Experience with Festool drills? Or recommend me a cordless drill

[WackyDan]

Dewalt definitely doesn't have a lot in the 'lightweight' category.

They've got an excellent set of compact 12v drills/impact. I own them and they are perfect size and voltage for around the house.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

What's wrong with dewalt being too heavy? What, you can't do a 5 pound curl? :hmm:

I have 2 cordless drilles, and a cordless impact driver. Great stuff, and it is 11 years old!

 

[NutBucket]

Heavy tools suck to work with and with cordless I'd much rather have something lighter. If I need enough power to justify a heavy drill I'll just drag out the extension cord.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Heavy tools suck to work with and with cordless I'd much rather have something lighter. If I need enough power to justify a heavy drill I'll just drag out the extension cord.

Doubt it. If they give me the capabilities, and last longer, then I do not consider weight a killer. It is not hard to lift 5 pound curl and hold it there, right?

 

[NutBucket]

What if you're working above your head? And weight has nothing to do with build quality.

 

[mvbighead]

Tools eh? You need an assortment for varying jobs. Personally, you can buy just about anything cordless that isn't from Harbor Freight or Skill (IMO) and get fairly good results. (Good brands include Makita, Craftsman, Ryobi, Rigid, Dewault, etc.)

My dad got me a Ryobi set for christmas a couple years back. All of it works well. A 18v drill, saw, flash light, and reciprocating saw. He tends to find those kits for about $100 or so at varying times, and I gotta say, I've used everything except the reciprocating saw to this point.

I've also got a 19.2v Craftsman 1/2 Impact wrench that came with 2 batteries that I use routinely. As long as I keep a battery in the charger, I always have the power I need for most jobs.

And lastly, I grabbed a Craftsman 12v compact (drill and impact driver) set from Sears ($60 I think) and then purchased a larger set at Costco on a semiclearance for $80. All in all, in those two kits I have:
2 x 12v drills
1 x 12v impact driver
1 x 12v multitool
1 x 12v LED flashlight
2 x 12v chargers

And, all of my investments from a tool perspective total under $400 including the gift from my dad. And every single one of them works great with a charged battery, and I have used pretty much everything.

My advice? Find a good kit on sale and go to work. Generally speaking, the kits have multiple batteries, an upgraded charger, and several useful tools.

A simple set:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/203406...reId=10051&N=5yc1v&R=203406854#specifications

A wide range set:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/203466...toreId=10051&N=5yc1v&R=203466914#.UVWy9xzvvOE

Both seem to have multiple batteries.

One other thing, is I'd try to find a brand that carries a good range of what you need. Nothing like having 4 batteries to choose from using multiple chargers. My dad can go a bit wild, but over many years, he's acquired 5-6+ batterie, 3-4 chargers, and god knows how many tools. And when he needs a fresh battery, he has plenty of options.

 

[DaTT]

Doubt it. If they give me the capabilities, and last longer, then I do not consider weight a killer. It is not hard to lift 5 pound curl and hold it there, right?

You seem to be missing the point. It's not hard...but it's also not necessary. I get the same power from my Ridgid X3 set with a lighter, and more comfortable drill to hold.

Heavier doesn't mean better.

 

[phucheneh]

You seem to be missing the point. It's not hard...but it's also not necessary. I get the same power from my Ridgid X3 set with a lighter, and more comfortable drill to hold.

Heavier doesn't mean better.

So why are you callin' me a woman for recommending 12v?

12-14.4 is a good range for general use. Voltage dictates speed, given similar motors. 18v will generally have more torque, too; but that's because it's going to be a bigger tool. Put 18v in those little Makitas or similar, and you're just going to have useless speed and tiny battery capacity.

How often do you actually use an 18v drill with the trigger fully depressed? I know I rarely use all the trigger unless I'm just jamming deck screws in or something. Even in drilling wood, there's usually a bit more finesse.

