Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I'm looking for one around 14-18 volts. There a lot of models to choose from, just curious about which model others like? I would kind of like to spend no more than $100

My old 16 volt Craftsman been used and (I shouldn't say it but) abused and works as good as new.  Does a good job boring cement blocks, mixing paints, cleaning drains and also use it mounted for buffing with rouge and have run some Dremel tools in it.  Does a good job in hardwoods as well.  It's pretty powerful and the batteries last along time.  Had a smaller Ryobi that ground it's gears up in a short time and wasn't worth fixing..  although the Ryobi had a level built in that was handy. 

Would like to supplement it with a cordless impact drill - suggestions welcome.

While there are a LOT of drills in that price range, how much you use it is key. Once in a while, homeowners can get away with a Sears, or any basic model.

 For a few dollars more, you can get a Dewalt or Makita. I bought a MAKITA, with fancy Metal Hydride Batteiries. One charge per hundred deck screws, gota love it. It will easily last 10-15years. My first BOSCH drill went 10 years.

For top quality, I would recommend a Hilti Drill but, way too expensive for homeowner use. This Black & Decker is a good drill at a good price, not a bad way to go for the $. I have one that has never failed me but I'm not drilling into concrete or steel beams either.

Sears Black & Decker 14.4 volt Firestorm with 2 batteries, charger case and bits for $89.00

Dewalt 18Volt !  - Kris

I have a 12 volt Makita that I used and abused for about 7 years doing lots of drywall and also home repairs.  Although if I was hanging anything more than 3 sheets I would use my screw gun,  I used the heck out of it for patching.  I really liked the balance of the "T" handle, and the weight of the drill allowed me to work with it all day on either my stilts or ladders without my arm falling off. 

I could also put it in my tool belt without the battery weight tipping it out which was a plus.  The batteries or charger have now failed me, so the charge doesn't last very long.  I paid $125 for it in the late 90's but it has earned me $1000's.  Going against the grain of "higher volts is always better", the lighter weight served a good purpose.   My wife thinks I threw it out but I really have it hidden in my shed. 

Today I am now sitting just feet away from my new 18 Volt DeWalt cordless drill and circular saw combination kit.  Santa Paid about $159 for this at the Orange Box during one of DeWalts pre Christmas specials, but said that I was worth it.  (He obviously didn't discuss anything with my wife, but if Santa said so I figured I would let him run with it.)

The Dewalt 18 volt drill has plenty of power for just about anything you need to do.  (Although I am the type person that will pull out the corded tools if the job requires, rather than beat the batteries "to infinity and beyond" just for the sake of not pulling out a corded tool when the corded would be better.)  The saw that came with it looks nice, cuts slow, but is useful for trimming a board here and there, but it is no match for my Milwakee Worm Drive that will rip through wet 2x12 PT.

The battery on the DeWalt makes it far heavier than my Makita, but I am not intending on using the DeWalt  for the durations that I did with the Makita.  Hence, I opted for more power (higher voltage) at the cost of more weight.

Either one can run a spade bit through a 4x4, although if I was "putting in a fence" I would opt for bigger voltages, regardless of brand, because you do not hold/run it constantly and higher voltages USUALLY mean higher/longer power. (see This Old House - March 2005 issue. (Don't look at their prices because I don't know of anybody that charges that much))

As I said previously, I have both Makita and DeWalt, and I like the operation of each.  Although the Makita has "easily replaceable brushes" (I think, but I may be thinking about my screw gun and confusing the two)" , I wouldn't use that as a buying point.  In 7 years of drywall I never once replaced the brushes, or even took the thing apart to clean them. 

Unfortunately, neither of these fits into your under $100 category, although both companies make great equipment and if you find a sale you might get close to your price.  I have used a Craftsman 18 or 19 volt before (although didn't own it) and for the occasional stuff that seemed fine too.  It withstood the "ladder drop test" and kept working.  I think that Sears has sales rather frequently where you could get one in your range.

Regardless of brand, I would buy at least a 14 volt.  I would also recommend that you get one with 2 batteries so you do not get shut down while waiting for a charge (that way one charges while you use the other).  I have never used a B&D so I can't give my opinion on them, although they do fit your price.  If all you are doing is hanging pictures or using it as a portable screwdriver, just about any brand will work for you.  If you plan on putting in a deck, fence, installing closets, doing drywall, doing landscaping, I would consider one of the bigger brands. 

I hope this helps and best regards,

De-Walt  (I had to do that...),

 

 

 

We have a Craftsman cordless drill. Bought it as a kit for hubby with a cordless flashlight in a case with 2 rechargeable batteries when we first got our house and needed something but didn't have the funds for anything special. They have all sorts of kits available in differing price ranges. It does the job, but it's nothing outstanding. It is big, bulky, heavy.

My father has a Makita that I would just love to buy for hubby. It is far more powerful than hubby's although same voltage. It is lightweight, small and far outperforms our Craftsman. If you aren't going to use it for much, just want something in the right price range, than check out the Craftsman. If you want something sweet that will last, looking for ease of use, check out the Makita line. A much better build, but you will pay for it. I love power tools! Guess it comes from growing up with a mechanic and handyman who felt his daughters should learn to fend for themselves.

The baddest of the bad..........

Hilti UH-240-A, 24 volt, 3 speed drill with rotory drilling mode for steel and wood and, hammer drilling mode for concrete and masonary. At  672 in lbs of torque and drilling mode speeds up to 1950 rpm's, no cordless drill on the market will touch it.

Reversing Switch	Yes
Chuck Style	1/2 in. keyless, carbide jaws
Package Quantity	1
Ordering Name	UH 240-A Universal Hammer Drill (3.0-Ah NiMH)
Maximum Torque	672 in.-lb
Speed 1 No Load	0 - 350 rpm
Speed 2 No Load	0 - 1300 rpm
Speed 3 No Load	0 - 1950 rpm
Voltage	24 V
Weight With Battery	7.9 lb

O.K. Boo-Boo Tough guy...

Now tell us how much it costs!

Walt

Becareful looking at just the voltage ratings. How many amps?

If you take some of these things apart there is a big difference in the construction and wiring. I don't have the model number of the one we use, but it is a deWalt 18V with the better gears and no hammer. It was about $279 with three batteries. It has proven pretty tough.

Rob,

The Old house article I referred to discussed just that in regard to amps, voltage, etc. and run time.  In short, lower voltages with higher amp ratings may provide more power than one with a higher voltage.

On another note, I west to Pep Boys yesterday to see if they had any "regular" gas cans.  They too only sold ones with autoshutoff / no spill ends.   I think I we will need to fire up a lathe if we want a regular spout.

Walt