Cordless Tools Reviews

I read a few reviews about the poor batteries. I don't have my drill long enough to answer that issue. I do like the way the pack slides off with ease and reverses for tight spaces.

I haven't been able to keep the chuck locked as it keeps coming loose and the bit falls out. So how can a quality drill have a chuck that is poorer than my budget priced drills that I beat around? Come on Milwaukee, let's get it together.

I have this drill along with the combo kit and the tools are definately top quality however, the batteries just plain suck. The battery packs always die after 18 months or so with no warning at all. They just wont charge period. You have to either buy replacement packs or get another tool, ouch.

When I first bought the drill, it would run all day on one battery. Now it seems like battery life is much shorter. Went through two batteries the other day before noon. Lots of power originally. Take the other reviewer's comments re: batteries seriously.

I've regularly been using a venerable, brute-strong and die-hard 14.4 DeWalt drill (DW954) that has great battery life and excellent torque but also carries a lot of weight. And, after a while, you know you're hoisting an anchor, especially when driving screws overhead as with drywall. As a handyman, I'm often installing lightweight shelves, artwork, fixtures, racks, and other objects in wood, drywall and regular red brick so after a while, weight and size DO become important. So, I decided to try the 9.6v lightweight entry from DeWalt. I purchased it from a famous home center at a great price. It has great run time per charge, maintains a relatively steady speed even in harder substances, is beautifully compact and lightweight BUT has an absolutely awful chuck! Unless you're using the newer hex-shank bits, regular round shank drills will invariably spin right out of the chuck -- no matter how hard you try to tighten the chuck -- and stay stuck in the material you're drilling until you grab and twist the bit out with pliers. It happens so frequently that it quickly becomes an almost unbearable nuisance, especially when you're "on the clock" and trying to do the work quickly. I returned mine for a full refund and have already ordered a Bosch 32609 9.6v compact drill from Amazon.com. Unfortunately, I'll have yet one more battery charger to contend with but it's reviews were so good that I have to give it a serious try. If DeWalt could re-introduce their little 9.6v powerhouse with a better chuck -- say a single sleeve ratcheting type -- I dare say that it would be very hard if not impossible to beat for performance and value.

I made the mistake of 1st buying a cheaper, less powerfull model. You really pay the price in time and limitations. It didn't do well on harder materials so I just use it for drywall and light wood work. The dewalt is much better and has saved me tons of time. It is powerful enough to drill through hardwood and even some brick. Unless you think you can get buy with a lightweight model, the dw926k is a good compromise between the cheapest brands and spending several hundred for a really powerful model.

My dad had one of these drills which he must have used since at least 1990 as a general contractor. He used it on nearly every project, without fail. I inherited it from him in 2000, and have used it for every big home improvement project I've worked on. It's always been up to every task, with plenty of power on reserve. Only after so many years is the battery starting to lose its charge, too!

I bought the driver and saw kit and the hammer drill kit. In the first year I replaced the drill/drivers three times...while under warranty. The saw worked well and the flashlight was the best part of this kit. Now it is a couple years old and the batteries are dead and at $90 each I am not replacing them. I bought Hitachi this time with a five year warranty. I wasted $600 on the Porter Cable junk.

I purchased the drill a few months ago and all was amazing. A little bit of a screamer but whatever. No big deal really. But now I am on my 3RD CHARGER and have to buy yet another battery!!!!! The power of this drill is great but ..., chargers and batteries are not cheap. At least to me they aren't. Too bad you can't combine DeWalt chargers with the Porter Cable drill. Then heaven would truly be on earth. If you buy one, make sure you have the extra money to buy replacement parts. Lates.

It is the most used portable tool in my house. It's kinda heavy after a while, but the power and usefulness overcome that big time. After many projects, it still works flawlessly like day one. There is nothing I hold back on this tool.

I had been using a nice reel mower (Sunlawn MM-1) on my 0.2 acre plot on the north shore of Massachusetts. But with all of the rain we have been getting, my grass has been growing very quickly and very thickly. I needed a powered mower. I knew I wanted a cordless electric mower because I hate the noise and fumes of a gas-powered one. I had heard mixed reviews of the Black&Decker 19" cordless and was considering it, but weight and cost made me choose the Bully.

