Good tool brand with interchangeable batteries?

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#759557 11-Feb-2013 15:16

reven: probably get something like these

Makita LXT618 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless 6-Tool Kit

KTL718C Hitachi 18v Lithium Ion 7 Tools Kit

though i may have to just get a dual set of power drills for the time being (I'm spending too much money on other house stuff ATM, network/nerd stuff :))

Looks like mine isn't on their list (they only list hammer drills and impacts). It was in the bunnings mailer which they appear to have taken down today.

Jon

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#759577 11-Feb-2013 15:50

Something that was recommended to me was if you intend to use the drill for building a deck or 5, or putting up gib, etc, make sure you get a hammer action-type drill, or a drill that has a switch to use hammer action. Drives in screws in about 1/3rd the time, and is far less tiring that a non-hammer action. That's the "baarrp" sound you hear at building sites, not a recalled gerkin sammie :-)

MikeSkyrme

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#759596 11-Feb-2013 16:07

SepticSceptic: Something that was recommended to me was if you intend to use the drill for building a deck or 5, or putting up gib, etc, make sure you get a hammer action-type drill, or a drill that has a switch to use hammer action. Drives in screws in about 1/3rd the time, and is far less tiring that a non-hammer action. That's the "baarrp" sound you hear at building sites, not a recalled gerkin sammie :-)

That would be torque adjustment, not hammer action. Don't use hammer action on a drill for inserting screws, it will be messy.

Michael Skyrme - Instrumentation & Controls

Brunzy

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#759601 11-Feb-2013 16:10

SepticSceptic: Something that was recommended to me was if you intend to use the drill for building a deck or 5, or putting up gib, etc, make sure you get a hammer action-type drill, or a drill that has a switch to use hammer action. Drives in screws in about 1/3rd the time, and is far less tiring that a non-hammer action. That's the "baarrp" sound you hear at building sites, not a recalled gerkin sammie :-)

That is an impact drill , great invention , I have an 18V & a couple of 10.8v real grunty little blighters.
Great time savers

SepticSceptic

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#759604 11-Feb-2013 16:12

Ooops, I meant impact driver, not so much the hammer action :-)
"An impact driver combines much higher rotational torque than traditional drills, with fast paced rotational tapping (not to be confused with hammer drills with deliver tapping from the rear to help power through concrete and other hard materials) which serves to nudge the fastener along while keeping the screw tip in place without spinning out of the slots."

Too many gherkin sammies at lunch - fuzted the brain ...

Brunzy

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#759614 11-Feb-2013 16:28

reven: probably get something like these

Makita LXT618 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless 6-Tool Kit

KTL718C Hitachi 18v Lithium Ion 7 Tools Kit

though i may have to just get a dual set of power drills for the time being (I'm spending too much money on other house stuff ATM, network/nerd stuff :))

+1 if you can get a charger etc,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-MAK-LXT618-Makita-LXT618-18V-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-6-Tool-Kit-/150863655476?pt=AU_Power_Tools&hash=item23202cb234
This guy is supposedly in NZ , so the postage should not be as much,

also,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Makita-18-Volt-LXT-Lithium-Ion-6-Tool-Combo-Kit-LXT601-/190794878891?pt=Power_Tools&hash=item2c6c42cfab
This is probably the US Equivalent model.

I bought a Makita drill a few years back, & was a bit dissapointed , the chuck is always slipping & when it took it back after 12 months 3 weeks ( my fault entirely) they did not want to know.
Bought Milwaukee ,expensive but very good , you can pick up bare tool only on ebay , it is the shipping that's the killer

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jonherries

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#759635 11-Feb-2013 17:12

I bought a Makita drill a few years back, & was a bit dissapointed , the chuck is always slipping & when it took it back after 12 months 3 weeks ( my fault entirely) they did not want to know.
Bought Milwaukee ,expensive but very good , you can pick up bare tool only on ebay , it is the shipping that's the killer

Hmmm, I thought I noticed this yesterday, it is a funny chuck on my Makita. It has some sort of over-torque protection which when you use it correctly is actually quite good.

