Would You Consider a Hilti Cordless Drill/Driver?

[Bolster]

I'm due for a new drill/driver. My 12v Makita is getting long in the tooth.

I was fondling the Hiltis at HD. They have a heavy quality feel. Actually, quite heavy. And then I noticed that they are still using NiCad batteries? Isn't that several generations-old technology?

Is Hilti still in the running with modern LiIon drivers out there? Should I be contemplating a Hilti, would you? Currently any new driver I get would have to be competitive with the new Makita LiIon 18v (a Chinese machine), which will be what I get if I find nothing better.

 

[scott37300]

Hilti is a great product, never knew HD carried them or at least mine doesn't. I was a union carpenter for 5 years and almost all the trades used hilti drills. We also had some panasonic cordless drills. I would have no problem buying a hilti product, and have looked on ebay a few times but they go for a lot even used.

I would be leary if HD sells the same product as you buy right from hilti. We had a hilti rep come to our sites all the time. He would take any of the broken tools and get them fixed. Hilti has a great service deal, kinda like snap on. He would also give us loaner tools to use while the others got fixed.

 

[blue dog]

Bolster you cant go wrong with the makita 18 volt kit. drill and impact. strong tools work great, light. The hilti stuff is nice but a bit on the pricey side.

 

[Bolster]

My concern is that Hilti is behind the technology curve with their NiCad batteries. But maybe they have upgraded batteries...hoping one of the Hilti-ites will know.

Ya, I've been hearing a lot of praise for those 18V li ion Makitas. Haven't heard any negatives that I can recollect.

 

[boiler7904]

Hilti's US website is showing Li-Ion batteries for cordless drills. I'm guessing your store is still clearing out old stock.

Hilti Cordless Tool Site

I have no complaints about the 18V Makita set I bought about 2 months ago.

 

[Bolster]

Hilti's US website is showing Li-Ion batteries for cordless drills. I'm guessing your store is still clearing out old stock.

Bet you're right Because none of the batteries listed on that page you posted, were for 15.6V tools, which is what HD is selling...

 

[Vinko]

I've got one. A SFA144A [?]. It's Euro made (can't keep track of all the diff. places). But it's my favorite drill for serious cordless power. Balance is excellent. Control is excellent.

I paid about $250. I think the newer version which replaced it is about $100 more. And I didn't find the new one at HD. Maybe there's no market for it at HD at that price.
\
Batteries have been great. Had one bunk one, but a new one was overnighted to me when I called. Can't remember if Lith or Ni-Cad, but I never thought to care, since performance was so good.

I am thinking of getting a new hammer drill, inspired by a prev. post of yours, and haven't decided on Bosch or Hilti yet. How's yours holding up?

I've got a Skil from the 70's that's serious but it's so heavy and cumbersome that I only use it for certain applications.

 

[MattT]

Hilti's US website is showing Li-Ion batteries for cordless drills. I'm guessing your store is still clearing out old stock.

That or it's a HD "special". The one review on HDs website from someone who actually bought the driver ain't exactly glowing. http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Bolster,

Did you notice what the COO was?

 

[Bolster]

I am thinking of getting a new hammer drill, inspired by a prev. post of yours, and haven't decided on Bosch or Hilti yet. How's yours holding up?

Great, just took out a bathroom floor with it in short order, but take my recommendation with a grain of salt because I'm not a heavy user of the demolition hammer...would be good if you could get a recommendation from someone who uses daily.

Did you notice what the COO was?

I spend a few minutes turning the tool over and over, looking for COO, and didn't find it. I recollect seeing the German "Zu" and "Auf" but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Feels wonderful in the hand, but heavy.

Here is the review I think you were referring to:

"The local Hilti sales rep at home depot persuaded me to buy this 15v Hilti drill to replace my old and dying 18v Dewalt. I build decks and shoot a ton of screws and use auger bits through 9" of treated lumber at times.
My first deck using the Hilti left a bit to be desired. The ledger board (2x10 treated) required 20 holes with a 5/8" auger bit. I do ream the holes to clean them, so its not just a "one shot". After 10 holes, the drill showed slowing. The battery died on the 15th hole. The replacement battery finished the job, but it too showed slowing on the 19th and 20th hole, just 5 holes later. If my ledger board was 5' longer, both my batteries would have been dead and I would have been digging for my backup drill.
The batteries and drill were brand new. I charged the batteries for 18 to 20 hours. The drill was heavier than my 18v Dewalt.
Hilti makes fine stuff. This is an amazing drill for someone who does casual work or plays around. The design and craftmanship are great. However, if you are building decks and need serious power and run time between batteries, this is not the drill. I'm returning mine tomorrow. I'm not sure what the replacement is going to be. Weight is a big issue, and i'm certain the 18v Hilti is heavier yet, and that is not an option."

To me this sounds like the sorts of issues you'd have with NiCad batteries. They're known to be heavy and relatively short-lived per charge (although very long life in number of total recharges...which is why space probes use NiCad).

 

[shotgunfatcat]

I would say the HD ones are a HD special. Hilti is one of the best. I would go with Hilti Ridged, Milwaukee, or Makita, all of these are great. I have used them all, and I would have to say they are all quite comparable.

 

[mooman]

Ridgid and Hilti are quite comparable???

 

[Vinko]

The old Ridgid were made in Germany. At least some of the drills. Don't know if any more are. Don't know about the cordless either.

I'll find the exact model of the Hilti -- it was either made in Austria or Germany as I recall. But my archived posts might have a better memory than me.

If I were in the market for another one, it'd be a safe bet to get it again, without a doubt. "Cept this time, I might try the Metabo just for kicks. But I don't need another, and can't afford to spend good dough on it right now.

As for hammer drill. Don't use it all the time, but enough that I'd like to have my own. The Bosch was made in Germany right? What model did you get? I have to check the old threads again....

 

[JASTECH]

I used Hilti at UCD and they are tuff but very pricey. For the money I boight Milwalk's 18v Lion batts and have been very happy saving money and getting the job done.

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[shotgunfatcat]

Ridgid and Hilti are quite comparable???

Yeah, when I was making my list I accidentally wrote hilti again. They are pretty much the best, and have a great warranty, and even better calanders.

 

[dlewis]

Hilti is about the best in quality and dependablity the tools we have at work get used hard and about the only problems we have are brushes and our customers are not easy on things.

 

[craig.martell]

I just picked up a Hilti combo at my local Home Depot. It contains the SFH 144-A hammer drill and the SID 144-A impact driver. Very impressive quality. Made in Switzerland. Price: $449. Kit includes 2 Lithium Ion batteries and a charger. The Hilti representative in the store works for Hilti and had a Hilti demo area set up. I was able to try everything out on a large 6 x 6.

I have some friends coming over this weekend to help with installing my Gladiator garage works panels. They both use DeWalt. We will do a comparo this weekend.

 

[Vinko]

I just picked up a Hilti combo at my local Home Depot. It contains the SFH 144-A hammer drill and the SID 144-A impact driver. Very impressive quality. Made in Switzerland. Price: $449. Kit includes 2 Lithium Ion batteries and a charger. The Hilti representative in the store works for Hilti and had a Hilti demo area set up. I was able to try everything out on a large 6 x 6.

I have some friends coming over this weekend to help with installing my Gladiator garage works panels. They both use DeWalt. We will do a comparo this weekend.

Yeah, I got the SFA-144A (an older version on sale). Didn't have the Hammer Drill. The model you got superseded the model I got. The thing delivers.