What is an exceptionally good 18 volt drill these days?

[lestat]

... and I mean one similar in performance (torque and battery usage per cycle) with the Snap on NiCD VersaVolt which I no longer have and miss it like crazy!

Any of the new generation Li-Ion Makita/Bosch/etc. come even close?

I would prefer one with electronic brakes is possible.

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

Makita drills are excellent.

 

[ilovetards]

I also recommend makita. Use mine everyday and use it hard and it has given me no problems.

 

[Monte]

Festool and Protool

 

[Danglerb]

The cheapest 18v, sub $20 HF is decent, and the new brushless technology is going to be better than current generation stuff, so not a time for buying a pricey drill IMHO. Unless you spend a lot of time drilling holes.

 

[bobcatdan]

SO ni-cad is still available, I'm not giving it up until I have no choice.

 

[jamesc]

I am very happy with my 18 volt millwaukee, I got the drill and 1/4" hex impact for under 200 bucks

 

[c_mccann]

Makita and Panasonic. I have Makita, have had Makita for 30 years, but alot of pro cabinet guys swear by Panasonic. Have heard good as well about Dewalt, but the Black and Decker scares me..

 

[GMZ]

I think Milwaukee has the most tools in their M18 line up, and the new "Fuel" line up looks interesting. I went to HD and tried them all out and ended up getting a Dewalt 20V Max which is really still 18V. Seeing how I am expanding the scope of my projects more tools would have been nice.

 

[rmsg0040]

+1 for makita

Also hitachi probably has the best warranty

 

[lestat]

Forgot to mention the price, around £100/160$ give or take some.

Festool is way out of my ball park, so is Snap on at dealer prices. I was watching a like-new Snap on drill kit on ebay last week (newer type but not li-ion, 2 batteries, charger etc.) and it finished at £92. Quite a bargain but they don't come up that often in this condition and if it looks used more than a handful of times I wouldn't touch it. Buying used power tools is risky as it is.

I also remember seeing a brand new Facom one a few months back, got sold at £180 which is a decent price given that the kit is £450 new. Would have paid that price, even if just for the rarity factor.

But as per usual, these seem to appear when I'm not looking to buy

Makita appears to be a good alternative, was looking at their top dog BHP451 - £150 at it's cheapest with 1 battery. Then there is the lesser non Li-Ion version currently available in B&Q for £99.

http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/power-to...8391DWPE-18V-Combi-Drill-2-Batteries-10798552

Still open to suggestion..

 

[Justin1776]

I own and use the Makita LXT tools everyday and I am very happy with them. The Makita compact 18 volt with a small battery is like holding air!

 

[crewchief888]

so far, the ridgid 18v i bought last year has been performing better than i expected.

so well i bought a ridgid 12v for my service truck

 

[shoturtle]

Bosch are good as well, especially if you are looking for a hammer drill.

 

[lestat]

I am very happy with my 18 volt millwaukee, I got the drill and 1/4" hex impact for under 200 bucks

I think Milwaukee has the most tools in their M18 line up, and the new "Fuel" line up looks interesting. I went to HD and tried them all out and ended up getting a Dewalt 20V Max which is really still 18V. Seeing how I am expanding the scope of my projects more tools would have been nice.

I have the Milwaukee M12 drill/driver combo, lovely quality to it. In fact, I just used the driver to put a dozen 8x120mm screws in a deck frame. Just about made it! Can't really use it for that sort of stuff but still love them.

 

[Russian]

I have had lots of luck with the DeWalt XRP line.

 

[fordcragar]

I have a Makita 14V drill that I've had for about 15 years. Two years ago, when the batteries died, I bought a Makitae 18V; which I'm happy with.

 

[Full Throttle]

I have had lots of luck with the DeWalt XRP line.

X2 and I use them daily

 

[bimmerZ5]

i've had the Dewalt 18V XRP line of tools for about 3 yrs used frequently on home repairs/renovations (a lot of renovations the last 2 years, practically a 2nd job), and car repairs (i use the impact driver as a socket driving tool with adapter and their impact wrench takes lugs off in under 2 seconds). so, i'm happy with these tools, but i only got them because i was able to get really good deal on them not knowing their quality. i have to say i'm impressed with them so far, but i also take care of them. i clean them after use, i'll blow out dust, etc. the newer XRP stuff can use both their NiCd and Li-Ion batteries, i have 6 NiCd and 3 Li-Ion and love them both... the heavier NiCd is actually a better "anchor" for the flashlight so it doesn't tip over as easily.

that said, i secretly want a set of bosch 18v tools... but I'll only do that if my Dewalt set becomes really really obsolete and break down on me.

