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Cordless drill with metal gearbox?

59K views 121 replies 49 participants last post by  CMP 
#1 ·
Does anyone have any firsthand knowledge of any cordless drills, in current production, that have metal gears?

I've freaking had it with Milwaukee cordless drills. I'm a Milwaukee fan, but I've torn up more cordless drills in the last 5 years than I ever hoped to own. I've personally gone through at least 4 or 5 18 volt drills, had a couple 28 volt drills rebuilt (each at least twice) and I just tore up another one yesterday (while drilling 6-5/8" holes with a holesaw in 5/8" drywall). Time for a change.

The last 18V I tore up, I tried to do some research and came to the conclusion that all cordless drills have plastic gears now. I switched to the 28V on the promise by the Milwaukee rep that they have that sorted out now, and the gearbox is sturdier. Not so, I'm here to tell you.

I need a bulletproof cordless drill. Survey says.... ?
 
#105 ·
Problem with Hilti is the price and availability through only Hilti stores. Home Depot carries only the 15.6 volt models which like the 14.4 volt provide no real advantage over the 18 volt drills. Some of the 14.4 volt drills are actually heavier than the 18 volt models from the same company.

DeWalt's DCD970 has an all metal gearbox but that is not a cure-all. Car engines last a lot longer these days and it is due to both the better alloys and the use of ceramics and sintered metals.

What kills our drills is gypsum and concrete dust that gets inside the drill and using shields when drilling these materials has helped prolong the life of our drills and our guys breathe easier too.

In the past with NiCad drills we spent more over time on replacing the batteries than we did on buying the drills so we hope that with lithium-ion batteries we can use fewer batteries and that they will last longer - at least that is the theory.
 
#108 ·
THe Hilti cordless tools available at certain Home Depots vary from the 15.6 v ni-cad to the 18-A li-ion. They carry the 12v and 14.4 v impact driver as well. There are over 300 Home Depots around the country that carry a mini Hilti store inside the Home Depot. True, you can not buy Hilti at every one, but they have the best warranty for their tools...period. When and if you do have to use it, it includes free shipping, free repair during the warranty period and a cost limit after the warranty expires.
Hilti is the best tool available, period. Hilti is only expensive if you never use it.
 
#111 ·
I agree about Hilti being of top quality. I do disagree though about what HD sells as far as Hilti. My 18v is Ni-Cad and you said they only carry 18v Lith-Ion.
The 18-A li-ion came out this past Feb. You have a 181, which is the ni-cad. THe new 18-A is what is currently being sold, as well as a new 18v li-ion recip saw. Again, they still have ni-cad, for their 12v and 15.6v drills, but I think their push is to go all li-ion by end 2010, including new tools in the cordless lineup.
 
#118 · (Edited)
I have no firsthand experience with these drills, but you might want to get more information on drills made by Festool:

http://www.festoolusa.com/default.aspx

Be forewarned, they are rather expensive. I think they are made in Germany. Whether that translates in any way to any increased robustness is the question - one might just be paying for the features which may not even be desirable to you.
 
#122 ·
Zombies can be good, I have a couple of old Milwaukee Magnum 12V nicad models, all metal geartrain and case, threw out the cheap chuck's that came with them and put on some industrial Jacobs keyed Chuck's.

Bad to the bone tools same as the Magnum holes hooters. After Milwaukee stopped supporting the batteries years ago, the chinamen came out with new lithium batteries that work on the old nicad chargers. Now there better than ever, more than 20 years old and still my favorite.

It would run a 6" wholesaw in gypsum board no problem. I can run a 2.5" Holecutters on 10Ga enclosures no problem. I will be bummed if they ever breakdown, they haven't been supported in many years.
 
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