> I bought a Makita cordless with flashlight several years ago...never
worked
> right from the first day...batteries do not last...and the drill stalls so
> easily...it cannot be used "seriously"
Well, there sure are lots of suggestions for 18 volt models.....
I bought a DeWalt 14.4 volt driver-drill and it's had plenty of torque for
everything I've needed, driving everything from tiny sheet metal screws into
copper and stainless up to 3/8" lag bolts and drilling mostly wood. Loads
of torque in the slowest range - it'll snap a 5/16 bolt. Much tighter than
that and it's not a job for a drill. I've worked the heck out of it - lots
of remodeling, built a hangar, etc, etc. I have never once missed the
greater power of the 18 volts, but I know that some long days would have
been much longer toting the significantly heavier 18-volt model.
I wanted the model that is also a hammer drill, but this was on a great sale
($40 less than the hammer drill model) and to tell the truth I haven't
missed it once in 2 years of ownership. Two minor repairs, one replacement
when the first repair was unsuccessful, all in the first few months - no
problems since. The chuck is great - my first keyless chuck and a real
revelation - I bet I can lock a bit in there tighter than in a regular
key-type chuck, and it releases sooo easily no matter how tight I lock it
up.
Right after I bought it Milwaukee came out with the Lok-Tor series. They're
all hammer drills, supposed to be more heavy duty, and the battery can be
reversed to get into tighter spaces - again, nothing I've missed more than
once or twice. They also claim the chuck is far better than anything on the
market (carbide jaws), but I have no problems with what I have. That said,
however, I need another drill to leave at the hangar, and I'll probably buy
the Milwaukee next time to try it. I think that overall Milwaukee is a
notch above DeWalt in most small power tools.
Good luck !
Karl
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