RE: A Quandry

[Lew Hodgett]

Well, they got me again last night.

Broke into my locked tool shed and stole some tools, but they must have been interrupted because several tools were found laying on the ground outside the shed, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Not the first time it has happened, may not be the last.

Oh the joys of living in a den of thieves known as SoCal.

I have a Model 12 Winchester, and know how to use it, but the legal aggravation in this state for killing someone stealing your property far out weighs the satisfaction, so forget it.

Now that I've vented my spleen, some advice from the wreck.

They got my 18VDC, DeWalt, 1/2" chuck drill that I have used and abused for almost 10 years.

It doesn't owe me anything.

I need a replacement, but will no longer be doing the heavy duty type work that has been done in the past.

Staring into that crystal ball, what drill best meets the need.

I like the 18V package based on past experience, but would consider another voltage.

Bosch, Milwaukee, Panasonic, or even Porter-Cable.

Not fond of Makita anymore, don't know anything about Hitachi.

Await your comments.

Lew

[Nova]

The 15.6-volt Panasonic EY6432GQKW has been getting high reviews. Here's one example:

"Best cordless drill overall.

The Panasonic cordless drill / driver is recommended by more reviews than any other as the best combination of power and weight. The Panasonic EY6432GQKW outperforms both 14.4-volt and 18-volt cordless drills, especially for the most work per battery charge. Reviews also praise its 4.8-pound weight and excellent balance."

[ATP*]

Don't know how good it is, but that Kawasaki 19.2 V at Costco with two batteries for $39.99 looks like a pretty safe bet. Trouble with rechargeable drills is the manufacturer makes them obsolete by failing to provide replacement battteries at a reasonable cost, so even if the drill is still running, it doesn't make sense to buy $40 batteries for it ten years later.

[Morris Dovey]

| Well, they got me again last night. | | Broke into my locked tool shed and stole some tools, but they must | have been interrupted because several tools were found laying on the | ground outside the shed, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. | | Not the first time it has happened, may not be the last. | | Oh the joys of living in a den of thieves known as SoCal.

Happens everywhere. In Minnesota, they loaded my tools (including my father's old toolbox and tools) into the back of my C-20, hot-wired the truck, and drove off with the whole works.

| I have a Model 12 Winchester, and know how to use it, but the legal | aggravation in this state for killing someone stealing your property | far out weighs the satisfaction, so forget it.

I'm partial to my Colt Sporter-1; but your Model 12 loaded up with deer slugs could provide the proper "attitude adjustment". The deputy in Minnesota told me to be sure to drag 'em indoors before I called...

| Now that I've vented my spleen, some advice from the wreck. | | They got my 18VDC, DeWalt, 1/2" chuck drill that I have used and | abused for almost 10 years. | | It doesn't owe me anything. | | I need a replacement, but will no longer be doing the heavy duty | type work that has been done in the past. | | Staring into that crystal ball, what drill best meets the need. | | I like the 18V package based on past experience, but would consider | another voltage. | | Bosch, Milwaukee, Panasonic, or even Porter-Cable. | | Not fond of Makita anymore, don't know anything about Hitachi. | | Await your comments.

I've been using an 18V 3/8" for the last three years. The level of use has been "medium" and I've used it almost exclusively to push square drive screws into SPF. Battery capacity and charge retention have been nothing short of excellent. I paid about $40 at HF. Go figure.

-- Morris Dovey DeSoto Solar DeSoto, Iowa USA

[J T]

Wed, Aug 23, 2006, 9:42pm (EDT+4) [e-mail] (Lew=A0Hodgett) doth lament: Well, they got me again last night. . Await your comments.

Getcha some aircraft landing lights. Some of those real BIG suckers. Plant 'em inside your shed, and fix 'em so they'll come on when the door opens. I'm taking it on faith that you'll fix some sort of remote shutoff, so they won't go on when "you" open the door.

"Course there's always the chance some steenkin' lawyer will decide that's "cruel and unusual" and want to sue you over it.

When landing lights are outlawed only outlaws will have landing lights.

JOAT Justice was invented by the innocent. Mercy and lawyers were invented by the guilty.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

I love my Panasonic. Great feel and balance

Sounds like you need an alarm system also. Anything that makes noise and lights is good.

[George E. Cawthon]

Umm, I think the last sentence should be, "When landing lights are outlawed, outlaws will land.

[J T]

Thu, Aug 24, 2006, 6:41am (EDT+4) [e-mail] (George=A0E.=A0Cawthon) doth claimeth: Umm, I think the last sentence should be, "When landing lights are outlawed, outlaws will land.

Check the news, they've already landed. A goodly percentage of them are politicians.

JOAT Justice was invented by the innocent. Mercy and lawyers were invented by the guilty.