Popular Mechanics 3/89 - Anywhere Drills

[BDFan1981]

Does anyone remember the Popular Mechanics March 1989 issue of their review of eight different cordless drills ("Anywhere Drills," article begins on page 89)?
https://books.google.com/books?id=A...nywhere drills popular mechanics 1989&f=false

The eight drills covered in this issue are all at least 9.6 volts (two are 12 volts!) and have both variable speed control and clutch control. They are:
Black & Decker Professional 1987, 9.6V, 0-800 RPM, 4 clutch settings
Bosch 921VSR, 9.6V, 0-400 & 0-900 RPM, 5 clutch settings
Makita 6093DW, 9.6V, 0-400 & 0-1,100 RPM, 5 clutch settings
Milwaukee 0394-1, 9.6V, 0-350 & 0-1,000 RPM, 5 clutch settings
Porter-Cable 9850 Magnequench, 12.0V, 0-400 RPM, 5 clutch settings
Ryobi BD-1025VR, 9.6V, 0-350 & 0-1,100 RPM, 4 clutch settings
Sears Craftsman 11132, 9.6V, 0-600 RPM, 3 clutch settings
Skil Professional 2735-04, 12.0V, 0-500 & 0-1,650 RPM, 4 clutch settings

The writer claimed neither of the two 12 volt drills in this test had a wide clutch range nor did either one of them perform significantly better than any of the higher-ranked 9.6 volt drills in this test, despite the Skil's dubious honor of having the highest high speed range of up to 1,650 RPM.

Do any of you remember having used one of these eight cordless drills back then? If so, do you agree with the writers of the review in this issue about your drill that was covered in it?

~Ben

 

[blindley]

1989?? I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast this morning.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Some of those Makitas still work

 

[woody 73]

Ben I believe I have the Milwaukee drill from 1989 it still works do you want me to take any pictures of it for you?

 

[LXCam]

Those 9v Mikitas where the **** back then. I had and used that style for years with nothing but praise for them. The porta cable sucked a big set as they were designed to dissipate the charge when not in use. So you had to plan ahead of time and charge the batteries if you let let sit around for a few days. Matter of fact I'm pretty certain I still have one sitting on a shelf in the garage from the early 90's I've never tossed. I kept it since it was a decent drill. I'll have to see if I still got that antique.

 

[CJM8515]

My dad still got the makitas 9.6V and yea they still work. Up until about 7-8 years ago they still sold the batteries. Solid lightweight drills imho.

 

[BDFan1981]

Ben I believe I have the Milwaukee drill from 1989 it still works do you want me to take any pictures of it for you?

Yes, please do.

~Ben

 

[woody 73]

Pictures as promised from what I can remember I bought it in the late eighties or maybe 1990 ? It was my very first cordless tool and I thought it was the Kats Meow at the time I bought it. (it has 5 speed settings I hope it helps you out); although I just noticed it is a 12Volt and not the 9.6 volt model.

 

[BDFan1981]

Pictures as promised from what I can remember I bought it in the late eighties or maybe 1990 ? It was my very first cordless tool and I thought it was the Kats Meow at the time I bought it. (it has 5 speed settings I hope it helps you out); although I just noticed it is a 12Volt and not the 9.6 volt model.

Apparently, what you have is likely an improved model... Porter-Cable also responded to customers' poor reception to the 9850 with just one speed range by marketing the 9852 which now had two speed ranges (0-350 RPM low & 0-1,000 RPM high). At the same time they also marketed the 9853, which had a keyless chuck, and the 9854 which had a 1/2" capacity chuck.

~Ben

 

[woody 73]

I see my model has the number 0401-1 and you need the 0394-1 model my fault memory gets worse as I age...Sorry about any confusion.

 

[woody 73]

I do remember it was a brand new brick & morter store that just opened their doors and being a tool nut I had to see the store. Funny thing but as I recall the store did not last very long and they closed their doors after a short time...

