Author	[Modern View]
Kerwin 08-06-2012 05:41:09 204.54.36.245 Report to Moderator	My second set of Hitachi 12V batteries are going dead after only a year, so I"m in the market for a new cordless drill. I liked the Hitachi performance, but the batteries only lasted a year each time. Rather than buy yet another drill combo to get new batteries, I thought I"d see what other brands folks recommend. While I don"t make a living using the drills, they do get put to hard work around the farm. [Reply]   [No Email]
Chip812 08-10-2012 07:29:25 216.226.180.3 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Mark-Ia, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see www.homedepot.com [Reply]  [No Email]
egbinor 08-09-2012 20:58:36 184.100.151.111 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   I've had Makita, Ryobi and Craftsman. Will only buy Ridgid from now on. They have replaced a set of batterys for absolutly no chg and no question recently. [Reply]  [No Email]
dave2 08-09-2012 21:22:06 79.240.160.26 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to egbinor, 08-09-2012 20:58:36   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see can you buy rigid online??? [Reply]  [No Email]
EgbinOR 08-10-2012 09:21:08 184.100.151.111 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to dave2, 08-09-2012 21:22:06   Yes, I just bought a cordless on ebay this morning [Reply]  [No Email]
TopCat in NC 08-08-2012 12:02:00 72.148.41.59 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   One thing that I"ve noticed about most of the NiMH and NiCd chargers is that they are "dumb" chargers (not the lithium type of batteries though) and they will usually continually to charge the batteries if you forget to take them off of the charger. I took a countdown timer (like for a bathroom fan) and wired it to a receptacle to use with my chargers then I don"t have to remember to take the battery off the charger when the charge cycle is through. Some brands charge faster than others so I set the timer accordingly. Take Care Dan [Reply]  [No Email]
big fred 08-07-2012 12:49:35 97.113.24.2 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   For the price, you can't beat the Ryobi 18V. If you can find a drill and circular saw combo on sale, get it. You'll wonder how you ever got along without that cordless circular saw. [Reply]  [No Email]
royboy47 08-07-2012 07:51:37 70.199.196.27 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   I purchased a Ridgid tool set a while back because everything was guaranteed for life, including the BATTERIES. I have replaced a couple with no questions asked. Good luck [Reply]  [No Email]
dave2 08-06-2012 23:37:13 139.139.35.69 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   The key to these batteries (so I am told by the tool guru at the local dealer and can verify by my cheap cellphone) is to run batteries completely empty then completely recharge. I have 5 bosch cordless tools that the chargers completely empty the battery before charging it. 2 of them are 6 years old on the same battery. Have dad a little samsung cellphone for quite awhile now that (due to forgetfulness) goes completely dead. A charged battery lasts 3-4 weeks... Wife plugs hers in at random (half charge, etc) and now has to charge it sometimes twice a week...... [Reply]  [No Email]
JRSutton 08-06-2012 22:27:56 75.130.109.233 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   I've always had good luck with Makita. Although - my latest drill (18v NiMH) one of the batteries is completely dead. And it's not that old. In fairness to Makita, I own a lot of their tools and this is the first time I've ever had any trouble with one. And that's saying a lot. Aside from the battery - my only minor complaint is that it has a light built in that I didn't even want. Not a big deal but the way it's positioned, it casts a shadow onto the point where you'd WANT the light to shine - right in front of the nose of the drill. I have since found it very handy having the light - but frustrated by the light not shining where it really needs to to be useful. [Reply]  [No Email]
JRSutton 08-06-2012 22:31:11 75.130.109.233 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to JRSutton, 08-06-2012 22:27:56   sorry - lithium ion is the one I have [Reply]  [No Email]
MSD 08-06-2012 19:32:03 67.4.61.151 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   I've had real good luck with Panasonic's. Lots of torque for a 15 volt and the batteries seem to last a long time. Someone said to run them all the way down before recharging. With the one's from Panasonic, it will go until the voltage drops to a certain point and it will shut down. Won't let you drag it down to nothing. [Reply]  [No Email]
Bryan iniowa 08-06-2012 11:04:22 207.191.221.191 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   Love my Hitachi combo 18 volt Li on . batteries hold up very good .Still have a 14.4 impact, ni cad batteries are toast . [Reply]  [No Email]
