Li-Ion drill recommendations?

[Ed62]

I'm considering buying a new one since my old NiCad batteries don't hold a charge very well any longer. One of my sons just bought a Milwaukee 18V Li-Ion 2601-22 drill. I used it to drill one screw, just to feel it. That thing is really nice (but pricey). It has all kinds of torque, and he said the batteries last very well. It's also light weight, meaning it shouldn't bother my wrist as much as a heavier one. Does anyone have this drill, or would you like to recommend another?

Ed

[WayneJ]

Over xmas I picked up on a deal Ridgid was having. Li Ion 18v drill driver, impact driver radio and a flashlight all for 199 bucks. The best part is a life time guarentee including batts, So far so good, lots of torque, only charged the batts once.The batts charge in 15min. I got it to replace my 14v De walt that was 12yrs old. The De walt stiill works good but would cost $ 170 to replace its batts. It was a no brainer not to get the ridgid.
Wayne

[BrazosJake]

I'm not normally much of a brand loyalist, but for portable power tools, especially cordless, Makita gets my vote.

Here's what'll be on the short list for my next bday:

http://www.amazon.com/Makita-LCT300W...d_i=B000P9CZJK

[BrazosJake]

The best part is a life time guarentee including batts

I'd like to know what percentage of buyers ever claim those free batteries, and what the customer experience has been like.

I recall reading a report (maybe on this forum) from someone who tried to put in a claim on that warranty and said it was a scam, something like they required the original receipt, UPC from the box, etc. Good luck locating all that stuff 5 years from now.

[Knottscott]

Admittedly, there are lots of top shelf drills that I haven't tried. I've got a 19.2V Craftmsan Nicad drill & impact driver set, a Hitachi 12v Nicad drill & impact driver set, and a small 10.8V Li-Ion Hitachi. The smaller drills are much more comfortable to handle, and more often than not, they have plenty of power for my needs. I wish my 10.8V Li-Ion driver was an impact driver, it's such a nice little driver. If I had to narrow it to just one, I'd go with the 12V Hitachi impact driver, but if I were buying just one, I'd go with an Li-Ion impact.....it's hard for me to imagine a 14.4V not having enough power.

[LinuxRandal]

I'd like to know what percentage of buyers ever claim those free batteries, and what the customer experience has been like.

I recall reading a report (maybe on this forum) from someone who tried to put in a claim on that warranty and said it was a scam, something like they required the original receipt, UPC from the box, etc. Good luck locating all that stuff 5 years from now.

The UPC and original receipt are needed WHEN you register for it. You get an id number, that you need when you get it serviced. That said, the only batteries that receive the lifetime service agreement (differs from a warranty) are the one(s) that come it it (or the kit). Their extra batteries don't qualify, and I have seen several mixed reviews several places, including the Ridgid forums.
I have the old Ridgid 14.4 impact, and it only came with one battery, which is less then 1/3, the amp hour rating of my cordless drill. (PITA)

NOW TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:

What for, or how do you use the drill? One answer doesn't fit all. I use a corded hammer drill, and corded drills for running wiring/plumbing, as well as metal work (automotive), and keep a wired drill with my Kreg Jig.
I have and use a Bosch 10.8 PS20 and PS40 for light stuff. For heavier, or lots of stuff, I grab my Panasonic 15.6 NiMH (Lithium Ion was brand new and too expensive when I bought this), as well as (now), my Ryobi 12v impact driver (recent gloat). For light use I would prefer a Ryobi over a Craftsman (just a personal experience thing), mid use, Panasonic, Makita, or Bosch would all satisfy me (although I have heard good about Hitachi). For heavy construction (Hammer drill, 24v or higher), I would look at Milwaukee.
But like I said, I do reach for a corded drill quite a bit.

[Larryl]

I'd like to know what percentage of buyers ever claim those free batteries, and what the customer experience has been like.

I recall reading a report (maybe on this forum) from someone who tried to put in a claim on that warranty and said it was a scam, something like they required the original receipt, UPC from the box, etc. Good luck locating all that stuff 5 years from now.

One of the original batteries of mine went out two weeks ago after about one year of use(the other one seems as strong as ever). I took it back to Home Depot and received a new one no questions asked. I have also purchased the Ridgid impact driver and I am very impressed with the quality and power of both the drill and impact driver.

