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My Craftsman just bit the dust---had it about five years, and really didn't use it that much. Do any of you have a drill preference? I purchased my reciprocating saw and angle grinder from harbor freight and have been very pleased. Anybody use drills from harbor freight, or do you recommend a different brand?
I have been using a porter cable 18v drill for about 2 years and it's still going strong my dad has the porter cable light and saws all. He broke the light and the saws all is awesome.
I bought a wired 1/2" "heavy duty" drill from harbor freight to use with my stripper. So far its working great. I run it at low speeds so I can control the wire feed. Its big and heavy conpared to 3/8" drills. It also comes with a handle that srews into either side. It cost about $45. Here's a picture.
http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/t...s/P3210136.jpg
Actually I find I never have to buy a drill. I get them in scrap all the time.
Makita is the best in my opinion
Corded drill I presume, makiata hands down a Lil pricey but while worth the money my last drill lasted at least ten years if not longer
avoid cordless drills from Harbor Freight. Their junk. I had one, barely had enough power to put a screw into a pine board
Yeah, I'd avoid a bunch of the HF power stuff.
I used to feel a little sick if I stayed in there too long ...all the chinese crap...don't get me wrong,
the chinese are very nice, little people who build us lots of "toys" for affordable prices (How the H**L do they even ship a one pound hammer, sell it for ONE DOLLAR and make a profit???...it's because our own tanker size shipments are going out , and they'd rather ship something back than nothing sooo....I'm still jealous I can't ship ANYTHING one pound to CALIFORNIA and sell it for ONE DOLLAR and make a buck...poor child laborers,etc.. :P )
I like Bosch brand a lot. Dewalt used to be top of line, I still like them best for hand drills.
I have a drill press (I needed for knife making to cut at certain angles...)
IF you buy from SEARS store, they have a lifetime warranty , (might cost a few extra bucks for power-tools, but WELL WORTH IT , IMO )...I worked with a Honduranean pro at dry-wall...everytime his dewalts W/ screw gun attachment(CREWS were using) broke...He kept taking them back getting new replacements!!!
Yeah , just bought some " Caterpillar " brand work boots from Sears... term "Sears and Roebuck Cowboy" came to mind...
I don't care, sears has some good stuff
Off -topic but been looking at their ( sears ) table saws, I have one but once I found 7" cut-off discs for circular saws for .20 more than angle-grinder discs, been interested....for cutting "fullers" into my sword blades I have a new Idea for using a sliding
type table saw , w/multiple blades/decreasing installed ...Used to be a machinist , love this stuff!
Good luck! God Bless today, I will look out for whatever helpful myself. :)
Last time I checked sears doesn't have a lifetime warranty. At best an extended warranty, but not lifetime, not on power/air tools. Snap-On doesn't either, my 1/2 air impact only has...I think a 3 year...and cordless impacts/drills are a year.
HF isn't all bad. My angle grinder is ok. Impact sockets do their job. Plus those have lifetime so thats not too bad.
I agree with you about these tools. I have been using their 4 1/2 angle grinder for almost 2 yeArs now. But their 18v drills are complete crap. No power or battery life. Do yourself a favor and get a craftsman.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gnraxlrose88
I've found Bosch to be great tools too. I've bought them ( not lately) on open box sale etc, and was always greatly impressed. The last time i geared up much was about 5 years ago, just got most everything at sears. Kinda regretted it tho, it's all chinese anymore, tablesaw, compressor, impact wrench, Air hose I cuss everytime i try to roll it away without unplugging it. Even the toolset was from China. After getting the compressor i saw a bigger one cheaper at fh. Craftsman warranty is fairly good though, their prices aren't too awful bad, and they may possibly still have parts order, not sure about that :) Bought a craftsman waterwell system that was still fairly decent, but the confusion between online/telephone ordering and dealing with the store was a pure headache, the phone always saying one thing, and the store saying something else, caused me at least one 60 mile round trip that was totally uncalled for
Yes, I bought on for 18$ at harbor. Get the 6$,extended warranty. You are then good for 15 months. Full replacement if it dies. Or if you loose it or it gets stolen its not a huge loss. I keep mine in my truck at all times.
as far as I know, anything with the 'craftsman' name on it, they will replace for free. am I wrong?
I'm pretty sure it's just the hand, mechanic type tools.
I had a Craftsman....and wasn't impressed.
if their power tools are like their tillers i would avoid them like the plauge. I had to take mine back 4 times to get it replaced before i got a useable one, I don't really trust sears/craftsman anymore.
If you want a good quality cordless drill that will last I say
Makita,Makita, Makita.
There 4 1/2" angle grinders are pretty good too.
sears aint what they used to be, that's for sure. They do still honor their guarantee tho, i can say that about them. You might not like the new replacement, but they will still replace it
So much has changed over the years. Makita was the original one and only name for cordless tools. If nothing has changed with them then they are probably still pretty good. Craftsmen was always a good name. then the buyout came. Not sure where all of their warranties stand at this point. When I was contracting Dewalt was the absolute stuff. I still have all of my Dewalt tools and they have had seriously heavy use.
It is nice to have a warranty to replace something when it breaks, but it is even better when it doesn't break and you don't have to take a day off work to go and replace it.
I have never lost work due to needing to replace a Dewalt tool. I have with Craftsman. I do like Craftsman for their hand tools, but won't buy their power tool line anymore.
I used to buy broken Craftsman hand tools at garage sales and go and replace them with new. I have not done that in some time.
If you're buying a new cordless drill, something to keep in mind is that Makita only warrantees their new lithium-ion batteries for 200 charges. DeWalt warranties theirs for 2 years, from the date of manufacture on the battery. So if you're lucky enough to buy, say, a DeWalt drill with batteries made earlier this year (only the year is stamped on the batt), they are actually warranteed through 2014.
Craftsman warranties hand tools lifetime. But even if you need a ratchet replaced they give you a crappy rebuilt one. I had one replaced once and the rebuilt didn't work well either. I stripped out the gear in my 3/8 Snap On ratchet and my Snappy guy rebuilt it right in front of me on the truck in 30 seconds, worked better than when I first got it.
I was really happy with my Snap On drill too. I know these tools don't apply for alot of the people on here, but I'm working on being a tech so I gotta get the expensive stuff, lol. My batterys are dead for my drill though, so I gotta get them rebuilt
milwalkee, makita, dewalt. are the best hands down, but you have to consider cost versis duty. in most cases just about any drill will work. at the bench a corded small drill is best for several reasions. weight and fategue in the arms. cost of batteries versis length of life ect. in the field of course cordless is the way to go.
If you're just looking for a simple drill I'd go to your local pawnshop and buy they're oldest one. It'll be heavier because it's made out of metal not plastic but there's a reason it's still running after all of these years: Made in the USA.
http://img2.classistatic.com/cps/po/...0757mm_27.jpeg
might want to wear rubber gloves with this one if not double insulated, ask me how i know.Quote:
Originally Posted by CollinsHaulin
LOL did you zap your taters? Wait mississippi might be zappin your crawdads :)
drills are like trucks we all like em different, i used to be craftsman years ago, then i got my first 18v dewalt set and i was hooked until i got my milwaukee 18v, hands down the best drill ive used, and for the limited e waste that i do i have a 12v milwaukee driver with a 6inch extension, different drills for different jobs. ive got all brands but if ive got the means and they make it its milwaukee for me
not quite but it was not nice when i pulled the trigger, a shocking experince i might say.