Which is why trigger feel is a priority. That combined with bulk is the primary reason I would say Makita >>>> Craftsman or similar. It's not that I doubt the latter can do the job, or even that I think it won't hold up. Just notsomuch in the finesse area.

Dewalt gets the trigger right but still just tend to be pretty bulky. Their 'compact' stuff is basically just 'regular size' Makita stuff. Not that that's a bad thing, I just have a huge boner for the really compact stuff (yeah you heard me).

 

[phucheneh]

Here we go, second try at shopping with the Festool budget:

Dewalt 18v Li-Ion drill, two batts, charger - 190
Add-on 6.5" 18v circular saw - 85
Makita 12v compact Li-Ion kit (drill/impact driver/trim saw/flashlight) - 200

That's under 500 for just about anything you'd ever need. A pretty hoss drill...a decent saw for ripping 2x4's or other general cutting...a small saw for cutting trim pieces or punching holes in drywall...lightweight impact and driver...four batteries.

Or...you could have one 14.4v Festool drill.

 

[skyking]

Pretty much that. I have built a deck, wellhouse, floored my house, remodeled my bathroom and several other large projects with a $450 bag of makita tools my wife got me for Christmas 5 years ago. the only failure has been 2nd gear on the 1/2" hammer/drill. 1st and 3rd still work fine.
http://www.amazon.com/Makita-LXT601-...=makita+combos

 

[RGUN]

Yeah but my primary goal isn't getting a complete set on a budget. It's buying a quality component that as best as I can does not support reducing cost above all else.

 

[phucheneh]

Yeah but my primary goal isn't getting a complete set on a budget. It's buying a quality component that as best as I can does not support reducing cost above all else.

Well, then I guess we're not going to convince you. I know your goal isn't buying a bunch of tools on a budget....TBQH, I was using the goal of 'spend x amount of dollars.' And for household projects and repairs, I would default to associating that with 'get the widest variety of useful quality tools possible.'

If you want to pay $500+ for a drill, go for it; but I doubt you're even going to find pro contractors that would agree with that kind of price/performance expenditure.

You've got this idea in your head that being frugal means you're buying crap. In reality, it means sacrificing little to nothing to save a ton of money.

It's a lot like building a PC. You can buy the latest greatest processor for $600. Or you can buy the same technology with a very mild decrease in clock speed for like 300. 200% of the price for 105% of the performance.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

Dewalt definitely doesn't have a lot in the 'lightweight' category.

My Dewalt Impact is pretty much the exact weight as the Makita ones. I weighed them both side by side when I first purchased them. When using the tool my dewalt is actually lighter, because it has the half pack battery.

If you want to pay $500+ for a drill, go for it; but I doubt you're even going to find pro contractors that would agree with that kind of price/performance expenditure.

Apparently you haven't ever looked at Hilti tools. When they first released the 14.4V lithium Ion Impact(they didn't have the 18V at the time) then it was over $400 for the drill, 2 batteries, charger, and box. Hilti does make great tools, but they are very expensive.

The company I work for buys tons of Hilti tools, they only have a 2 year warranty which isn't really all that great, but they will deliver the tools and have their mobile salesman set up all repairs and such without you ever having to leave your job site, which means more work done in the long run.

 

[RGUN]

Well, then I guess we're not going to convince you. I know your goal isn't buying a bunch of tools on a budget....TBQH, I was using the goal of 'spend x amount of dollars.' And for household projects and repairs, I would default to associating that with 'get the widest variety of useful quality tools possible.'

If you want to pay $500+ for a drill, go for it; but I doubt you're even going to find pro contractors that would agree with that kind of price/performance expenditure.

You've got this idea in your head that being frugal means you're buying crap. In reality, it means sacrificing little to nothing to save a ton of money.

It's a lot like building a PC. You can buy the latest greatest processor for $600. Or you can buy the same technology with a very mild decrease in clock speed for like 300. 200% of the price for 105% of the performance.

Has nothing to do with thinking cheap tools are crap. I plan to elaborate shortly. Your arguments aren't convincing because they don't even begin to touch on my desires.

