Thread: Cordless Drill ~$500

G'Day dmaher,
At work we use the Hitichi 18v Cordless hammer Drill with a Lithum Ion 3AmpHr battery and it's a good tool while at home I'm using the heavy duty Milwaukee 18v hammer Drill with a Lithum Ion 3AmpHr battery.
My electrician mate is using a similar Panasonic.
Have a look in your local "Trade Supply" tool shops as to what they are offering and check with the repair centre as to what "tools aren't coming back", good bet they are better than most.
Cheers, Crowie

We've got the 18v Hitachis at work as well. The 3 Ah battery has a fair bit of juice in it and the motor has plenty of torque. The ones we have are the impact version, so it's more like a vibrating action than a proper percussion/hammer drill and I've read that they're more for tiles and other soft stuff and prolonged use in concrete/clay bricks will destroy the clutch.

They were about $550 a year ago and came with a case, 2 batteries and a charger.

I've also heard excellent things about the Milwaukees as well

For what you have said $500 will not get ya even close. Power comes with a price, with your budget keep an off sider on hand for battery changes

Originally Posted by Doc0055

For what you have said $500 will not get ya even close. Power comes with a price, with your budget keep an off sider on hand for battery changes

I must respectfully disagree. With the 18v Hitachi I have twisted a few 1/4" bolts - both stainless and high-tensile steel - clean in half without any protest and it's quite at home with a 30mm bit in hardwood as well.

Power does come with a price, but that price is not as high as it used to be.

I do not beleive one drill can do the lot.
The new Bosch pro range of small drills have to be used to be beleived. They will handle about 75% of all work and for light weight and portability they must be considered.
Rowley.

Originally Posted by Rowley

I do not beleive one drill can do the lot.
The new Bosch pro range of small drills have to be used to be beleived. They will handle about 75% of all work and for light weight and portability they must be considered.
Rowley.

Yes Rowley,
I have some older Bosch Pro Range tools, but today in Aussie the Bosch Pro Range are top shelf priced, so I'm not sure if "dmaher's" available budget will stretch unless he finds a super special.
Good tools though.
Cheers, Crowie

Here's a nice list of 18v impact drills: CORDLESS DRILLS 18V IMPACT

Originally Posted by Rowley

I do not beleive one drill can do the lot.
The new Bosch pro range of small drills have to be used to be beleived. They will handle about 75% of all work and for light weight and portability they must be considered.
Rowley.

Well I'm after something that I can take with my tool bag and get most jobs sorted, just the odd job where I may have to go back to the van and get something more suitable.

Originally Posted by crowie

Yes Rowley,
I have some older Bosch Pro Range tools, but today in Aussie the Bosch Pro Range are top shelf priced, so I'm not sure if "dmaher's" available budget will stretch unless he finds a super special.
Good tools though.
Cheers, Crowie

Well $600 is doable... $700 definitely pushing it but hopefully it should last a while... so I may be able to justify it.

Thinking about the Metabo LT/LTX... old mans corded one is nice... only issue is they don't really have cheapish tools if there's another tool I might want for occasional use.

Not really much in price points other than exxy.

That and 18v Makita, Bosch or Hitachi... still unsure.

Was having a read in a newsagency on Saturday. Can't remember which WW magazine but they had a run down on These drills. Hitchi din't fare as well as the others, but by no means a bad buy.

From memory the top ws Milwauke.

Have you looked at the panasonics?

21.6V HAMMER DRILL/DRIVER [EY7960LN2S] - Panasonic Australia

second drill down is the HD/driver. You can get them cheaper than the price it has on the site.

Thinking about the Metabo LT/LTX... old mans corded one is nice... only issue is they don't really have cheapish tools if there's another tool I might want for occasional use.
================================================================
G'day again "dmaher";
I think you'd be happy with Metabo Product catalogue handheld powertools - Products - Metabo Australia - Power tools built by professionals for professionals
and they offer a 3 year warranty
XXL warranty - Services - Metabo Australia - Power tools built by professionals for professionals

A few builder mates have Dewalt Cordless tools so that might also be an option
DEWALT - Powertools - Cordless - Drill - Drivers - Products

Cheers, crowie.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

We've got the 18v Hitachis at work as well. The 3 Ah battery has a fair bit of juice in it and the motor has plenty of torque. The ones we have are the impact version, so it's more like a vibrating action than a proper percussion/hammer drill and I've read that they're more for tiles and other soft stuff and prolonged use in concrete/clay bricks will destroy the clutch.
l

I have to agree on that, they don't like drilling into concrete or bricks much. Other than that I can't fault them. I tend to leave it on the power save option and it's still got enough power for most tasks.

Had a quick look and it appears the tools with the new 18v slide type batteries are starting to arrive here.

I wonder how long the older style tools will be here?

Originally Posted by groeneaj

Have you looked at the panasonics?

21.6V HAMMER DRILL/DRIVER [EY7960LN2S] - Panasonic Australia

second drill down is the HD/driver. You can get them cheaper than the price it has on the site.

Have heard horror stories regarding Panasonic's after sales support, plus heard of failures on a few forums with some of their latest cordless drills. Chucks and batteries IIRC.

Originally Posted by crowie

A few builder mates have Dewalt Cordless tools so that might also be an option
DEWALT -#Powertools#-#Cordless - Drill - Drivers - Products

Cheers, crowie.

The boss has a Dewalt... it's not a bad drill by any means but I've found it to be a bit large, heavy and unbalanced.


Well I bit the bullet on the Metabo, ordered one last night.

I hate the waiting on the parcel, but like the opening part, it's like an early christmas present.


Thanks everyone.

Hi Dmaher,

So which Metabo did you actually choose? Do let us know what you think of its performance when you get to try it out.

Cheers
Pops

P.S. Had a top line Panasonic years ago but the batteries would go flat in less than an hour of light use. The after sales service, or complete lack of it would be an understatement, led me to decide to never ,ever buy Panasonic again. But that was about 10 years ago, might be better now.