Favorite Impact/Drill Set?

[1988 GMC 355]

I just wanted to see what everyones favorite impact/drill set is, I am in the market for a set now that I will haev a toolbox in my truck and be living in a house in the fall for school so it would be nice to have a set.

I know Lithium is the new thing, but I know NiCd is still good and cheap to buy.

So what say you?

[TheBigMortboski]

I like my Craftsman 19.2V stuff. I have the NiCd batteries, which work fine for what I use them for (general homeowner stuff). You can also get them for pretty good deals, although I've heard really bad reviews on the innerwebs about the batteries not making it past a year. For general homeowner stuff, they're pretty good, though.

Probably the best reviewed units I've heard of are Bosch or Makita.

[kemble]

The bosch setup my dad has is tough as nails. My makita stuff works great. Thats all I know, unless you want to spend big money.

[ieetgluu]

Makita lithiums are nice. I use the hitachi lithium drill and impact driver for my carpentry work. Both 18v. And the impact driver torque specs are about equal between the makita and hitachi. A coworker and I have done a 'race' between the two driving 3.5" screws and they were pretty equal and both will bury a screw til the bit stops contact. They both put another guys milwaukee 18v lithium impact to shame. The makitas are the most expensive

[Chevy53]

id go with makita its the best and often can get like 4 tools/2 batters and a charger for 200$ and sometimes you even get a free tool with it quite a good deal if you ask me

[chiefum]

I've had craftsman...porter cable....makita....Panasonic....and dewalt. Porter cable was junk....craftsman was ok when they had the old warranty, where you could replace as many times as needed. My makita lithium ion lasted less than a year. My two favorites were my dewalt and Panasonic.

[1988 GMC 355]

Well you can get 18v drill/impact set with lithium batteries from Dewalt, Makita, Bosch, Milwakee for $200 shipped
My dad has a 18v Porter Cable NiCd drill and it has been awesome and they have a NiCd PC impact/drill set for $105 shipped

[ieetgluu]

Lithiums will be lighter, and will have have almost full strength power up until the battery dies. NiCd will be weaker and weaker as it loses charge. I personaly wont go back to NiCd. Night and day difference in my field.
Its also recommended to charge lithiums AFTER they die, not mid charge. Helps to make the batteries last as well as get a good lasting charge.
And im amazed a makita anything, let alone a lithium, lasted less than a year

[1988 GMC 355]

Lithiums will be lighter, and will have have almost full strength power up until the battery dies. NiCd will be weaker and weaker as it loses charge. I personaly wont go back to NiCd. Night and day difference in my field.
Its also recommended to charge lithiums AFTER they die, not mid charge. Helps to make the batteries last as well as get a good lasting charge.
And im amazed a makita anything, let alone a lithium, lasted less than a year

I understand the energy and weight difference, if I were a carpenter/pipefitter/electrician I would never consider NiCd, but a niCd setup is half the price of Li setups, but I am not opposed to spending more money, I just want to see what people like and who stands behind a warranty and customer service.

[kemble]

Its worth the extra money for lithium. I have both types of batteries for my set and the lithiums charge faster as well.

[1988 GMC 355]

Its worth the extra money for lithium. I have both types of batteries for my set and the lithiums charge faster as well.

I have had two people so far say the Bosch is awesome and Randeez said their customer service is amazing, its another $100 to get the lithium setups, but I will be working all summer and have the money, and if I watch prices all summer I could maybe get a kit for $180

[RednckChevy]

I e got the cheaply Ryobi set. used it when I installed rain gutters. others on my crew had dewalt,rigid and so on, most of them could not handle being in the rain. my driver would always end up in the gutter full of water and it has not given me any problems. I did switch to lithium a few years back. I got the smaller batteries cause u can get 2 for the price of 1 big one. since I no longer use my tools on a day to day bassist the smaller ones work great.

[Nate_98GMC]

I bought a Milwaukee compact 18v lithium drill and impact set for $200 off Amazon a few months ago (http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-2691.../dp/B001F7BIMG)

I've used both the drill and impact a bit and like both of them. I haven't had them long enough to comment on durability/warranty. The impact driver has just enough power to pull lug nuts off cars (~100 ft. lbs.), and it is nice to have when wrenching to quickly screw/unscrew bolts and nuts, even if you have to initially break them free by hand. The lithium batteries hold their charge well, so you can put them away fully charged and pull them out a month later and they will still be ready for use.

