Recommend me a new drill driver

[MattF]

My new Bosch drill has not long since turned up. Just debating whether to open it yet, as packaging seems minimal, (nonexistent), bar the manufacturers packaging. Can't be arsed depressing myself over postal damage this early on a morning.

 

[Richard.]

My new Bosch drill has not long since turned up. Just debating whether to open it yet, as packaging seems minimal, (nonexistent), bar the manufacturers packaging. Can't be arsed depressing myself over postal damage this early on a morning.

Did it come with a Bosch case of some sort.

 

[MattF]

No L-Boxx. Just in some form of plastic carton, from what I can tell. Just opening it now. There is a sniff of bubblewrap round it, but not much. Condition verdict coming shortly.

 

[MattF]

A prime example of poor packaging, though the drill appears unscathed. Drill sat loose in a L-Boxx insert, then just wrapped with a single/double layer or so of bubblewrap, then placed within one of those plastic envelopes/bags.



Call me old fashioned or picky, but sloppy packaging like that really gets my goat.

 

[Burdekin]

You must take care of this stuff a lot better than me. My impact driver is only a couple of months old and has been dropped from the roof, kicked, scratched and covered with PVA. That is one reason I struggle to convince myself to buy expensive battery tools as I know they won't be cared for.

 

[Ruffian]

I have dewalt gear at work as got a great del on a 6 pc kit with 3 battery's.
(1/2 impact gun, impact driver, saver saw, grinder drill and torch)
Been magical and really good but sometimes can be bulky with the large 18v 4/5ah battery' on it.

I do have a cheapie aldi one for home use but prefer my little metabo drill/cordless driver.

One big decider for me was the dewalt gear was so widely available where some others struggle to get gear.

(Screwfix next day deliver most tools now)
Which was a huge bonus when my nut gun died after 4 1/2 years of abuse. But I got the new brushless one so not complaining

 

[MattF]

You must take care of this stuff a lot better than me. My impact driver is only a couple of months old and has been dropped from the roof, kicked, scratched and covered with PVA. That is one reason I struggle to convince myself to buy expensive battery tools as I know they won't be cared for.

I am a bit anal when it comes to looking after my tools. I like to treat my tools with care. Abuse only makes them die or break more quickly. End of the day, stuff like this is technically a consumable nowadays, but I was always taught to look after ones gear & it should last a lifetime. I know that doesn't realistically apply these days, but I can't break that mindset.

It used to really get me when the others treat my 18V Makita gear like they did. Both I & they conceded to some degree, (I became less anal over it's care, & they started showing a minor amount ), but even now I appreciate the fact that it doesn't get lobbed about anymore.

 

[Richard.]

Matt we share similar attitudes here. I hate tool abuse and I hate disorder.

 

[MattF]

Matt we share similar attitudes here. I hate tool abuse and I hate disorder.

Some degree of disorder I can live with, (don't like muckiness/mess though), but tool abuse just gets my back up. It costs nowt to look after things.

 

[brightspark]

the only drill I have looked after is a new dewalt 18 volt brushless driver that I paid 150 quid for all my others bought second hand cheap so just got chucked about and used to get worked real hard . eg 25mm wood augers and hole saws till they stalled about 2 years was the full life

 

[Burdekin]

I don't abuse any of my tools but I'm not precious about tools like drills and grinders etc.

 

[MattF]

I don't abuse any of my tools but I'm not precious about tools like drills and grinders etc.

I'm a queen with all of my tools. These are now 7 months old, for example:



The reason they look well kempt is due to the fact the others were banned from touching them, (they had no reason to use them), hence how I've kepth those looking tidy. Nowadays, I try to keep them for workshop & home use alone, unless I need the small size at work.

 

[Revs1972]

I go over the tools with my heavy duty bigwipes after use.
Give them a good inspection whilst I'm at it.
Most of them look like new

 

[Ashley Burton]

A prime example of poor packaging, though the drill appears unscathed. Drill sat loose in a L-Boxx insert, then just wrapped with a single/double layer or so of bubblewrap, then placed within one of those plastic envelopes/bags.

View attachment 127504 View attachment 127505

Call me old fashioned or picky, but sloppy packaging like that really gets my goat.

That is sloppy!

Your not alone regarding packaging. Had a 20 Ton Jack virtually coming out the box & had some Flap Discs not even bubble wrapped, So hopefully they aren't damaged in transit

 

[MattF]

the only drill I have looked after is a new dewalt 18 volt brushless driver that I paid 150 quid for all my others bought second hand cheap so just got chucked about and used to get worked real hard . eg 25mm wood augers and hole saws till they stalled about 2 years was the full life

You paid full whack for something? Where are the smelling salts....

 

[Screwdriver]

Call me old fashioned or picky, but sloppy packaging like that really gets my goat.

Looks like something you'd get from one of the major re-sellers. They can buy bulk kits at a discount, split them up and sell piecemeal to make their margin or (incredibly) just get back their costs. Then, if they hit their sales target (however many thousand units per period for example) they get a huge payoff.

I used to see that a lot in the Tottenham Court Road video shops. Towards the end of their sales period, they would effectively sell at a loss to make their targets.

The batteries are a commodity and will always sell, the L-Boxx also sells well, charger unit etc. The only lame duck is the tool specific L-Boxx insert which I note, they have kindly let you have....

 

[Browser]

Sorry to resurrect a zombie(ish) thread, but my trusty 10+-year-old DeWalt 18v Ni-Cad powered hammer drill need new batteries, and as I am weak-willed I'm looking and thinking "by the time I've bought two new 2aH DeWalt-branded batteries (go with me on this ) I'll be almost half-way to paying for a new drill/driver combo kit.
I like DeWalt and Bosch and so am torn, but really want to know if it worth pushing the boat out a bit further for brushless motors? I'm a keen/busy DIY-er but like my stuff to work well all of the time as it flatters my mediocre DIY skills ( ) so will pay if worth it, but if I'm just going to see a marginal advantage can't see the point. After that, it'll just be a case of trawling through the various websites and choosing from the mind-bending number of different options/versions for sale
Cheers guys.

 

[Screwdriver]

Yes. I wish I had the option to go brushless. Bit of a no-brainer imho. With a battery powered kit, better efficiency and longer battery life are basically the holy grail.

Ask yourself this, the first time one of the batteries runs out on you and leaves you stranded, are you going to console yourself in the knowledge you saved a few quid some time ago?

Oh and it's not marginal. If I recall correctly, they are about 30% more efficient!

 

[Mart63]

Just bought a Stanley Fatmax 18v brushless with 2 x 2ah batteries from B & Q for £110.00. Early days, but so far I am seriously impressed.

 

[Ruffian]

The older nimh battery''s days are numbered.

Makes so much sence to go li-on
And brushless if you can.

I have the dewalt 18v xr range (5 years old now) killed one battery out of the original 3 but the brushed drill and impact driver still going strong.

Worn the brushes out in my 1/2 impact gun though so just upgraded that to brushless and the difference is quite impressive. But the nice thing once you have the battery' just upgrade in stages.

(I do have the 18v hedge cutter also and it is worth it for ease also)