Cordless tools and LIon batteries

[Scrit]

Has anyone got any preferencers in LIon cordless tools? I've recently borrowed a Makita 18volt LIon impact driver and combi-drill and been amazed by their power and light weight (little heavier than the 12 volt stuff I use for cabinet fitting). Not so sure I'd go for the combi drill (a drill/driver suits me better), but nonetheless suitably impressed. Anyone used other brands and in a position to offer advice/comments?

Scrit

[noel]

Hi Scrit, although most of my drill / drivers are Ni Cad and Ni MH I've had a Li Ion Bosch driver like this:
www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=370427&filter_cat=&manufacturer_id=Bosch&name=&user_search=&sfile=1&jump=72
for the last 6 months and I'm very impressed with it. Although it may look like a DIY type Ikea flat pack assembler it's not. Light, small, powerful and torquey and battery lasts forever and only a 30 min charge with the advantage that you can charge, say, for 10 minutes and get back to work if necessary without damaging the cells.. It'll drive 3" screws into hardwood, is great for getting at screws and things at the back of cupboards and has even a wee LED light which I thought was a useless gimmick but is actually quite useful.
Ok I know, you asked about Li Ion batteries, certainly a big step forward and with the size and weight benefits, quick charging and seemingly as much grunt in them as larger, heavier N Mh or the Ni Cads packs it's a no brainer IMHO. I'll certainly be looking at Li Ion ion in my next 12 - 15V size drill.

[colincott]

Hi Scrit

I would go for the Makita as from want I have seen you get lots of bang for your buck.

I will be getting them went my drill now have died ( Makita 18v MXT and 14 impact driver ).

By the way have a look here for some good deals

[andy king]

I'm a big fan of the Makita Lithiums. I thought they might have struggled to sell them as the batteries aren't compatable with other NiCd/NiMh gear in the range, (Metabo have managed to get the batteries to be compatable on some of their range) but the range that makita has launched has generated a whole new raft of customers it seems! A friend of mine runs a tool shop in Bristol and turns over about half a million a year on Makita alone! He said his original customers who bought original 18v Makita NiMh/NiCd stuff are upgrading as they are so light and have long run times etc. Personally, I think the Makita 14.4V versions are more than man enough for most work, although the range of other tools isn't quite so expansive at the moment.
The Bosch Noel refers to is equally good, especially for simply running in screws or drilling smaller holes. I'd much rather use one of them all day than a big drill/driver in most cases, unless I had big stuff to do.
I'd be inclined to go for a bigger drill driver and a small dedicated driver like the Bosch in kitchen fitting and shopfitting work, the Bosch is great in confined spaces.
There's an impact version available as well, and Noel's standard driver is now upgraded with a sleeve chuck and faster motor speed of 500rpm.
hope this helps.

Andy

[Scrit]

Thanks for the advice. The Makita LXT202 set is the one I've had the chance to use and I'm well impressed by its' performance - even though the impact driver eats bits I've been surprised at how many of the small Bosch GSR10.8v Lion screwdrivers recommended by Noel that I've seen around recently in the hands of tradesmen, so another item to consider, methinks

Scrit

[dexteria]

Greetings all,

Just found this forum. Haven't been on the old forum for a while as it seems to have kind of wandered. But hey ho on we go... :-) I'm in the trade, fairly inexperienced and bow to the old dogs out there but I'll try offer help where I can :-)

Hi Scrit,

I've got the little bosch and use all the time. Have had it for around 18 months. Its got bags of torque and is compact and light. It can drive 90mm Screwtite self drilling srews into 2by4s easily although I don't often use it for this purpose. The only downside I can think of is that there is no motor brake so it can overrun after the trigger has been released. I don't really find it a problem and had to rack my brain to remember this fault. Its easy just to lift off when the required depth is reached or use the torqe limiter settings. I think the current model corrects this but you'd need to check.

Cheers

Mark

[Scrit]

Hi Mark and welcome to the forum.

The little Bosch certainly has a few fans, I've seen three different trades using them today (plumber, sparkie and 2nd fix).

Thanks for the input

Scrit

[mailee]

Sorry to but in but while on this subject I was wondering if any of the tool manufacturers are intending using Li Poly batteries in their tools in the close future? Now they are something else very light and positively bristling with power. They can be a bit unstable though and maybe that is the reason for the delay.

