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[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

What are the advantages ( if any) of an 18V....20V....or 21V cordless drill over the elderly 12V Makita I currently use?

[dave the builder]

If you're "drilling" then use a 240 volt one

If you're "screwing" then you won't be worried about D I Y 

[redelitev6]

 use an 18v Makita , good all rounder , give the screwfix site a look

[Nick W]

What are the advantages ( if any) of an 18V....20V....or 21V cordless drill over the elderly 12V Makita I currently use?

18 and 20v are the same, just the bigger number is for Americans


The advantage over what you have is more power and better battery life in a smaller, lighter tool. They might have a brushless motor to increase those advantages.


And your elderly Makita probably has Nicad batteries instead of the more suitable Lithium ones.

[Viral_Jim]

use an 18v Makita , good all rounder , give the screwfix site a look

All my 18v stuff is Makita and it's been excellent, the vast majority of what they sell is also brushless.

I've had one failure - cordless 18v circular saw packed up after being used on about 50 oak sleepers. The warranty meant makita picked it up, repaired it in about 3 working days and shipped it back all FOC.

The other stuff has been great and I use it way more than most DIYers. 

[Lizzie Zoom]

If you're "drilling" then use a 240 volt one

If you're "screwing" then you won't be worried about D I Y 

Indeed, and a must if drilling into concrete with a suitable bit, with hammer ability.  With really tough, reinforced concrete, a Kango drill is the baby to use as I have found out in my ‘concrete everywhere’ flat!

[TheBoy]

use an 18v Makita , good all rounder , give the screwfix site a look

Be aware of the Shitfix ones, they tend to be a lower cost, lower quality version of the ones other outlets sell.  Whether or not that's an issue depends on what you plan to use it for

[Marks DTM Calib]

I moved over to Dewat after the Makitas (mainly due to having a couple of batteries 'lying around'), had no issues and drills anything i need it to.

Just be aware that most of these brands have the cheaper entry level/DIY versions, and the better pro ones for a few quid more.

[Andy B]

we've a load of 18v Milwaukee battery stuff at work. I've been pretty impressed with them all.

But I've not been paying 

[Sir Tigger KC]

My Makita cost bout £100 in a sale at B&Q and I've never been that impressed with it. 

The batteries were shagged after a couple of years and then the gearbox packed up just after the warranty expired.

I emailed them and they said Send it in.  They sent it back with a new gearbox, but said there was nothing wrong with the batteries.

So not bad really, and I replaced the batteries with cheapo's from Ebay which have lasted longer than the originals... 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

If you're "drilling" then use a 240 volt one

If you're "screwing" then you won't be worried about D I Y 

Indeed, and a must if drilling into concrete with a suitable bit, with hammer ability.  With really tough, reinforced concrete, a Kango drill is the baby to use as I have found out in my ‘concrete everywhere’ flat!

Your neighbours must love you.

Hammer drill in a flat will shake their fillings loose.

[Doctor Gollum]

If you're "drilling" then use a 240 volt one

If you're "screwing" then you won't be worried about D I Y 

Indeed, and a must if drilling into concrete with a suitable bit, with hammer ability.  With really tough, reinforced concrete, a Kango drill is the baby to use as I have found out in my ‘concrete everywhere’ flat!

Your neighbours must love you.

Hammer drill in a flat will shake their fillings loose.

Not to mention the fact that the concrete is what holds the building up

[Lizzie Zoom]

If you're "drilling" then use a 240 volt one

If you're "screwing" then you won't be worried about D I Y 

Indeed, and a must if drilling into concrete with a suitable bit, with hammer ability.  With really tough, reinforced concrete, a Kango drill is the baby to use as I have found out in my ‘concrete everywhere’ flat!

Your neighbours must love you.

Hammer drill in a flat will shake their fillings loose.

The neighbours are as bad as me

I have two below me and above who are renovating their flats, so drilling sounds are very common

[Lizzie Zoom]

If you're "drilling" then use a 240 volt one

If you're "screwing" then you won't be worried about D I Y 

Indeed, and a must if drilling into concrete with a suitable bit, with hammer ability.  With really tough, reinforced concrete, a Kango drill is the baby to use as I have found out in my ‘concrete everywhere’ flat!

Your neighbours must love you.

Hammer drill in a flat will shake their fillings loose.

Not to mention the fact that the concrete is what holds the building up

When I am putting up batons for new curtain tracks, or extending my ring mains for new sockets, I have no choice. As for the concrete ceilings that are faced with plaster, extending any lighting is a real pain.

Thank goodness though I have now completed all my renovations before I am past it!

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

If you're "drilling" then use a 240 volt one

If you're "screwing" then you won't be worried about D I Y 

Indeed, and a must if drilling into concrete with a suitable bit, with hammer ability.  With really tough, reinforced concrete, a Kango drill is the baby to use as I have found out in my ‘concrete everywhere’ flat!

Your neighbours must love you.

Hammer drill in a flat will shake their fillings loose.

Not to mention the fact that the concrete is what holds the building up

When I am putting up batons for new curtain tracks, or extending my ring mains for new sockets, I have no choice. As for the concrete ceilings that are faced with plaster, extending any lighting is a real pain.

Thank goodness though I have now completed all my renovations before I am past it!

You need a man about the house, Lizzie.

Skruntie has always had a yen for you and I believe he is still a bachelor.

Wedding bells?