2nd Thoughts about Cordless?

[sparkydave]

A couple times with 18v xrp batteries losing their interest in holding a decent charge, wondered if it's worth the time saved.. small reno jobs I would think gain the most, i.e. one or two holes in concrete vs whole day of drilling. Everybody still as enthrallled with cordless or do you get caught up in having the latest toy?

I know what having troubles holding a decent charge is, so I have sympathy..

[SLS-Construction]

Dewalt huh? I am switching over to Ridgid as soon as I can find their newest ones - the Dewalts are going on e-bay

[sparkydave]

Battery issues? I've heard that the lifetime warranty on batteries is mail in, if they both go at the same time you're tooless until they come back?

[SLS-Construction]

Battery issues? I've heard that the lifetime warranty on batteries is mail in, if they both go at the same time you're tooless until they come back?

Correct on the Ridgid warranty - But I generally pick up extra batteries, 2 is never enough even when working by myself, maybe as a sparky that doesn't apply - but I can be flipping back & forth with anywhere from 2 to 5 diffrent tools in any 30 minute period sometimes

At least the batteries are in the mail, as compared to Dewalts dying the day after the warranty is up

[Winchester]

I have a ridgid drill and impact.

they are junk compared to my dewalt.

used them on one job now they collect dust in my garage.

[Mike(VA)]

Great. Thanks for the tidbit about the batteries there sparky. I just bought a Dewalt impact drill-driver thingy. Used it once so far. Great. :mad:

[Eieio]

I have a ridgid drill and impact.

they are junk compared to my dewalt.

used them on one job now they collect dust in my garage.

I am surprised I actually love my Rigid tools.

[Bodger]

Hilti has so far been my favorite in the cordless arena.
Pricey, but their newest model impact driver is great.

[Winchester]

I am surprised I actually love my Rigid tools.
Mine have the smaller batteries. They last for a couple minutes:mad:

If it's cool outside the batteries won't charge. They are cheaper and you can really tell that if you are switching back and forth between other drills and the ridgids.

My 18v Dewalt could eat the 18v ridgid for breakfast.

[TulsaRemodeler]

My 18v Dewalt could eat the 18v ridgid for breakfast.
Yep, 18v Dewalt are tough. Proper treatment of the batteries is crucial but Dewalt 18v will stand up to an amazing amount of work.

[sparkydave]

Agreed. Hammer drill, skill saw, sawzall, flour light, mini grinder, all tough. My original thought was, we get addicted to cordless, even when corded makes more sense.

Try #2: If you get to a job site and find out your cordless was left at home, how ticked do you get. Maybe its because I'm old, but I wonder about how much more responsive today's skilled workers are to new ways of doing things.

Is it more "tool crazy" or do we feel continuous pressure to keep competitive. I don't feel cramped for time except trying to finish up at the end, and I'm always looking for ways to speed up, for instance, light fixture installation.

[loneframer]

I have many different cordless tools, there is a place for all of them. I haven't bought into the bigger is better mindset though. My most relied upon cordless are DeWalt 12 volt drills. If I run out of power before the chargers refresh the batteries, it's time to get out the cord.

[R & J]

We us our Dewalt 18v impacts every day and the batteries will last a reasonable amount of time for us. Almost all of our tools are Dewalt. We have one Rigid impact and one cordless drill, they usually stay in the rack until all of the Dewalts are in use. I personally have nothing against Rigid except that they just don't have the power that the Dewalts do.

[sparkydave]

We us our Dewalt 18v impacts every day and the batteries will last a reasonable amount of time for us. Almost all of our tools are Dewalt. We have one Rigid impact and one cordless drill, they usually stay in the rack until all of the Dewalts are in use. I personally have nothing against Rigid except that they just don't have the power that the Dewalts do.

Any issues with brushes?

[WarnerConstInc.]

The most important factor to me is weight. I want light weight, good power, fast enough charge, easy to hold on to. I also perfer nicd's versus most L-ion. Cold weather has not been good to the few I had.
I only have 4 cordless tools, 2 impacts 12v mak, 18v bosch, 2 drills <---same.