Jon

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#759644 11-Feb-2013 17:16

SepticSceptic: Something that was recommended to me was if you intend to use the drill for building a deck or 5, or putting up gib, etc, make sure you get a hammer action-type drill, or a drill that has a switch to use hammer action. Drives in screws in about 1/3rd the time, and is far less tiring that a non-hammer action. That's the "baarrp" sound you hear at building sites, not a recalled gerkin sammie :-)

Yeah, an impact driver (as corrected above) is pretty awesome at those sorts of things. Just got to get decent thickness screws if your're going into hardwood - ive snapped the shaft of a few screws with my impact driver!

I found that the combination of a drill for pre-drilling and an impact driver for screwing is a total revelation for making cabinets/shelves. So much more efficient than changing the chuck between a drill bit and driver

Blanch

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#759764 11-Feb-2013 21:19

I’ve not been disappointed buying Makita (blue), can’t say the same about the cheaper brands.

reven: probably get something like these

Makita LXT618 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless 6-Tool Kit

KTL718C Hitachi 18v Lithium Ion 7 Tools Kit

though i may have to just get a dual set of power drills for the time being (I'm spending too much money on other house stuff ATM, network/nerd stuff :))

The batteries don’t last long on the grinders

richms

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#759776 11-Feb-2013 21:47

One plus is pretty good, very good for the price and its from a brand who have made come commitment to sticking with the same battery. Dont overstress them tho and they will be fine. But things like the radio are hell overpriced.

Makita have changed it several times, much to the annoyance of several people I know. Hitachi are still selling some with their older post into the drill type LiIons that look like the old nicd packs, they are almost EOL according to a couple of tool sales people I have spoken to, with the new ones all being the slide on LiIon packs. There will still be NiCd/NiMH for some time still as some people are still iffy about LiIons going boom on them.

The thing is you may not want the same pack for all tools. you want a small light 10.6v drill for when you are up a ladder putting in a light or whatever, and a nice 18v one for blasting thru nogs with a huge auger bit. Same big pack that will drive the auger is too heavy on the jigsaw so you get a half size pack (still 18v) but it wont drive the drill into something thick and large.

If you are looking at tools, look at the bare tools on amazon. heaps are about $99, no battery means no problems shipping them, no charger so no hassles with non universal 110v stuff, and way cheaper than getting the kit of lots of tools here.

Richard rich.ms

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#759802 11-Feb-2013 22:27

good advice about amazon, having a quick look i found this with no battery for $98USD and in new zealand for $885.

plus with amazon you get real users reviews on the item page.

just need to find a place in nz that sells the batteries.

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richms

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#759806 11-Feb-2013 22:34

Amazon also has batteries. And they seem to usually be available for direct shipment so no possible hassles with losing a whole tool and battery if they decide that the battery is too many watt hours for their bizzare regulations which dont clarify if a detachable battery can be shipped when it is in a kit with other thing.

One thing with hitachi, I have yet to find a car charger for them. Dewalt, ryobi and others, yeah no worries.

I am using a 110v dewalt charger on a 110v inverter in the car when I need to. Just had to clearly label the plug since my 220v inverter also takes US style plugs.

Richard rich.ms

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#759859 12-Feb-2013 06:28

Just went through this exercise. I have had Hitachi corded power tools for years and they have performed perfectly, chose them because of a recommendation from a mate who runs a large building company (that was over 20 years ago). He also settled on DeWalt more recently and reckons they are one of the best for cordless power tools.

I went for the 20V 3Ah Li-ion range (which is really 18V but is a way they can release new gear and use a newer battery) bought two DCD985L2 drills (metal guts and chuck) and a DCS391L1 skill saw. Also bought 2 new batteries. Got everything on Ebay and shipped via Youshop. The 20V doesnt seem to be available from DeWalt NZ yet but compared to ones on TradeMe I got mine for about half of what they are asking there including the 110V transformer I bought locally.

Be careful with the DeWalt kits though. Seems they have tools in those that are not quite up to the standard of the individual tools, slight changes such as pressed steel foot on the skillsaw rather than the magnesium foot on the individual tool for example.

Dairyxox

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#759862 12-Feb-2013 07:26

My brother is a builder who swears by his tools. He pretty much exclusively uses Dewalt, but could be swayed to makita

NonprayingMantis

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#759895 12-Feb-2013 09:13

Dairyxox: My brother is a builder who swears by his tools. He pretty much exclusively uses Dewalt, but could be swayed to makita

My builder swears by his tools too. only yesterday I heard him saying "[bad word]. this peice of [bad word] is [bad word]-ing [bad word]

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