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8th April 2009, 01:21 PM #1New Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2009
- Location
- Syd
- Posts
- 5
Curious as to what cordless drill / impact drivers chippies are using on site.
I'm a first year apprentice chippy. Looking at a new matching Lithium-Ion cordless drill and impact driver (undecided on 14.4 or 18v).
I use DeWalt (18v Nicads) at work at the moment, but have been advised by a number of people that since shifting production to Mexico, there quality has declined.
Just curious as to what other chippies are using, particularly those who have purchased in the last year or less. Asking the boss for suggestions is useless, he has his brand loyalty to DeWalt.
Cheers
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8th April 2009, 01:39 PM #2
i have makita (japan) 18volts Li-Ion
it's the ducks nutsSteven Thomas
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8th April 2009, 01:46 PM #3Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2009
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
- Posts
- 82
I just bought a pair of Hitachi 18V li-ion, can't be more happier.
See this recent discussion https://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=90664
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8th April 2009, 02:02 PM #4New Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2009
- Location
- Syd
- Posts
- 5
Ecsk,
Yeah read that discussion.
Lumber, what model is that.
In terms of sales people. Sydney Tools flogged their hitachi combo, FK Tools flogged Panasonic (though, I don't know its popularity amongst chippies) or the Makita, Total Tools were clueless to say the least.
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8th April 2009, 06:30 PM #5Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 71
Makita's & Pana's
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8th April 2009, 06:36 PM #6
can't remember off the top of me head but 2 years ago it was >$500
Steven Thomas
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8th April 2009, 06:43 PM #7Hammer Head
- Join Date
- Jan 2005
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 863
makiat lxt,
we have burned a few out but overall they are great they just swap them over for us,
hitahci are good aswell and a few hundread chepaer.
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9th April 2009, 10:55 PM #8Novice
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
- Location
- South Coast NSW
- Age
- 51
- Posts
- 6
Makita 18V LXT and very happy. My boss has the older model Makita 24V drill and 14.4V driver as well but the LXT is way better!!!!
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10th April 2009, 12:48 AM #9the tool specialists
- Join Date
- Jul 2007
- Location
- Smithfield,NSW
- Posts
- 274
there are alot of factors which define an impact driver in quality & suitability to your needs.
What is the majority of the work you will be doing with the unit? have you got any existing cordless tools with batteries that are ok so you can buy something that uses the same platform, what other tools did you want to expand in the range in the future? and of coarse what budget did you have?...these questions will help us find the most suitable cordless impact driver to suite your requirements
If you want to try before you buy pop into our store & try them out for yourself....
Cheers,
Team VEK TOOLS
www.vektools.com.au
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10th April 2009, 09:32 AM #10
Yep got 2 of the 18 VoltLi Ion Hitachi drills. One with hammer.
Seem to work well. My only gripe with them is the light is very easy to switch on accidently in the carry bag. Light is run by a separate watch style battery.
Also picked up a "skins" cordless grinder to suit. Hitachi could not have been better when I put the grinder in for a warranty claim.
My opinion from own experiences (especially with NiCads--- I killed a heap of them on my Bosch in one summer) is to bung them in an esky when not being used out on site with a ice brick wrapped in newspaper. Can get damned hot in the ute. If u can try and cool em down a bit before charging.www.lockwoodcanvas.com.au
I will never be the person who has everything, not when someone keeps inventing so much cool new stuff to buy.
From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".
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10th April 2009, 09:54 AM #11Novice
- Join Date
- Apr 2009
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 5
Stick with the Makita's, they take a flogging and still manage to keep working. I have found that if you are using a tool all day (cordless drill, for example), you want something that is as light as possible without sacrificing power and quality.
Please don't take this as an advertisement for Makita as i own Dewalt, Hitachi and AEG (and the cheaper brands) tools also, which are quite good in their own right/application.
I believe the main problem with cordless tools is not the tool itself but the technology behind the batteries, which i am sure is no surprise to anyone. As soon as this can be sorted out i.e. (longer lasting, lighter etc.) we will all be better off.
Just my two cents worth.
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11th April 2009, 11:39 PM #12
Panasonic is what I am currently using. Build quality seems good and oodles of grunt. Past experience, makita = 14 - 18 months, hitachi = 24 - 26 months, panasonic = yet to find out. I work as a contractor driving 10 - 16 tek screws all day. 2000 a day is not out of the question. 900 before smoko has been done many times.
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12th April 2009, 03:38 AM #13retired french polisher
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
- Location
- Mississauga on
- Posts
- 10
makitas
Had 2 7.2 volt for the last 15 years or more,still running.I was into furniture so the size was plenty.Even did my basement with them only having to rely on a drill for the big screws.Now I have a DeWalt 9.6 and 14.4 the batteries are also interchangeable,"don't know if it's wrong but it works"the 9.6 charger also does the 14.4.
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12th April 2009, 08:55 AM #14Skwair2rownd
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
- Location
- Dundowran Beach
- Age
- 76
- Posts
- 694
Just an aside to this issue: It's interesting to see Enfield Guy's statistics. Imagine the extra cost of building if hand tools were used!!
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12th April 2009, 04:21 PM #15
Chippies have never been big users of cordless drills.
You will find most sparkies have more use for them than chippies do. You will also find that the majority of them use Panasonics. They have by far the best battery cells and outlast every other drill in every test I have ever read.
I own two Makita and one Hitachi impact driver. I've had the Makita 9.6V impact since about 97. It's still a top drill but battery life is not as long as it could be. I have a number of batteries so it's not such an big issue for what I do.
If I were buying cordless drills tomorrow, I would be buying the Panasonics. Just don't expect to find them at Bunnings.
If you buy a Makita or Hitachi, you will not be dissappointed with their performance, but if you are buying a quality drill then for the money I'd go for the Panasonic.