Cordless Drills

RichZ · Nov 27, 2009

I thought about getting a Ridgid drill, so I checked their website and contacted them through it, to see if they really replace batteries. The response that I got, from the Ridgid website, is that if the batteries die, you have to bring them to a Ridgid repair center, and they wil decide if the batteires were defective, or if they were abused. My guess is that they will always say they were abused.

Has anyone ever returned Ridgid batteries succesfully? I would get a Ridgid drill in a heartbeat, if I knew, for sure, that the batteries would be replaced.

Steve C · Nov 27, 2009

RichZ said:
I thought about getting a Ridgid drill, so I checked their website and contacted them through it, to see if they really replace batteries. The response that I got, from the Ridgid website, is that if the batteries die, you have to bring them to a Ridgid repair center, and they wil decide if the batteires were defective, or if they were abused. My guess is that they will always say they were abused.

Has anyone ever returned Ridgid batteries succesfully? I would get a Ridgid drill in a heartbeat, if I knew, for sure, that the batteries would be replaced.

I think all the Lithium Ion batteries have a chip inside that records their history. A friend of mine had a Makita 18 volt Lithium Ion battery that died an early death for no apparent reason. The local authorized Makita repair facility told him to bring it in, and if it's chip told them that it had not been abused they would replace it. He brought it in, they tested it and gave him a new one. I don't know if they were just blowing smoke or not but that is what they told him. He was happy with the new battery and has no further issues.

I have 6 Makita Lithium Ion batteries, 3 Dewalt Nano tech Lithiums 2 36 volt and one 18 volt and I have 6 Milwaukee V18 Lithium Ion batteries and 8 Bosch 10.2 volt Lithium Ion Batteries.

They have been performing superbly for the last couple of years. I had to have both my 36 volt batteries replaced right after I bought the set, ( about 2 years ago) because it was old stock and some of the origional 36 volt batteries were defective. DeWalt replaced them both at no charge to me, I just had to return the old ones so they could examine them. They sent me a prepaid box to ship them in when they sent me the new batteries.

The Lithium Ion batteries are great. My 36 volt system doesn't get used very much because of the size and weight of the tools, but it can sit there for 6 months, and you can pick up the tool and use it like it was charged yesterday. It just doesn't seem to loose anything while sitting around. I pull it out of the box and put it to work.

If you want the king kong of cordless hammer drills get yourself a Dewalt 36 volt. They are not inexpensive, but they can sure put some serious twist where the rubber meets the road. They have a 3 speed gear box, making it possible to twist yourself right off a ladder if you have the clutch adjusted "off" to the full drill position! It isn't going to stop as long as you have the trigger pulled, no matter what it runs into!

RichZ · Nov 28, 2009

I just checked my latest circular from TSC. They have a Kawasaki 18 volt cordless drill with a drill set on sale for $29.99, usually $49.99. If I get a chance tomorrow, I'm going to go to TSC, and if it even looks half decent, I'm gonna buy it. I've bought some fairly decent drills that won't last me, at least if this one dies quickly, I'm only out $29.99. I don't expect it to be a high quality tool, but if I can use it for my projects, and it even lasts a year, I'll consider it a better deal than drills that cost over $100 and only last me 2 years. If it looks at least better than a Harbor Freight drill, I'll buy this one. Then if I find a deal on a good drill, I'll have a spare. I still have a section of metal roofing on my barn that I need to refasten down, and I need a drill now.

JESSE1 · Nov 28, 2009

I've used Milwaukee power tools for many years. My 18V lithium ion hammer drill was a very good investment. Powerful enough to twist your wrist if it hangs up. I installed a floor on my 28' trailer using about 150 flooring screws and never had to change the battery. I did use my Milwaukee 1/2" 110v Hole Shooter to drill the holes in the steel frame, but that was mainly to keep from changing from a drill bit to a driver bit.

Hooked_on_HP · Nov 28, 2009

craftsman 19.2 batteries were just on sale for 24.99.
Bill

Steve C · Nov 29, 2009

RichZ said:
I just checked my latest circular from TSC. They have a Kawasaki 18 volt cordless drill with a drill set on sale for $29.99, usually $49.99. If I get a chance tomorrow, I'm going to go to TSC, and if it even looks half decent, I'm gonna buy it. I've bought some fairly decent drills that won't last me, at least if this one dies quickly, I'm only out $29.99. I don't expect it to be a high quality tool, but if I can use it for my projects, and it even lasts a year, I'll consider it a better deal than drills that cost over $100 and only last me 2 years. If it looks at least better than a Harbor Freight drill, I'll buy this one. Then if I find a deal on a good drill, I'll have a spare. I still have a section of metal roofing on my barn that I need to refasten down, and I need a drill now.

