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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Sir Tigger KC on 31 August 2016, 23:33:24

Title: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 31 August 2016, 23:33:24
So 3 years ago I invested approx £100 in a nice shiny new Makita cordless drill to replace my trusty 5 year old £25 Focus own brand drill which expired during an arduous afternoon fixing battens to a wall for thermoboard.  :'(

Recently though the Makita has shown signs of it's imminent demise which I'm pretty unimpressed about to be honest, given that Makita is supposed to be one of the top brands and should have given me years of faithful service!  ::)  :(

So I've been looking at replacements and it's either going to be a Bosch for around £120 or a £40 -50 cheapy from ebay or Lidl.  :)  Although I also quite like the look of the Ryobi as they have a massive range of tools which use the same battery.  Not particularly cheap though....  :-\

Seeing as we havn't had a chat about drills for a while, I thought I'd see what the current OOF wisdom is!  ;)  TIA!  :y

Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Bigron on 31 August 2016, 23:44:54
It would cost you very little to complain to Customer Services in the same terms as you have written here, as such a short life-span for an expensive drill doesn't meet your expectations - or maybe the "fit for purpose" regulations, whatever they stipulate nowadays?

Ron.
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: flyer 0712 on 31 August 2016, 23:58:23
Last year I listened to a radio consumer programe which stated that just because you generaly get a 12 month warranty on an item that does not mean that after 12 months it is out of warranty...It also depends on the cost of the item in the first place...so basicaly it boils down to value for your money,If you do not think that you have had value for money then phone the company up and state your case for your complaint..they may just help you to resolve just that...so worth a call I would think  :y
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 31 August 2016, 23:59:52
I certainly plan to do that Ron, although I don't expect any joy as the 2 year warranty has expired.  :-\ 

Although I guess it would be a good idea to do so before spending any cash, just in case they send me a brand new drill and an apology.  ::)  ;D
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Mr.OmegaMan on 01 September 2016, 00:04:16
Bought this exact model from Amazon awhile back when they had a lightning deal or something got it for £40 and it's good for what it is, Nicely balanced, powerful enough.  :y

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00L3XK06C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Gaffers on 01 September 2016, 00:10:59
I have used several of the Titan brand from screwfix including a cordless and a SDS drill.  Good value and still going strong several years later.
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: zirk on 01 September 2016, 02:02:37
Over the years with my job Ive probably tried and bought all of them, had to be a good hammer and cordless, Hitachi, Metobo, Makita, Spit, Hilti etc, (took out a second mortgage t buy the Hilti 16TE) one ny one they all failed one way or another. I then bought a Bosch GBH 24Volt Blue as recommend by a friend, that was 18 years ago, still part of the tool kit and is my number one drill., still on the original battery, cant fault it , just keeps going and will drill through anything.   :y
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: gbh on 01 September 2016, 09:27:48
Rather depends on what you will be using it for,light use 18v is fine i.e fitting screws and the odd rawplug but lots of masonry drilling requires 24v and Bosch is very good
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 01 September 2016, 09:31:34
Some good tips there chaps thanks!  :)

Looks like Mr Omegaman had a cracking deal with his Bosch and as I'm not in a hurry to get a new drill I'll keep an eye out for deals.  :y
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 01 September 2016, 09:34:33
MY old man has owned two drills. A black and decker (70s one) which lasted about 20 years, and a Bosch, which is either still going strong, or gave up the ghost recently, cant remember. Either way, about the same time period.  :y
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 01 September 2016, 09:35:24
Yes 3 years for a Makita is pish!  >:(
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Terbs on 01 September 2016, 09:51:22
I think its luck of the draw. I left my drill at home one day, and went to work. Needed one urgently, so popped into B an Q and brought a Performance Power Cordless for about £20. Now twenty years old and going strong !!! And its been treated unfairly.!!!!
And incidently...so is the Bosch which I originaly forgot, and that cost considerably more than £20 !!!
As I said, luck of the draw :y
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 01 September 2016, 11:01:07
Yes I have a couple of Performance Pro tools from B&Q, a jigsaw and an SDS drill which were inexpensive and really good.  :y 

This was my first thought as a replacement for the Makita, but sadly B&Q have replaced the Performance Pro brand with MacAllister which are not much cheaper than Bosch, Makita or DeWalt so not much point really.  :(
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 01 September 2016, 11:06:57
Aren't Milwaukee meant to be good, or is that just marketing?
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: aaronjb on 01 September 2016, 11:14:57
Aren't Milwaukee meant to be good, or is that just marketing?

