19.95 reduced down to 16.95 but had just been in the hardware, lumber yard at home and they had a drill for 18.75. Both about the same weight...I like the really light drills and was comparing that with each other...They both said 18 volt but its hard to go by whats written on the box...So I'll just wait and get the one at the lumber yard. More money might stay around this area??

  The last 3 drills I bought were Black and Decker 18 volt models at that lumber yard costing 60 for all three. Four years exactly and all died this last month...Kinda like they were programmed to do that. 

I saw some of the newer Harbor Freight drills and drivers. They look pretty nice. So far my 2 Hitachis are working pretty well. The thing I hate is having a variety of brands, different chargers different batteries.  

Have three B&D Firestorm 18V drills.....and a Mega Mouse, a circular saw, and a "sawzall"  that all take the same 18V batteries....have one charger, and 4 batteries.   So far, so good....since I bought most of these in a $5 for all box at a yard sale....not out too much.    Also have a pair of Makita "Long handle" drills..two batteries, one charger......battery is those older LONG pattern ones.   One is a keyed chuck, one a keyless....

 

Haven't had any need for a new drill, in a while.....

I have three cordless Craftsman and Ridgid drills. The ldRidgid batteries went south after about five years, so I found some replacement ones and ordered them on ebay. Since drills were fine, I thought I would be ahead of the game. I bought some 18 volt drills from HF some years ago, and the batteries lasted about a year, so I put them in a yard sale box. I buy very few tools from them is they are cordless or corded. 

By the way, I had two Ridgid Commercial Sawz Alls and both of them had the same problem: the blade holder breaking off. Haven't had them repaired, and as long as the two Craftsman ones continue, I probably won't. 

I've been through two Makita, one Hitachi, and one Metabo cordless.  All NiCad, pre Li-ion days.   It makes little economic sense to buy or rebuild batteries when I can get a new kit & technology for about the same price.   My "work" cordless is a Ridgid 12V.  I like their LSA on the batteries.   The first set died in a couple of years and I think it was a mfr defect as the repair shop said they were doing about 75 replacements a month.  Second ones lasted quite a bit longer and third set is running even longer.    We've bought six of them at the furniture bank and have had them over a year with no problems.  Upgraded to the X5Gen brushless and got an 18v impact / drill set for the shop for Xmas and using it happily.

 

Corded drills - bought an $18 Skil in 1974 and it was my only drill for 20+ years.  I found a couple of B&D Pro & Industrials for $5 and $10 at yard sales and they've been working fine for 10+ years.

My old Makita 12v (I think) went through 6 batteries. Actually, two that were re-built twice. It died after maybe 20 years. Bought one of those black and white Makitas, 18v to replace it. A week ago, there was a sale on DeWalt 20v drills. $50...couldn't pass it up. Having two is really handy. 

For corded, I have a 3/8 PC that's been a work horse and, a Skil that I think is on it's last legs...but, it keeps spinning the bits.

Edited February 20, 20188 yr by Gene Howe

I cut into a Makita 9 volt battery way back when and found a bunch of 1.5 volt batteries all soldered together and were regular batteries.. I had bent and warped the housing so much I ended up throwing it away.. The only thing I learned that day, I didn't know a regular 1.5 volt battery could be re charged????

Patch...I bought some of the H-F 18V cordless a few years back to supplement my Craftsman 12V at the time...Poor Decision; The drills were OK, the batteries JUNK! Then they kept changing the battery style so you couldn't buy replacements...wasn't worth the price of the tool to rebuild the batteries. I do have a H-F, 1/2" VSR corded I bought for $23 w/ coupon when my old B&D Industrial went down. No issues with it...

 

Today's cordless stable consists of my old 12V Craftsman; I bought a gaggle of batteries for $3-$4 when they closed them out...some still hold charge well...others not so much; 2 of those drills, one I bought new, the other at a flea market w/ two good batteries and case for $10. Also (2) Craftsman 19.2 V drills and one impact driver...bought one drill/impact driver new on a close out deal 6 years ago..still works great; had a couple batteries fail during the warranty but Sears replaced no ???'s asked. I also have the Craftsman 19.2 V reciprocating saw Bought new at closeout for $34, the 5-1/2" circular saw, appeared brand new at a flea market for $10, and a 19.2v work light.

 

The second drill with a VERY good battery and one hour charger I bought at a flea market for $12...works great. I also bought a Ryobi 18V Li-Ion a bout a year ago because they had a great deal on the drill, quick charger and four batteries for $99. I mainly wanted this set for the batteries to go with my Ryobi 1/2" drill/driver/impact drill I bought at a flea market for $10 with a weak battery, and my 18v work light and 5-1/2" circular saw I also bought a flea market for $5; saw had a weak NiCad battery.

 

As for corded drills...well suffice it to say I'm to tell and show how many of those I own...I'll post that "collection" one of these days...

A while back, I heard Lowe's was coming up with a $20 battery for their Kobalt tools.  Not much hoopla since then, but they do apparently have them.

 

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-24-Volt-Max-2-Amp-Hours-Lithium-Power-Tool-Battery-Kit/1000061657

 

and a $10 one

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-24-Volt-Max-1-5-Amp-Hours-Lithium-Power-Tool-Battery/1000090833

 

I am not aware of the competition following suit.

 

Would be nice if there was a standardized fit for a battery.   Don't see that happening anytime soon.

Edited February 20, 20188 yr by kmealy

For many years I opted for Dewalt drills, but as the batteries died, I went to the Ryobi 18V cordless drill driver and impact driver, and have never looked back. It's been over three years now and I've never had any issues with them. I did own a General drill from HF years ago . While backing out a screw, the motor shaft  broke. Never again.

5 hours ago, Smallpatch said:

I cut into a Makita 9 volt battery way back when and found a bunch of 1.5 volt batteries all soldered together and were regular batteries.. I had bent and warped the housing so much I ended up throwing it away.. The only thing I learned that day, I didn't know a regular 1.5 volt battery could be re charged????

Patch the batteries are not regular batteries. They look the same but are rechargeable. I have rebuild 2 battery packs and it is not that hard you just need the tabs or you can order a pack with all the tabs soldered on . Then there is a sensor which helps to keep the pack from overheating. I may be wrong but I think not that all Nicad and NiMH batteris are made of several 1.5 volt batteries.

I have two Bosch drills, one impact driver and four lithium ion batteries and all still working fine after 6+ years.

Can't beat Bosch tools. IMHO, anyway. 

Administrator please move this to tools section.