Cordless Drill/Drivers

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Setec Astronomy

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I'm not sure if this is really the right sub-forum, but DeWalt has a new Li-Ion cordless system, and I was thinking about getting a cordless drill (since I'm still in the dark ages of corded). One of the things I'd like to use this for is wheel cleaning/polishing using a cone or ball or whatever, but I'd also like to use it for drilling/driving fasteners once in a while. They have some good deals on kits that include multiple tools, but I'm not really clear on the function or necessity of those.

My question is this--they have a 3/8" that they call a drill/driver, which I guess can be used for both drilling and driving (duh), which has a regular chuck. And they have a 1/4" screwdriver, which has a hex chuck (for screwdriver bits), I guess they don't think it has enough grunt for drilling plus it doesn't have the appropriate chuck. Then thre is a 1/4" impact driver which also has the hex chuck, and a much higher RPM than the 1/4" screwdriver.

They have kits that have the 3/8" paired with either of the 1/4" tools. Which of the 1/4" tools would I want? When purchased alone the impact tool is $20 more than the screwdriver, but in the kits they are the same. Or do I even need the 1/4", and just put a bit holder in the chuck in the 3/8?

Sorry for the long-winded question but they aren't much help on the Dewalt site.
 
I would suggest stepping up to a 1/2" model if you really want to get any real use out of it for spinning a buffing cone or driving screws of any length. I've been down this road before of wasting $149 when I could have just spent $219. Spinning buffing tools is tough on cordless tools but the 1/2" model Dewalts will do it with ease.
 
The impact driver is THE tool for driving screws and such, especially things like drywall or deck screws. A decent one will easily have enough power to snap the screws in two or split the wood. They develop more torque than a 1/2" driver for sure. I am not familiar with DeWalt's latest but have been using Makita's impact drivers for years.

Regarding the regular drill, I have no experience with a power ball/buffing cone to say whether a 3/8" could manage or not. Often, these drills will have different gears for different speeds versus torque. Another feature of many 1/2" drills is a hammerdrill function which is useful if you need to drill into concrete/stucco/etc.
 
As Dave mention you really have to spend some of that hard earned money and buy the correct drill . I own three Makita cordless drill for work but the only thing they are really good for is repairing headlamps that cloud up . If you buy one get at least 18 Volt one . I feel by the time you find a drill your going to be happy with i would buy the PCXP for paint correction .
 
Harleyguy said:
I feel by the time you find a drill your going to be happy with i would buy the PCXP for paint correction .
Click to expand...

LOL, I have what...5 polishers with another on the way--I don't need the drill for polishing the paint, it would be for cleaning wheels (both the face/spokes and barrel) and polishing spokes...I just ordered a GG 3" to see how that will work on the spokes but also ordered some of the IAP cones, which is what I would use the drill for (and for Powerballs).
 
I use an 18 volt Craftsman and Mothers power ball on my wheels and it handles it OK. Dewalts are probably better, but more expensive. Be sure that whatever you get has a good charger and extra battery, and the smaller it is, the less time you'll get out of it. You want to know how much it weighs/balances in your hand also, as you'll be holding it a lot.
 
Thanks to your responses I now understand that these new 12V, while having a light, powerful lithium battery, are still considered "compact" tools which don't have the grunt of the full-size. Hmmm....
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Thanks to your responses I now understand that these new 12V, while having a light, powerful lithium battery, are still considered "compact" tools which don't have the grunt of the full-size. Hmmm....
Click to expand...
De-Walt makes one of the best drills out there . But you need to get at least an 18 Volt one . Wait till Home-Depot puts on of those kits on sale the ones that come with other tools like a Flash Light / or a Saw this way you can use it around the house and on your car . I use my cordless drill with the Flitz ball and polish for chrome exhaust tips and other chrome pieces works great .
 
The Makita line is at the top of everyone's review and I highly recommend this package, for heavy continuous duty.
Technical Details


  • 2-speed 1/2-Inch Driver-Drill (0-400/0-1, 500 RPM) with Makita-built 4-pole motor delivers 450 in.lbs. of Max Torque and weighs only 3.5 lbs
  • Variable speed Impact Driver (0-2, 300 RPM) provides 1, 280 in.lbs. of Max Torque in a compact design and weighs only 2.8 lbs
  • 4-Position Flashlight with Xenon bulb runs over 2 hours per charge
  • Makita Compact Lithium-Ion battery and Energy Star rated 15-Minute Rapid Optimum Charger produces 430% total lifetime work with 2.5X more cycles
  • 3-year warranty on tools and 1-year warranty on batteries and charger

Amazon.com: Makita LCT300W 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 3-Piece Combo Kit: Home Improvement

The 2 speed 1/2 18 Volt drill/driver is VERY powerful. The impact driver is also every bit as powerful and this duo will do just about anything you can throw at it.