I had the Kawasaki drills and they worked O.K. They package them 2 ways, one has a 1 hour charger and the other one has a 5 hour charger. I had the one hour charger system. Either way the batteries are the weak link in the system. They work well but are very relatively low capacity. My DeWalt, Milwaukee and Makita all have 2 or three times the battery capacity.

I see that Menards has a 18 volt drill with a battery and a 5 hour charger on sale starting Sunday for $19.95 with a $10 dolar rebate. I have several of these drills and I would rate them as very similar to the Kawasaki with the 5 hour charger. Buy three of them and be happy!

Steve C · Nov 29, 2009

JESSE1 said:
I've used Milwaukee power tools for many years. My 18V lithium ion hammer drill was a very good investment. Powerful enough to twist your wrist if it hangs up. I installed a floor on my 28' trailer using about 150 flooring screws and never had to change the battery. I did use my Milwaukee 1/2" 110v Hole Shooter to drill the holes in the steel frame, but that was mainly to keep from changing from a drill bit to a driver bit.

Of all my battery powered tools I llike my V18 Milwaukee's the most. There is just something about the design that works for me. I have the 1/2" drive impact wrench, the 6 1/2" circular saw, the metal cutting circular saw, the SDS Hammer drill, the 1/2" hammer drill, the vacuum cleaner, a couple of the v18 flashlights, the v18 "Hatchet" sawsall, and a couple of standard 18 volt sawsall's and the monster of all 1/4" hex impact drivers model 0881-20. It will snap 1/4" bolts like they are taffy and wil drive deck screws completely through a 6x6 if you have a long enough bit. The batteries have a nice charge indicator built in and have a lot of capacity. The "hatchet" sawsall is one of my favorite tools. I had the corded model of the "hatchet" and I sold it because the cordless one does everything I need a sawsall to do and has equal power. It will cut a lot of material on a single battery charge.

aczlan · Nov 29, 2009

RichZ said:
Has anyone ever returned Ridgid batteries succesfully? I would get a Ridgid drill in a heartbeat, if I knew, for sure, that the batteries would be replaced.

Dad did a few years back on his 12v rigid set. The batteries wouldn't hold a charge (they were ~ 3 years old). They replaced them. 1-2 years the trigger switch broke (wouldnt run the drill at all) later. After much fussing (they wanted to replace the variable speed trigger switch with a 2 speed one) they gave him a 14v drill (the 12v one was no longer in production), a pair of batteries, a single battery 1 hr charger and he was able to persuade the guy to let him keep the dual battery 1 hr charger that came with the original set. The most important thing with them is to KEEP YOUR RECEIPT. They will do NOTHING without it.

Aaron Z

dmccarty · Nov 29, 2009

I have a BUNCH of Dewalt corded and cordless tools. The only one that is not worth what I paid for it is the cordless recip saw.

What I have had problems with is the Dewalt batteries. The 18v are expensive and a single one is around $80 and two are $120. After my last battery almost caught on fire in the charger I swore off the battery power tools. There have been times I which I had them but then I think of their cost and the house burning down.

Having said that.....

Lowes and HD both have the Dewalt 18v drill on sale for $99 with TWO batteries, charger and case.

Buy the package and you can throw away the drill.

I had to go to Lowes yesterday and it took ALOT of will power to walk past the $99 deal but we have already spent way too much money on the kids and things we really needed. I have managed to work with out the batteries for a couple of years now. Besides the cheap Black and Decker power drill I bought years ago out works the 18v Dewalt anyway.

So if you need the 18v Dewalt batteries go buy the package and have a spare drill.

Later,
Dan

RichZ · Nov 29, 2009

I just got back form TSC, and they're out of the Kawasaki drills, so I got a raincheck for 2. If I don't find a better deal, I'll buy two and alternate them. Then for $60, maybe I'll have a cordless drill last for a while. Or not, if it's total junk, but at least I won't have a lot invested in it.