CORDLESS DRILL

bosch or hitatchi

Bunnings have a 14.4volt Ryobi with 2 batteries for sale @ $69.

Bunnings - 18V Ryobi One Plus ( Ryobi ONE + ) with two batteries for $99. Once you have the drill, you can buy a range of other tools such as a grinder, small powersaw, sanders, planer, etc. All the batteries are interchangeable. Great around the house and very handy in the outback. 240V Charger can be used outback with a small inverter plugged into the cigarette lighter.

Cheers Mick

I just bought these see link.

Hitachi 18V cordless

I have the DS18Vf3 drill on page 3, the G18vDL(HL) on page 3, and the WR18VDL(HD) on page 5.

The drill came with 2 batteries and charger, the Impact wrench and the Grinder didn't come with batteries they would have been extra, but seeing as the drill came with 2 it didn't matter.

They are fantastic, we even used the impact wrench on the OKA.

Cheers Steve.

Make sure you get one with a 13mm chuck and hammer if possible.
Regards,
Bob

I'd suggest lithium ion batteries for whatever you buy - they are great.
I run panasonic lithium ion cordless gear, and highly recommend it, but probably a bit exxy for non trade usage.

A lot of stuff is rebadged now, so there are some real bargains to be had if you know what you're looking for.
eg- the ozito sabre saw is a rebadged milwaukee for $80 odd dollars.
We are also running a couple of ozito hammer drills which have outlasted a couple of name brand ones (the 4kg ones $100 odd). They install guardrail, so approx 80 m20 x 150mm holes at a time.
I'd suggest maybe having a look at some of the cheaper brand lithium cordlesses - if they have a bit of weight to them it'd probably be worth a roll of the dice. They generally have great warranty too.

If you can get a drill/impact driver combo you'll never look back - I can't remember being a builder without a cordless impact driver.

Ive got a Hitachi DV 18DL Impact driver drill 2 speed 22 clutch settings.

Comes in a hard case with two lithium batteries which last for ages also has a fan cooled charger..

I paid $275 for it off a guy who hadnt used it when I was in Kununurra. In August.

The retail at the time was $528 Dont know if they are cheaper now but are a bl**dy good drill.

Have had Green Hitachi commercial stuff before and are excellent stuff.

Cheers

Go to Bunnings and have a look at the Triton drill. I've got one. It was recommended by a carpenter. I can't fault it.
Rosco.

Bunnings - Bosch 18v lithium ion. Kills my other Ni Cad battery powered ones. Not cheap @ $249 but very powerful & quick recharge.

WBS

Thanks everyone fpr the reply & advice

I bought a $119 14v Ryobi with 2 batteries, was using it to drill a hole through some a piece of supporting metal beam for a hole to hang a climbing rope from for my kids.

Ran the battery dead not getting too far, though I'd try to finish it off with the small 240v Ryobi industrial hand drill. Using the same drill bit it shocked me that it went through like butter.

Moral I suppose is, you get what you pay for, now I know why some drills cost $600 and some cost $100. Wouldn't touch one under $100 unless you are basically drilling balsa wood.

Here's a thought: get one that can run off a car battery ie 14.4 or 12 Volts. There are several advantages: 1. When going on a trip you could leave the batteries at home and save weight, 2. If the batteries run flat you don't need to recharge them, and 3. When the batteries finally die you can use the unit in the vehicle without the need to buy costly replacement batteries.

I have a Makita it's getting onto about 7 years now and still going strong....good quality

Does not really matter if you are a tradie or home handy man. Most die because they have been burnt out. Have a think about what you may use it for and then get one that produces sufficient torque. In general you will not go wrong with Hitachi, Matabo, Bosch. They are mid range price wise and usually reliable. If you really want to faint look at a DeWalt. Any drill will normally be ok as long as you don't overload it. If you think you have been pushing it, run the drill for a minute or so with no load. Helps disperse the heat. The most common story is "It was fine when I used it but now it doesn't work". The damage was done at last use and finished off by the heat buid up.

Steve

Over the years I've had 4 cheapish cordless drills - 2 Ryobis and 2 Arlec. None of the batteries lasted for more than 12 months. I repacked them with sub-c NiMh and they'd go a bit longer, but those batteries cost more than the drills. And two of the drills had their motors replaced. Then the 2 speed Ryobi broke its gearbox.

So I splurged out 12 months ago, got a new 18V Makita with twin Lithium batteries and a flash quick charger. Cost almost $400. I have to say that when you hold one, it feels like a real drill; the chuck is quality - it holds the drills better, and is so much easier to change the bits. Got 1/2 inch, hammer and torque and reversing and variable speed and 2 speed gearbox, so it does the lot. I'm sure there are lots of other quality ones out there, but my last Makita tool was my 240V hammer drill that I've owned now for 25 years.

You get what you pay for!

I just got a 18 Volt Lithium drill from Super crap. it even has an indication of the amount of power left. Has a 2 year Guarantee. Can't beat that !

Being Lithium you can recharge it as often as you like unlike the old NiCad batteres

dunedigger

Five years ago I bought a GMC 18volt kit with two batteries - everything is still working well.

With NiCd batteries the secret to long life is to discharge the batteries AT LEAST once every three months - virtually impossible unless you have two batteries.

Keep using the batteries until the drill slows down - DO NOT finish the cut/hole after that you will damage the battery.

One with a Li-ON battery not NiCd

Thanks everyone your advice is much appreciated.