Small Battery Powered Drill?

[gdocktor3]

I'm looking into purchasing a small 7.2 volt or 12 volt impact drill for use in tight spots while working on my truck and stuff. I found a Snap On 7.2 with two batteries and charger for good price, but then I found Ingersoll Rand makes a 7.2 volt also. Then, Milwaukee, Bosch, Ridgid, Dewalt, etc all make the 12 volt drills that are the same size. I know they are all "brand" name tools and will probably work just fine, but from what I've seen and heard, Snap On tools always seem to be a bit more powerful and last that little bit longer to make a difference. What do you guys think? Thanks

 

[mopar01]

Makita 12v. I use my drill and impact daily and they work great.

 

[Robinson1]

I'm a general contractor and have been running Bosch 18v cordless since they introduced their Lithium-Ion line. I'd actually have to go out to my construction trailer and count to see how many Bosch cordless tools I own.

In that length of time I've worn out 1 drill after 5-6 years of almost daily use.

Last year I picked up a 12v Bosch drill for light duty overhead projects and ended up using it a lot for assembling ceiling fans and electrical tasks. It's great for overhead use and light duty applications where a 18v is too big or too powerful.

Picked up the 12v Bosch impact driver on sale at Lowes a couple weeks ago. Haven't really gotten to use it a lot but it's nice. Great from cramped areas where a regular impact won't fit and the 12v drill isn't powerful enough.

If you look around you can find the drill and impact bundled together with 2 batteries and a fast charger for right around $200.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The Snap On web page does not have any 7.2V drills. I'll bet that they were outsourced by Snap On to the "lowest bidder" (i.e. not the best quality)

Spend the money and get a Milwaukee or DeWalt 12V hammer drill.

 

[gdocktor3]

Here it is. It is designed & engineered in America by Snap On, but assembled in China by Snap On.
https://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=646593&group_ID=682669

 

[gdocktor3]

But I would be paying $60 less for it through a distributor.

 

[altersaddle]

Makita 12v. I use my drill and impact daily and they work great.

I don't use mine daily, but I still really like the Makita 12v (10.8v) li-ion driver.

I ended up getting a keyless chuck version and the panel saw as my full complement of cordless tools.

If I had not bought the original on an impulse buy I probably would have gone with Milwaukee for the wider tool selection.

 

[gdocktor3]

I have a ton of Ridgid 18 volt lithium drills, sawzalls, lights, etc and they work great. I have a few Dewalt 18 volt drills and a sawzall. I have Makita 18 volt drill at home and an entire 5 piece set at work. I even have a few Ryobi 18 volt tools. Like I said, they are all comparable, and get the job done. Dewalt may have a slight edge in battery length I think. And like I said, Snap On, Matco, Mac power tools always seem to be made of the best materials and have great batteries. Its a toss up really. Its all preference.

 

[stikman56]

Here it is, but I think it is made in China
https://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=646593&group_ID=682669

That's a screwdriver, not a drill. It works well for it's intended purpose, it's all I use at home and work, but for a drill, nope. Too slow. Try looking at used on ebay. A Snap-On CDR4450 is pretty small, still 1/2" and not too costly. It's 14.4 volt.

 

[Jake79]

The SO 7.2 is listed as a screw driver on the SO site. They have a 1/4 inch hex not a chuck. For dash work and general light stuff they work great and are built very well. They are slow speed and have pretty good torque. They lock when you let off the trigger so you can use it like a T handle for breaking fasteners loose. Have one at home and one at work both about 10 years old with the original batteries and still work great

 

[gdocktor3]

Oh good call stikman56. No thanks..

Ok so I'm looking for something more like the Milwaukee M12 Impact Driver then. What else is out there that compares? For the Milwaukee M12's, are the "Fuel" powered drills all the hype and that much better?

 

[RedRabbit]

Oh good call stikman56. No thanks..

Ok so I'm looking for something more like the Milwaukee M12 Impact Driver then. What else is out there that compares? For the Milwaukee M12's, are the "Fuel" powered drills all the hype and that much better?

The m12 fuel is great. I use some at work and they drastically outperform the regular m12s

 

[hautpot]

I am satisfied with my Snap-On 14.4v drill. However I would not recommend it to other buyers because of the value, longevity, and warranty period.

 

[scissorman]

Here it is. It is designed & engineered in America by Snap On, but assembled in China by Snap On.
https://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=646593&group_ID=682669

That link is for a 7.2v screwdriver not a drill.