 

[BDFan1981]

I see my model has the number 0401-1 and you need the 0394-1 model my fault memory gets worse as I age...Sorry about any confusion.

No problem. BTW, here's a Ryobi ad from a 1992 issue of Popular Mechanics, where one of the drills being compared to is yours:
https://books.google.com/books?id=O...6AEIMDAB#v=onepage&q=milwaukee 0401-1&f=false
(The article says the TorqueForce TFD222VRK outshined such models as the Makita 6093 & 6095DW, your 0401-1 and the DeWalt DW945)

~Ben

 

[BDFan1981]

My dad still got the makitas 9.6V and yea they still work. Up until about 7-8 years ago they still sold the batteries. Solid lightweight drills imho.

That drill you mention was also popular with the rock band Mr. Big, in which both their guitarist and bassist used one for the break during "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy" (remember that one?).

~Ben

 

[555]

I had one of the Black and Decker Professional drills. I most likely read about it in the PM magazine. It drilled good, but ran out of juice pretty quick. I bought an extra battery pack, but overall both of them were weak. I was building a 10x10 deck and got tired of recharging the batteries, so I bought a new drill with cord. I don't know what happened to the B & D cordless drill, but I found the B & D cordless screwdriver that came with the drill in a special bundle package.
Regards,
John

 

[gungatim]

the Ryobi 9.6v was my first "real" cordless drill. I don't count the little 3.2v skil mini driver that came out in the 80's all the electricians had back then.

it was a decent drill. I've also had a few Makita 9.6v tools, a drill and recip/body saw. that one the charger and batteries finally died a year or two ago but can't bring myself to throw it out just yet...

my go-to now are my 3 porter cable's with regular NiCad's. down to 4 batteries so need to upgrade before too long...

 

[BFBOB]

Yes, I too had the 9.6V Milwaukee - still do have the box and some of the parts. It was the first cordless drill I encountered that wasn't a toy. I used it daily until its 12V successors came out, I think only a year or so later. I still use a pair of the 12V's daily. The 9.6V has long since been cannibalized to keep the others going. It's about to the point where it doesn't make sense to keep fixing the 12's - the price of a battery re-cell job for instance has taken a jump lately. The final straw may be that I dropped one of them 10' onto a concrete floor and broke the case in half right a t the trigger. If I don't have spare cases - both halves, that's gonna do it.
The M12's are tempting - smaller, lighter, better chucks, and at least on paper, significantly more powerful.

 

[MShaw]

I have a Makita from that era also. Still going strong. It is on it's third set of batteries

 

[disston]

I had a Makita 9.6 V back then. Used it a lot. Broke when I threw it against a wall. I now have a right angle Makita but I think it is 7.2 (?) V. Don't use it often but have a more modern Makita 18V.

Had a right angle DeWalt 12V a few years ago. It worked fine. Was stolen.

 

[Cope]

Back in 1989-90 I had a lot of the 7.2/9.6 volt Makita products including a nice circular saw. All I have left is a 7.2V grass clipper.

 

[gungatim]

That drill you mention was also popular with the rock band Mr. Big, in which both their guitarist and bassist used one for the break during "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy" (remember that one?).

~Ben

so what drill did Eddie use on the intro to Poundcake on the F.U.C.K. album?

 

[BDFan1981]

so what drill did Eddie use on the intro to Poundcake on the F.U.C.K. album?

That was a Makita 6012HD, and he also used it during the instrumental solo. And like "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy" this song was also released in 1991.

Video here:

~Ben

 

[slowtwitch73]

The Makitas were king of the hill back then... no contest. I bought one used at the pawn shop and it was faaancy!
I added a rt angle drill and a jig saw to the arsenal.. at the time Costco sold them dirt cheap with no batteries.

I still have the rt angle drill due to it seldom being used and one battery.

Stuff was way ahead of its time imo.