And this, my little sweetheart:

http://ronin-group.org/graphics/shop/festool_c12_w_chucks.jpg

[TulsaRemodeler]

And this, my little sweetheart:

http://ronin-group.org/graphics/shop/festool_c12_w_chucks.jpg
Have you had that setup long enough to judge its reliability and ability to handle severe duty? Looks nice.

[WarnerConstInc.]

Have you had that setup long enough to judge its reliability and ability to handle severe duty? Looks nice.

I have had it for a year now.

The right angle chuck and the eccentric chuck are life savers.
That drill usually gets used every day. Battery life is excellent.
The motor is actually an AC 3 phase brushless, from a highspeed production robot.

You will never burn that drill up. If it gets too hot it beeps and shuts off.
When the battery is discharged it beeps and shuts down.
When the clutch kicks in the drill shuts off, no grinding gears.

I love the bit storage on the front as well. It weighs 3lbs. 8 ounces.

They have also just came out with their first L-ion drills.
Festool says no issues with cold weather affecting thier batteries.
I will snap a picture of mine and let you see what it looks like after a year of abuse.

It's a fantastic drill, has more ass than an 18v.
The price tag is a bit steep but, after you start using it, the price is long forgotten.

[TulsaRemodeler]

The right angle chuck and the eccentric chuck are life savers.

It's a fantastic drill, has more ass than an 18v.
The price tag is a bit steep but, after you start using it, the price is long forgotten.
Is that a 1/2" chuck? How much? I paid $270 for the XRP 18v seven years ago and it needs to be replaced, it makes funny noises once in a while now, batteries are starting to slide.

I used somebodys 24v Dewalt once, talk about ass, I dont even carry around an electric for normal work, I need at least what I had with the Dewalt, a cordless thats not afraid of anything.

[WarnerConstInc.]

Yup 1/2" chuck.

Here do a little reading:

http://www.waterfront-woods.com/festool/C12review.pdf

http://tdrill.festoolusa.com/

http://www.festoolusa.com/products/cordless-drills


I do believe that the TDK's are being phased out. Those things were pretty stout too.

One thing about festool is, they guarntee parts to still be available for 10 years after a model has been phased out.

I have seen some sanders from the 50's still being used daily.
They were the first to invent a portable chainsaw, track saw, and random orbit sander.

[TulsaRemodeler]

Yup 1/2" chuck.

Here do a little reading:

http://www.waterfront-woods.com/festool/C12review.pdf

http://tdrill.festoolusa.com/

http://www.festoolusa.com/products/cordless-drills
Thanks, sounds very good, need to try one out. Just happens to be a dealer in Tulsa.

[TulsaRemodeler]

Check this out http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/tls/1305251707.html anybody living in Albuquerque?

[WarnerConstInc.]

Thanks, sounds very good, need to try one out.

Find a dealer close and go use it.

Buy it, use it, dont like it, send it back for a full refund. You got 30 days.

[TulsaRemodeler]

Find a dealer close and go use it.

Buy it, use it, dont like it, send it back for a full refund. You got 30 days.
Theres a dealer here in Tulsa, soon as the current heatwave passes I'll go check it out. No AC in truck and my tolerance for heat is like zip these days. Lucky me trimming in a house with AC right now:2thumbsup:

[WarnerConstInc.]

No AC and you live in Tulsa?

Yup, Woodcraft on E 41st.

Dont forget your free cataloge.

[TulsaRemodeler]

No AC and you live in Tulsa?
I moved down here with an old Ford F250 Oregon truck, tough as nails, not much on creature comforts. Just bought a 91 Ford E150 van in decent shape for $750, has AC, has to be fixed. Its gonna be my nice work setup when I get done with it. Straight 6 motor, not bad on gas.

Last year sucked a big one, couldnt use my right arm for 4 monthes (and it was practically useless for 5 monthes before that) while the economy was falling apart. Now its game on. Last year was not good. 3 & 1/2 hours with two surgeons.

[R & J]

Any issues with brushes?

No. The only item I have ever had to change the brushes on is my circular saw.

[sparkydave]

Check this out http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/tls/1305251707.html anybody living in Albuquerque?

In regards to you member ship descriptor, isn't there an old adage about the bigger they are the faster they fall? Something like that I think. Not that I would know.

Dave