Seeing as how the holidays are right around the corner, I thought I'd better make a list... for me.

I've had a 14.4 Volt DeWalt for a while. Needs to be replaced. Is that Li Ion Makita the reigning king these days?

Best one by far is the Festool it is the most versitle also with it's adapters and it is light and small there 14v drill puts out the same power as my 18v dewalt and runs alot smoother. Battery lasts longer they convert 2phase to 3 phase in a cordless tool, wow. Also is computer controlled to hold it's rpm and apply more tork at low speed when needed.

If you still have batts left the dewalt is a nice simple rugged drill, the batts are the expensive part may as well get another dewalt. The panasonic is also nice I think it is a bit smoother than the dewalt. Li Ion Makita I don't know much about a friend has one and seems happy.

Seems that the web is highly favoring the Makita 18V Li Ion. Looking at the reviews, that comes in at #1 each time. I've never tried it.

I relied on several reviews, and ended up taking this one's advice more than any other:

http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1490&articleID=884891

But I couldn't find the Milwaukee at my local big box retailer, so I got the Makita instead (their #2 selection) and love it. It feels right, has plenty of torque, battery life, I like the charger, etc.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Makita. It's an excellent cordless drill. If I needed an impact driver, I'd get theirs, too.

I use the Li ion Makita drill/hammer drill combo (albeit pricey) for all my install jobs. You never know when you will need a hammer drill. Works great!

I just got a Hitachi 12 volt mini driver and impact driver kit. They're nice because they're small and light, and have plenty of torque. I haven't used them on big jobs yet so I don't know how long the batts will last.

I use my Dewalt 18v for the bigger stuff for now.

Milwaukee V28 for a cordless drill.

Panasonic LI 14.4 for an impact.

They are each pure excellence in their respective tasks.

Should you choose to go with Makita, you will also be very satisfied.

Rob

I can't speak to the others, and I'm sure there are multiple great options, but I picked up the Li-ion Makita during my build and have been thrilled with it. Decent battery life, and even when it does go dead you get a full recharge in very short time.

I've got the Makita 18V (BDF452HW). Love it. The light gets blocked a little, but it does help. I've been impressed with the shelf-life of the batteries. I have a 28v Milwaukee Li-On and I always have to charge it when I want to use it. When I bought the Makita, there was a promotion for a free battery, but the standard kit comes with two batteries and charger is fast, so I'm not sure the third battery is needed.

Interesting that DeWalt is missing from the list/ I happen to agree, but they used to be one of the top cordless.

Curious what the hammer drill is handy for? I've only ever used one for masonry drilling, but so many are offered / purchased.

Ted......I have a bunch of Dewalts. Some 12/13 yrs old........Indestructible and work very well. Have 2 new 18v and have retired the older 14.4 ones.

Just got the new Makita 18V li Ion........(was impressed by it small size as I walked by it at HD)...........it is a winner.......smaller, lighter, has a light, great trigger control.

The small impact driver is a winner to........just short of $300 with extra battery/case ect........Puts in 4' #12 in with NO pushing pressure.......just have to put up with the noise........(maybe you can sound proof it). : D

Jack

I'm sure everyone has their personal favorite, but I swear by my Bosch 14.4v Drill/Driver. I must have driven 10,000 screws by now, dropped it from a ladder numerous times, abused the bearings using rotary sanding attachments and it is as strong as the day I bought it. I believe they make a Li Ion version now.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=bosch+cordless+drill&cid=4615440760611444612&sa=title#p

I rely on Craftsman- I have both the 19.2 system and the new 12 v Lithium one
Use the 19.2 daily in shop and field and had one for years now and its chugging along. Though the newer ones is a bit smaller still for the abuse the shop one gets it paid for itself many times over. Drilling Stainless and Cold Rolled in several thickness up the 3/4 and more For the money you can not beat it. All the other stuff is more money and really in real world does not do any better day after day

I have been using the newer style 18 volt Dewalt impact (the one with the led light) and cant be happier. Ergonomics are great, plenty of power, drives hundreds of screws on a charge and you can use the lithuim ion or the ni cads. It has been my favorite tool for a couple years now plus if you look at the other tools in the 18 volt family Dewalt doesn't disappoint.