 

[phucheneh]

Apparently you haven't ever looked at Hilti tools. When they first released the 14.4V lithium Ion Impact(they didn't have the 18V at the time) then it was over $400 for the drill, 2 batteries, charger, and box. Hilti does make great tools, but they are very expensive.

The company I work for buys tons of Hilti tools, they only have a 2 year warranty which isn't really all that great, but they will deliver the tools and have their mobile salesman set up all repairs and such without you ever having to leave your job site, which means more work done in the long run.

I'm just generalizing here. Find guys who build/renovate/repair homes (and own their own tools) and you'll probably find pretty reasonably-priced Dewalt and Makita tools. Also, it doesn't really work to compare 'legacy' prices. 12v, then 14.4v, and now 18v stuff has all gradually come down in price after introduction, as have lithium batteries.

And on size/weight, my own point was that, AFAIK, Dewalt's lightest stuff looks something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCK265L...rds=dewalt+18v

Which is almost identical to the widely-used 12-14.4v Makita stuff (the all-green ones). I don't think Makita's newer 18v line is much bigger, and the 12v stuff is tiny.

Not that any of that is terribly relevant to the OP. I'm just trying to throw out different things to consider, but it's kind moot if he's stuck on spending this kind of cash on what I guess is supposed to be a magical invincible drill.

 

[mztykal]

I like my Bosch tools! I've also had great luck with my Hitachi stuff. Not a big Rigid fan but all I've bought from them was a laminate trimmer that worked well...

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

I'm just generalizing here. Find guys who build/renovate/repair homes (and own their own tools) and you'll probably find pretty reasonably-priced Dewalt and Makita tools. Also, it doesn't really work to compare 'legacy' prices. 12v, then 14.4v, and now 18v stuff has all gradually come down in price after introduction, as have lithium batteries.

And on size/weight, my own point was that, AFAIK, Dewalt's lightest stuff looks something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCK265L...rds=dewalt+18v

Which is almost identical to the widely-used 12-14.4v Makita stuff (the all-green ones). I don't think Makita's newer 18v line is much bigger, and the 12v stuff is tiny.

Not that any of that is terribly relevant to the OP. I'm just trying to throw out different things to consider, but it's kind moot if he's stuck on spending this kind of cash on what I guess is supposed to be a magical invincible drill.

I do the above mentioned things, along with build commercial buildings such as fuel stations, walmarts/strip malls, bridges, and schools. I also own my personal tools which are dewalt, actually the very dewalt you have linked to is my drill set. They weigh less than the mentioned Makita 18V lithium ion(brushed, first brushless, and the new brushless kit impact).

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah but my primary goal isn't getting a complete set on a budget. It's buying a quality component that as best as I can does not support reducing cost above all else.

You're missing the point. I "have" one and its complete overkill for a homeowner. Its simply not worth the money. A $200 Makita will more than satisfy your needs and will not be of noticeably lower quality.

 

[Squisher]

I won't claim that I use tools commercially, but I'm far and away a heavy user for a home owner. I wouldn't buy festool unless I wanted to impress all the other carpenters I worked with.

 

[NutBucket]

I have one because the boss OK'd it and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. Does it feel and operate like a high-end tool? Absolutely. Is it worth the price tag? HELL NO!

However, my disclaimer is I've also got a CT26E vacuum at work. Now that is definitely worth the price. One of its selling points is being quiet. It is absolutely quieter than your average household upright and could suck the paint off the wall. The filtration system is top-notch. I wouldn't hesitate to use it to suck up asbestos or fiberglass; its that good. And like I keep telling my wife, its really not anymore expensive than a high-end Dyson so why shouldn't we have one

 

[RGUN]

You're missing the point. I "have" one and its complete overkill for a homeowner. Its simply not worth the money. A $200 Makita will more than satisfy your needs and will not be of noticeably lower quality.

Agreed. And that thought process is focussing a little more on my point. So the answer is simply beyond the high dollar pro grade options (Festool etc) there is no option for people seeking for a hobby grade non Chinese drill.

