Thread: Isn't it always the case???!!

Hi artme,
I vacillated like you and put up with a cheap nasty at home for a while, but experience with better quality ones at work changed my mind & I bought a Dewalt. Hammered it for years before replacing batteries, but baulked at doing that twice, so a while back, to build a deck, I bought a mid range (Worx 18v) which is heavy but powerful. And recently went the 18v lihtium route at work (Bosch, around $300) and a much nicer machine, even if not top shelf.
I reckon a good one is worth the spons, you don't get as frustrated! And keep the corded one for drilling pilot holes before screwing in with the cordless, so less swapping drill bits for driver tips and vice versa!

Cheers,

Artme, I second Andy's experience. My first drill I killed in 6 months. The second lasted about 8 months. Luckily enough, HWMNBO got me a decent milwaulkee drill for xmas 3 or 4 years ago and it's still going strong.

Originally Posted by RufflyRustic

Artme, I second Andy's experience. My first drill I killed in 6 months. The second lasted about 8 months. Luckily enough, HWMNBO got me a decent milwaulkee drill for xmas 3 or 4 years ago and it's still going strong.

Very generous of HWMBO. Trouble is I'm not mrried to him!!


Andy, you are right, but since I am retired ther eadies are just not there.

Originally Posted by artme

Very generous of HWMBO. Trouble is I'm not mrried to him!!


Andy, you are right, but since I am retired ther eadies are just not there.

Keep an eye on eBay, forum sales and any other sale you can think of. The longer you look the luckier you get. Last week I picked up a Festo drill for $20, It takes time but the deals do turn up occasionally.

Good Morning Artme

As they said.

The biggest mistake that I have made over the years, repeatedly and repeatedly, was to buy crap tools.

Its worth waiting, and maybe you may get lucky like Groggy.

Another approach:

* A Festool sander costs $500 and lasts 20+ years; Annual cost = $25.

* El cheapo sander costs $99 and lasts warrantee plus one day!

Which is really the expensive one ??.

And it is much more pleasant using good tools.

Cheers

Graeme

In the last decade or two, I've bought exactly 4 cordless drills.

A couple of Milwaukees, a GMC and some generic chaiwanese thing. I know this, 'cos they're sitting on my shelf laughing at me. They all work fine; even the batteries are good, or were the last time they were used. The older ones are probably defunct now just from sheer age.

Sadly, the chargers have died for every one of 'em.

I've thought about buying a "universal charger" but the last time I looked a good one was just as expensive a good cordless drill.


Do I regret buying any of them? Not at all. They may've had relatively short lives (6mths - 3 years) but they clocked up a lot of work. Then again, I'm often crawling on and in rooves and under houses with one in hand.

Bugger dragging a cord around then! And as pointed out, when fitting screws you need torque control.

I've never actually had to buy one "just for the shed" but I'd have no qualms about it if I had the need. (Although every now 'n again I hook 'em up to an old home-made variable xformer. Just for the odd job on the workbench. )