I think Makita 18V BHP454 is one of the best, if not the best, cordless drill. The design is well-balanced and it has a very powerful torque motor, and it is very easy to handle because of its design has lots of rubber over mold.

I have the hitachi, but wish I had the new Makitas...festool are a rip off for drills, I dont care how good they say they are with the pentium chips etc....buy 3 Maks for the price of 1

No offense to my fellow forum members, but I have had a harbor freight 18V cordless for 4 years. I had the same drill before that for 5 years. You can get the drill and the battery for $20 when they are on sale. Batteries seem to have a good cycle life. Just my 2 cents as someone who is a weekend warrior when it comes to projects, but does not use their tools every day.

I just got a Hitachi 12 volt mini driver and impact driver kit. They're nice because they're small and light, and have plenty of torque. I haven't used them on big jobs yet so I don't know how long the batts will last. +1

I bought the pair from Amazon a month ago -- GREAT price (<$120) for a LI drill/driver combo. The drill is 2/3 the size of my old 12V Dewalt.

What do people like the hammer drill for? Other than cement drilling.

stone, brick, cinderblock, some tiles.

Rob

Ted..........I was in HD today. They have a Dewalt 18 volt Li Ion combo on sale.........drill and a impact driver, both for $239.00, with 2 batteries a case/charger. That is a sweet deal

Jack.

I was in HD today. They have a Dewalt 18 volt Li Ion combo on sale.........drill and a impact driver, both for $239.00, with 2 batteries a case/charger. That is a sweet deal


OK, stopped in this AM and it wasn't on sale. It was $279. The guy looked it up and couldn't find anything about a sale on it. Do you have the SKU or any other info on that price.

What do people like the hammer drill for? Other than cement drilling.

Maybe you know this but I must have been sleeping in class one day. I got some remedial education on another thread that there is a big difference between a hammer drill and an impact driver. The impact driver uses a series of pulses to twist the screws in place and apparently is a lot less fatiguing to use if you are doing a lot of fasteners. Apparently it is also a lot less prone to stripping out the heads.

I've added it to my buy for myself Christmas list.

I have a DeWalt 18.8v cordless that I use for general drilling and battery life is excellent.

I just picked up the Milwaukee M12 Hackzall & the 3/8" drill driver in a combo set at HD on sale, mainly for the Hackzall. I then got the Milwaukee 1/4" hex impact driver, which works great for driving in long screws without stripping the heads, but I haven't used these tools long enough to have an opinion on battery life.

I also have Craftsman 19.2V standard and right-angle drills which I bought for the right-angle drill. The batteries discharge quickly when stored and have to be kept on a charger (like every other Craftsman cordless product I've ever owned). When charged, the tools have good power but not great battery life. I drilled all my cable holes in studs with the right-angle drill without problems, though.

I've owned several Makita cordless drills over the years and have nothing but good to say about them. Like the Craftsman, the batteries have to be constantly charging, but last longer in my experience.

Several times I've considered buying the Festool drill system, but just haven't been able to justify a $450 cordless drill. Yet. ;)

A few years ago Walmart sold a 18volt 1/2" cordless drill/hammer drill (Black&Decker, Quantum Pro) for a $100. They looked like pretty good drills so I bought several of them and used them commercially. Three of the four are still going after 5 years. If they are still made I would recommend, especially for the price.

Ted......I have a bunch of Dewalts. Some 12/13 yrs old........Indestructible and work very well. Have 2 new 18v and have retired the older 14.4 ones.

Just got the new Makita 18V li Ion........(was impressed by it small size as I walked by it at HD)...........it is a winner.......smaller, lighter, has a light, great trigger control.

The small impact driver is a winner to........just short of $300 with extra battery/case ect........Puts in 4' #12 in with NO pushing pressure.......just have to put up with the noise........(maybe you can sound proof it). : D

Jack

+1 bought it for light weight and pointy nose... Gets into smaller areas than most. The DeWalts are are like heavy dumbells...

OK, stopped in this AM and it wasn't on sale. It was $279. The guy looked it up and couldn't find anything about a sale on it. Do you have the SKU or any other info on that price.



