School me on HILTI brand

[Derek420]

I was in pawn shop today and they had a hilti 1/2 hammer drill and hex impact driver kit with case, 3 batteries, and charger and I decided I wanted them so i put it on lay away and a regular the lady knocked off 30 bucks and dropped taxes so total came to 150 and I paid ten bucks for a 5 month hold but will buy it Thursday.
Is it a decent price? It's the 14.4v lithium set and where is the brand from and what is the quality like of the brand and set I'm getting are they a home owner or pro brand?I think everything they make looks cool and what I've seen we're high priced as hell, i did check price on battery and they are 83.** for a new one so I'll have 3 so even at half price on batteries it would be almost what I paid for everything I didn't get model #s from the tools unfortunately but did try everything out even all batteries and all was well and decent shape but didn't get much time to check for COO does anyone know where brand is from and tools are made? I would guess Euro because of the quality but idk.
I already have the Makita white 18v drill and impact set with case I paid $40 for off CJ and love them but didn't want to pass up hilti ones I like the 3 led lights on impact.

 

[Corndoggeh]

I have their cordless impact wrench. Extremely high quality tools, long lasting batteries that are definately "pro". They market mainly to construction companies. However, let's say that this tool you have is stolen and was sold to the pawnshop. If you sent the tool in for warranty work or any repair service and the serial codes come up as stolen they will keep the tool.

 

[Derek420]

Hmmm interesting lol but there is a place by me that repairs electric and cordless tools I'd would just use them probably or no worry about repair as price is not much .You just never know if something was stolen from someone when buying from a Pawn Shop really and I've never gave it any thought but they don't ever ask questions lol. There wasn't anything engraved or written on the tools or case I doubt they are hot as people tend to pawn power tools a lot, every time I go in there someone is pawning power tools, to speculate I'd say the original owner might have upgraded or got out of buissness or lost their job, who knows I've never bought power tools from a pawn shop but I have Craigslist and always from decent people and not ones that look like crack heads seems like everyone I've bought from we're well off guys it looked like to me. Anyways I'd like to know where these tools are made.

 

[JonnyMac]

Cant comment on that model, however back in the 90's Hilti was probably the premier industrial power tool maker in europe. So much so that the generic name for an sds hammer drill was a hilti, even if it wasnt a hilti drill...

 

[Finky198]

I own a ton of hilti stuff and when it comes to power tools there stuff is always top notch. especially in the concrete cutting and drilling environment. They are desi.gned in Liechtenstein but it is now mostly an overseas product although they have much higher build quality in my experience both in cordless and corded tools compared to most of there competition.


If you work around any Union or large construction project you'll usually notice something there's alway a sea of red, Hilti cases floating around all day long


They are kinda of like the snap on of the building trades they sell and lease equipment, offer warranty and repairs as well as theft protection and local reps. All for a super high price but well worth it in my op

 

[londonsteve]

Hilti tools are top quality. I would say they are the best on the professional market. The biggest problem with this is that the thieves know this as well. so much so that a lot of friends do away with the distinctive red cases and use generic ones instead. Especially if travelling from site to site. I have Hilti drills that are easily 30 years old and are still my go to tool of choice. These are tools that you get repaired and not just buy another. Hilti are the Snap-On of the construction world.

 

[IndyGarage]

I think Hilti cordless are rebadged Panasonic tools, which are the best cordless.

 

[Derek420]

Alright good comments, I can't wait to try them out and for $150 I couldn't pass them up the case is missing a clasp I wonder if I can get a replacement? I've always thought the hilti tools looked the best and they seemed powerful a lot more so than my 18v Makita set and are only 14.4v but are lithium. It will be over kill for me as I hardly even use my makita set but like owning fine things lol and like I said they look cool and are my favorite color. I'd love to have the 1/2 cordless impact from them but is way to high and I have a Matco I paid $50 bucks for that isn't old and has 2 batteries with it.

 

[Derek420]

Lol never heard of Liechtenstein lol gonna have to Google it.

 

[Zeke]

I have their cordless impact wrench. Extremely high quality tools, long lasting batteries that are definately "pro". They market mainly to construction companies. However, let's say that this tool you have is stolen and was sold to the pawnshop. If you sent the tool in for warranty work or any repair service and the serial codes come up as stolen they will keep the tool.

This is ASSUMING a lot. If anyone is scrutinized by the law it would be pawn shops. I'm sure that things do get through the system, say a guy pawned something HE bought used from a thief. But the shop should be able to do a quick check at least the county level for recently reported stolen items. If that particular item comes up they won't take it in even if that one wasn't the one stolen.

They (the pawn shop) are there to loan money and sell things when they have to. Not everything that comes in the door gets pawned or bought. They don't need any problems. No one says a shop has to loan anything to anyone.

 

[Dave455]

Hilti are a European company producing top end tools, primarily for the construction trade!

In the U.K. you often hear folks describe a 'Hilti Drill' when they mean something considerably more powerful than a regular power drill! Totally other end of the spectrum to 'homeowner grade'!

As I understand it, most of the 'proper' Hilti tools are european made! Anything cordless is a Hilti drill in name only, but I can't imagine them putting their name on **** as they will have to support it for years!

It would seem that British professional bank robbers, who can steal any tool they like, generally prefer Hilti! The picture shows the results of just 3 passes with a decent Hilti - at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit vault!

Of course, we don't endorse the use of tools in this manner... just pointing it out!

 

[Ign]

Some of the Hilti stuff is going MIC. It's too bad the OP didn't look for COO

I've seen bare tools in my Habitat, but have zero interest once I look up batteries in the store on my phone. I have no use for a boutique brand like this; as someone said they are the Snap-On of construction. My good friend was building a $3M home in an exclusive subdivision and the Hilti rep would visit every week or two peddling whatever he could.

