Impact Driver and/or Battery Drill?

[StorminN]

He also had a special on an 18v Lithium Ion Milwaukee combo set impactdriver and drill  for $200 bucks with a case of quality bits.  Sounded good to me so I now own that set and it seems to be a winner also.  NOt too big or heavy but seems to have good power and run time.

Shinnlinger, I bought a Milwaukee 18v Li-ion kit (drill, impact driver, sawzall, light, I added a circ saw) a year and a half ago or so, and I've been very happy with it. I didn't realize HOW happy until I tried to use a Ryobi 18v Li-ion impact driver at work the other day... the Ryobi is a lighter tool, but it's not nearly as strong, either.

With the Ryobi, I was having trouble driving 3" deck screws through 3/4 inch plywood, into some pallets... it would eventually do it, but it was SLOW. With the Milwaukee impact driver, I haven't had any trouble driving screws, even 3/8" x 6" lag bolts, and it's fast. I've used it to loosen lots of stuck nuts, and even changed the pulley on my alternator with it. I will say, it's a bit heavier to lug around.

The kit has two downsides... one is the Milwaukee light, I'm not impressed. Mine has developed a symptom that it will turn on every time you try, but if you bump it even a medium bump, it will shut off. Turn it off and back on, and it will come on again. Frustrating. I need to take it apart and see what's up. The second downside is the case for the kit, my same complaint with most cases, it's not practical. It has room for a couple of bits, but not enough room for a bit case, or any long Sawzall blades... who the heck designs these things? I ended up buying a Husky bag to put everything in, it works out better and it doesn't scream "Milwaukee, steal me" when it's sitting in the back of the car / truck, either...

-Norm.

[shinnlinger]

Hi Norm,

My Milwaukee kit is only the driver and the drill so I don't have a bum light but the case is actually decent as you can put BOTH tools in with the batteries on AND a bit in both chucks, which I think is a first.  The tools themselves seem to be more compact than other Milwaukee products I have seen.

I think  it is really Amp hours that make or break power and run time on these tools as opposed  volts.  I got a Panasonic 15.6 a few years back (10?)that would run circles around DeWalt 18 volts, but mine had 3.5 AMp hours where the DeWalt was only 2 amp.

ON a quasi related note why are replacement batteries so expensive for these tools?  It seems that every 3 years or so the batteries on whatever tool I have starts losing its charge holding ability.  Of course you can buy a new battery for $80+ a pop but my logic is why spend $160+ bucks to keep an older tool that has fallen off your roof a few times and is starting to pop out of gear when you can buy a brand new latest and greatest for only a few bucks more?

I have heard mixed results on battery rebuild operations and they aren't that much cheaper especially when you throw in shipping.

[scgargoyle]

You answered your own question there, shinnlinger! :D By making the batteries so expensive, they're hoping you'll just pony up for a new tool, instead of keeping the one you have.

[shinnlinger]

What is nuts here is that only 6 companies (Or is it 2?)in the world that make rechargeable batteries.  The tool companies take these batteries and stick them in their plastic case.  You would think that there would be a ripe aftermarket, but I have heard of only a few and it hasn't been good.

[StorminN]

The guy that runs the local Snap-On truck offers cordless tool battery pack rebuilds... you give him your worn out battery packs, and he brings them back a couple of weeks later with new cells in them. I've heard he charges about $40 a pack... not sure if this is just for NiMh and NiCad, or if it includes Li-ion and LiFePO3, but I can find out.

Shinnlinger, you're right about just a couple of companies, Panasonic makes a vast majority of those cells, if you could just find the raw cells (hobby shops sometimes have them) then with a little soldering, you could replace your own.

-Norm.

[moonhill]

Battery Plus, a local battery rebuild outfit said they do not rebuild the Li-ion batteries.  I also found it cheeper to buy new ryobi batteries new than have them rebuilt.

Tim

[shinnlinger]

What I have heard is the rebuilds are closer to $60 (Including shipping) and they can mangle the case/contact points in the process and they reloaded cells are generally the 1.5 amp hour deals vs 3 amp hour deals....

But I would think if a SNap On Rep is doing something with it might be worth a shot for $40...

[Banjo picker]

The inverter would probably be the cheepest  and maybe best fix to the dead bat. problem, but a slightly diffrent twist might be to buy the smallest generator that will still charge your bat.   I have seen some little bitty ones.  I can think of lots of usages even for those little ones in a power ottage or something....Like run the blower on the insert instead of running the big generator. ;)  Tim

[moonhill]

I have been using a small Honda generator, 1000 watts, it will charge batteries at an idle, it will sense the load and only run at the speed needed.  It is not mine but I would consider one when the next need arises.

Tim

[Hilltop366]

If you don't mind a cord you could use a "yard sale" cordless drill around 12-14 volts (seen some nice name brand drills cheap with dead battries) remove the batteries from battery case and soldier in some wires and hook up to a 12 V car or spill proof fire alarm backup battery, it should run a drill for a log time.