Hi......you may be right.........I had just spent short of $300 for the Makita impact alone and this seems like a really great deal for the set. I more than likely miss read the sign......(do it all the time) : )

Jack

I've had a Bosch 10v LiIon for about 4 years now. It's met 99% of my drilling needs in that time and is small enough to fit in a pocket! I'll never again buy one of the larger cordless drills. If my little Bosch can't do it (which is rare), then I just pull out the corded drill. But for every other instance, I've got the benefits of the smaller, lighter drill.

I have the Ryobi Oneplus autoshift cordless drill...the automatic adjusting torque makes it very easy to use but it isn't light.

I just picked up a Dewalt cordless hammerdrill to build my Riser with. It's been very nice to work with but I can't say it will ever get a pro-carpenter kind of workout either. Although I'm sure it could take it.

No offense to my fellow forum members, but I have had a harbor freight 18V cordless for 4 years. I had the same drill before that for 5 years. You can get the drill and the battery for $20 when they are on sale. Batteries seem to have a good cycle life. Just my 2 cents as someone who is a weekend warrior when it comes to projects, but does not use their tools every day.

I have a harbor freight drill too. Its definitely not as nice as a dewalt or something similar, but its ok for occasional use. If I used a drill a few times a week I would definitely pick up something nicer though. I think mine is 18 volt and paid about $40-$50.

I finished my entire basement build with 2 of the economical Ryobis from HD .
a 14volt, and an 18volt.

To speed things up; there were occasions that I would use one for drilling and the other equipped with a driver bit for screws. I had spare batteries for each one and never had to wait

I need to put in another vote for the Makita twosome. I've been using a DeWalt 18V NiCad driver for years, but recently picked up the 3.0Ah Makita set as a backup because the DeWalt batteries weren't lasting nearly long enough. Anyway, I am completely satisfied with the power output and battery life of both the Drill and Impact Driver, but what seals the deal for me is the size. Much easier to use the Makitas in tight quarters (2/3rds the size of the DeWalt) and way less fatigue during longer construction sessions (weight is 60% of DeWalt). I realize they seem expensive at HD, but I found a killer deal on eBay for a brand new set and DID NOT regret it. Good luck!

I have been using the 18v Ryobi kit for the whole basement. I got the drill, flashlight with 2 batteries and a charger.

Since then I also got the impact driver (what a tool!!!) and the 90 degree drill for tight spaces.

The batteries can always be switched for the Lithium Ion one. They just won't color coordinate, which I know you are all about Ted...

currently for drywall I have the drill with a dimpler bit and the impact for ones that need a little more push becasue the dimpler doesn't always put it all the way in.

The impact is amazing for putting 3" deck screws into studs, especially in tight spaces. Just drives it in like a hot knife through butter. I don't know how I had never used an impact driver before.

The batteries can always be switched for the Lithium Ion one. They just won't color coordinate, which I know you are all about Ted...


Gotta look good...

Sounds like we need a power buy for an impact driver.

Sounds like we need a power buy for an impact driver.

I'll second that!

About 2 years ago I got the Makita 18v Li Ion drill, impact, charger, 2 batteris and case for $199. I see the same kit now for $279....

Honestly since I got the impact driver I use the drill about 1/4 of the time as it never drives a screw. If you do not have an impact and are still using a drill to drive screws you do not know what your missing. Also the Makita has kicked serious arse, batteries charge in 15 minutes and last a LONG time!

I also own a Milwaukee 18V combo kit and I have not used the drill since I bought the Makita....

if you do not have an impact and are still using a drill to drive screws you do not know what your missing.
+1

That's the God's honest truth!

Just so I'm clear, there's an impact driver and an impact wrench. We're talking impact DRIVER, right?

And the drill is yet another item? Or is the drill and impact driver one in the same?

impact driver is similar to an impact wrench. instead of having a 1/2" head, the impact drivers accept 1/4" hex bits. if you're doing any screwing (giggle giggle) at all, you need an impact driver. they're the little stubby nosed things with the quick release thing at the tip rather than a traditional chuck. drill (with optional hammer feature) is a seperate item. i've got the ridgid 18V ni cad set from 3 years ago and it works just fine. got my batteries replaced a few months back under the lifetime warranty and its like i have new tools.

