Need opinion on cordless drills. Keep the Dewalt or return it?

Question

It's time for me to seriously upgrade from a Black & Decker 7.2V(Target) drill to a new one with more power,speed,etc. I'll be using the drill for basic things such as putting up blinds to maybe down the road doing a deck,kitchen,sheetrock,etc. By know means am I going to build a house with it but I do want a drill that will be able to handle small to large projects. I'm looking for something that is lightweight as well.

I picked up a Dewalt 18V (DW959K2)from Lowes on sale for $119. It turns out that it's some sort of model that Lowes doesn't even carry now. I don't know if it's an older model or what. It doesn't have a rubber grip like the current Dewalts leading me to believe that it may not be comfortable after extended usage.

So my dilemma: Do I return it and check out one of the newer XRP Dewalts like the 14.4 or reg 18V(same as mine with grip?) or should I check out something newer like the Makita Lithium-ion 3.5 lps 18v,Panasonic 15.6 (3.5 NI-MH) or other brands? Help.

Answer 1

Personaly I would keep the one that you have. The XRP is $299 and way overkill for the typical DIYer. I have an 18-voly Ryobi-no padded grip and use it alot and it is comfortable and not fatiguing to use. I am just thinking of the price for feature trade you really do not get an extra $170 worth of features in my opinion with XRP. As for the NiMH batterry type..they may run longer between charges but that is about it-I get about 8 hours out of the Ryobi NiCADs

Answer 2

Debating brand names can create more confusion than is necessary. With the possible exception of the "Fisher-Price" brands, which are easily identifiable by the price, the most important features to consider in cordless drills are:

the batteries voltage (18 volts or better is recommended for anything remotely commercial),

the chuck size (1/2 inch chucks are a good all-round size),

whether it has a hammer drill feature (an absolute necessity if you intend to drill concrete or brick)

and the adaptability of the battery packs with other cordless tools of the same brand.

Find the best make and model which falls within your budget and which you feel most comfortable using and don't get too hung up with comparing the brands; most high-quality cordless drill perform the necessary functions admirably.

My shop, for example, is a mixture of various brands. I have two circular saws; one DeWalt and one Makita. I have one Hitachi and two Bostitch pneumatic guns. My stapler is an old Duo-Fast; big and bulky but it takes a lot of abuse. I also have a DeWalt power planner and compound mitre saw, a Milwaukee reciprocating saw and a Mikita table saw. And everything does the job its suppose to do, and that's all that matters.

Answer 3

Keep the Dewalt! I have been using Dewalt tools for many years and they are the best on the market. The 18V drill will give you many years of good use. You might consider trading the one you have in for another one if you don't like the grip. The 959 is a really good 1/2" drill.

Answer 4

DeWalt is fine, but maybe over rated. The biggest problem is non use age of any battery will lessen it's useful life. There is a slight drag on the battery, so they eventually wear out, even when not used. New batteries for the DeWalt are $70. Black and Decker is getting better. For your use, I would buy something I could throw away in two or three years, instead of buying a new battery for it.

Answer 5

DeWalt is a very reliable drill. If the grip is a problem you can use some grip tape found in sporting good sections of most stores and custom fit it to your hand. It sounds like you got a pretty good deal for a very reputable drill. I would keep it and work on the grip.

Answer 6

DeWalt 18v..i like mine and for the price a damm good drill. Sears will have batteries on sale every now and then. Black and Decker makes DeWalt. or vise versa.

Answer 7

Check out a Snap-on cordless drill. Excellent quality and with the right dealer you may after awhile be able to upgrade for new models. The 18v batteries last a long time and they charge up fast and the charger is the type that will trickle charge so you don't have to worry about over charging. I use the heck out of mine and it just keeps going and going, very impressive!!!!

Answer 8

Keep the dewalt, especially for the price! It might not have the new features but its still the same drill. Dewalt makes a good drill.

Answer 9

Well I always like the Dewalts products 18v gives more power for drilling etc just my opinion

Answer 10

Keep it! You got a good price, and you don't need any new bells and whistles.

I do have to say though that I love my Hitachi 18v cordless hammer drill with lithium-ion batteries. Those batteries rule.