Cordless Drills

[_RaT_]

I like both the Mag 77 and the Dewalt. One thing a Dewalt won't do however is some of the tight quarter cuts when height is a restraint. It's much taller then the 77. I have no fears of the Skil 77, well, with the exception of the spinning blade that could pretty much cut through anything our human bodies are equipped with but that pretty much applies to all the saws. One thing I find unique to me and other left handed worm saw folks is I'm a safer operator then right handers. It's difficult to explain here but understand that on a piece of work, I can rest the entire weight of the saw on the work when I'm cutting off say 1" from a board or ripping a strip off plywood. I find that very, very rarely is it becessary to pin the guard up. A lefty must however learn to look through the blade to follow his cut.

I have used the 16" Makita beam saw considerably. The important thing about the beam saw is to have a sharp blade. Otherwise the that big ol blade looks for the path of least resistance and flex's all over the place especially on miter cuts. We use a lot of Doug Fir here which is quite fiberous. It will tell a dull blade where it's going to cut. I also use a portable band saw from Mafell. It's a nice way to go when cutting corbels on lumber to big to move around. We have cut corbels on lumber as big as 12" thick and over 30' long. (See attachment) You find those on the Santa Fe, Mexican, California Ranch style homes. It's very tedious and wears on ones back manuvering it. It also runs on 240V. The reason is the motor is not nearly as big I think, well that and it's European and they just have different ways.

I have had Hilti tools but the tools have continued to runaway from me. I'm either a bad owner or someone likes them for free. They make the cadillac (thats a good thing) of hammer drills. First with the TEC drill design, now the standard. The tough thing about great tools is their tendancy to find a new owner. There are very few times I picture myself with my hand around a guys neck squeezing off his air pipe. Taking my tools with no intent of ever retuning them brings those images to mind everytime. Everytime it's been my fault for leaving them in my pickup bed while running into the lumber store.

It's obvious when folks like you use tools because I find little room to disagree. Sure we will have preferences, but for the most part, everyone is pretty on target. Everyone will treat their tools to a different degree of abuse. Mine have a hard life, especially drills. Just turn dang it, I don't care if your not designd to run a 2 1/2" auger, your all I have so do it! I find worm drive saws virtually impossible to destroy.

 

[sugarmaker]

Hi Al,

This one does 70 taps for me quite nicely, and rarely runs out of power (see attachment).

 

[Bird]

Dave, I used to have one of those models, but I found that mine did run out of power too quickly, and besides that it had a tendency to wobble around a bit, so I gave it away. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Bird I've got a couple of those. One of them has a chain to wrap around the beam or pole and exerts pressure on the bit while the operator does the brace thing.

I wonder if any of the really old guys here, (older'n Bird) remember flying with work using a Stanley push drill. I used to keep three different sizes on the truck, and not for grins either.

Rat, I can see where a southpaw would find the seventy seven the tool of choice. But for a rightie it's an across the body cut, ick! I used to drive figure eights out in California with a framer who pulled the guard first thing off of a saw. He took a seventy seven about seventy percent through his left hand sitting one down.

I would drive you crazy if I came by for a visit checking out your tools and talking about them. As for the thiefs, they're gawd's children too, just need some discipline. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have been extremely fortunate in that few folks have stolen from me. I attribute most of that to good fortune along with a little ornery character thrown in for spite. My wife says my face is an open book to my mind. I guess most people who work around me see that I feel about my tools like some folks feel about family.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( One of them has a chain to wrap around the beam or pole and exerts pressure on the bit while the operator does the brace thing. )</font>

Harv, you lost me on this one. I don't understand what you're talking about.

But as the for Stanley push drill, you don't have to be too old, do you? They still sell new ones, although I haven't used one in awhile.