 

[fivespdcat]

I've got a Bosch brute series 18v, it's a great drill. The batteries charge quick and last long enough to where you only need the two that come with the drill. It has enough torque to do just about anything you need with ease. Now I don't really "abuse" my tools but ive had no issues at all with it.

 

[JayL]

Festool and Protool

Metabo is not on the list ? ....

 

[walwalka]

so far, the ridgid 18v i bought last year has been performing better than i expected.

so well i bought a ridgid 12v for my service truck

I use a ridgid 12v everyday on the job, best power tool I own. I have the 24v Li kit at home and that drill kicks *** and takes names. It recently got dropped from a second story window. It was to softish grass and soggy dirty but still over twenty feet..

 

[MrSnicks]

I've got a set of Ryobi 18V power tools. It's the One+ line so I can start buying and using lithium batteries with them and slowly phase in new tools while using my old NiCad batteries and buy lithium batteries as the old ones die.

Isn't there a tool line that promises free battery replacement for life?

Patrick

 

[spv]

Careful with Makita LXT drills. My Makita drill started making all sorts of noises after less than a month of use. Sounds like a bearing in the chuck. My Dad has the same drill and his has started making similar noises after ~3mths of light use. That said my Makita LXT SDS hammer drill is rock solid. I have a bunch of Makita LXT tools and on the whole they are great. The drills are just a bit suspect.

 

[cide1]

I have many tools from the Dewalt 18v line, and have been thrilled with all of them. The 18v hammerdrill has been used hard many times (but not abused), and still works as good as day one.

Dewalt makes several 18v impacts, the biggest one puts out something like 450 ft-lbs. It is so much easier than dealing with air lines, so I find myself using the cordless Dewalt over my IR 2135timax.

 

[Motorhead Extraordinaire]

We install a lot of LISTA cabinets and use the Makita 18V Lithium Ion impact drivers and drills. I have two impacts and one drill and they are about 4-5 years old and have worked flawlessly. Lots and lots of power in a small package. If one of them died today I would buy another without hesitation.

The local Home Depot had the drill and impact kit on sale this past week for $199.

My two cents ....

Joe

 

[buening]

Isn't there a tool line that promises free battery replacement for life?

I'm pretty sure the Ridgid line offers lifetime battery replacement.

 

[defy]

Is the new snap on drill brushless?

 

[rodknocker]

I will buy a Dewalt 18V over and over. I have had mine for 16 years, since bought new I had to replace the charger and 1 battery. It will still just about break your wrist with the amount of torque it has. I'm a mechanic and use it daily for the under sheilds, valve cover removal etc... I've dropped it off of 6ft ladders a few times, and still works great. I need to replace it soon only because the plastic housing is starting to deteriorate.

 

[Monte]

Metabo is not on the list ? ....

Because of the brushless motor and electronic clutch i would rate Festool and Protool drills higher

 

[gonefirefighting]

anything lowes or home depot sells I have owned and used and abused. the only ones that I still have that wont stop working are Milwaukee and Rigid.

 

[lestat]

Speaking of Metabo, they have an 18v (SB18 LTX Impuls) putting down 96Nm of torque! Is that for real? I know the torque value is not the end all be all gauging of a cordless drill but it does stand out, at least on paper.

(maybe Monte can chime in on this)

 

[Monte]

Speaking of Metabo, they have an 18v (SB18 LTX Impuls) putting down 96Nm of torque! Is that for real? I know the torque value is not the end all be all gauging of a cordless drill but it does stand out, at least on paper.

(maybe Monte can chime in on this)

i think it´s a theoretical data measured in a lab, in real life nobody could match the manufacturers torque ratings yet. A member in a german forum tested the drill and in wood it scored below 26 NM (manufacturer says 42NM in soft material)

 

[lestat]

i think it´s a theoretical data measured in a lab, in real life nobody could match the manufacturers torque ratings yet. A member in a german forum tested the drill and in wood it scored below 26 NM (manufacturer says 42NM in soft material)

That's disappointing to see, I see now why you didn't shortlist Metabo.

Anyway, good idea for a test - I wonder if my old versa volt would have keeled over too on that bolt...