[dielectric]

After Christmas, I bought an Hitachi 18V Li-Ion. I fondled every drill I could get my hands on, liked the DeWalt the most but I just couldn't justify the cost. A close second was the Hitachi, which fit my small-ish hands the best and had a nice belt hook so I can hang it off my pants pocket. It's so light that it doesn't really pull them down at all.

So far I really like it. It spun a 2" hole saw through pressure treated pine without too much difficulty at all. The ratcheting Jacobs chuck is pretty darn good. I thought the little LED was a stupid gimmick at first, but it really does help in a lot of situations that I didn't realize were problems before. It came with two batteries, which will last you all day under normal drilling and driving usage. My two small complaints are the motor drive circuitry, which whines a bit more than I'd like, and not having some sort of fuel gauge for the battery packs. My old B&D cordless had that, nice to know if your pack is going to poop out (which was my big problem with the old NiCd packs!).

Either way, LiIon is an awesome battery tech for drills. Light weight, high energy density, flat discharge curve, fast charge, and they have low internal resistance which means they'll kick out all the power you ask (but not forever, obviously). Drawbacks are price and charger complexity (adds to cost), but well worth it in my opinion.

[lebomike]

I purchased the Milwaukee 18V Li-Ion last year and I love it. I drilled 30 holes in pressure treated 2x4 with a spade bit before the battery died. The feel of it and the light weight is awsome. I hardly use my PC or Dewalt drills anymore.

[louis mason]

ridgid

i just picked up a small compact Ridgid LI-ion drill and it is a really well built piece of equipment. I don't like all of their stuff, but a select set of Ridgid items are built as well as anything else. This includes the other item i also own from them, a Ridgid random orbital sander built by Metabo they sold a few years ago. The amazing part is that the drills batteries are guaranteed for LIFE!

louid

[atgcpaul]

I'm not normally much of a brand loyalist, but for portable power tools, especially cordless, Makita gets my vote.

Here's what'll be on the short list for my next bday:

http://www.amazon.com/Makita-LCT300W...d_i=B000P9CZJK

I got this set last year to replace a dying B&D drill. I am so happy I bought it.
It's smaller and more lightweight compared to the old 18V NiCd B&D. The
impact driver is a dream. I didn't know you could break driver bits but I've
quickly found that out. The LED light on the drill is also a really nice feature.

I didn't think I would use the adjustable flashlight but it is super bright, and
with the stable base and tilting head, I have found it very useful, as well.

My set was about $40 cheaper than it is now on Amazon and I also sent away
(and received) a free battery from Makita which I haven't had to use yet.

I've been very happy with it.

Paul

[cabinetman]

I did a review of the Firestorm 14.4 in THIS THREAD. I bought it as a lark thinking it would be a backup to my PC 14.4. I now use it as my primary drill/driver. I had doubts that I would like it. It's very light, and holds a charge a long time. It may not be a current model, but I would still opt for an equivalent.

I can't complain one bit as it was very inexpensive and does all the drilling/driving that my PC does without spending close to $200.
.

[BigguyZ]

If you don't have the need for anything heavy-duty, I think the Bosch 10.8 (or 12V now, I guess) are the best little suckers out there. I've even driven some seriously long screws and drilled with it, and it's done very well.

If you need something bigger, I have a lot of the Ryobi One+ tools, so I'll most likely go that route when replacing my 18V stuff. Otherwise, I might go with the Rigid. I got the drill for my dad Christmas before last, and I thought it was excellently balanced, and very light.

[Ed62]

Thanks for all the replies. Still haven't made up my mind, but I have more to go on now.

Ed

[Shep]

I recently had my 18v Nicad bite the dust. I plan on rebuilding the battery packs, but needed something in the meantime to get certain things done around the house. I ended up buying a 12v lithium ion compact Ryobi Drill. I bought this thing refurbished from TCI outlet for $50. Came with two battery packs. I recently used this thing on a rental property I own. I had to hang upper cabinets into old (circa 1925) true 2x6, hardest wood possible studs. This little drill didn't even flinch. Not only did it have plenty of torque to muscle throught the studs, but I've only charged the battery one before using. Still has a full charge.

The only downside I might have is for using this drill for drilling. The "fast" setting doesn't seem as fast as my 18v, but I think I'll be happy with this for a long time. Plus at 50 bucks, why would I complain.