Milf*ckee, I believe they're also known as. ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBvRBvYcbs0 (When you've finished laughing he probably has teardowns of all the other brands, too.. definitely Hilti, Bosch, DeFault etc)
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Nick W on 01 September 2016, 12:02:38
Aren't Milwaukee meant to be good, or is that just marketing?

Once you get past the it just might last long enough to screw this wardrobe together crap it's ALL marketing.
And anyone who gets stressed about my Thingy is better than your Whatsit has completely fallen for it.
The battery technology inside is the same, so a rational decision revolves around price, ergonomics and the features that are useful to you

I like Dewalt better than other similarly priced stuff mainly because the ergonomics suit me.

I have a number of Ryobi tools because I don't use a cordless circular saw, jigsaw, right-angle drill or angle-grinder  that often, but they are cheap enough to have on hand with a number of shared batteries. Actually, the cordless grinder gets used a lot, and the vacuum is really handy for the car.
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 September 2016, 12:07:42
Interesting as I have a Makita that is at least 12 years old and despite needing anew battery last year, has been brilliant and built all of my two extensions plus many other jobs
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: tunnie on 01 September 2016, 12:34:06
As per an above reccomendation I got a Makita for the 2.2 LPG project, still going strong.

So much so, I'm considering a Makita Impact Wrench
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 01 September 2016, 12:51:54
Mine must have been a 'Friday' job!  ;D
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: TheBoy on 01 September 2016, 13:23:51
Is it the drill, or the batteries that are giving up?

Batteries like to be used reasonably regularly, not stored flat, not store outside in the winter etc.


I'm a DeWalt man, XRP in particular is a great traditional drill.  But only because that was what came out of skip diving when I lost all my other stuff in the garage.
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 01 September 2016, 14:12:59
Is it the drill, or the batteries that are giving up?

Batteries like to be used reasonably regularly, not stored flat, not store outside in the winter etc.


I'm a DeWalt man, XRP in particular is a great traditional drill.  But only because that was what came out of skip diving when I lost all my other stuff in the garage.

Both!  ::)

The batteries aren't great and need charging before any serious use, and I have to keep swapping them during any prolonged job.

The drill itself just stops, the motor whirrs but nothing is happening, especially drilling into masonry.  Like a knackered clutch!  ???
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: RobG on 01 September 2016, 16:14:38
Blue Bosch range (green is w**k) or as TB says, the XRP range of DeWalt
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 01 September 2016, 16:23:21
Again, personal experience, the Bosch I mention above that lasted however many years (come to think of it, it was 2nd hand from a relative before my old man got it!) is/was green.

Worth bearing in mind, though, never realised there were different Boschs out there.  :)
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: RobG on 01 September 2016, 16:33:42
Blue are "Professional" brand. Green are DIY
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Mr Gav on 01 September 2016, 18:21:46
Currently I have a Dewalt 18v cordless drill and is fine, had it about three years and no issues.

Before that I had a green Bosch 18v and 9.6v cordless drill and both expired within two years, and my green Bosch angle grinder packed up after fifteen months which lasted a little longer than the green BVosch SDS corded drill which only managed thirteen months  >:(

I`ll never have another Bosch tool as long as I have a hole in my arse, the only positive i can say about them is my first hammer drill (corded) lasted twenty odd years.
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Mr.OmegaMan on 01 September 2016, 23:14:41
Slightly off topic but i have been meaning to recommend this device for awhile. Bought it the same time as the Bosch drill on an Amazon lighting deal. In the end got it for £30. It's basically a power bank like you'd charge your phone with etc.. But designed for use on cars. Its nice and small, well built and easy to use.

I was taken back when it managed to start a completely dead 3.2 Omega easily. Apparently it can jump start a car around 14 times. Well worth keeping one around in the car plus it can charge your phone and has a torch. It comes with a nice strong zip clam shell carry case to keep all the bits in.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015R50M6E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Ever Ready on 02 September 2016, 17:14:55
Blue are "Professional" brand. Green are DIY
Got several of both Blue & Green drills, never have too many drills ;D

Use a 18v Milky at work and it performs well drilling stainless / brickwork etc

What lets it down is the chuck, often loses its grip, may be getting old  ;D
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 03 September 2016, 16:35:48
So on a rainy afternoon I've written a snotty letter to Makita UK, and I'll report back on any response I get from them.  ::)  Don't hold your collective breaths though!  :D