The Black&Decker weighs in at 76 pounds. I weigh about 30 pounds more than it, so moving that around would have been a problem! I was also cringing at the thought of spending another [...] on a mower after having bought the Sunlawn [...].
The Bully weighs 36 pounds and at around [...], it met my requirements. Also, Bully replacement batteries are ~[...], unlike the >[...] cost for B&D batteries.
I have been enjoying using the Bully and the pros outweigh the cons.
Pros:
1.) It is relatively quiet. It sounds like my Bissell vacuum cleaner.
2.) The battery does seem to improve with each charge.
3.) It cuts really tall grass well. Just make sure the grass is not too wet and clumped or the mower will stall.
4.) There were some good recommendations on the reviews here for adjusting the wheel height (i.e. using WD-40 before adjusting the wheel height and raising the height for the front wheels and lowering them for the back wheels). Thank you for those helpful comments!

Cons:
1.) Yes, the hubcaps fell off right away, but the wheels stayed on. I'm fine with that. The cover also opened while I drove the mower over the bumpier sections of my yard, but I could re-tape it shut.
2.) I don't think you will have a problem with the handles falling apart unless you FORGET to tighten the screws after loosening them to fold the collapsible handle. My handles have stayed on tightly.
3.) I wish it did have a bit more power, but it is doing the job well for [...]

Bottom-line: Yes, I recommend this mower for those who need a light-weight, fume-free, fairly quiet, economical model. Just do not expect the same kind of power and performance as a gas-powered model. I honestly think it is worth it for your own health and for the environment.

Even though I did read the info saying it would take the battery some time to come to a full charge I was initially diappointed with the power of this little mower. I have a good sized yard and planned on mowing half at a time. It still seemed lower than my expectation of the power described but perhaps that is because I had a Black & Decker cordless electric for 6 years. The cost to have it repaired was more than the Bully so I decided to give it a try. I cannot believe this is the same Bully mower I was using a month ago! It will do my whole yard if I do not allow the grass to get too high. I do not know why it took so long for the battery to fully charge but it is now the mower I had hoped for, so lightweight compared to the B&D and convenient to use. Just give it some time before you make a final judgment.

I was a bit hesitant to order this mower without actually seeing it. After some more research, I decided to pull the trigger and place the order. The mower showed up about a week later - just in time - my grass was getting long and I didn't want to borrow my neighbor's mower again.

Assembly took less than 15 minutes - had help from my six year old daughter. Plugged the mower in for overnight charging. Waited until the charge light was green and was good to go. I have about a tenth of an acre of grass - was able to cut it all without noticing any reduction in power. Followed directions and didn't re-charge since the battery still had some juice. Next time the grass was ready to cut, the mower lasted about 15 more minutes. Charged it up overnight and finished the job the next day. The instructions urge you to drain the battery before charging again.

Same thing as the other reviewers with the black plastic covers on the wheels - all four escaped during my first mowing. I didn't bother trying to put them back on.

The body is solid but not very heavy. Each wheel has a height adjustment lever which isn't that hard to adjust. Sidenote - I went on vacation for a week and, when I got back, the grass was taller than usual. I moved the adjustment levers past the last metal tab and gained a bit more deck height...they stayed in place for the most part - except when I bumped into light posts, etc.

I have spoken to people who have the corded electric mowers...although I've never used one it seems like going around trees, etc would become a pain...in a hurry. The Bully makes cutting grass a breeze - if your yard isn't too big.

If you are thinking about purchasing this Bully mower - I'd go ahead and do it. No gas/oil hassle, no breathing in exhaust, and you get to feel good about cutting down on pollution.

I have had Dremel tools for years. Still have a 115 volt drill that has worked fine for years.

I purchased the Dremel 8000-01 because I could see it as a very useful tool. Well, the first one I had changed speeds on its own. I would set the speed I wanted, then without warning the speed would slow down or speed up, depending on the tools mood (I guess). Sometimes it did work just fine. So I returned the unit and received a replacement.

