Craftsmen cordless tool quality?

[arcas]

The last couple Saturdays, Sears has been running a 10% off sale. I've thought about using this to buy an 18V or 19.6V craftsman cordless drill. Lately they've had a 19.6V drill + light for $79 so with the discount it'll be around $71. I have enough flashlights around the house but it seems they're basically throwing the light in there for free so what the hell...

What kind of quality can I expect? I currently have a 5-year old Harbor Freight 14.4V drill with a failing battery pack so let's use that as a performance baseline.

Also, in the rush to ever-higher-voltage tools, I assume they're using smaller cells in order to cram more of them in the battery packs? For instance, my 14.4V drill uses "subC"-sized nicads but do 18, 19.6 or even 24V battery packs switch to lower-capacity AA cells in order to make them fit? Can one generally expect longer runtime from, say, a 14.4V drill compared to an 18V or 19.6V drill?

 

[WTT0001]

Its actually a 19.2v Anyway, that being said, our whole company switched to them about 2 years ago, we have had to replace them (have them replaced, extended warranties are good) after approx 1 year, now before you start thinking we ONLY got a year out of them you need to relize that we do satellite dish installation, 5 days a week, 2-3 jobs a day, 50-52 weeks a year, thats a LOT of use

Bottom Line : Go pick-up a Craftsman 19.2v EX Drill w/whatever they give you free with it and enjoy

 

[olds]

Personally, I have never used their cordless tools but 98% of my hand tools are craftsman. I'd trust their cordless tools and 19.2v is good power. I am sure it is fine for a home owner. If my Dewalts ever wear out I might pick one up.

 

[redly]

I had a 14.4V craftsman professional (black) drill where I used to work.
I literally beat the sh!t out of the thing, using it for things that I should have used a cored drill for. I must say the thing held up very nicely. Better than the 18V Milwaukee and Snap On drills I had before

Edit: it was EX series..not Professional

 

[T2T III]

The "EX" series is pretty good. I've been using one of the Craftsman cordless driver/drills now on a near-daily basis for the past year and it has held up quite well.

 

[arcas]

Thanks for the responses. Looks like I'll go the Craftsman route, then.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: arcas
Thanks for the responses. Looks like I'll go the Craftsman route, then.

Does it come with the keyless chuck? Or do they all now days?

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: arcas
Thanks for the responses. Looks like I'll go the Craftsman route, then.

Does it come with the keyless chuck? Or do they all now days?

Yes, the cordless Craftsman drills/drivers feature keyless chuck capability. However, one still might want to invest in some bit sets designed for such chucks because a 6-sided head on a bit will allow you to crank it in there pretty tight.

About a week back, I used my 19.2V EX to bore 19 6.25" holes in drywall for the installation of recessed lights. The drill cranked the carbide-tipped circular cutter with ease.

There are lots of others to consider - Rigid, DeWalt, etc. However, for the money, Craftsman can't be beat.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Higher voltage keeps same current. Brand usually tells you if they're using good cells or not.

 

[Sundog]

Look closely at the Craftsman hand power tools. Most of the time you can figure out who OEMs them. Example: Got myself a pancake compressor w/finish nailer. It is OEMed by Porter Cable, but with my discounts was $50 less than the Porter Cable branded one. :thumbsup:

 

[robphelan]

I have the 19.2v set and absolutley love them... drill is plenty powerful and has a ton of torque. can't go wrong .

 

[Evadman]

See my thread here. Little old, but I assume they are still the same construction.

Dewalt > * but the best value would defenately be Craftsman or Milwalkee.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: Sundog
Look closely at the Craftsman hand power tools. Most of the time you can figure out who OEMs them. Example: Got myself a pancake compressor w/finish nailer. It is OEMed by Porter Cable, but with my discounts was $50 less than the Porter Cable branded one. :thumbsup:

Probably the best deal at the moment when it comes to air nailers has got to be the Porter Cable package at Home Depot. For $299 you get: pancake compressor, 18 ga. brad nailer, 16 go. finish nailer and a 25 ft. rubber air hose - all in the box. Plus, you get a crown stapler valued at $89 for free via mail.

I bought the package a little over a year ago, but the free crown stapler wasn't being offered. Still a great deal, though.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: arcas
Thanks for the responses. Looks like I'll go the Craftsman route, then.

Good choice, it's a great drill. It'll hold up well, but it really only needs to outlast its batteries - it's cheaper to buy a new drill with two batteries (usually $100) than to buy two replacement batteries ($50+, which isn't out of the ordinary for cordless tool batteries)

 

[arcas]

Originally posted by: Evadman
See my thread here. Little old, but I assume they are still the same construction.

Dewalt > * but the best value would defenately be Craftsman or Milwalkee.

Hey, I remember that thread. How did your project turn out? I presume you had plans of turning it into a business?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: Evadman
See my thread here. Little old, but I assume they are still the same construction.

Dewalt > * but the best value would defenately be Craftsman or Milwalkee.

Bah! Milwaukee > *

Seriously though, if you want a Craftsman, see if you have a Sears outlet or repair center near you. I got a craftsman 19.2v drill/saw/light for $69 that was a refurb with warranty and all....like new!

