Cordless hand tools .... voltage .... brands ... ?

camerio · Post by **camerio** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:28 am

My old cordless little drill is no longer working ....
Could somebody tell me if I should invest in 18 v, 14 v or 12 v ?
What difference is there for the voltage other than the price ?
What is the best mark of cordless hand tools according to you ?
I really appreciate this forum and its members and I value your input on this subject.
Thanks

billmeyer · Post by **billmeyer** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:59 am

I have had great luck with my Ryobi 18v system, The Lithium batteries last a long time. The NI-cads were good for most usage. I have many of the Ryobi 18 V tools and have liked them all except the hand vacuum. With a sale, you can purchase a combo pack of tools with the Ni-cad batteries for less than you can pick up a single tool from one of the more major brands.

Bill

dforeman · Post by **dforeman** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 12:25 pm

I can really only comment on the cordless drilles that I have.

I have a 18 volt Porter Cable drill that I really like. I bought it 10 years ago at Lowe's so it is one of the older models before they were bought by Black and Decker. But, it works as well today as it did the day I bought it. The only thing I ever had any trouble with was the chuck froze up and I had to replace it. But, the batteries, charger, and everything else still works just fine. I know the batteries will eventually die though. Cordless power packs do not last forever.

Now I also have a couple of the Craftsman cordless drills. And, I will never buy another cordless anything from them again. The drills themselves are fine. However, the chargers are junk and the power packs just don't seem to last that long. And, they are newer than the Porter Cable I bought 10 years prior. The other problem is that Craftsman changes their distributors and design so often that trying to get replacement power packs is impossible. I do however, have a couple of their regular cord type powertools and I have had good service from those. Just not the cordless tools.

jcraigie · Post by **jcraigie** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 12:40 pm

billmeyer wrote:I have had great luck with my Ryobi 18v system, The Lithium batteries last a long time. The NI-cads were good for most usage. I have many of the Ryobi 18 V tools and have liked them all except the hand vacuum. With a sale, you can purchase a combo pack of tools with the Ni-cad batteries for less than you can pick up a single tool from one of the more major brands.

Bill

I also have these. The lithium battery packs hold a charge for a long time and the 1+ system is nice (for me anyways)

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 1:04 pm

I may be missing the big picture on this but.

No matter what cordless set you buy the batteries will wear out. Replacements are expensive.

Ridgid offers a free service agreement, you have to register for it, that has lifetime free battery replacement.

What is to think about????

Go to Home Depot pick the size and weight you want to deal with for 99% of your jobs and buy it. Don't buy super large to insure you can do those 1% jobs. My experience 12 or 14 volt will do everything I want to do and I do't have to cry when I have to hold the tool overhead to drill curtain rod holders for my wife.

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 3:12 pm

camerio wrote:My old cordless little drill is no longer working ....
Could somebody tell me if I should invest in 18 v, 14 v or 12 v ?
What difference is there for the voltage other than the price ?
What is the best mark of cordless hand tools according to you ?
I really appreciate this forum and its members and I value your input on this subject.
Thanks

I love my Craftsman Professional 20 Volt Lithium Ion, they are a little heavy buy the batteries last forever and the smart charger cools the battery while charging. My only issue is they have discontinued some of the accessories.

If I were to replace it I would only get Lithium Ion with a smart charger. the voltage depends on what you want to do and what accessories you want to add. I have a reciprocating saw which needs every bit of the 20 volts, the LED flashlight lasts over a week between charges which I found out when I left it on by mistake. I can drive 3/8" toggle bolts into studs with ease.

As you can tell by me 220 Volt PowerPro I like power.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 6:25 pm

paulmcohen wrote: . . . I can drive 3/8" toggle bolts into studs with ease.

. . .

?????????

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:11 pm

I have two of the 18V Ryobi 1/2" drill/light/charger/carry case combos that I have used for years now and I love them. I also bought the small circle saw and like it well also. I can buy the regular 18V batteries for $20 each. With the +1 system batteries interchange with any 18V Ryobi tool.

.

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:37 pm

I like my Black and Decker 18v set. I don't think I'll ever have to buy batteries since they fit everything. My string trimmer, leaf blower and chain saw all came with 2 batteries and chargers. That, plus the existing batteries that came with the drill, sander, and reciciprocating saw means it'll be awhile before I need to purchase batteries. Thanks be given to Eli Whitney and interchangeable parts!

BPR

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:19 pm

I have two Makita 18 volt drills and a driver. They are all superior to any other brand I have tried. Which includes most of common brands available today. I was recently shopping far a small diameter circular saw. When asking a Tool King employee which brand he rated as best. He responded Makita runs circles around any other tool brand, yet most people are unwilling to pay the price. Fjimp