Friday, December 17, 2004

Opinions Needed

I am getting E a cordless drill for Christmas. Which ones are good? Which brand is better Crafsman or Black & Decker? TIA.
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4 comments:

  1. Uneasy Rider7:27 PM

    The first thing you have to decide is how much power as indicated by the voltage of the cordless unit. The smaller and cheaper ones are 9.6 volt units. While these are cheaper, they don't pack much power and may not even cost THAT much less than a 12-volt tool. Probably the most value is found in the 14.4 and 18 volt category... particulary the 14.4 volt tool, where you're likely to get the power you'll need for 99.6% of your household applications without paying the premium to go to 18-volts.
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    Regardless of which voltage you choose, PANASONIC makes a great cordless drill. They have a 15.6 volt unit that's arguably the best without stepping up to the 18-volt range. Amazon.com is listing that unit for $199 right now. It's a GOOD tool, though. IF the drill is going to get USED HARD, I'd give some serious thought to the Panasonic. On the other hand, if you anticipate only occasional household use, then look at one of the cheaper ones...
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    If you're looking for a decent but CHEAP 14.4-volt unit, I'd go with the Skil 14.4-volt unit, available from Amazon for about $64. I think this is going to be a tough value to beat... according to the mfr, it's got 25 clutch settings - you'll have a setting for any application you'll ever need with this thing. On the downside, only 6 torque settings (compared to 18 for the Panasonic).
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    The problem with the Craftsman unit is its run time is pretty poor and it costs a little more than the Skil unit. The Black & Decker unit only has ONE speed range, whereas all the others I've listed have two.
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    So if it were a choice between Craftsman and B&D, I'd take the Craftsman. But I'd take the Skil drill before the Craftsman for slightly less coin. If money isn't an obstacle and/or E is a tool nut, then the Panasonic is what you want.
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    In the 12-volt category, I'd go with the Craftsman, but here's the catch: you'll pay just as much for the Craftsman 12-volt as you will for the Skil 14.4-volt. So if you're looking for best value, you may want to look hard at that Skil drill - especially if the drill won't get used real hard (occasional use). Oh... one last thing about the Skil drill.... it's one of the LIGHTEST weight drills out there... makes it easier for a stay-at-home mom who may not have the arms of Popeye to wield the thing around the house!

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  2. Anonymous7:47 AM

    My husband and I have a DeWalt. It rocks. I have no idea what the specs are, all I know is that it is super easy to use and has a long bettery life. I think we got it at Home Depot.

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  3. Tuesday Girl8:10 AM

    UR- I have twins, you should see my biceps!
    Wow, you guys are the best, I thought that crafsman or B&D were the two biggest names. I am going to research them & buy one for E today or tomorrow.
    Thanks again.

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  4. Uneasy Rider9:09 AM

    The DeWalt is a good unit - a REAL good one, without a doubt. It's well built, reliable, etc... can't really go wrong with the product itself. The issue with DeWalt, though, is one of VALUE - especially for occaasional household use. If the drill will get used HARD, then DeWalt starts to make more sense - as does the Panasonic.
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    For example, the DeWalt 14.4-volt cordless drill can be had through Amazon for about $160. That's about $100 more than the Skil unit. Is it worth the extra $100? Maybe. There are some real important differences - the torque on the DeWalt IS substantially higher than with the Skil - Up to 80% higher, in fact. And it has a ½-inch ratcheting chuck (compared to the 3/8" for the Skil) and has speeds up to 1,800 rpm (compared to 2 speeds up to 1,200 rpm for the Skil). If these features are important, then the $100 premium may be worthwhile.
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    Like I said, if the drill will get used hard, the DeWalt makes sense. But if it gets used, say, a couple times a month... is it worth the extra $100? In that upper price range, I would still look real hard at the Panasonic.

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