I owned a Panasonic drill/impact driver back in the early 2000's and it was absolutely the best I've ever owned. I think they had 3.5amp hour batteri es - nickel metal hydride - but they lasted for.ever. All day basically. The impact driver had a slick digital clutch - and then a "quarter turn" fe ature that you could use to fine tune screw depth.
What happened to them? Do those features still exist today? I feel like t he Dewalts and Makitas I've been using are inferior.
Just curious. JP
PS - still hate the improved Lee Valley website. get off my lawn.
LiIon is far superior. I like the Bosch brushless drills and drivers. I've had too many of the brushed versions go up in smoke.
Panasonic has been getting out of consumer electronics for some years. It's too hard to compete with the Koreans and Chinese and maintain a high standard of living. They're mostly B2B now.
I'm not a fan of Highland's web site either but their showroom and stuff in it are first rate, like Lee Valley. Less non-woodworking stuff though.
I owned the a Panasonic Drill Driver in the early 90's. That was a great drill that was eventually replaced as batteries were difficult to find. After the Panasonic I had 2 DeWalt's and a Makita drill and a Makita impact. Some how or another I was awarded with a Bosch impact after the all of that.
8 years ago I bought a Festool drill, T12 kit IIRC. It compares to the Panasonic in build quality and longevity. Still using the original batteries with none showing any sign of weakening.
FWIW I seldom if ever use the Makita Impact and or the Bosch impact. The Festool drill driver has always had the power to do what the impacts used to do for me.
Take at look at this kitchen, specifically the images of the island and the sink.
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What do you guys think of the "protrusions" at each corner of the island and on both sides of the sink. Granted, I've never had a kitchen with that much walking space, but I don't think I'd want to have to deal with parts of a counter and island that protrude into the room.
Maybe the island is OK (excepted for sweeping the floor) but the sink area, IMO, should be smooth across the front.
The protrusions on the 4 corners of the island say " because I can afford it " .. the protrusions on each side of the sink say .. ... " my designer thought it was a good idea .. "
Also - whose friggin' great idea was - - square bottomed sinks ! ... I hate them. Hate how they look - can't imagine trying to get the soap scum out of the corners 24 x 7 ... a normal sink almost rinses itself ... geeze. John T.
If that's in a house, I suspect that there's another, _real_ kitchen somewhere where the cook does his or her work.
Second or third time one of those protrusions got me in the nuts, I'd be getting out the Sawzall--whether to apply to the protrusion or to the architect is an open question.
I've had both Bosch 12V and 18V sets (drill, driver, and impact driver) for longer than that (though I just replaced the 12V drill and impact driver with brushless models). In that time I've lost one battery and that was right at the beginning.
Offset would be nice but I haven't wanted to buy yet another drill. I just can't come to spend that much on a drill/driver. The other tools, sure, but a freakin' drill? Cheaper ones work perfectly well.
The two Milwaukees are each over 15 and 3 of the four original packs are as good as new...the fourth loses charge somewhat more quickly but still functional.
They are big and heavy, though, altho I've not seen the Festool to compare...is it 1/2" or 3/8"?
Doing the house remodel I was really impressed w/ the DeWalt the contractors were using and had already yearned for the battery saw so bought a way-marked-down kit(*) at XMas time...have been very satisfied with both drill and impact driver (after having learned to use--it's pretty bizarre from the first time-it's easy to strip a head out if not used to. The Milwaukees I haven't ever used as driver much owing to their heft except for rough fencing and the like).
Unfortunately for the thread I've never even seen a Panasonic what more had one to use to compare...
(*) Only real shortcoming is they cut cost by cutting down to just 2 or
2.5 AH batteries...but 3rd party replacements of larger capacity are quite reasonable altho these have lasted well enough for household remodeling of interior work. Probably not so much if pro driving deck screws all day.
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