Combi drill - again

While not big on capacity, if they are decent cells then the pack performance ought to be ok.

Its probably worth having at twice the price. You could always get a couple of higher capacity NiMh batts for it later.

Not in the Makita league

You may not need 18v. A Makita/Site 14.4v will run rings around an 18v Powercraft. My 14.4v Mak does everything I've ever wanted it to do.

Have a look at the Site 14.4v for £60 c/w 3 batteries.

I ran 1.3 a/hr Makita NiCds for 3 years trade use, including heavy decking work before I had to upgrade.

"Once you've had Mak there's no going back" :-)

Exactly what I did.

Nowhere near. Plus you can easily buy every single part of a Makita if you ever need spares.

volt, and the batteries, are still in great shape after what must be at least 8 years

remember when I last charged my DeWalt (been over a year), but had to swap to the spare battery this w/end whilst hole-sawing through a cabinet. The original battery I've used randomly during this time, and the second has been boxed, probably for well over a year.

Never tried the Makita but at that price it has to be worth a punt.

The Makita 14.4V on SF is a tad pricey. The Site 14.4V is £80. I probably don't need 3 batteries, especially NiCds, as there'd just be more of 'em gorn flat (I sometimes go a few months between uses).

Yes, I suppose that Makita cells would be better than Powercraft!

And the charger's OK for those (I saw a DeWalt that could handle different chemistries)?

Although the Erbauer might not be as good as the Makita, I was tempted by the batteries - but am I back to 'there are batteries and there are batteries', as with NiCds?

Thanks for the info., John and TMH. I'll have to decide soon as I'd like to get something on Thursday. BTW, B&Q had the Makita at 20% off last w/e.

The mak chargers are usually pretty smart - delta peak detecting, with thermal overload protection. They do NiCd and NiMh, usually in any voltage up to the maximum of the charger (so a charger for 18V will do

The Li-ion chargers/batts are different and not interchangeable.

Like much else there are Ni-Cads and Ni-Cads. Good ones are better than mediocre ones of whatever is the latest fashion.

Its £60 here

Mak chargers handle a wide range of voltage & types. When I swapped from NiCd to NiMh the charger was the same. Mak chargers are also 'smart'.

You won't ever regret buying a Makita drill driver.

As I thought - the DeWalt said that the drill could take all 3 but didn't mention the charger's capabilities. It'd be a bit OTT/expensive to make a charger to do all 3.

I have just replaced my ten year old Bosch PSB 24VE-2 with another one I got for =A3100 at B&Q. 24v NiCd. Unfortunately they seem to be about =A3150 best price at the moment.

The old one is still in use but has started to jump out of gear. I have given it sporadic hard use (e.g. 2' long 3/4" masonry bit) and it looks scruffy but rarely needs the 1hr charge, even now. I would recommend them, although I haven't tried the competition.

Pete

I like Bosch, especially the 3-yr. warranty (Makita is only 1 yr.).

Is the Bosch one unconditional? Their tools tend to be of the DIY variety whereas Makita pro.

Don't know. Aren't blue Bosch of Pro. quality?

Yes, the green are DIY - I was fooled by the title of the ng. I think the blue are pro, they are more expensive certainly.

Pete

Just had another look. It says in the text that its a combi, but it isn't. The combi version is £80 here

Something I notice about that picture is that it looks like a two handed chuck - it will be interesting to see if it is or the single handed one like some of the Makitas. Does not appear to have the side caps to allow easy brush changes either. (not that it matters much, still on my first set after about 6 years of moderately heavy use.