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Need a new cordless drill, want Lithium ion.

lokiju

lokiju

Lifer
As a result of what happened in this thread, I need to get a cordless drill to do some repairs of my ceiling.

Water Damage 1

Water Damage 2

My insurance is $1,000 and after pricing out the supplies I'd need to do the repairs myself, it'd run me no more than $100 plus the cost of a cordless drill, since I've been needing/wanting one for around the house as it is, it's now the time to break down and get one.

I'm set on getting a lithium ion drill and as it's just for around the home projects, I don't really need to get some over the top $300 model.

The closer to $100 the better, under $100 would be ideal.

I was looking at either the Ryobi 12v lithium from Home Depot or the 16v Craftsman lithium ion from Sears.

The Ryobi is of course less power, but also cost less and I have $10 off $50 for Home Depot, which would bring the total price down to $69.

The Craftsman is of course more powerful but also cost $129, but includes a bonus work light, which could be handy but I don't really need it.

From what reviews I can find on the Ryobi, people tend to think it's a great drill and the only complaint is that it doesn't have a clutch.

As for the Craftsman, I haven't found many/any independent reviews on the 16v lithium at this time but in general think Craftsman is decent stuff.

What would you go with and why?

Is there a option "C" that I'm not thinking about?

:beer:

 
Milwaukee, Porter Cable, Hitachi, Dewault, Makita.

A few brands that come to mind, and I would take any of them over Craftsman or Ryobi. I personally like Milwaukee.

EDIT

Added Makita, I knew I was forgetting another....Thanks waffleiron.
 
If you are doing GWB(gypsum wall board) installation you want the more powerful driver and one with a clutch. You set the clutch to dimple the heads of the screws into the GWB facing. Most crafstman drills are made by skil and then upgraded to crafstmans specs. You should be just fine with it. Personally I prefer makita, as I have never had any issues with their tools over the years.
 
Based on the low volume of work you need to do, I would just go with the Ryobi. I built a deck yesterday with my 10 year old 12v Craftsman.
 
Best thing about everyone wanting the new generation of drills, I picked up a 12V Makita with two batteries and charger for $22.50 about a month ago 🙂
 
Smaller/less powerful also likely means lighter, which is very nice. I'm not sure how much difference there would be between the Ryobi and the Craftsman, but there's a pretty substantial difference between my 18v Ryobi (NiCad) and my 9.6v DeWalt (NiCad). The 9.6v isn't that powerful, but it gets the job done most of the time, and it's nice that it's lightweight. My wife could never use my bigger drill, and I've never been able to find a good cordless screwdriver that she could use at a reasonable price. None of the cheaper ones have variable speed triggers, they're all only one or two speed. I think the only one I found with a variable speed trigger was a $100 DeWalt. I got the 9.6v drill/driver for $50 on clearance at Home Depot, and that solved that problem. Combined with the $30 18v Ryobi, and I got all of the features I needed in a drill for $80.
 
My dad just bought a Makita LiIon setup and it's the nuts and has me totally jealous. 😛
 
I recommend an 18 volt. Not so much for the battery power, but when you get to the larger drills the motors tend to be better quality.

My pick is DeWalt for price and Milwaukee if you want to splurge.

I've owned Makitas and have heard good things about Hitachi. Just protect them from moisture and take care of the batteries (avoid cold & heat). You should be fine.
 
Originally posted by: d33pt
get the ryobi 18v lithium. that one has a clutch.
Click to expand...

I would do that, but I can't find just the drill.

It's always some huge combo pack with a ton of other shit I don't need.

If I could get just the Ryobi 18v Lithium drill I'd do so.
 
Originally posted by: Specop 007
Milwaukee, Porter Cable, Hitachi, Dewault, Makita.

A few brands that come to mind, and I would take any of them over Craftsman or Ryobi. I personally like Milwaukee.

EDIT

Added Makita, I knew I was forgetting another....Thanks waffleiron.
Click to expand...

I've had two Makitas and will, barring anything stupid on their part, buy another when my current drill's time comes.