This (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7114322.htm#pdpFullDesc) might be the replacement.....  :)
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: RobG on 03 September 2016, 20:08:07
So on a rainy afternoon I've written a snotty letter to Makita UK, and I'll report back on any response I get from them.  ::)  Don't hold your collective breaths though!  :D

This (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7114322.htm#pdpFullDesc) might be the replacement.....  :)
Ah capacity is a bit shite though
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 03 September 2016, 20:58:30
So on a rainy afternoon I've written a snotty letter to Makita UK, and I'll report back on any response I get from them.  ::)  Don't hold your collective breaths though!  :D

This (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7114322.htm#pdpFullDesc) might be the replacement.....  :)
Ah capacity is a bit shite though

True enough at 1.2ah, but my Makita is 1.3ah and was fine when it worked!  ::)

Half the price of the Makita too and if it lasts longer than 3 years it's a winner!  :y
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 10 September 2016, 09:52:10
So on a rainy afternoon I've written a snotty letter to Makita UK, and I'll report back on any response I get from them.  ::)  Don't hold your collective breaths though!  :D

This is the reply I received from Makita UK, which was a pleasant surprise in the post yesterday!  :)

Dear Sir

I'm sorry that you have experienced problems with your Makita product.

We would like to arrange to have it back into us so we can carry out an inspection.

Please could you call our returns department to arrange for us to collect?

The number is 01xxx xxxxxx.  Please can you ask them to quote ............

Yours Sincerely


Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: omega2018 on 14 September 2016, 16:05:43
get a proper drill, 1500W, corded,  only £36 http://www.beesleyandfildes.co.uk/power-g-1500w-sds-drill/ (http://www.beesleyandfildes.co.uk/power-g-1500w-sds-drill/)
(https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/beesimages/product-images/380-380/power-g-1200w-sds-drill.jpg)
can't fault my one.
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: TheBoy on 14 September 2016, 18:09:06
For all but the hardest jobs, corded drills are too much faffage.

Same as corded strimmers and the like.
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Kevin Wood on 15 September 2016, 11:19:34
For all but the hardest jobs, corded drills are too much faffage.

Same as corded strimmers and the like.

Depends, IMHO. If you want it to just work after years of being dumped in the corner of the garage, corded wins once you've spent 30 seconds getting an extension lead out. I've got several cordless drills. None has a serviceable battery currently. Can't be @rsed to keep replacing them. meanwhile, the mains drill that I've had abused for years is fine.

As for corded strimmers.. All garden tools that aren't petrol powered should be banned. :y
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: tigers_gonads on 15 September 2016, 12:10:01
Always used Makita,s myself of if I was skint at the time, the old B&Q performance pro range.

Currently using a 18 volt Makita battery drill and a 20 year old 110 volt hammer drill.

Both have been smashed around within a inch of there life's and the bastids still refuse to die on me  :-X :D :D
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: henryd on 15 September 2016, 12:20:26
So on a rainy afternoon I've written a snotty letter to Makita UK, and I'll report back on any response I get from them.  ::)  Don't hold your collective breaths though!  :D

This is the reply I received from Makita UK, which was a pleasant surprise in the post yesterday!  :)

Dear Sir

I'm sorry that you have experienced problems with your Makita product.

We would like to arrange to have it back into us so we can carry out an inspection.

Please could you call our returns department to arrange for us to collect?

The number is 01xxx xxxxxx.  Please can you ask them to quote ............

Yours Sincerely


Result :y :y
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 15 September 2016, 14:41:41
Doesnt / hasn't anyone made a cordless drill, which has an internal charger, which you can have plugged in at your leisure. ie: when the thing's fully charged, pull the wire, carry on - once the battery is close to dead and you don't have the luxury of a second, fully charged battery to hand (or indeed you walk up to the charger and the thing isn't seated properly/theres a bit of wood chipping blocking the terminals etc etc and you suddenly can't carry on with your job until one is charged.

Basically same as a laptop, shaver, etc?
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: TheBoy on 15 September 2016, 18:36:51
For all but the hardest jobs, corded drills are too much faffage.

Same as corded strimmers and the like.

Depends, IMHO. If you want it to just work after years of being dumped in the corner of the garage, corded wins once you've spent 30 seconds getting an extension lead out. I've got several cordless drills. None has a serviceable battery currently. Can't be @rsed to keep replacing them. meanwhile, the mains drill that I've had abused for years is fine.

As for corded strimmers.. All garden tools that aren't petrol powered should be banned. :y
As you know, older NiCads are generally robust if not left flat for ages, or kept at very low temps.

