Which Driver? Or another?

[Greatwhitewing]

Considering a new cordless driver with more umph then my current 14.4V.

Perusing Amazon I find two likely candidates. I know the decision is mine but which would YOU choose and why? Or would recommend another brand? And what is the "practical" difference tween the 2?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WJUFRU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

or

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UHOUT4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[MoparCharlie]

I really like my Makita 18v li-ion tools.... BUT...........

Their batteries are TERRIBLE....When they work they are great, but they were overengineered for safety and once the charger detects a fault 3 times the battey is disabled and can never be charged ...

Google it and you will see....

Broke out my Dewalt 18 v ni cad that has been sitting for years, charged right up and works fine, albeit a bit ot the heavy side.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Well, I sure don't want terrible batteries.. lol

 

[fyrlt1]

I have the dewalt #950 and it suits me fine. I also have their #940 and can say the same for it.

 

[rjwilliams]

DeWalt is always a safe bet. Buy 18V XRP Li Ion and you should be good to go.

 

[Danglerb]

Both of those are drills, not impact drivers, is that what you are looking for?

I personally have no plans to ever put in a single fastener with a drill again.

 

[#1SomeGuy]

Both of those are drills, not impact drivers, is that what you are looking for?

I personally have no plans to ever put in a single fastener with a drill again.

+1 impact drivers are so much more useful. I use it 10x as often as the drill (it obviously doesn't replace a drill). I bought this kit:

http://www.dewalt.com/tools/cordless-combo-packs-18-volt-combo-packs-dck266l.aspx

And have added a couple extra XRP batteries and 3/8" and 1/2" impact wrenches in addition. All and all makes for a pretty great set of tools.

This kit would be even better if you can find it since it has the XRP lithium batteries:
http://www.dewalt.com/tools/cordless-combo-packs-18-volt-combo-packs-dck274l.aspx

 

[mrjaw14]

This is brand neutral. Go to your local big box store and pick both up. The hammer drill is more versitile, but at an increased weight. Consider what you'll be doing with the drill and decide if the weight is worth it. If you're a general contractor who might be drilling into concrete on a regular basis then the hammer drill is worth it. If you're more likely to drill wood, drywall, and metal 99% of the time, how long will you be handling the drill? If it's intermittant then you'd be ok with the extra weight of the hammer drill. But if you use your drill in wood, drywall, or metal all day long then the regular drill's lighter weight is an advantage.

Personally, I started with a ryobi hammer drill because I needed both regular and hammer capability. Then I got a better rigid hammer drill. When my ryobi batteries gave out I got a battery/charger/drill combo kit on a black friday sale. If I'm on a ladder not drilling concrete, then my ryobi standard drill is the tool of choice because it's so much lighter than my hammer drills. if I'm drilling into concrete, then my rigid hammer drill comes out to play.

PS an impact driver and hammer drill are not the same thing!

 

[cascivic]

I can't understand why anyone would buy anything other than the $179 drill and impact driver combo that Ridgid sells through Home Depot.

Is it a good impact driver? According to this review, yes.

But still, they rated the DeWalt and the Bosch as better -- so why this one?

Well, I'm kind of old. So life has finally brought me to the point where I can see that the three-year lifespan (maybe four?) of Li-Ion batteries is a period of time that flashes by in a flippin' heartbeat. And then you're left with the choice between spending another $150 for new batteries or throwing out $200 worth of barely-performing junk (with Li-Ion, even if you haven't been using the batteries, they still age). Some of the corded power tools I use every day are over 40 years old (my drill press, for example). It makes me nuts to think that the most-expensive drills or impact drivers I own will also be the ones with the shortest service life.

With the Ridgid deal, you get free batteries for life. I don't know of any other manufacturer that offers that, and it takes a three-years-and-replace purchase and turns it into (potentially) the last cordless drill and driver you're going to ever have to buy.

I don't mean to sound like I work for Ridgid, but I bought two of the combos. I really like them.

Also, it's worth noting the way the review I linked included that the Ridgid had the best grip feel of the bunch. I used to have a Makita, and it always felt like it was trying to knock the screw over (rather than drive it in) every time I used it. I ended up throwing the Makita away when I got the Ridgids. They actually feel like the guy who designed it was also a guy who occasionally would actually use one of these tools.

Good idea but from adding on here the customer service issues of the replacement batteries is a major pita. Still if you could get through that or have a local service center might be a good plan

 

[Jack Olsen]

I can't understand why anyone would buy anything other than the $179 drill and impact driver combo that Ridgid sells through Home Depot.

Is it a good impact driver? Yes. Here's a review.

But still, they rated the DeWalt and the Bosch as slightly better -- so why this one?

Well, I'm kind of old. So life has finally brought me to the point where I can see that the three-year lifespan (maybe four?) of Li-Ion batteries is a period of time that flashes by in a flippin' heartbeat. And then you're left with the choice between spending another $150 for new batteries or throwing out $200 worth of barely-performing junk (with Li-Ion, even if you haven't been using the batteries, they still age). Some of the corded power tools I use every day are over 40 years old (my drill press, for example). It makes me nuts to think that the most-expensive drills or impact drivers I own will also be the ones with the shortest service life.

With the Ridgid deal, you get free batteries for life. I don't know of any other manufacturer that offers that, and it takes a three-years-and-replace purchase and turns it into (potentially) the last cordless drill and driver you're ever going to buy.

I don't mean to sound like I work for Ridgid -- but I bought two of the combo sets. I really like them.

Also, it's worth noting the way the review I linked included that the Ridgid had the best grip feel of the bunch. I used to have a Makita, and it always felt like it was trying to knock the screw over (rather than drive it in) every time I used it. I ended up throwing the Makita away when I got the Ridgids. They actually feel like the guy who designed it was also a guy who occasionally would actually use one of these tools.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

"Is it a good impact driver? Yes. Here's a review.

But still, they rated the DeWalt and the Bosch as slightly better -- so why this one? "

The Amazon ratings were pretty low but not a lot of them. The battery replacement warranty is very interesting... Something to think about.

 

[Danglerb]

With the Ridgid deal, you get free batteries for life. I don't know of any other manufacturer that offers that, and it takes a three-years-and-replace purchase and turns it into (potentially) the last cordless drill and driver you're ever going to buy.

Find somebody that has actually gotten a free battery. All I have read is that its one excuse after another, and very very rarely do they honor the warranty.

Any Demo work and I think I want a corded SDS. Even the cheap HF goes through concrete with ease (buy better bits).