I remodeled half of my duplex with my first Makita, it had plenty of power to drive screws nonstop into 90-year-old oak joists (and came with a spare battery that charged faster than I could wear the first one out). It was dropped many, many times, surviving even one fall the rooftop. Only when it backed over by a bobcat did it finally give in.

My new(er) Makita is about 6 years old and is every bit as good. Makita has my business until they do something dumb enough to throw it away.
 
it's like the whole snap-on / mac recommendations here by those that don't really know tools.

First you will want to find out what duty drill you need. I went with a 19V from Craftsman with a 1/2" chuck. I wanted a drill that can handle most of my jobs without needing a separate one. 1/2" chucks are usually needed for bits larger than 1/2"...that said most wouldn't be using this large a bit (some door spyglasses use 9/16" bits).

It'd be nice to have an ultra compact 3/8" drill for some jobs, but I can make due and then only need one set of batteries for several tools.

Going to a $300-400 drill for the average homeowner is fine if you have all the rest of the tools and bits you'd want and money to burn...however; it's really overkill. Most of the people that need a drill of this caliber are using them 24/7.

A drill IMHO is nowhere need as important as the bits.
 
Originally posted by: rivan
Originally posted by: Specop 007
Milwaukee, Porter Cable, Hitachi, Dewault, Makita.

A few brands that come to mind, and I would take any of them over Craftsman or Ryobi. I personally like Milwaukee.

EDIT

Added Makita, I knew I was forgetting another....Thanks waffleiron.
Click to expand...

I've had two Makitas and will, barring anything stupid on their part, buy another when my current drill's time comes.

I remodeled half of my duplex with my first Makita, it had plenty of power to drive screws nonstop into 90-year-old oak joists (and came with a spare battery that charged faster than I could wear the first one out). It was dropped many, many times, surviving even one fall the rooftop. Only when it backed over by a bobcat did it finally give in.

My new(er) Makita is about 6 years old and is every bit as good. Makita has my business until they do something dumb enough to throw it away.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it's a great brand, but as stated in the OP, I need to get the best bang for the buck here.

A $200 plus drill is not an option.

The closer to $100 the better, under $100 would be ideal.
 
Originally posted by: lokiju
Originally posted by: rivan
Originally posted by: Specop 007
Milwaukee, Porter Cable, Hitachi, Dewault, Makita.

A few brands that come to mind, and I would take any of them over Craftsman or Ryobi. I personally like Milwaukee.

EDIT

Added Makita, I knew I was forgetting another....Thanks waffleiron.
Click to expand...

I've had two Makitas and will, barring anything stupid on their part, buy another when my current drill's time comes.

I remodeled half of my duplex with my first Makita, it had plenty of power to drive screws nonstop into 90-year-old oak joists (and came with a spare battery that charged faster than I could wear the first one out). It was dropped many, many times, surviving even one fall the rooftop. Only when it backed over by a bobcat did it finally give in.

My new(er) Makita is about 6 years old and is every bit as good. Makita has my business until they do something dumb enough to throw it away.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it's a great brand, but as stated in the OP, I need to get the best bang for the buck here.

A $200 plus drill is not an option.

The closer to $100 the better, under $100 would be ideal.
Click to expand...

This is the drill I have (well, a different model number, but same voltage and roughly the same appearance/specs). I'm sure you can do better than the $129 it shows at Amazon for.

Edit: I also see the low end of the Makita LiIons are out of your budget. I'm not sure why the charge technology matters to you, but it looks like Makita might not be a good fit for you.
 
HD has the 18v Makita lithium ion drill for 199. I'd get that or find a Hitachi or Bosch

DeWalt = poo
Craftsman = poo
Ryobi = cheap lime colored poo
 
I have a set of the Ryobi 18v "+1" series. Pretty decent homeowner quality tools. Not Li-on, but they work well, charge quickly, and were pretty dammed cheap. (I got the 8 pc. set on sale (mis-marked) for $135.)
 