 

[phucheneh]

Agreed. And that thought process is focussing a little more on my point. So the answer is simply beyond the high dollar pro grade options (Festool etc) there is no option for people seeking for a hobby grade non Chinese drill.

I'd go with a general 'nope,' although I could also say 'yes, with a caveat...'

Milwaukee still makes some tools here.

...they're owned by a Chinese company. This is probably why they're not terribly popular anymore. Instead of good engineering and pretty decent Chinese manufacturing, you've got pricier American manufacturing while trying to compete on price. Net gain is zero at best; probably much more accurate to put it as negative.

Bosch has factories here and in Germany (German-owned). Again, I rarely see them as first choice, and they're not as price-competitive as Dewalt and Makita. And I don't even know what power tools they make here, same as above...AFAIK both companies also manufacture plenty in China.

I'm not trying to crap in your cornflakes.

The primary reason I recommend what I do is because I can use it to remove and install 100 freakin' screws on a dashboard or something, and not get fatigued. My little tools also replace a speed-wrench when working on engines. Then I can take then and use them to drill holes, drive course screws and lag bolts, ect, and have no issues.

But if you're only going to have on drill, I'd recommend one of the bigger Dewalts. If you're going to have something in excess, make it torque. And a big solid chuck.

My point with the above links, though, was that you don't have to (have one tool for everything). This stuff has gotten very affordable...5-10 years ago, it was still Chinese, but I was paying more for lower voltage NiMH tools. Keep in mind that Amazon generally has low prices on this stuff, and I'm linking to the best deals I see. You could easily pay an extra 50% or more at a home repair store. Probably closer to 100 on a tool truck. No one's recommending low-grade stuff.

Variety of good tools > one REALLY good tool. I use all my electric stuff because they're all better for different stuff. Small impact has a 3/8" anvil and is good for general auto stuff and lag bolts. Small driver has a quick-connect and is good for removing/installing screws and general 'driving.' Big drill has a 3/8" chuck for drilling. Big impact has a quick-connect for...well, anything but drilling.

I would definitely recommend getting both a drill and an impact. When you buy as a set (two tools, two batts, charger) as opposed to just a drill (still with two batts/charger), the price increase is not terribly big. Especially when you consider that the impact is usually the more expensive piece.

Anyhoo, I'm going on too much. Again, I have a boner for tools, just like Tim Allen. Except I don't care about 'moar power' and I do less coke.

I understand the principle behind your desire to buy American, but you've gotta get past it with this stuff, unfortunately. What I would advise remember is that it's simply not very hard to assemble these tools...and failures aren't typically from assembly errors. The company, wherever they're based, are still the ones in charge of designing the tool, picking materials, controlling quality, ect. The Chinese people are just putting the pieces together. And like I said many posts ago, I highly doubt American manufacturers are sourcing many of those pieces (certainly not all of them) from non-Chinese suppliers.

 

[DaTT]

Rob, if you get this Festool, I'm coming over to use it just to say I have used a million dollar drill.

ps. I want my lamb stew

 

[RGUN]

Rob, if you get this Festool, I'm coming over to use it just to say I have used a million dollar drill.

ps. I want my lamb stew

Note to self.... Prepare use of tool waiver/contract

Been looking at the new Milwaukee brushless line of tools. That might be a decent compromise. I have to say though that the festool drills feel amazing and you can tell immediately they are a step above. Come out shopping and you can try the whole lineup.

 

[Mandres]

For homeowner use get a Ryobi Li-Ion drill/driver set and a separate bigger drill with a cord.

There's no reason to spend the big $ on the high end dewalt/makita/bosch etc. unless you're making a living with that tool. Festool? fuckin forget about it.

In my experience any cordless tool will outlast its battery packs unless you're using it all day, every day or in rough conditions. And when the batteries die it's usually a better deal to just replace the whole unit.

If you are going to step up to higher end stuff get the Ridgid, if only for the lifetime warranty on the batteries.