I've never personally understood the reason for adding these flashlights to all the kits and mine just sits there in pristine condition,

You said your purpose was;

wheel cleaning/polishing using a cone or ball or whatever, but I'd also like to use it for drilling/driving fasteners once in a while.

If this is your goal then you might want to opt for something a little less powerful and easier on the wallet as well. If you're the kind of guy that buys a dump truck to haul grass clippings and might need a load of gravel one day then by all means go for it!
 
I own a 3/8" Makita portable that has enough power to turn a polishing pad but the battery doesn't last long enough to polish a headlight. I end up using my corded drill and I would rather have a cordless drill around liquids.

I would buy a 1/2" commercial cordless with plenty of battery life, if I was going to buy another drill for working on cars.
 
I bought the portercable drill set from lowes on blackfriday for $130 and so far its been working pretty good. Its 18v with a 1/2" chuck. The kit comes with the drill, circular saw, sawzall, flashlight, and two batteries w/ charger. The sale is going on until January. I figured since it has the portercable name its got to be decent. Also if anything were to fail I could bring it back and exchange it for a new one.
 
Buy the biggest and best drill you can afford. I've made the mistake (twice) of buying a cheaper model, but for different reasons each time. The first time I bought a Harbor Freight special. Sure, it was 18V but it barely had enough power to drill a 1/16" pilot hole in a hollow door. The next drill I bought was part of a set. I have had great luck with my chorded SKIL circular saw, saw I figured I'd buy the entire SKIL set. It came with the chordless sawzall, circular saw, drill and flashlight. Well, the sawzall broke after about a year of use and I'm in the same position with the drill not having enough power to do some of the most basic tasks. My step dad actually has a 12 or 14 volt Milwaukee impact driver that has WAY more power than my 18V SKIL. Stick with a leading brand (Makita, Milwaukee, DeWalt) when it comes to drills. Buy it once and it should last you many many years.

If the 1/2" model isn't too much more, I'd go with it. I've run into a few scenarios where I really wished I had a 1/2" drill so I ended up having to borrow. You may think you'll only be using it for wheel buffing and a few loose screws around the house, but you'll find plenty of reasons to use it if you have it. Don't make the same mistake I've made (twice).

Mark
 
I used to work as an electrical troubleshooter in a manufactured housing factory and being in a position of drilling a lot of 3/4" holes to run missed wires and cutting in exterior light boxes with a 4" hole saw I got to torture test several brands of industrial grade 1/2" cordless drills. I broke the gearbox housing on 3 Dewalt drills, (this was right after B&D bought Dewalt) after fighting with the tool room guys to get me a Milwaukee drill I took my request to the general manager. The GM spent $300 and brought me a Makita industrial cordless drill and I broke the gear housing 2 hours later. I took my brand new shiny broken Makita to the corner office and slammed it on the GM's desk and exclaimed "I said Milwaukee!!! Not Makita!!!" Instead of firing me he jumped in his car and drove directly to Granger Inc. and brought me back a 1/2" Milwaukee 18 volt cordless drill that I happily abused for the next 3 years with no issues. By the time I left that company they had purchased over 75 of those Milwaukee drills. At $300 a pop that was nothing compared to paying 275 production workers to stand around waiting because the line stopped because of simple drill failures.

This little story may not be relevant to the OP's questions but I thought I would share it anyway.

For what it's worth I would put a new Dewalt industrial cordless drill up against those Milwaukee drills any day. I have used an 18 volt 1/2" Dewalt industrial hammer drill for the last 4 years and it is a top rate tool.
 
:iagree: The Dewalt 1/2 18 volt is a great tool! I've had mine for about 6 years and this thing has been to hell and back! Its like a timex it takes a licking and keeps on ticking! I was usung mine one day 45feet in the air hanging off a scaffold and dropped it! I figured that 300 bucks was history, got down thinking this thing was in peices, man was i supprised, the battery was busted all to hell ,grabbed another out the truck and this thing was still working! Still working today love this drill! you would not be sorry on that purchase!:dblthumb2:
 
I have not had the chance to play with the new 12v Li-Ion DeWalt drills, but I own a 14v compact model and I don't completely agree with a lot of people here.

At work I use 18v Craftsman drills that my little 14.4v DeWalt puts absolutely to shame. If you want power for polishing wheels, the 14.4v drill has plenty.

Dewalt measures power in their own units, Unit Watts Out.
- DC730KA (mine) - 300
- DCD710S2 (12v MAX) - 189
Based on this alone I would not purchase the 12v MAX drill as I would not go any less powerful than the drill I have for what you are doing, although I must comment it has plenty.

If you're looking for battery life get the XRP tools, or you can put the XRP battery on a compact tool. (XRP tools tend to be a little bit heavy b/c they are REALLY beefy.)

One more note: DeWalt has excellent customer service. The service center around here has a maximum price policy, that even if they have to replace everything inside the drill, they will not charge more than $99.

One one more note: I used to sell tools, and voltage means almost nothing. A 12v DeWalt will has more power than an 18v Ryobi, and will last longer.
 
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