[Racewire20]

In my business, we use cordless tools everyday, all day. I own everything from Rigid, DeWalt, Makita, Snap-on, Milwalkee and more.
Right now lithium is the way to go. Weight to power is Superb! You can't go wrong with Makita power and dependability, but batteries have been an issue with use over the last years. Milwalkee sux!! I hate mine and it's only a year old. Been replaced once, batteries replaced and charge life sux. POS IMO!
My current fav is my DeWalt litiums. Very small, light and powerful for size.

The thing you'll realize years down the road is, none of these will last forever. Be it wear and tear, battery death, and or technology advancement. If you use them much, you'll own many. Unless things change, replacing batteries is too cost prohibitive compared to complete tool replacement. They are always putting kits on sale. Just do an extensive review search before purchasing each time.

Again, my current vote would be
DEWalt litium, hands down.

[chiefum]

And im amazed a makita anything, let alone a lithium, lasted less than a year

Not only did both batteries go bad....so did my charger....actually my charger went first and then one battery and about a month later the other battery went. Makita did nothing.....pretty sad customer service imo....the charger went out like two weeks after the warranty expired...and they would not do anything....I will never buy a makita again. I am an electrician who uses his tools everyday......and dewalt and panasonic are the only ones that I have used that take a beating and keep working. I dropped the panasonic off of an eight foot ladder.....and no problems.....and I just recently dropped my dewalt nicad battery off of a lift......no problems....so as far as durability goes.....panasonic and dewalt!

[nick613]

I have the Makita LXT lithium ion combo, when I bought it I went through all the other brands and tried them all out feeling what worked the best for me. The main thing that sold me on makita was how small and ergonomic the impact driver is. It's been over a year, many charges and lots of hammerdrilling and drilling 1/4" steel with the drill and both the drill/impact work perfectly. Don't regret the purchase at all.



One thing to keep in mind is just about every company that makes cordless tools has different tiers for their drills. I know for example Makita has atleast 3 different drills for their combos and I think they have 2 impacts, all different qualities and capabilities and obviously the price reflects that.

Hitachi also makes some cheap stuff but also offers an extremely high-end tool line aswell. They also probably make the best nail-guns in the business...

[nick613]

I've had craftsman...porter cable....makita....Panasonic....and dewalt. Porter cable was junk....craftsman was ok when they had the old warranty, where you could replace as many times as needed. My makita lithium ion lasted less than a year. My two favorites were my dewalt and Panasonic.

Ya porter cable's cordless line is really dissapointing. Price reflects that though

[1988 GMC 355]

Well I am sure most will flame me, but I pulled the trigger on a setup today. Lowes had the Porter cable Lithium Impact/Drill set for $200 then you got a choice of a free tool with it, so I got the sawzall.

Could have got a bit better deal on Amazon, but figured if something happens I can take it back to lows, warranty is 3 years on tools, 2 on batteries.

My dad Nicd drill and circ saw have been great, have drilled and screwed thousands of screws with it building our deck and never an issue, I like the PC so far, I am no carpenter or electrician so these should do for household, truck, odd job duties. ANd for the price it is hard to justify anything else.

Now if I did need these each day for work, Bosch would have had my sale in a heartbeat.

[Sbc_inside]

I use my 18v Dewalt NiCd every day at work for the past 2 years. I have been through 2 sawzalls, and one hammer drill. Drill was fixed for free, and sawzall was replaced out of my pocket. I have too much invested in my 18v NiCd stuff to go changing over right now. I do plan on picking up some lithium 18v batteries her some time soon though.

Now...another guy at work just bought the 20v lithium set from dewalt. Those things weigh only about as much as a 12v with more power than an 18v. If i had to start from scratch those would be the ones i would buy.

[nick613]

Well I am sure most will flame me, but I pulled the trigger on a setup today. Lowes had the Porter cable Lithium Impact/Drill set for $200 then you got a choice of a free tool with it, so I got the sawzall.

Could have got a bit better deal on Amazon, but figured if something happens I can take it back to lows, warranty is 3 years on tools, 2 on batteries.

My dad Nicd drill and circ saw have been great, have drilled and screwed thousands of screws with it building our deck and never an issue, I like the PC so far, I am no carpenter or electrician so these should do for household, truck, odd job duties. ANd for the price it is hard to justify anything else.

Now if I did need these each day for work, Bosch would have had my sale in a heartbeat.

Oh no.... If you don't use them for work might not be so bad but I'll say I used some guys porter cable drill and sawzall and they do not belong in a proffesional's tool box