The second unit is really, really loud (a nasty high pitched whine) and it vibrates really bad a low speeds.
Needless to say it's going to be returned.

It's sad the Dremel quality control as fallen to this level. Because if the tool functioned properly I would be quite happy with it.

Should I try a third one?

Overall the unit is great, but wait untill you need you need a battery or charger replacement....I don't think my charger ever worked properly. A new one is almost half the total cost of the unit.....Battery about the same!

I had a dream I could find a small, rotary power tool that I could easily wield in one hand with accuracy approaching a dentist's drill. It was a tool not only convenient in size but did not have a heavy cord constantly "catching" on my chair, back of my arm, on the corner of the table etc. It was nearly as powerful as a corded version and ball-raced so it was quiet and smooth in operation. At my local home store amid the squeaking and clattering of lumbar carts and smell of cut pine I was awakened to the realization my dream may have come true...and her name was Dremel?? (Dr.Freud would have fun with me) The Dremel Model 800 Lithium-Ion Cordless (not 8000 as Amazon states) will not replace an orthodontist's precision $1000, stainless instrument. At under $ however, it's about as close as it gets. No dreaded anticipation here as this little Dremel is quite fun.

I have owned three Dremels, this is number three and my first cordless. The previous two worked adequately, nothing to shout about just did their job as expected. I would never purchase Dremel's previous cordless models and haven't to date. Small, cordless tools usually equate to poor power and no torque. There have been several earlier models at 7.2v and 4.8 termed MultiPro and MiniMite respectively. The consensus I've found were that torque and power were abysmal. I had a great deal of concern regarding this "new version". Would it actually replace my corded Dremels? In a word, yes.

With Lithium Ion technology, both torque and power (length of use) I found impressive. It exceeded my expectations. This is not a last minute, dump-something-on-the-market product from Dremel. I have the impression they really put some R&D into it. I don't know if the torque is equal to my corded. I can't tell the difference. (A compliment in disquise) The battery lasts longer than anticipated, again another compliment. The 3 LEDs are of questionalbe accuracy, but a nice benchmark to go by. The variable speed dial is quite accurate on mine, allowing me to speed up or slow down with a great deal of control. The fit and finish is as good as any previous model. The battery is easily attached/removed and quite cute. "Why does it remind me of a shoe off a Cabbage Patch doll?"

My only significant complaint is ergonomics. I fully admit this may be subjective. As can be seen, the tip has a rubber-like covering for better tactile feel and grip. It is also indented or tapered on the sides and underneath. It feels awkward to me. I think the problem could have been remedied if the tapering circumscribed the entire tip rather than just the sides/bottom. I'm pretty average when it comes to the size of my paws. I couldn't imagine someone with dainty fingers trying to hold this thing with one hand and getting maximum precision. The tool's weight is primarily at the other end, so the tip constantly wants to lift up (battery other end drops down). The center of gravity is toward the back 1/3 of the tool. Similarily for those with large paws I would think the difficulty might arise from the tip being rather narrow and the shaft lock button easily pressed. My solution? I use it inverted with LEDs facing down. This way I don't accidently hit the shaft lock button with my forefinger and the tapering on the bottom is more adapting for it (forefinger).

"Bling". Something that pleasantly surprised me was the ability to use many of the same accessories the corded models utilize. I shop for many mini tools from Micro-Mark, a small tool speciality site. In their catalogs it explicitly states the Right Angle Drive, Shaper Table, Flexible Shaft and Plunge Router Attachment accept the 800 series, the only cordless model. This makes a huge difference to me as it now opens the world to most of Dremel's attachments for cordless use and at the same time doesn't make my corded model a dinosaur. Best of both worlds, cordless capablity with corded power and attachments, great! The case is another nice surprise. My previous Dremels had tiny, cheap cases that were clearly designed for light hobby use only. This case "appears" like it could be dropped off your roof and survive (no I haven't tried, I don't need Freud's advice that badly). Except for it's plastic hinge, it is of a build similar to my Bosch, Makita and Porter Cable tool cases. It's quite sturdy, capable of holding the unit, charger, accessories and two batteries (one battery in unit). It will also hold the manual in it's lid. A capable design.