I had some half decent mains drills, but they didn't seem to like being melted 3yrs ago.  After skip lizard bro retrieved this upmarket black and decker xrp from a large metal receptacle, I haven't felt the need to get a corded drill.


I suspect a petrol strimmer would take longer to fill up than a cordless strimmer takes at my gaff (you've been here, you know how small it is)
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Nick W on 15 September 2016, 18:49:17
Doesnt / hasn't anyone made a cordless drill, which has an internal charger, which you can have plugged in at your leisure. ie: when the thing's fully charged, pull the wire, carry on - once the battery is close to dead and you don't have the luxury of a second, fully charged battery to hand (or indeed you walk up to the charger and the thing isn't seated properly/theres a bit of wood chipping blocking the terminals etc etc and you suddenly can't carry on with your job until one is charged.

Basically same as a laptop, shaver, etc?


That would mean fitting all of the gubbins that's in the charger, inside the tool. Which is(or at least ought to be!) already full of motor, bearings gearbox, battery and enough structure to withstand heavy use.
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Viral_Jim on 15 September 2016, 21:13:51
When we bought out place 3yrs ago I bought 2 ryobi 18v cordless hammer drills, and a big Titan sds, the 6kg fella.

The ryobis have probably been used 2days a week every week since I bought them, dropped a few times and they're still going well. Some slight play in the bearings creeping in to one of them but nothing beyond that. The Titan gave up about 2 weeks ago when I was using it to mix floor leveller. Spat its bearings everywhere  ;D. For £50 I reckon it's done me proud.

For the sake of balance, my dad bought a dewalt (non xrs) cordless drill the same time I bought mine. Cost about £5 less than my 2 combined. That's now in the bin.

I realise a sample size of 3 is not significant, but I know where my money will be going when my 2 finally give up the ghost!
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 16 September 2016, 09:04:32
Doesnt / hasn't anyone made a cordless drill, which has an internal charger, which you can have plugged in at your leisure. ie: when the thing's fully charged, pull the wire, carry on - once the battery is close to dead and you don't have the luxury of a second, fully charged battery to hand (or indeed you walk up to the charger and the thing isn't seated properly/theres a bit of wood chipping blocking the terminals etc etc and you suddenly can't carry on with your job until one is charged.

Basically same as a laptop, shaver, etc?


That would mean fitting all of the gubbins that's in the charger, inside the tool. Which is(or at least ought to be!) already full of motor, bearings gearbox, battery and enough structure to withstand heavy use.


Or on the plug, or in line on the wire, like a laptop. All the drill needs is the motor, the battery (which would be removable for replacement at owner's discression) the charging gear could still be on the plug/power lead. I call Dragon's Den!  ;D
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: TheBoy on 16 September 2016, 12:22:56
For the sake of balance, my dad bought a dewalt (non xrs) cordless drill the same time I bought mine. Cost about £5 less than my 2 combined. That's now in the bin.
As well as the XRP, I have a near new low end, plastic chucked DeWalt (I bought it from one of those pikey pawn shops for the batteries and charger, rather than the drill itself), and that you can clearly see won't last if given anything more than the lightest tasks. 
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 19 September 2016, 13:36:11
So my drill has been returned today from Makita with a new gear assembly and I've tested it on various bits of concrete, bricks and stone and it's working fine!  :y

They say that the batteries were tested and they were not faulty, which I'm a little dubious about to be honest as I had to charge them to use the drill and just while messing about it started to slow down....  :-\  But all in all it's a complete result which has saved me quite a lot of cash!  :y
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 19 September 2016, 13:42:26
So my drill has been returned today from Makita with a new gear assembly and I've tested it on various bits of concrete, bricks and stone and it's working fine!  :y

They say that the batteries were tested and they were not faulty, which I'm a little dubious about to be honest as I had to charge them to use the drill and just while messing about it started to slow down....  :-\  But all in all it's a complete result which has saved me quite a lot of cash!  :y

Cant fault that for service.  :y
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 19 September 2016, 13:44:29
Good result! I'm a very passionate 'made in Britain' advocate, but I'm not so blinkered as to believe that anything made in China is automatically rubbish. Clearly this is a good result, and a decent product, too.  :)
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 19 September 2016, 17:30:36
Good result! I'm a very passionate 'made in Britain' advocate, but I'm not so blinkered as to believe that anything made in China is automatically rubbish. Clearly this is a good result, and a decent product company, too.  :)

Fixed for accuracy!  :y
Title: Re: Cordless Drills
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 20 September 2016, 11:53:23
Haha, well, yes, true!