[noel]

Going slightly OT I reckon every manufacturer (of everything) has at least the next generation (or maybe more) of their product sitting on the back burner. But there's no point introducing "new" stuff when the buying public are quite happy (and educated by current marketing) with what is on the market at present. May as well let things sit for a while, tweak it now and again, and only introduce the "new" stuff when the market is either saturated or other manufacturers are starting to gain market share. (if all that makes sense).

Thanks Andy for the heads up on the sleeve chuck.

[andy king]

Hi Noel,

this is the next generation of the Bosch. The info I have is that it has 1.3Ah Li-on batteries, same as the impact driver. (Original driver was 1.0Ah initially)
It's got a recommended selling price of £95 + vat.

cheers
Andy

[nickw]

What a shame Bosh haven't seen fit to fix the awful position of the light in the new model, why on earth haven't they used the system that's on the impact driver version?. However Scrit, I too would recommend the little drill/driver. With the upping in speed (if that is true) it might even be less frustrating to use as a drill.

I have the impact driver too but, strangely perhaps, find that the drill/driver seems to have more torque. At least when setting small (4 x 30) Screwfix TurboGold screws in oak (un-piloted )the DD can get them out when the ID cannot.

[J]

I've got the original version of this bosch, didn't realise there was a new one Mine came with the 1.0Ah batteries and the standard magnetic chuck (no colar). But then again, I did get a good deal on it.

This is my first cordless driver, so can't compare with anything else. All I can say is that it is small, but when you pick it up it's certainly heavier than it looks. It feels solid and has a fair amount of power. I've only used it a couple fo times so far, but it's driven screws easily and without the need for pilot holes.

I'd also like to use it as a mini drill, seems about right for drilling pilot holes. You just need to get some hex shank drill bits, or a hex shank mini chuck.

I've been thinking about getting the matching impact driver, and was wondering if anyone knows where to get one without batteries from. Either UK or US site would be good. I could then use them both of the same set of batteries and save a bit of cash.

[mikeb]

Hi Scrit

Pls would you let me know what you think of the combi drill in the Makita LX202 set?? Have you tried the hammer mode and if so how well does it work??

I am considering one to supplement a 12v drill driver as I have some large holes to drill through so big beams and thought that it might also be convenient to have a hammer function for the odd 6 or 8mm holes in brick required when fixing cleats to walls or a couple of kitchen cabs etc

Any other suggestions would be appreciated e.g. Bosch, Milwaukee, etc or "just use a corded SDS as they don't work" !!

Cheers
Mike

[Scrit]

mikeb said:

Pls would you let me know what you think of the combi drill in the Makita LX202 set?? Have you tried the hammer mode and if so how well does it work??

So far I've only used it for drilling holes in oak and driving screws. It runs rings round my existing 12volt NiCad Makita (6270?) having three speed ranges, a lot more torque and being only a hundred or so grams lighter. The light is a really useful idea and battery life is tremendous. The only downside is that it is somewhat larger than my main drill/driver which is a pain when working in confined spaces.

The impact driver in the same set is probably the most impressive tool I've used in a while - smaller than a 12 volt drill, as light and with the ability to drive 6 x 120mm screws into solid oak with ease. The impact hammer action only cuts in towards the end of the driving as the motor has so much torque on its' own. The downsides are that it devours bits at a heck of a rate (which we need to sort out) and that the impact action is deafening!

mikeb said:

I am considering one to supplement a 12v drill driver as I have some large holes to drill through so big beams and thought that it might also be convenient to have a hammer function for the odd 6 or 8mm holes in brick required when fixing cleats to walls or a couple of kitchen cabs etc

There I'm not so sure. I carry a 3kg Atlas-Copco (now Milwaukee) FixTec 2nd fix SDS hammer which will comfortably outperform almost any cordless tool going. That particular machine is rated at 80mm in core drills (100mm at a pinch) and with rotation stop gives me a lightweight chisel/breaker/wall chaser/tile remover and drill for which I can also get wood chisels (MHG from Rutlands) and even square chisel mortise bits (from Charnwood) these days. So in my mind no contest

Scrit

[noel]

Andy, thanks for posting the picture and specs.

Rgds

Noel