EDIT: for those of you in canada, HD is having a 20% off sale on cordless drills, combo sets and mitre saws this weekend coming up i think. flyer is available at homedepot.ca

Ted, The impact driver is to drive bolts and screws in, it cannot drill. (It can with a special bit, but performs driving better)

The drill can do both, but it is lacking in the driving department. It can drill great, but driving is not as good.

Leave the impact wrench to the garage when working on the lug nuts of the car.

Once you use an impact driver, you realize that using a drill to drive screws is like removing a nail with a flat head screwdriver, and not a claw hammer. It can be done, but it isn't at all efficient.

This turned out to really be an excellent thread for me. This is all new. So having a driver and a drill is the way to go.

Fyi home depot has a dewalt for $99 on black Friday. Original price is $199. Im going to try and get one or two of them. I think lowes has a good deal on one as well.

This turned out to really be an excellent thread for me. This is all new. So having a driver and a drill is the way to go.

Ted.....an absolute no brain er.......once you go there you will never look back!!

I love my Dewalt's........but the Makita's Li Ion are smaller, lighter, have a light, ........(I was running my speaker wires in the small false wall area behind the screen and used the driver light as a flashlight as well as a driver).....I was thinking "money well spent"

Jack

Fyi home depot has a dewalt for $99 on black Friday. Original price is $199. Im going to try and get one or two of them. I think lowes has a good deal on one as well.

Drill or impact driver?

I'm using the Ryobi Li-ion now and have to say the products are great. HD was running a special about a year ago on th 18v Drill, light, sawsall, skillsaw, charger and 2 batteries $200.00. I couldn't pass it up.

I also want to say the Ryobi impact driver is turning out to be the best tool I've ever purchased. That thing has taken so much abuse and just keeps on working. Great stuff for the DIYer.

Looking at the Makita website, the options seem dizzying. Any one of you proud Makita 18V Li Ion users have any model #s? The driver / drill and drill (2 separate tools). Are they only available with 1/2" chuck? Seems that way.

I'm wondering if there's a 2 tool party pack in a case with 2 batteries, charger and case.

Right now I'm using a 10V Li-Ion Bosch screwdriver and a 36V Li-Ion DeWalt drill. One is powerful for most tasks and is very light. The other one can drive a 2" bit through several dozen studs without pause and isn't too much heavier than the older 18V drills and also has a hammer drill when I need to drill into masonry (brick, stone, etc). The impact driver will probably be my next purchase... you can't have too many tools!

CJ

I just tossed one of my DeWalt batteries and the other isn't lasting very long. This thread was perfect timing!

Ted.......you are right, their site is hard to use.........(and I know the tools). Combo #LCT200W is pretty much it. This is the compact set.

Amazon has it for $249.00, but "shop around"

Jack

Use the Dewalt 18V at work, 3 yrs old at this point rides around in the back of truck and from job site to job site getting the hell beaten out of it and still going strong, at home I have a Ryobi Lithium great for around the house wouldn't recommended it for for heavy duty use but the lithium ion battery and smart charger means I can leave a battery on the charger in the garage and never have to worry about cooking a battery if it doesn't get used for a couple of weeks, plenty of torque and good battery life seal the deal for home use for me, Would have bought a Dewalt for myself but no way in hell would I pay for it myself, lol.

I'm with Ted on the value of this thread. I've apparently have had my head in the sand or something, but to use Chiahead analogy I’ve been removing a nail with a flat head screwdriver for a long time. I’ve see impact drivers used all the time on holmes on homes and have wondered what they were using – definitely will be one of my next purchases.

Hats off to everyone for making these forums such a great source of knowledge. Thanks

Just found this:

http://bfads.net/Makita-18Volt-Hammer-Driver-Drill-Impact-Driver-Combo-Kit-w-Bit-Set-at-Home-Depot

My 14.4v Makita died halfway through my build. I replaced it with this Bosch and I'm sold on their tools. I didn't buy it here because I got it at a great price, but it's powerful and one of the best ergonomically designed drills I've ever held.
http://www.amazon.com/32618-2G-18-Volt-Ni-Cad-8-Inch-Cordless/dp/B000BB67E6/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

Ted.......you are right, their site is hard to use.........(and I know the tools). Combo #LCT200W is pretty much it. This is the compact set.