 

[sselander]

The only decent "small" ones that I could find when I looked were the Makita and Bosch 12 volt ones

CPO has both them
http://www.cpooutlets.com/

 

[kctyphoon]

only thing i can add is - i have the non-fuel m12 drill and impact driver, and the 12v max dewalt drill and impact. the Dewalt is better for a few different reasons .. HOWEVER - the m12 fuel is a completely different animal..

i actually just brought my 12v max Dewalt impact driver to use at work, over the m12 i have.. its been a nice little addition, and make life a little easier.. for me - not having to touch the chuck to insert new bits is a big plus, along with the better grip, and bigger belt clip.. also - the dewalt doesnt exibit any trigger delay like the m12 does..

 

[MattPersman]

The Bosch 12 volt is a good drill I have drilled quite a lot of holes with mine. Battery life is a problem if trying to drill hard metal for a long period but something like that isn't really what that drill is for, it can do it just realize it isn't a corded 1/2 model.

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

Here it is. It is designed & engineered in America by Snap On, but assembled in China by Snap On.
https://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=646593&group_ID=682669

So what would the COO on this tool be Chinese or USA made..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a ToolAholic, Sometimes I regret it, Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit

 

[The Toolest Guy]

So what would the COO on this tool be Chinese or USA made..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a ToolAholic, Sometimes I regret it, Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit

On the link he posted it says 'Country of origin - China'.

 

[PCMusicGuy]

I have the Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hammer Drill and it works very well.

 

[jd.4955]

I have the 12v dewalts and I love them, they are great for about anything small, I used the impact driver and built a whole deck for my neighbor, for its size it's really powerful


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bczygan]

Milwaukee.

Done

 

[theoldwizard1]

IMHO, the occassional DIY does not need the Fuel option on Milwaukee M12 tools.

Also, a 3/8" chuck is more than adequate for most home owners.

 

[gdocktor3]

Does anyone have a 14.4 volt and 12 volt you can put side by side and take pic of? I just want to see how much larger the 14.4 is with the battery attached. I have Ridgid and Dewalt 18 volt impact drivers so if the 14.4 is only a tad bit smaller, theres really not point in buying. I would really like to see a side by side pic if possible.

 

[Voi]

I'm looking into purchasing a small 7.2 volt or 12 volt impact drill for use in tight spots while working on my truck and stuff.

Ok so I'm looking for something more like the Milwaukee M12 Impact Driver then.

Will this be primarily for socket work or do you want the 1/4" hex receiver for torx and other hex shanked bits?

For socket work an impact wrench will be more compact than an impact driver since you won't need to run a hex to square adapter for sockets.

 

[BK13]

While both are 12v tools, and I do love my M12 Fuel hammerdrill, it is NOT the same size as the Bosch. The Bosch is tiny in comparison (at least the brushed version is). If I ever see the brushless Bosch in person, I may just be adding a fourth battery platform.

 

[gdocktor3]

No it will be an all around type drill. Self tappers, removing/installing screws and bolts, occasional sockets too.. Basically what did it for me was because I was installing a trailer hitch on my truck and had to ground it out with a self tapper, but couldn't get a drill up in anywhere close enough to drill it in. I ended up using a flexible extension with a universal to finally get it done. I said that's it. Something that simple and it takes me 20 minutes to do. Time for something smaller and more compact.

I will probably buy a hammer drill and impact driver combo kit when I do decide which brand.

 

[firebox40dash5]

I do exactly none of what you named with my drill. The drill gets used... to drill holes. Specifically, to drill holes in thicker metal, where placement is critical, or sizes I don't have hex shanks for.

If it's a fastener, an impact is the better choice. I have common 3/16-3/8 by 16ths in hex shank too, if I'm making a hole in 1/4 or less steel I'd just as soon use the impact.

 

[Voi]

No it will be an all around type drill. Self tappers, removing/installing screws and bolts, occasional sockets too... Time for something smaller and more compact.

I will probably buy a hammer drill and impact driver combo kit when I do decide which brand.

Sounds like a compact impact driver is a better choice than an impact wrench for you. But with the use of adapters a wrench can be used as a driver and a driver can be used as a wrench so keep that in mind as you decide.

Otherwise I'm in a similar situation as you so I can't recommend a particular brand. I already have a few tools in the Bosch 12V system so I'm very intrigued by the thought of a brushless impact smaller than the pocket screwdriver I already have from them.

 

[gdocktor3]

I'm not looking for an impact wrench. Just an impact driver and/or a drill. I'm leaning towards the Milwaukee M12 Fuel. A mechanic friend of mine uses the Milwaukee and loves them. He gave up on Matco and Snap On cordless tools for the simple fact that they change so much. After a few years its difficult to find batteries because they have changed 2-3 times since purchase.