to want to do the work and even with new batteries and charger. It strained for simple at home jobs and I hesitated to take it with me places. I finally decided to upgrade and get something worthwhile. Unfortunately my need fell around a time that tools were not really on sale or being put together with bundle deals.

Either way I started my collection with a Milwaukee M18 drill and fell in love. Great product, charge is fast and lasts awhile, the base can accommodate both M18 and M12 batteries, and Milwaukee has a ton of tools available for the system. I got the vacuum for father's day and am just as pleased, it's great for cleaning the cars and when I don't want to lug my Craftsman shop-vac around.