I've got a HF 18 volt impact driver. Charged it a couple weeks ago, and then yesterday the battery was dead. I am sort of tempted to get a drill to go with it, and just live with having to charge it before use.
A friend suggests Dewalt, with lifetime battery replacement guarantee, and batteries that hold charge.
So, I've got the HF thing, and it's a hundred bucks for a Dewalt. Maybe I'll catch 18 volt Chicago drill on sale, and then I'll have a tool system....
or should I spend the big bucks and quit the HF routine?
When I was still working I saw one of my customers using a Dewalt and asked him if it was any good. He told me to get a Milwaukee.
I did and it's the best cordless drill I've ever owned.
It uses a very small battery but it's extremely powerful and charges extremely fast. I got a deal when I bought the drill and have a total of three batteries but have never been on a job so tough I've had to use more than the 2nd one.
It has a lot of torque and just plain works great.
A Chicago ain't a Milwaukee. I've never owned a cordless drill. There were a couple of times one would have been handy but I got the job done with a hand drill. For very occasional use like that I might go the HF Chicago route. If I were using it a lot I would go for the Milwaukee or DeWalt.
I'd quit the HF routine. Working as a tradesman you need good tools. Cheap crap might be OK for occasional use for a homeowner like me but even I do not buy their crap anymore.
HF is good for some things, like hand tools and some corded power tools like their decent port-a-band clone, but not for anything cordless. Go with Makita's 18V LXT and the brushless version of the drill and driver, they are great.
DeWalt is higher quality B&D...but both Milw and DeW are now made in China! I bought a higher priced Ryobi with a lithium battery (company owned it) and it was excellent! But I can't remember the model...but was $150 about 2 yrs ago.
Remember the old saying "you get what you pay for".
Cheap tools like Harbour Freight are fine for tasks you will perform once or very rarely. For example, my HF spring compressor works fine for changing struts in my car, but I've only used it twice in the last 5-10 years. Of course, you can usually rent better quality tools for these situations instead of buying cheap tools.
On the other hand, a cordless drill is something you're likely to use often. It just makes more sense to invest in good tools for frequent or long term usage. The Dewalt will cost more upfront, but it will hold up better and last longer. Not to mention you're more likely to find replacement parts when it does come time to service the tool.
Buying cheap is rarely a wise decision. You end up having to buy multiple items when one good item would have performed better and lasted longer. This applies to shoes, clothes, lawn mowers, tools, etc.
When I was younger I often bought cheap sockets and ratchets to save money. Nine times out of ten they would break or strip out when I needed them most (usually at the expense of my knuckles). After going through several sets of cheap sockets I finally invested in high quality Craftsman sockets and haven't had one break or strip in over 25 years.
For what it's worth, I have the 20V Dewalt drill/driver/light combination and have been very happy with it. Lots of power and the batteries last a long time.
I still have a DeWalt 9.6V drill (Made in USA) that is about 18 yrs old...i t still works but the batteries puke-out pretty fast now! I also have a Mak ita that is old too...but holds a charge still. I bought it for $10 @ a gar age sale...it probably didn't get used much.
As many say "you get what you pay for" and whle I too have several HF tools, for something I use all the time I decided on a Bosch cordless. Best damn drill driver I've ever owned or used. Includes two Lio batts that are small and recharge in 30 mins. So on large jobs I can work with one and by the time it runs out the other will be totally recharged.
Most posters are bragging on their old DeWalt tools. I too have a old one that is still working well, but the key factor is that old tools were made here in the USA by DeWalt. Then they merged with B&D and the quality went d own. Now they are made in China and the quality is down further. So you j ust can't recommend DeWalt based upon their older good quality tools vs wha t they make today.
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