henry0 08-06-2012 07:41:43 24.166.89.230 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   I have an 18 Volt Ryobi that had two batteries. Neither one would charge any more. I read someplace (maybe here) that you could regenerate them by freezing for several days. LO and BEHOLD, it works. Both batteries are now better than new. Try it. [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 08-06-2012 07:17:36 205.188.116.142 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   Kerwin, Your problem is ALL NICD batteries are junk, Li-ions are way more expensive but will last. The best battery, you can get on ebay about the same price as NiCd are Ni-metal, Ni-MH. I've used them for 4 years. One NiMh will do more than 2 Li-ions. I use 18v dewalts. At the time I got my batteries, dewalt didn't sell the Ni-MH. Sad to say, the best battery is made in China, where, I was told, even my Dewalt is made. George George [Reply]  [No Email]
Kerwin 08-06-2012 07:50:39 204.54.36.245 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to George Marsh, 08-06-2012 07:17:36   Thanks for the replies. Is it possible (or even available) to use other types of batteries (Ni-MH) in my current drills? [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 08-06-2012 12:07:22 205.188.116.142 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 07:50:39   Go on ebay and look for a battery that will replace your battery, then look for the Nickel metal hydride. I got an aftermarket battery that works GREAT. It wasn't made by dewalt, however it took a special charger and dewalt sold the charger. Go figure. George [Reply]  [No Email]
GUIDO 08-06-2012 07:03:44 71.188.2.212 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   Hello Kerwin, If the battery you have has NiCad batteries it may not be done yet! Take a light bulb and kill the battery pack dead. When you put them back on charge, they may not fully charge the first time. Keep putting the pack on charge until it is warm to the touch. Try it, it may just work. Guido. [Reply]  [No Email]
Lester Elwood 08-06-2012 06:54:06 64.222.103.214 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   Interstate battery dealer here will put new ones in a codrless drill for $40 to $ 50. Cheaper than getting a new one for your drill, [Reply]  [No Email]
Bret4207 08-06-2012 06:32:48 64.19.90.196 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   Go online and buy the generic batteries for it instead of getting a new drill. I bought some for my ancient Makitas and for $20-30.00 it's a lot better than putting hundreds into a new kit. [Reply]  [No Email]
NCWayne 08-06-2012 06:29:19 69.40.232.132 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   Got one of the 18V Ryobi that I've had for more than 10 years. Bought the 4 piece set, reconditioned, at one of the mobile tool sales. I just replaced one of the two batteries that came with it first of this year. Got lucky on that deal because two new batteries were something like $59 dollars. Had them in the cart when I went past the clearance section and saw a drill set lying there for less. I wound up with a new drill, new charger, two batteries, and the bag, all for $50. Needless to say the batteries went back to the shelf. Not to long ago they came out with two types of new batteries for them too. I think both are the new type that are supposed to last longer than the old ones. Even at that, one of them is the standard long life and the other an even more extended life version of it. I've used mine for everything from driving 3 inch deck screws putting down underlayment to drilling multiple holes in steel plate at the shop. So far I've never had any issues except for the bit trying to spin in the chucks when they catch while drilling in metal. Heck a small bit will do the same in most of my other drills too, even when tightened with a chuck key, so I can't complain about that. I've also used Dewalt stuff when working for another outfit a few years ago. We were using mainly the 1/2 drills, the 3/8 impact, and the cordless angle grinder. The grinders sucked the batteries down pretty quick, but we could usually get a full shift worth of use out of the the drill and impact before they started getting weak. [Reply]  [No Email]
david G 08-06-2012 06:07:25 205.215.206.18 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   I get about 3 years out of my DeWalt batteries, but make sure and cycle them deep. [Reply]  [No Email]
tractor300 08-06-2012 06:06:57 74.36.188.222 Report to Moderator	Re: Cordless Drills - Best Bang for Buck in reply to Kerwin, 08-06-2012 05:41:09   I have found that the harder you use the battery operated tool the longer the batteries last. Before I retired I used the drills or tools every day and the batteries lasted up to 6-7 years in some cases. Since then when used occasionally they don't seem to last long at all. In fact I have a relatively new drill that I keep around the house and don't use very much and the batteries are shot after less than 5 total hours of use. So my theory is that it is not the brand so much as the amount of time they are used. I have had several brands over the year's and basically found this to be true. [Reply]  [No Email]