Amazon has it for $249.00, but "shop around"

Jack

Jack, thanks. I'm still confused. I was thinking there is the cordless drill, and the drill / driver. Didn't someone say the driver/drill isn't much of a drill?

I want a nice fully functioning drill and the driver as separate items. No wrench. Is there no drill that is not also a driver? Maybe that's my problem.

My favorite tool for my build has been the Makita 18v impact driver...which I also use for light duty drilling with no problems. Using a regular drill for driving screws would be like watching the super bowl without HDTV....you can't go back.

I got a reconditioned kit with extra battery similar to this set but reconditioned price: http://www.cpomakita.com/drivers_and_fasteners/impact_drivers/btd141a.html


I let my working battery always run dry and then pick up the spare (which I don't leave on the charger)...recharge the dead one in about 15 minutes. Love it.

Jack, thanks. I'm still confused. I was thinking there is the cordless drill, and the drill / driver. Didn't someone say the driver/drill isn't much of a drill?

I want a nice fully functioning drill and the driver as separate items. No wrench. Is there no drill that is not also a driver? Maybe that's my problem.

Ted.......Yes, a little confusing. They call it a driver/drill???.........(all "drills" will drive a screw).

The impact tool Okron had a link to is "almost" the same tool as in the kit I mentioned, but it comes with 2 larger batterys.

Jack

They call it a driver/drill???.........(all "drills" will drive a screw).
Jack

Ahhhh... Thank you.

Looking at the Makita website, the options seem dizzying. Any one of you proud Makita 18V Li Ion users have any model #s? The driver / drill and drill (2 separate tools). Are they only available with 1/2" chuck? Seems that way.

I'm wondering if there's a 2 tool party pack in a case with 2 batteries, charger and case.

This set is similar the the LCT200, but has double the battery capacity. I found a sweet deal on a rather well-known auction site, but wouldn't hesitate to buy a reconditioned set at a discount.

www.cpomakita.com/combo_kits/18_volt_combo_kits/lxt211a.html

Another fan of the little bosch here. I got it as a throw in when I bought a saw (thanks amazon) and I use it constantly.

What do people like the hammer drill for? Other than cement drilling.

For drilling concrete (not cement), block and mortar. These cordless drills do not hammer near as good as a good corded hammer drill, but they are handy when you are doing a job and come across a spot where you need a few concrete screws installed.

Here's mine. 18V, 2 Lion batteries, charger + case. $199.
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/18/189c450d-70f7-4e2c-bac3-edc4b88014f1_300.jpg

Here's mine. 18V, 2 Lion batteries, charger + case. $199.
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/18/189c450d-70f7-4e2c-bac3-edc4b88014f1_300.jpg

I got all that + the impact for the same price. HD had a crack head sale a while back and I got lucky!

Festool but I have 18V Dewalt and love them. I found some amazing deals on loose tools on Amazon and now have just about every 18V tool they make.

So I'm kind of stuck with Dewalt but they work. Battery life has been excellent, going on three years now.

Normally I'm a Dewalt guy but I use the Makita 18V now after killing my past two Dewalt drills (1 cordless, 1 wired), still using their 10" miter saw tho and love it.

Wow, I can't believe no one has mentioned the Ingersoll Rand IQv line of tools.

I have the drill impact & ratchet and love them. The battery runs all three (the ratchet is 14v but works fine on the 19v battery). They are expensive but bulletproof.

http://www.ohiopowertool.com/images/Product/medium/386.jpg
http://www.ohiopowertool.com/p-386-ingersoll-rand-iqv-series-192v-cordless-12-inch-drilldriver-d650.aspx

http://www.ohiopowertool.com/images/Product/medium/2398.jpg
http://www.ohiopowertool.com/p-2398-ingersoll-rand-iqv-144v-cordless-12-square-drive-ratchet-r385.aspx

http://www.ohiopowertool.com/images/Product/medium/751.jpg
http://www.ohiopowertool.com/p-751-ingersoll-rand-iqv-192v-cordless-12-impact-wrench-w360.aspx?gclid=CL7WlOD8qJ4CFQ8MDQodSEhvlA

The Makita combo kit with drill and impact driver, two batteries was one of the door busters for $199 at HD this AM. The door buster special also came with a bit set whereas the regular combo kit that sells for $247 does not. They had a separate stack of the door busters that they brought out this AM so look for those not the ones in the regular stock if you go looking for this offer. I got mine at about 6:30 when they had 3 left, when I left at 7 they had 2 kits.