Originally posted by: lokiju
A $200 plus drill is not an option.

The closer to $100 the better, under $100 would be ideal.
Click to expand...

People always recommend expensive drills here, but they really are overkill for the average homeowner IMO. I just got my Ryobi 18v for $30 at Home Depot a couple of weeks ago. I think it was a sort of Father's day promo, but they still had some in stock after Father's Day. Only problem is it only comes with one battery; a second battery is $30. If you're a typical homeowner, then I would go with that drill. There is no reason to buy professional grade tools that you'll rarely use.

The only reason I don't use my 5 year old Craftman anymore is because the batteries won't hold a charge. I don't think professional grade tools use some magical battery chemistry that makes the batteries last forever. Eventually I'll probably open up the batteries and replace the cells. Drill batteries are crazy expensive.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: lokiju
A $200 plus drill is not an option.

The closer to $100 the better, under $100 would be ideal.
Click to expand...

People always recommend expensive drills here, but they really are overkill for the average homeowner IMO. I just got my Ryobi 18v for $30 at Home Depot a couple of weeks ago. I think it was a sort of Father's day promo, but they still had some in stock after Father's Day. Only problem is it only comes with one battery; a second battery is $30. If you're a typical homeowner, then I would go with that drill. There is no reason to buy professional grade tools that you'll rarely use.

The only reason I don't use my 5 year old Craftman anymore is because the batteries won't hold a charge. I don't think professional grade tools use some magical battery chemistry that makes the batteries last forever. Eventually I'll probably open up the batteries and replace the cells. Drill batteries are crazy expensive.
Click to expand...

The battery issue is the whole reason I want a lithium drill.

I have the Skil 3.6v lithium ion screw driver and I love that thing. I have some an infrequient need for using these tools that I love being able to just pick it up and use it without needing to charge it for a few hours first just because it sat for a month or two.

This is the one I have now.

I guess the Ryobi 12v might still be my best bet for the money.

Though I did find this Skil 14.2v Lithium Ion with clutch for $89.
 
Originally posted by: lokiju
As a result of what happened in this thread, I need to get a cordless drill to do some repairs of my ceiling.

Water Damage 1

Water Damage 2

My insurance is $1,000 and after pricing out the supplies I'd need to do the repairs myself, it'd run me no more than $100 plus the cost of a cordless drill, since I've been needing/wanting one for around the house as it is, it's now the time to break down and get one.

I'm set on getting a lithium ion drill and as it's just for around the home projects, I don't really need to get some over the top $300 model.

The closer to $100 the better, under $100 would be ideal.

I was looking at either the Ryobi 12v lithium from Home Depot or the 16v Craftsman lithium ion from Sears.

The Ryobi is of course less power, but also cost less and I have $10 off $50 for Home Depot, which would bring the total price down to $69.

The Craftsman is of course more powerful but also cost $129, but includes a bonus work light, which could be handy but I don't really need it.

From what reviews I can find on the Ryobi, people tend to think it's a great drill and the only complaint is that it doesn't have a clutch.

As for the Craftsman, I haven't found many/any independent reviews on the 16v lithium at this time but in general think Craftsman is decent stuff.

What would you go with and why?

Is there a option "C" that I'm not thinking about?

:beer:
Click to expand...

I received that Craftsman 16v (minus the worklight) as a Christmas present from my g/f last year. I've used it numerous times and it's a very good drill with plenty of battery life and power. Something that has really come in handy is the little light that illuminates where you're going to drill which has saved me from bumbling around with a flashlight. I can't speak for the Ryobi but I'm really happy with my Craftsman.
 
my 19.2V Craftsman can take the new lithium batteries when it comes time to swap.

For under $100 you can usually get the drill, a flashlight and a bag...around christmas time sometimes a right angle drill and a cordless screwdriver + some quick release bits thrown in.

I have had my Craftsman for years....only one battery has failed and only after I left it in my flashlight on, over night in the rain.

I have used it to drill 9/16" holes in steel.
 
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