De Walt DC100KA 18v

[Smudger]

I need a new cordless, and I don't want/need to spend too much. So I'm asking for advice from the more knowledgeable.

Is this one as good a deal as it looks? It gets excellent reviews on Screwfix's website, but then it would...

 

[Doug B]

Don`t think you`ll go wrong with one, before i changed to lithium ion i had this model type for years, excellent work horse.

It is a little heavy, but then again that is comparing it to modern L/ion drills.

3 years ago you would have been looking at around £300 for that type of drill so £99 is a bargain.

 

[gidon]

Smudger
I find the 14.4v dc728 very good although notice it's more expensive than the 18V on Screwfix now! It's nice and light and has enough power and decent build. I also have the heavier 14.4v combi dc984 - but it's pretty heavy for general use. So I'd check the weight of the 18v you mention - but I'm sure it's a good drill.
Cheers
Gidon

 

[chippy1970]

If I were you I would avoid Dewalt battery drills and go for something like Makita. Makita are much better quality and their battery technology far in front of Dewalt.

The dewalt you have posted uses Ni-cad batteries which would probably only last a year and dont like being left un-used for long periods. The newer Ni-mh or Li-ion batteries are much better.

 

[Mcluma]

The reason why its so cheap is because the batteries are only 1.3 ah

do not buy anything below the 2.o ah

the dril is pefect

 

[Smudger]

Thanks, Mcluma - could you give me a brief explanation of why that is important? ah= amp hours, yes?

 

[greggy]

smudger, i would be tempted to get this over the dewalt.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Metabo-SBP-18...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item20ae5d1f84

 

[studders]

For such a ,relatively, heavyweight cordless drill the batteries at 1.3ah are a bit on the puny side imo. I think you will end up rather frustrated with them.

Edit. In fact if you look at the £200+ model with the 2.0ah batteries it appears to be the same drill.

 

[Mcluma]

the higher the ah the longer you can get going, at FULL spead.

I have a full range of the 18v from dewalt and bosch and have all 2.6ah or 3.0 ah batteries and then you just get going longer between refills and the output of the battery is higher, hence longer stronger

do not go for the 1.3ah on an 18v machine, or have more batteries ready to replace

 

[Smudger]

I'm with you.
So what should I buy, with a £100 budget?

 

[Mcluma]

Still go for an dewalt/bosch etc, and go for 18v, but see if you can get it with a battery of 2.0ah or more

just have a look on ebay, most of decent shops also sell on ebay, so you have a nice comparisson

 

[BMac]

Is this any good? 2.4Ah batteries.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axmi ... -21363.htm

Brendan

 

[Smudger]

Brendan, that looks the biz. And half the price... thank you.

Any anti votes?

 

[Mcluma]

nice .....

but no

stick to 18v either dewalt bosch etc etc.

it is not simple to add on to this, like another drill., impact wrench, circular saw, jig saw, reciprocating saw etc

18v seems to be the standard these days

I went 18v about 5 years ago and never regret it

 

[Smudger]

Yeah but no but yeah but...

Now I'm even more confused.

I use a cordless for a couple of hours every few days in m'shed to screw a few bits of badly prepared wood together, or I put up a shelf or cupboard. Probably no more than a dozen drilling/screwing operations each time. Would I really lose out with a cheaper cordless?

My thinking is that my Bosches have died because they are left unattended for a while and then recharged too often (at least that's what No1 son says - but he believes that NASA didn't get to the moon...) and I tend to leave a battery in the charger until I need it and swap it with the discharged one. It isn't battery life on the job (so to speak) which is the problem, it's having a flat battery every time I go to use the drill.

I also want to go from 2 drills to 1 drill + 1 driver, and I bought a Bosch IXO today, and it seems OK for light use.

 

[chippy1970]

Mcluma,

What happened to your Mafell avatar that you had ??????

 

[Mcluma]

I don't know.

maybe the hosting site went down

 

[awkwood]

I would recommend a Panasonic 15.6v drill with 3.5 amp hour batteries, ive been using it for 6 months and the battery life is very impressive
i've been so impressed with it i've also bought a 12v one aswell, its such a handy drill.
i've had bosch, dewalt, makita etc but this is the best drill i've had

 

[studders]

For your intended usage I'd stretch the budget just a wee bit higher and go for this. You can then add bare tools to your range if you wanted to and it would solve the battery problem as well.

 

[petermillard]

FWIW I have cordless drills ranging from 10.8v Bosch Li-ion, 12v Panasonic SDS NiMh, 14.4v DeWalt NiCd to 18v DeWalt NiCd and find little to choose between them; the NiCds need to be run flat before recharging, the Li-ions need to be topped up regularly, and the NiMh.... get charged when they're needed...

If you're not going to use them that frequently, then honestly I don't think it matters much what battery technology they use. I went from 14.4 to 18v DeWalt NiCd because once you had the batteries and charger there was lots around that could be picked up bare; I bought 10.8v Bosch because they were small and light for everyday use. Picked up the 12v Panasonic SDS 'cos they were the only lightweight cordless SDS that also happened to look like a a spacetrooper's plasma weapon <shrug>

Do I wish Bosch made a 10.8v combi? You bet. My usage is lightweight and infrequent - much like a hobbyist, probably; if I was plugging 20mm holes in engineering brick or concrete all day long than I'd use my corded SDS - who wouldn't??

Of all the kit that's been linked to in this thread, I think I'd buy the Ryobi Li-ion, mostly for access to the 'One-plus' system. £110? I won't begin to tell you what I've shelled out for all the above...

Cheers, Pete.