cordless drill opinion

[ransley]

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Today they are the best thing, but every so many years battery technology gets better.

[Jeff]

For most stuff a good 12v drill is fine. I have a 12v Makita and it will screw in about 50 3" deck screws on a charge. By then the spare battery is recharged. 12v weighs less so it is less tiring to use.

[RBM]

Today they are the best thing, but every so many years battery technology gets better.

Unfortunately, despite a tremendous need, new battery technology seems pretty slow. I use my driver drill virtually every day, and generally rotate four batteries. The usable life, for me is about two years, which translates to about six months per battery. It works out OK because in two years the driver drill is toast, and I buy a new one and two additional batteries and start over. If the Lion batteries are good for several thousand full charges, I wouldn't have to buy the extra batteries. That's worth about $100 to me

[Esther & Fester Bestertester]

Look closely at the lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery drills. These will be as powerful (comparing like voltages, of course) as the NiMH and NiCd drills but lighter.

Ryobi makes a nice tiny (green!) 12v drill for $80 I've seen at Home Depot. Milwaukee and Rigit also make small drills.

I suggest looking at these before buying to see if they are a big advantage for your (small) hands. :-)

Good luck, FBt

[Jim Yanik]

Esther & Fester Bestertester wrote in news: [e-mail]:

One really nice feature of the Li-ion system is that it retains a charge for many months in storage. The two other battery chemistries both have self-discharge rates that deplete the pack by the next time you want to use it,and then you have to spend an hour or more recharging a pack.

Ridgid,you mean.