The Dremel gets five/five stars not because it's perfect as the ergonomics are a bit quirky (to me), but there's nothing currently on the market that equals the Model 800 in price and capability. It's the best of its current class.


The Pros:

***No more cord!
***Impressive torque and power (for cordless)
***Pretty good compatibility with Dremel accessories
***Three LED power status indicators
***Convenient well designed case (will also hold extra battery)
***Price. (If purchased at Amazon or on discount elsewhere)

The Cons:

***Price. Accessories = profits. Xtra battery? Ouch!
***Ergonomically formed handle?
***Get it here or on sale. (Prices vary greatly for this unit)

Summary: Corded capability in a mini rotary and no "strings attached" is now reality. No more dreaming.

Porter Cable's 19.2 Volt line has major flaws. I bought the driver and saw kit and the hammer drill kit. In the first year I replaced the drill/drivers three times...while under warranty. The saw worked well and the flashlight was the best part of this kit. Now it is a couple years old and the batteries are dead and at $90 each I am not replacing them. I bought Hitachi this time with a five year warranty. I wasted $600 on the Porter Cable junk.

I allways try to by a porter cable tool. The 19.2 volt system is great, it beats all the others that I tried...Dewalt, Milwalkee, Makita and others. Its the only drill that stands with even the heaviest bit in it. Well ballanced and quick to charge when it does charge. Thats the whole point, I have had a total of three battery chargers fail on me wich is very dissapionting. I almost feel like changing brands but I have so many drills and saws that I cant afford to change now. My oldest battery is four years old and still takes a charge. My case on my drill is cracked but still runs great when I can get the charger to work, which is not often. What is also a shame is these drills dont cary the made in USA lable anymore, most likely the reason for the chargers not working.
Hey Porter Cable execs. If your reading this please fix it!

I sold my DeWalt 14.4 volt combo kit on [internet store for] less than the price of this kit new. I have used the DeWalt driver years but I don't miss it at all. I have more power and torque settings now with longer run times. I never used the saw in the DeWalt combo pack that much and I don't expect to use this one very much either, but having said that, I can already tell that this one is much more powerful. Great products at a great price.

Drill endurance is terrible. 5 year old Panasonic 15.6 volt and 3 year old Ryobi 18 volt beat it up everyday. Protocol is 3 battery swaps in an 8 hour work day. It's only 6 months old. Bottom line, A RYOBI OUT-PERFORMS IT! My co-worker calls it a yellow Ryobi and laughs at me everytime it dies in action.
I will continue to use it because it cost 199 dollars and I cannot afford to try my luck with something else right now. Service center was dissapointing as there is no recourse for a sub par product. You live, you learn.

This is a very good product, and you can get it, along with any other products on Amazon up to $500 Free! Participate in this special promotion and get a free $500 Amazon Gift Card at this web site: awesomestufffree.com/amazon

I got this for my husband's birthday and he was thrilled. The first time he used it, he was helping our neighbor drill out some stumps and he said the torque was so strong it nearly ripped off his arm. (Slight exaggeration there, I hope.) Anyway. He loves it and highly recommends it.

I purchased a Bosch 24-volt combo tool kit from International Tool Corporation on the Internet. Form the very first time I used the Bosch kit, I was very disappointed in the Bosch cordless tool performance. I have used many Bosch corded tools with great performance and success. This is the first cordless tool I have used by Bosch and it is the worst performing cordless tool system I have ever used. Being a contractor I use a wide variety of tools and in buying the Bosch system I feel like I have been misled and used. The Bosch kit was more expensive, the batteries that are provided with the kit have short run times, it is difficult to find additional batteries and the longer run time batteries that I have found on-line indicate that I will have to wait weeks to receive them. In general, the performance of the tools is sub-standard at best. I feel I have bought into a tool system that will have to be replaced within a year, and combo kits are supposed to last at least 3 years. It will be a long time, if ever, that I will purchase Bosch tools again.

