Tool Shopping: Drill/Driver kit recommendations

[KCy]

20V Dewalt. Get the one with the impact and an extra battery. Great drill and its nice to have the extra piece so you don't have to switch up the ends in mid project.

I use mine a tone and it is awesome.

 

[Cardinal and Gold]

I have a Ryobi 18V and it is terrible. No power. It is fine driving screws but terrible with lag bolts. I was able to use a Dewalt 20V driver and impact wrench recently and I can not wait to get that set. Makes my Ryobi look like a pos.

 

[SCyclone]

I'm with @BCClone. I bought an 18V Hitachi and was so impressed that I bought another one. DeWalt used to be the gold standard, but I think a couple companies have passed them by. DeWalt also compromised themselves by making cheaper tools to sell to the likes of Menards, whose reputation among the building business is, shall we say, less than satisfactory.

 

[BCClone]

I'm with @BCClone. I bought an 18V Hitachi and was so impressed that I bought another one. DeWalt used to be the gold standard, but I think a couple companies have passed them by. DeWalt also compromised themselves by making cheaper tools to sell to the likes of Menards, whose reputation among the building business is, shall we say, less than satisfactory.

I guess I should put a small disclaimer on my Hitachi statement. Mine has a John Deere nameplate screwed on it. Hitachi initiated the first JD stuff.

 

[jcyclonee]

Just to confuse things, when I used to work in the construction industry, our employees always liked Panasonic tools. They tended to be a little more lightweight. The Milwaukee stuff is nice but was always a bit more expensive. Dewalt stuff tended to be bulky and a little less reliable. The Bosch stuff was ok.

 

[BCClone]

Looked at these. The $100 Hitachi has a smaller battery, 100 pounds less torque and isn't brushless compared to the entry level DeWalt and Milwaukee that are brushless.

Kinda leaning towards grabbing the Milwaukee's for $99 each (drill and then an impact driver). DeWalt/Milwaukee/Makita are all the same specs essentially all at 500 torque on the drill and 1500 on the impact. Makita is $30 more per unit. I want at least a 2.0 Ah battery. Don't really need bigger/heavier for what I'll do.

Had to double-check the torque on mine. 800 some, definitely more of the commercial grade.

 

[BCClone]

Just to confuse things, when I used to work in the construction industry, our employees always liked Panasonic tools. They tended to be a little more lightweight. The Milwaukee stuff is nice but was always a bit more expensive. Dewalt stuff tended to be bulky and a little less reliable. The Bosch stuff was ok.

Selling Legos doesn't count as working construction.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Had to double-check the torque on mine. 800 some, definitely more of the commercial grade.

Yup, that pretty heavy duty. The base ones are pretty much 500. My old 14.4V Rigid is 400.

 

[nfrine]

I'm with @BCClone. DeWalt also compromised themselves by making cheaper tools to sell to the likes of Menards, whose reputation among the building business is, shall we say, less than satisfactory.

Does Menards now carry DeWalt tools?

 

[BoxsterCy]

Does Menards now carry DeWalt tools?

No. They do have Bosch and Hitachi.

 

[Max57]

I bought the 20v Porter Cable combo 2 years ago. A friend has the DeWalt. I like the DeWalt better. Lighter, more balanced, and seemingly more powerful. We helped build a couple of decks the last few years and I would buy the DeWalt today.

 

[mramseyISU]

Before you plunge into an 18 or 20 volt set-up I'd take a good hard look at the Milwaukee 12 volt lineup. After my old 18V set-up started eating batteries I downsized to it the M12 stuff. I use mine around the house and for building furniture and have never thought I'd rather have a bigger 18V tool. There's plenty of tools out there for the M12 platform.

 

[SCyclone]

Does Menards now carry DeWalt tools?

Oh, they've had them for years. They used to buy up all the cordless tools DeWalt was going to discontinue, and sell them for dirt. Then, if you needed a part or service, it was, "Oh well, that tool is disco'd. You're out of luck!"

 

[nfrine]

Oh, they've had them for years. They used to buy up all the cordless tools DeWalt was going to discontinue, and sell them for dirt. Then, if you needed a part or service, it was, "Oh well, that tool is disco'd. You're out of luck!"

Haven't seen a DeWalt power tool at Menards for at least 8 years. Most of the stuff they carry is homeowner grade. Menards is not the place to go for good power tools.

 

[1100011CS]

Bosch CLPK232A-181 on Amazon for $150

Why can't we post Amazon links?

 

[SCyclone]

Haven't seen a DeWalt power tool at Menards for at least 8 years. Most of the stuff they carry is homeowner grade. Menards is not the place to go for good power tools.

There are lots of companies - Andersen Windows is one - who have learned about doing business with John Menard. The siren of big sales draws them in, but after awhile they get tired of doing business with a gun to their head. I was referring to my Payless Cashways days - we were effectively buried by companies like theirs.

 

[Tri4Cy]

We used to go with DeWalt as out primary tool for years, but around 5-10 years ago the quality just seemed to drop off. Made the switch to Milwaukee and love them. Around 5 years ago I bought a hammer drill/impact driver combo. It was my first time using an impact driver and I fell in love! My father always does a lot of business with Fastenal so he would keep an eye out for deals.

 

[AgronAlum]

Haven't seen a DeWalt power tool at Menards for at least 8 years. Most of the stuff they carry is homeowner grade. Menards is not the place to go for good power tools.

Menards really isn’t the place to go for almost any tools. They have some decent odds and ends stuff but they rest is junk. I really like the Kobalt stuff for the price.

 

[AgronAlum]

We used to go with DeWalt as out primary tool for years, but around 5-10 years ago the quality just seemed to drop off. Made the switch to Milwaukee and love them. Around 5 years ago I bought a hammer drill/impact driver combo. It was my first time using an impact driver and I fell in love! My father always does a lot of business with Fastenal so he would keep an eye out for deals.

Fastenal is outrageous. I remember looking at a bill and seeing like 15 bucks per can for WD40 if you buy it by the case. That’s per can, not per case.

 

[Tri4Cy]

Fastenal is outrageous. I remember looking at a bill and seeing like 15 bucks per can for WD40 if you buy it by the case. That’s per can, not per case.

I don't disagree. He purchases for a large organization and get's better pricing.