Is yours the blue Makita or the white as shown above? The blue has better batteries (3mAh vs 1.5 or 2). Thats a pretty sweet deal. You lucky Americans and your "Black Friday" door crasher specials...

I scored one of the Makita combo kits this morning as well. Perfect timing. They still had 6 left at 7:45 this morning.

The combo kit has the 1.5 batteries.

Thats still a killer deal. Have you tested out the impact driver yet? Pure awesomeness.

The combo kit has the 1.5 batteries.

And there is an insert in the box trying to sell the 3mAh batteries to you. :rolleyes:

Why is the charger so friggin big? My DeWalt charger was half the size. And the bag is a little large also. Could have been half the size.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V2DSE2/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=3243026791&ref=pd_sl_7z217gtqm0_e

$199 delivered. LCT200W Driver/Drill and Impact Driver

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V2DSE2/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=3243026791&ref=pd_sl_7z217gtqm0_e

$199 delivered. LCT200W Driver/Drill and Impact Driver


Nice find. The home depot model is LCT2009. The only difference is the HD one comes with a 12-piece magnetic bit set.

I estimate the bit set is worth about $4.99

I estimate the bit set is worth about $4.99

I think you're being generous. :p

msrp

I've had that Makita drill/driver kit for about 2 years now. It was getting at least weekly use for a while, but since we moved, I haven't been able to set up my workshop yet. That being said, it always held a charge longer than I expected, and when the battery did go flat, it took 20-25 minutes to restore the charge.

And that little light comes in handy when you are installing stuff in small places.

Hey Big, where's the public props for sending you the PM on that deal. Glad you're liking the tools. I love mine. I too got in on the Black Friday Deal.

Yea I was back at HD a couple days later and it was back to $247 without the $4.99 worth of bits. Thanks again!.

Do you ever go over to the Black and Decker outlet in Rehoboth? I get all my bits and blades there as they seem to be very economically priced. Also depending on whether or not they just got a shipment of refurbished goods in they have had some good deals.

I try and avoid the outlets at all costs. That place give me the creepies.

I bought a Rigid 18v cordless less then 1 yr ago. What a piece of crap!

Forward/reverse button is all lose, batter does not hold a charge anymore.

Very disappointed

Lee

I bought a Rigid 18v cordless less then 1 yr ago. What a piece of crap!

Forward/reverse button is all lose, batter does not hold a charge anymore.

Very disappointed

Lee

Get it checked out. Seems like there's something wrong with it. It's still under warranty.

Makita Li ion set just arrived. Looking good.

I bought a Rigid 18v cordless less then 1 yr ago. What a piece of crap!

Forward/reverse button is all lose, batter does not hold a charge anymore.

Very disappointed

LeeDoesn't Rigid have a lifetime warranty on their batteries?

I was going to say I can't belive Rigid hasn't been mentioned, and when it finally was, it was given the worst of reviews.:eek:

I have a Rigid, after busting my DeWalt down in Mississippi after Katrina. HD at the time, was getting shipments in daily to replace everything that was lost, and the stores would sell out as soon as the merch arrived.:eek:

Being a contractor, rebuilding the cable TV pole line, A drill was mandatory as no work could be performed without one. After dropping my DeWalt from about 10' out of my bucket and the chuck snapping off, I hit up HD looking for another 18V but the small DeWalts they had were only 12V and way over priced. Every 18V was gone. So I had to buy either the 12V DeWalt or the 14.4V Rigid. And the Rigid was less expensive. Plus the Rigid had a 20 minute charger vs. the 1 hour charger for the DeWalt. That Rigid is one of the best drills I have owned (and I've owned all the good ones, Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt, Bosch etc...as well as the cheap ones, B&D, Ryobi etc...) and is still going strong and kick ass. 1 battery pack discharges somewhat quickly, but the other one acts like it did when new. This almost 5 years after the fact.