i am a contractor, i thought finally a cordless set with enough power to justify putting it in the truck and pulling it out on a job. it works great, plenty of power. one of my workers was pulling out a screw on a float over the water and the chuck backed off and fell in,(1 month old) a bosch mechanic said that bosch wouldn't replace it. the drill has to much power to use in reverse over the water, was what was told to me. after alot of anger they finally replaced it.the second thing is i bought it in june 2002 and was told the it was a higher price because you get a free sawzall. WRONG that ended april 2002 and BOSCH wont do anything about it. bottom line is no free sawzall

I am a contractor and I use these tools everyday. I have had this set for a couple of years now and I can say without hesitation it was a very wise purchase, I have no regrets. BOSCH is quality equipment and work flawlessly. I am still using the original batteries that came with the set and they are still going strong. I especially like the fact that the batteries recharge in just one hour and that they are Ni-MH.

I now have all the BOSCH 24 volt tools except the new jig saw, but will probably have it this spring. I would recommend these tools to anyone who wants quality well built tools.

I really like the Milwaukee 14.4 volt drill. It has remarkable power, resonable weight, and a nice working feel. However, the charger apparently failed to shut off and caused the melt down of two batteries. Would I consider buying another Milwaukee? Yes I would, but only if I had the assurance that the charger design has been modified within the past two years. By the way, new batteries are about $60. each.

I replaced my DeWalt 12 volt cordless drill after nearly 10 years of service with the Milwaukee 18 volt. I immediately realized that it was going to be nearly impossible to remove the battery without some assistance. I figured that my no-as-strong female hands just couldn't deliver the necessary squeeze power it would take to release the battery. So...I asked a strong male neighbor to give it a try, he failed. Ultimately it took my bench vice to apply enough pressure to the release buttons to do the job. After six months of struggle it hasn't loosend up so I'm taking it back to the store and replacing it with another brand. This time I'll try the battery removal process before I leave the store. As for performance, I loved the drill's power, battery capabilities and balance. I hope they fix the battery problem.

We bought this drill to replace our 1,100 sq ft redwood deck. The 9.6 V DeWalt we had was barely getting the 3" screws into the treated pine joists. I was tempted by various 18 V models, but their weight and price (the 18 V models had just come out and were still quite expensive) ruled them out. The 14.4 V models seemed to be the right blend of power, weight, and price, and this Milwaukee was available on sale. It made the deck easy work and my arm did not feel like it was going to fall off at the end of the day. I have noted two "convenience" faults: (1) a clip for spare bits is not present and (2) the forward/reverse button, which slides forward and backward, is not as convenient as the push buttons available on most other brands. Milwaukee touts the ability to install the battery in the other direction as a feature allowing access to tight spaces, but I have never encountered a space where this feature was useful. Overall, this is a really solid drill; it feels and sounds like it will last a long time.

Hi

I ordered this from Amazon on April 11th and at that time they said they will be delivering the product by May 21st. By June 21st they send an email saying that product is not yet in market so need more time and hence need my approval. So the delivery date was postpine to June 19th. Later they again said similar reason and postpone the date to July 17th and when I enquired about the reason through a web posting (the same product is readily available with Uncle Joe's in amazon) they said they will definitly deliver this time. But now (July 10th) I again received a mail asking me to authorise for a later date. This time is August 22nd. I again send a web posting asking for the explaination for keeping me waiting like this. Every time I get a automatic type reply saying the same thing. When I trust Amazon I expect some punctuality also from them. right?

PLEASE ORDER THIS ITEM DIRECTLY FROM AMAZON ONLY IF YOU CAN WAIT FOR YEARS.

I have been using this multi tool for a year and a half now and pretty much agree with hoang. Get the extra batts and you will be fine. I have used every attachment, the circ saw drains the batts the worst, followed by the router. I have used it to build a fence, remodel my daughters room, and drywall the garage. I am very happy with this tool, wish it came with a smart charger, and a trigger lock. (thats why its only 4 stars)

LIKES
1) Great price. This use to be 99$ back then.
2) Multi tool. 5 tools in one! Thats like 20$ each tool.
3) Comes with spare battery and a nice bag.

DISLIKES
1) Not powerful enough for the router, circ saw
2) Circ Saw doesnt cut really deep
3) Router is really miniature
4) Batteries die fast w/ the router, circ saw
5) A little on the heavy side