I think in Europe it'd make a ton of sense, here it's like owning a Lamborghini for a daily driver. Home Depot's huge push to bring in Hilti back around '07 seemed to fail miserably-- which of course doesn't mean they're bad tools, just that service and support here is sparse.

 

[IndyGarage]

Alright good comments, I can't wait to try them out and for $150 I couldn't pass them up the case is missing a clasp I wonder if I can get a replacement? I've always thought the hilti tools looked the best and they seemed powerful a lot more so than my 18v Makita set and are only 14.4v but are lithium. It will be over kill for me as I hardly even use my makita set but like owning fine things lol and like I said they look cool and are my favorite color. I'd love to have the 1/2 cordless impact from them but is way to high and I have a Matco I paid $50 bucks for that isn't old and has 2 batteries with it.

As I said, I think Hilti is rebadged Panasonic. Panasonic 14.4V is equivalent to everybody else's 18V. I have Panasonic 14.4V and Makita 18V and they are pretty similar in capability. Panasonic makes the best batteries in cordless tools, but don't really distribute them widely, so you won't see the brand very often.

For some reason I think the Hilti and Panasonic batteries are not interchangeable, even though the tools are identical, which means you can't just buy panasonic stuff and have it interchange.

 

[Blöckw@rt]

All Hilti cordless drills are 'Made in China' ! (Shanghai)

Hilti and Panasonic have a joint venture.

http://news.thomasnet.com/companyst...rengthen-cordless-screwdriver-business-824763

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

My buddy owns one of the largest commercial plumbing businesses in California and they've been using Hilti tools for decades.

 

[Know Wosad]

Hilti is decent stuff. I have a few pieces here. Its nothing to wet the bed over. Metabo/Makita/Milwaukee/Bosch quality. Its a good company from what I can see.

 

[Know Wosad]

All Hilti cordless drills are 'Made in China' ! (Shanghai)

Hilti and Panasonic have a joint venture.

http://news.thomasnet.com/companyst...rengthen-cordless-screwdriver-business-824763

'They" say Prozac is effective.........

 

[Corndoggeh]

This is ASSUMING a lot. If anyone is scrutinized by the law it would be pawn shops. I'm sure that things do get through the system, say a guy pawned something HE bought used from a thief. But the shop should be able to do a quick check at least the county level for recently reported stolen items. If that particular item comes up they won't take it in even if that one wasn't the one stolen.

They (the pawn shop) are there to loan money and sell things when they have to. Not everything that comes in the door gets pawned or bought. They don't need any problems. No one says a shop has to loan anything to anyone.

I called the rep about my impact wrench when I bought it and gave serial number and it was reported as stolen by a concrete company up in Pheonix. Rep specifically told me that he understands completely that I bought it and I own it at that point but If I were to send it in to them when the repair center checks the serial number on it and its stolen the repair center will just keep the tool without notifying me. Its their policy in an attempt to discourage theft. So no im not assuming anything at all.

 

[ToddW]

I got my Hilti impact driver YEARS ago when there was literally only 1 or 2 other options... I think it was around $400 new for it + 2 batteries. I still use the same batteries, and I've yet to use a driver that compares. Most drivers now days have no bottom end grunt and/or they don't let you start/go slow with grunt they want to just jump into speed to get the torque needed, absolutely my biggest pet peeve with all other drivers I've used.

I haven't tried the new Fuel but will eventually, but I have no reason at all to replace my hilti.

It was also one of the very first tools that had LED lights, they're not bright by today's standards but they work in the dark better than no light!

The hilti is also balanced VERY WELL, light weight, and just overall a nice feeling tool.

 

[Derek420]

So I went on their website and they have a 20 year warranty against defect and 2 year wear and tear free repair wow 20 year warranty second best is 5 year Milwaukee so I think hilti is well worth the new price and well worth my measly $150 hell and like I said I tried them out and we're strong and I did look for a coo or sticker with info and neither tool had a sticker but figured Asia made as they make 80% of cordless tools but hey I don't care as my makitas are from China.
Batteries are high but can't beat the warranty those tools have. I won't use them much and don't even need them but I like nice expensive stuff for a cheap used price why not. I will be finishing my basement after holidays and I will put them through they're paces and they have case, charger, and 3 batteries so I'm sure I'll be able to do a lot of work I'd like to get a sawsall from hilti I'll have to keep checking pawn shop but this set is the only hilti tools I've seen this year.

 

[Derek420]

Also there is a Hilti store 10 miles away come to find out and also they have a head quarters and repair center in Texas. So together with 20 year warranty I shouldn't have any issues with a warranty for ever it seems I'll be 50 before it runs out and as someone mentioned Hilti tools are not ones you replace after a couple years, you just rebuild them and keep them for many years so all sounds good to me and I'm sure I'll be happy with my purchase.

 

[Jon_E]

Many have said it's the "Snap-On" of the construction trades, and that's true. The contractor that has done the past couple of renovations at my place of work, has boatloads of Hilti tools obtained through a lease program. Every week or two, the rep shows up, cleans, lubricates, checks power cords and moving parts, replaces batteries, etc. None of them belong to the contractor. They can get any tool in the product line, plus consumables, with a phone call and a few hours notice. Hilti has a big advantage in the trades with their specialty tools, fastening systems and construction chemicals that nobody else seems to have. In particular, their firestopping and fastening systems seem to be the industry standard.

As a homeowner though, I wouldn't bother with Hilti. You don't really have access to the same level of service that professionals do (well, you might, but I wouldn't consider it easy or cost-effective). They are also insanely expensive. I have access to a few different Hilti tools at work, and I haven't found anything they can do that an off-the-shelf brand at Home Depot can't do equally or nearly as well.