High quality, low price, tough as nails build, I recommend Rigid, lightweight, well balanced, fits my big hands perfectly, strong, and, well, Rigid. ;)

Doesn't Rigid have a lifetime warranty on their batteries? I don't think so. If they do, hell, I'm going to go get one replaced! ;) But really, I think it is the tool itself with the lifetime warranty. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, as I no longer have the receipt, case, or manual with the warranty info.

lol... Sorry guys but if you can except the comparison of Ryobi being the "One for All" of the power tool world, then Makita is no better than a Harmony.... All decked out with racing stripes and what not.

Hilti is by far the best cordless/corded drill manufacturer in the market today. Lets call it the RTI/Crestron of drill offerings. Ask any that have used one.

Hilti and Festool are the equivalent of your high priced Mercedes and Ferrari's in the car world. Sure, they're "better" but they cost much more too. Nobody's questioning the fact that Hilti and Festool are great tools, although I'm sure most of us DIYers haven't had the opportunity or need for such a high priced tool. There are always exceptions to that though. And of course, there are always people that think cheap no-name tools are great too.

As for the Ridgid warranty, if you registered the tool and batteries within 90 days of your purchase, you should be eligable for their LSA (Lifetime Service Agreement). You take the tool or batteries into a service station and they fix or replace it. If you didn't register it, I think the warranty is 3 years.

Just had 2 batteries replaced a few months ago. Can't beat that (for the price).

I test drove the two Makitas last night. Everyone was right about the ease and performance. Thanks for all the recommendations and opinions.

I'm still using (as a back-up) my 9.6 volt cordless Makita drill (model 6092D) bought over 27 years ago (replaced the battery only once)!!!

Durabuilt 9.6v at Target for $9.95 (on sale 3 years ago) so far three years and still works. Good for light weight jobs around the house. It will drive thick 4" drywall screws into hardwood. The battery stays changed for mouths and is always ready to go. Has a built in led light and level plus it came with a ton of accessories, good for the weekend warrior.

I hung a couple of sheets of Hardi Backer board this week using my new Makita Impact driver. I can't believe I ever used a drill to do it before, there is no comparison. No problem getting the screw heads below the surface.

I hung a couple of sheets of Hardi Backer board this week using my new Makita Impact driver. I can't believe I ever used a drill to do it before, there is no comparison. No problem getting the screw heads below the surface.

I have used a lot of cordless drill drivers, but if you are going to install a lot of sheetrock or Hardi board you are better off using a corded screw gun. Not a combination drill/driver. I have been hanging some Hardi board this week also. First time I have used it. Easier to work with than Durock.

I hung a couple of sheets of Hardi Backer board this week using my new Makita Impact driver. I can't believe I ever used a drill to do it before, there is no comparison. No problem getting the screw heads below the surface.

Yep. My Bosche impact driver saved my elbow and is my favorite tool of all time.

I have used a lot of cordless drill drivers, but if you are going to install a lot of sheetrock or Hardi board you are better off using a corded screw gun. Not a combination drill/driver.

I have only used corded drills on the hardy backer board before and this was still far better. Or are you talking about something different?

If I understand him correctly, I believe he is referring to an actual dedicated drywall screw gun (like a professional drywaller uses), not a corded drill-driver.

I have only used corded drills on the hardy backer board before and this was still far better. Or are you talking about something different?

I am talking about a screw gun. It does not drill. The clutch in a screw gun is a lot better than what you find in any cordless that I have ever used. www.dewaltdeals.com/Dewalt Screw Gun.jpg

I am talking about a screw gun. It does not drill. The clutch in a screw gun is a lot better than what you find in any cordless that I have ever used. www.dewaltdeals.com/Dewalt Screw Gun.jpg (http://www.dewaltdeals.com/Dewalt Screw Gun.jpg)

Great tool I have one as well

I got a Milwaukee impact driver with 18v lion battery. I fenced my back yard using this on about 3 full charges 4000 2.75" screws. No twisting of the wrist or anything.

I ended up using my Dewalt 18V impact driver on EVERYTHING in my basement. I even did the drywall with it. I got a Ryobi drywall screw gun originally to put up the drywall but it wouldn't hold the proper depth so I ended up doing the entire thing with my Dewalt. Couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Sure it was slower but I got great results.