Which cordless drill?

[snewin]

My ever-loving wife has told me that she's getting me a cordless drill for my birthday. I've gone a long time without one so I'm pretty happy. I have to choose it and I have no idea. We'll probably go to Bunnings as its the nearest store for that kind of thing. A Google search comes up with a gazillion hits and more choices than I can care less about to read do I've come to you, the great brains trust.

I suppose I need to know what brand, what voltage and what I should look for in the way of accessories (bits?).

I know Ryobi, Makita, Bosch, Milwaukee and I guess there's loads more......and I guess either 14.4 or 18v.

I'll be using it for all the regular things, more domestic than serious work, but I want to buy a quality unit that will last many years. I tend to buy things only once.

Can anyone offer any practical help to me? What do you own and use regularly?

Cheers, Rob.

[nissannewby]

Id go milwaukee or hitachi mate. Im in the mining industry and own milwaukee chordless drills, grinders, and rattle guns and they have been bloody brilliant. Im not sure on the hitachi but the milwaukee has a 5yr warranty. 18v is certainly the go and you want atleast 3.0ah batteries.

These chordless tools cop a hiding up here and these 2 brands stand out from the rest.

[threedogs]

18 or 24 v only buy the one tool complete, no point having a battery for everyone.
Need two batteries, one on charge ready to go whilst using the other.
Think Milwaukee are ok, depends if you use for your trade or just for odd jobs etc around home.
Personally I'd love the unit that'll take wheel nuts off, best tool ever made IMO
5 year warranty cant beat that, couldnt even garantee myself for that long, lol

[nissannewby]

Yeah my 18v milwaukee rattle gun does my wheel nuts and only weighs 1.9kg

[megatexture]

personaly i love all my dewalt tools i own 5 mixing drills(240v) and 18vcordless drill , impact drill, sabresaw, circular saw, torch , grinder and many batterys to go round and never had any issues with the cordless tools mixing drills require brushes every 6 months but they get used to mix render every day

dont skimp on the drill you choose a cheep one wont last long at all and im not a fan of lithion batteries of any brand in my opinion they are great short term while they work but my nicad have always outlived them

[threedogs]

Awesome tool geat working under 4x4, loosens most nuts, etc.
Even take it bush if you get a flat, I love it

[megatexture]

what ever tool you get keep an eye out for the packs they sell a dewalt impact drill is like 800$ but you can buy a pack of 4 tools and a bag for 1200$ they are good deals keep an eye out

[my third 256]

personaly i love all my dewalt tools i own 5 mixing drills(240v) and 18vcordless drill , impact drill, sabresaw, circular saw, torch , grinder and many batterys to go round and never had any issues with the cordless tools mixing drills require brushes every 6 months but they get used to mix render every day

dont skimp on the drill you choose a cheep one wont last long at all and im not a fan of lithion batteries of any brand in my opinion they are great short term while they work but my nicad have always outlived them

x2 and dont go 24v as they are too heavy
great buys on e bay too for bare tools

[MC97GQ]

Hey Rob,

Don't be fooled by going to Bunnings, they are not necessarily the cheapest, mate I would go to Bunnings to have a look at what you want in the flesh, then have a look at some of the online tool retailers.

A few years ago I bought some DeWalt gear(Circular Saw and Angle grinder) and a mob called Just Tools from Melbourne were cheaper with courier costs than Bunnings were retail.

Shop around mate you will get better value for your money.

Mark

[threedogs]

I saw Milwaukee three tools for xxx amount in the states delivered
Saw same at local tool shop, could have brought two from the states and still had change
only need one of those multi volt travel adaptors to recharge it
Might be too late now as its a birthday present