 

[alan40]

Hi Dave, I'm afraid I'd run out of power pretty quick. Besides that nothing like having a good honest excuse to buy an new tool since I've used up all my "honey, baby I really need that " excuses with a new sugar house and evaporator!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dieselsmoke1]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( Well, lets just say circular saws are an East Coast thing as out here we use Worm Drives almost exclusively. )</font>

It's facinating how things often become regionalized. I've been around construction work all my life and just picked up my first worm drive a few weeks ago. Gawd awful clumsiest thing I ever tried to operate /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

No doubt someone who used a worm for years would feel the same about a circular /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Can't leave out Milwaukee Sawzalls in this review. Often imitated, never duplicated.

 

[_RaT_]

"Can't leave out Milwaukee Sawzalls in this review. Often imitated, never duplicated. "

They make a great Sawzall. Not being duplicated however was a good thing back then. The replacement ones from folks like Bosch and Porter Cable had tons more power and a longer stroke. The Sawzalls had many failures in the recipricating action. Today I belive thats been eliminated and I really like Porter Cables and Milwaukees. The new quick disconnect blade holder is wonderful.

I started with the circular saw and felt much the same as you upon using the Worm drive. Once I got the hang of it, the circular saw was history. No one out here uses circular saws except homeowners anymore. They are however still great saws.

 

[Bird]

Rat, one of my brothers has a Milwaukee Sawzall and has had it for many years. It's a fine saw, but I actually like my recently purchased and much cheaper Makita better. Of course do have some doubts that it would hold up as long for heavy duty work as the Milwaukee.

And I've owned several Black & Decker and Skil circular saws over the years; never owned a worm drive, but both my brothers have worm drives and I've used them, and if I had very much sawing to do, and enough money in my pocket, I'd definitely go with the worm drive over the circular saw.

 

[_RaT_]

Bird, I've tried the new Milwaukee battery operated Sawzall and really liked it. The Makita Sawzall holds up very well. My biggest problem Sawzall of all was an old B&D. Doing plunge cuts with a Sawzall is pretty hard on them. The Worm drives are really cost competitive with the same quality circular saws. The new Dewalt and the Skil 77 mag are much improved in the weight area. I like everyhting lighter and quieter as I grow older. Even my hammer is lighter, it's titanium. Rat...

 

[dieselsmoke1]

Need a new saw anyway. Maybe time to buy a worm and MAKE myself use it awhile. See if it will grow on me.

 

[dieselsmoke1]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Even my hammer is lighter, it's titanium. Rat... )</font>

Who makes a good hammer now? Not had a "good" hammer with sharp claws and a good balanced feel since someone ripped off my 14oz red-handled plumb. New plumbs just ain't the same.

 

[_RaT_]

There are a bunch of great hammers out there. I think balance is a personal issue and I agree about the Plumbs, certainly a great hammer in their days. I have a Stilletto. Douglas, Vaughn and Hart as well as many others make a good hammer. Many are California framers. That means a stub nose. I like the wood handle with the curve. For form work I use my old True Temper Rocket. Industructable beast. Depending on what your doing will determine hammer style. The titanium is great for everday work but lacks the heft for wall framing/aligning. The wood Stiletto is pricey at $69.00 but worth it for my arm and elbows sake. They have a Titanium handle that comes in close to $200. I use my titanium wood handle for overhead nailing exclusively as well as wall blocking and some framing.

I've dabbled with hammers like the Death Stick and while they are fine, really don't offer much difference from the hammers of the 70's and 80's. A bit to heavy for my liking. I prefer 16 to 22 oz. titanium. The new titaniums come with replaceable heads. They are pricey but if you swing it everyday, your worth it. If you don't have a curved handle, try one for a while. I find I can relax my grip tremendously over the straight handle. If you don't like it, once it breaks you can always go back to straight. Rat...

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

You talking about the silver one that you can store the bits in the handle?

Had my Dad's. Got away from me. Can't seem to find it.

Still have the brace and bits.

And, the Stanley push screwdrivers. Long suckers they are. Better make sure the screw will start or the driver will scar the surface.

 

[PineRidge]

Al,

I have owned a Makita for 7 years and it still runs strong. The batteries need to be replaced once they start to build a memory but I figure this thing is good for another few years with no sweat. The best part about it is the color <font color="blue"> BLUE ! </font> /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif


Mike