OT: Lavishly ordered...

[Tim..]

...one of these.

will tell if the thing is any good!

Tim..

[Mike Dodd]

Looks a very good price - I have a (very) similar spec DeWalt that is the old dog's danglies, and it completely changed my view from lots of cheap tools to getting one that's up to the job.

Ignore any nay-sayers that say that NiCads are past-it - I can confidently go to mine after 6 months non-use and use it without worry of dead batteries. Quality counts.

[Usenet Nutter]

Did you consider the £40 "Site" one ..made by Makita ?

[PeterC]

It's the same price but has 3 batteries. Not mentioned for the Site are Electric Brake Automatic Spindle Lock Fan-Cooled Motor Soft-Grip Handle

the last being essential! The charger is faster on the Makita - 30 min. instead of 1 hr. (not necessarily good unless the charger is 'smart').

[Usenet Nutter]

the £40 one I was meaning which has 2 batteries and a couple of the things you mention .

Did you perhaps mean one of the other Site items ?

[PeterC]

was the £40 one I was meaning which has 2 batteries and a couple of

Well, yes - the 18V one to compare directly with the 18V Makita

[Andy Dingley]

Needs a good fast charger. 1.3Ah doesn't last long, short enough you do find yourself recharging in mid-job.

"Site" often seems to be just the same as the better grade Makitas, but with the plastic gearbox instead of the metal, and the two-hand chuck rather than the single-hand (self-locking). Don't know how long their gearboxes last, it's not something I've managed to break on any of mine.

Screwfix's Bosch deal is pretty good too:

quid gets you a good 18V drill and 3 1.3Ah Li-ion batteries. Stonking price, no-one else comes close on it. Now I just need to find some of the 2.6Ah batteries for less than 60 quid each.

[Adam Aglionby]

Subtle differnce between =A340 Site and =A360 Site

=A360 is a SMB601, =A340 version is SMB600

60 quid gets you extra battery , more torque and all metal gearbox.

Personally just saved the =A320 for my occasional use and am delighted, nicely balanced , 1/2 hour charger , 2 batteries, 19 way clutch(!)

Talking of =A340 quid deal

yup

nope, a firm grip required ;-)

just about anything beyond a screwdriver has fan blades on end of motor

Double shot moulding and that nice matt finish plastic, yup., Orange rather than bllue.

Charger supplied is 1/2 hour with facility for 7.2- 18V batteries.

Cheers Adam

[PeterC]

these.http://www.screwfix.com/prods/84044/Power-Tools/Cordless-Drills/Makit...>>>> Time will tell if the thing is any good!

That's what has been deterring me (my comb's batteries are getting a bit weak), but 1.3Ah is just silly, even if of good quality. It's OK having 3 of them but still a nuisance if they need changing frequently. Seems to me that it'd be possible to run down one before the next had charged, even on 30 min.

That's the thing, getting decent batteries at a reasonable price.

[The Medway Handyman]

these.http://www.screwfix.com/prods/84044/Power-Tools/Cordless-Drills/Makit...>>>>>> Time will tell if the thing is any good!

I've run a 12v Mak driver & impact driver with 3 x 1.3 a/hr NiCds between them for over 3 years in trade type use & also building lots of decks. They have only just died. Even with the impact driver putting in 6 x 90 coach screws (no pilot) I've never had all three run down.