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: WTT0001
Its actually a 19.2v Anyway, that being said, our whole company switched to them about 2 years ago, we have had to replace them (have them replaced, extended warranties are good) after approx 1 year, now before you start thinking we ONLY got a year out of them you need to relize that we do satellite dish installation, 5 days a week, 2-3 jobs a day, 50-52 weeks a year, thats a LOT of use

Bottom Line : Go pick-up a Craftsman 19.2v EX Drill w/whatever they give you free with it and enjoy

During the four freaking hurricanes that screwed up South Florida a few months back, my tools got tons of work....almost exclusively craftsman. My 19.2V Drill (right before they came out with EX and maybe the same as the torque specs are identical) outperformed both a Craftsman and Dewalt 3/8" drill removing and putting in screws they couldn't....one Black and Decker drill smoked and burnt up next to mine as well.

Excellent battery life, I could do my parent's place on a full charge (about 30 windows or so).

The thing is for the price of just the drill during the year, I got the drill, a great halogen light, a second battery, a case, a quick release drill/screw bit set, a small cordless screwdriver, and the charger for like $10 more ($99 last or 2 christmas' ago)....

I was skeptical on cordless tools at the time, but now I wish I bought the set that had the cordless reciprocating saw, cut off saw, and sander for only $100 more at the time...

 

[Ornery]

Don't buy toys that will only need to be replaced soon. Apply that money to some real tools that you'll use for decades:

Milwaukee 0614-24 14.4V Lok-Tor 1/2" Hammer Drill Kit $199.00

• 5 year warranty
• Exclusive Grip-Lok? all-metal, single-sleeve ratcheting chuck with carbide jaws to provide the highest grip torque on bits of any competitive product.
• Reversible battery pack fits into cramped work spaces and adjusts balance.
• Powerful 14.4 Volt motor develops 450 in-lb of torque.
• T-handle design provides optimum balance and comfort.
• 2.4 Amp-hr Power-Plus battery delivers more run-time and is compatible with all other Milwaukee 14.4 Volt products and the Milwaukee Job Site Radio
  
  Includes bonus coupon for extra free battery, which is solid a $60.00 value.

The following is a HOT DEAL!

18V 1/2 in. Lok-Tor? Hammer-Drill, Sawzall - the Hatchet® Reciprocating Saw, Circular Saw & Worklight Combo Kit Special Price: $359.00

• Hammer-Drill
• Two 2.4 Amp-Hr. 18V Batteries
• Contractor Bag
• Universal Charger
• Circular Saw
• Sawzall - The Hatchet® Recip Saw
• Work Light
• PLUS Coupon for free Job Site Radio!

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

yup...we use Milwaukee cordlesses everyday (general contractor/interior contractor) and they outlast anything else.

 

[Ornery]

Hey Mike, if those things were purchased before October 2003, they have a lifetime warranty, so they should literally outlast everything else. I LOVE my "Hatchet"! I love my Job Site Radio and the 495 in.-lbs. of torque my hammer drill delivers. All for the rest of my life!

 

[Babbles]

A year ago I bought basically the same package that you are talking about but mine also came with a small kit of various drill bits. Anyhow I have not had any problems at all with my Craftsman, however I just mainly use it for around the house upkeep work so I can't comment on severe use. I think the price vs. performance made it heck of a deal and I would recommend that you pick up the Craftsman cordless EX.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

makita, milwaukee, or dewalt, only ways to go for high usage on cordless tools. you get what you pay for a $200 drill will outlast a $60 drill by years of abuse.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
makita, milwaukee, or dewalt, only ways to go for high usage on cordless tools. you get what you pay for a $200 drill will outlast a $60 drill by years of abuse.

There is a reason there is homeowner grade and commerical grade products...I use my tools a lot have had to take in about 40-50 craftsman tools over 20+ years I have owned them.

You try to outfit a full garage of tools with the most expensive gear, some of which you'll use a handful of times on average, you better have big pockets and not counting on really saving money over labor.

On the car forums a lot of people bash craftsman saying Snap On is the only way to go...yet these guys don't even own their own tools, yet alone understand how walking into a local store to get a tool replacement is so much better than having to hunt down a truck that will not respond on a non-shop request.

 

[Fiveohhh]

My friend used to have dewalt, and after dropping it off a roof a few times it decided to quit working. He bought a Craftsman as a replacement and to me it seemed quite a bit "clunkier". I tried to get him to go with Milwaukee The craftsman just didn't hold up for him after bringing it in for repair twice(which wasn't under warranty since he used it for work). He went back to dewalt after a few months.

 

[Ornery]

Snap On is the only way to go...

Man, they're just sick. Their prices are ludicrous! I'll plunk down the money for good tools, even if they're a good bit more expensive than the norm, but Snap-On is out of their flippin' mind with their pricing.

Trouble with cordless tools is the batteries, which are inherently expensive. A 14V unit has 12 Sub-C NiCD cells in it. When you get into the 2500mAh range, that's over $3.00 per cell! Once you commit to a brand, you'll have to keep on buying their batteries, which will only last so many years. That also limits you to the other tools they offer for that size battery. I simply had top go with Milwaukee for the cordless drill, because I knew I'd want the cordless Sawzall someday. No other company comes close where the Sawzall is concerned. When Milwaukee released the new "Hatchet", that was just icing on the cake.

Your decision of what brand cordless tools (and batteries) to invest in, should NOT be taken lightly! :Q