I need to buy a new drill/driver but the choice is so vast that it's hard to make a decision. The only firm requirements are: that it's Li-Ion, is not too heavy or big, and comes with 2 batteries. I'm concerned that the 10.8V versions might be a bit weedy and the 18V ones a bit heavy, so probably it will be a 12V or 14.4V. Price up to about £170 or so. Are there any good deals anywhere at the moment, or recommendations?
Aldi,when they have them.
I find 14.4v does everything I need. Personally I'd go for Makita.
I've recently been using the £200 Bosch 14.4V I bought for my partner*. Significant differences between that and my Aldi 14V cheap (£15) drill/driver:
Chuck easier to use and lock. Also, the Aldi often seems reluctant to centre the bit, so some faffing usually ensues; Batteries charge more quickly, hold their charge, and last longer; Fair bit more powerful. Made short work of 6mm holes in masonry, and driving pretty good. The Aldi doesn't have hammer, so direct comparison there not possible. Lighter and nicer to use - balance, switches engage nicely.
Overall, it's the battery - always being ready - that would matter most to me. As it is, I have to plan a bit, and use a mains drill for masonry and heavy stuff.
Bought 3 years ago. Never taken it out of the box. I'm only using it to check the batteries. I would hasten to add it was bought unprompted on request.
With the XLT range the batteries are interchangeable with any other device in the range.
My Makita is the same in that respect
Not talking about the cheap aldi stuff, the aldi stuff with the lithium batteries is a cut above. I have had an aldi drill with lithium for a couple of years and I give it as much curry as Trade use would and it has held up.
In article , F Murtz writes
Did it come with 2 batts? I've been put off most of the Lidl/Aldi battery tool offering due to them having just one.
i posted this ages ago, but might be relevent again....
i helped my dad assemble his new shed, it's something like 14 feet long by
10 feet wide, lots of smaller panels to be screwed together,He had his makita niMh battery drill, with 3 x batteries and the stock charger,
I brought over my makita drill with the li-ion battery and stock charger,
I could drive almost 3 times as many screws on a single charge than he could, and at once point he had one battery on charge, one exhausted and was almost running out of power in the last battery, so had to stop a few times to wait for the batteries to charge.... once this cycle was set up it remained, a battery discharging a lot faster than one of them charged.
When my battery ran out, i put it on the charger, 15 minutes later it was fully charged again,
I found i could last about as long as a battery charge before wanting a break, and a 15 minute tea break was ideal,
My dad was getting fustrated and kept on working as he was just constantly changing batteries and waiting for them to charge.
So check out how long the battery takes to charge before deciding you need 2 batteries, of course there is the battery capacity thing to take into account, but most lithium drill batteries can charge in 15 minutes nowadays, if not faster?
When i first got into lithium polymer batteries for my planes, they had a strict 1C charge regime, so as long as you could feed the battery the current, i would take at least an hour to charge, Nowadays the li-po batteries for model planes can charge at 5C or more, some claim 10C charges, but the problem is finding the 50 amp charger supply for the 5AH battery pack.
I have two different Aldi lithium drills of different voltage both came with two batteries. they were not as cheap as the old nicad Aldi drills Near or over $100 AU.compared with $30 or so for nicad. You would probably have to wait as they come a couple of times a year here PS I just got one of those new fangled rattle gun type screw drivers (Lithium) from Aldi Originally listed for $129 AU but waited and got it marked down to $59 AU
I was in B&Q today, they have a Makita combi 18v with 2 x 1.3a Li Ion batteries - £138.
I'd second that opinion. I bought an 18V Makita with a 3Ah battery a couple of years ago and it's been superb. A charge lasts for ages in normal day to day use. On a bigger job, when it eventually runs out, it only takes 20 minutes to recharge, which is no more than a tea break or time to attend to something else for a little bit. So far, it's shown no sign of losing battery capacity. If I dropped it off a ladder tomorrow, I would definitely buy the same again.
Thanks, that looks interesting. I was put-off the combi drills because I don't need the hammer function and I thought it would make it longer and heavy than one without. The Metabo Powermaxx Li-ion Drill Driver gets good reviews despite only being 10.8V, the removable chuck and angle drive look like they might be useful features so I'm now wonderng about a 10.8V Metabo for general use and a cheapie 18V (Titan, Aldi, etc) for the grunt moments. Any opinions on Metabo?
...
Recently picked up one of these combi drills from Screwfix:
Though it was a good deal; it was a tenner less that the advertised
99.99 pounds price. Special offer on a new store opening. Have yet to use this drill.
Exceptional build quality from what I've heard.
You might be dissapointed. some of the cheap 18V machines have no more power than a quality 10.8V machine...
Darren
I've just ordered one of the Hitachi 18V drills mentioned above from Screwfix - it says on the their website 10 in stock at my branch but when I order it for collection (and pay) it tells me I can collect it the day after tomorrow!!!!
Agreed. My 14.4v Makita will run rings around an 18v cheapy.
Useful info ta.
Despite the comments about 1 lithium being ok, I think I still want 2 :-).
I've had a pair of hitachi 18v L-ion drills since last November and been very satisfied with them.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.