Drills Reviews

I've had this drill for about a month, and used it to drill 3/8" cast iron plate. This drill has plenty of power and torque, it will not bog down. It has a very comfortable fit in your hand, and has a two finger trigger which is very nice. If you need a strong hand drill, you won't disappointed.

One thing to watch out for is the trigger lock, if you don't pay attention you can set it without knowing it, and if the drill bit binds. You can not hold this DRILL, other than that, for the money a excellent drill

We've never owned a really good drill before so this one was such a pleasure to use. It just works. I haven't had reason to use the detatchable driving handle much but it's nice to have. The best part is the electric brake. It has prevented a lot of stripping. This thing is heavy and without a strong hand, the mixture of the powerful torque and something like a hole saw could rip this drill right out of your hand; that's where the electric brake comes in but watch your wrist. So, hold on tight because this is a great drill.

I just got this drill and used it to secure some oak planking on a bridge we are building. The drill had plenty of power to sink 4" lag screws through the 2" thick oak planks (after drilling pilot holes, of course) and into the underlying structure. An older Craftsman drill that another guy had couldn't even get the screws started into the hard oak planks.

The removable side handle is a must in situations where you need a lot of torque. I let someone else try to use this drill and the first time it spun itself right out of their hands. The grip is very comfortable with just a little bit of rubber to help prevent slipping and I really like the two finger trigger. As another reviewer mentioned, the brake works well and the drill stops quickly. Overall an excellent drill, I am very pleased with my purchase.

Yeah, yeah. Everybody buys these Mini Maglites. Everybody says they're the benchmark, but I disagree, having owned one a number of years and having had time to document it's failings. For one thing, mine simply quit working recently, and when I visited the Maglite website, I learned that returning it under the warranty would cost more in shipping than it would cost to buy a new flashlight. How irritating. My solution was to toss the thing in the trash, and what a pity, as the quality of construction is quite good, notwithstanding the broken switch. But that brings me to my second point: the switch. This is the twist-on/off kind. Do you tend to carry a flashlight in your pack? In your pocket? Then avoid this model. The jostling that occurs during routine movement tend to turn the light on, a bit of a hassle when you're in the middle of nowhere only to find your light has turned itself on and exhausted the batteries. Now if only the manufacturer would adopt the same kind of push-button switch as on the larger models, and perhaps change the bulb to LEDs, then this model would be perfect rather than merely dated. A better bet is to pick up one or two cheap plastic Rayovacs at the hardware or discount store--better switch, comparable durability.

To start, I'm a tradesmen who has to carry his lifelines on his belt. Not only on the job, but I'm also the unnofficial handyman of this apartment complex. Every time I even move to take my workbelt off, it seems to be a signal for a neighbor to bang on the wall saying something is on fire or won't open all the way. And the Mini Mag is the universal flashlight. It's sold everywhere, including this fine site and even family stores, and despite its legendary quality and design, is at the most ten dollars with included holster. I prefer the classic AA design, where CAN'T you find AAs? I've used one of these on my belt for about four years. It's an excellent tool, and I've never had one wear out on me. The bulbs, however, are the Achilles heel. The rest of the flashlight is military, police and trade quality, for civilian price. But these dang bulbs go orange after a couple weeks and last a couple months of casual use. I was considering shelling out forty bucks for a small LED, just to save the money on bulbs.
Then, walking through a sports outlet, I passed the flashlight section. And next to the usual Mini Mag with holster, which I own close to six of, was a Nite Ize accessory designed for this same flashlight. An LED bulb. Now, I've seen these online for about twenty to thirty bucks, and this is a ten dollar flashlight! But this one just sitting around on a shelf was eight bucks, about a buck less than the flashlight's shelf price. What the heck, I got one. To quote another review, my trusty old Mag is now a state-of-the-art torch, with nearly triple battery life of the old bulb. And LEDs, as all Mag-haters know, don't burn out or even go out when bumped.
So, for a total of twenty bucks, you get an American-quality LED beam that competes and plain out whips fifty-dollar imports with plastic casings. I wouldn't recomend this flashlight if there wasn't there was a way to fix its biggest flaw. Just get your hands on this LED adapter, and put it in like you would the standard bulb. Replace the mirror reflector, and stomp the old bulbs into powder. You won't be needing them, ever again. There's also a combo pack availiable, for the same price, that includes a push-button adapter if you've ever wished you could tap a red button on the end instead of twisting it on and off. I haven't tried it, but it comes with the LED, and for eight bucks?
And hey, the flashlight itself comes in six different colors. These things are easily replaced if one gets banged up or your room-mate/girlfriend draws all over it with Sharpie while she's on the phone. I've had these work perfectly even they have been through Hades and back, but some prefer a more formal-looking flashlight. Just take the LED out and put it in the new one, those bulbs last forever. And now, so will this flashlight.

This flashlight is the perfect blend of power,performence, and toughness. My Maglite took a couple hard falls-the diffrence-nothing. The holster is very handy and tough and wont rip easily. The spare bulb in the end of the flashlight just adds to its brilliance.The light of this flashlight is more powerful than some flashlights twice its size. I have tried other Brand-Named flashlights but none equaled this Maglite . You'd buy it if your smart.

I received it as part of drill driver combo last Xmas. I have used only a few times. It does what it is suppose to. LED - not sure if it is helpful. If you are driving a lag bolt in a countersink the LED is not bright enough. I have to stop and check every few seconds to make sure I don't over do it. Otherwise it works great!

I have used this impact for several months now and have no problems at all. Makita is one of few cordless makers that use nimh batteries and it really pays off. The LED light on this unit is a life saver as well. It is perfectly balanced with a great power to weight ratio.

I just got this tool today but from what I can tell it seems very good quality and Im sure it will do what I want . Plus the free drill that comes with it seems very good also . Thanks again amazon .

I ordered the 4-ft and 8-ft Tru-Grips to use as plywood cutting guides. I almost didn't order the 24" variety, thinking I wouldn't use it very much. But, I decided it might come in handy, so I ordered it.

My initial hesitation was well founded--I don't often reach for the 24" guide when I'm cutting plywood, as the 48" variety can handle smaller boards, and it's usually already out.

But I found an unexpected use for the 24" clamp: it is an excellent cutting guide for my Bandsaw. I have a 14" Ridgid, but I suspect if would work on any bandsaw table 24" and smaller. Clamps on and off in seconds, and has a grip that won't waver. I have no need for a fancy (expensive) fence system--this clamp works great.

I should also say that I love all my Tru-Grip clamps. I don't know how I would ever cut a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood without my 8-ft clamp.

Great job Tru-Grip!

This it a good straight edge, although it is hard to clamp down all the way to prevent a little movement. I called the company, and they sent me an extension to the handle which makes it easier to clamp down. They were quick with their response.

These clamps are great. I got this one, the 24 inch clamp and tool guide, and I also purchased the 48 inch (total 50 some inches) Pro guide with T Slots. I first saw the 24 inch clamp and tool on Norm Abrams New Yankee workshop, and he used them for a router edge guide. Then I saw him make a quick mortising jig, out of two of them for the router. These Griset clamps are a dream. They meet the criteria of being easy, quick, and accurate to set up and use. The list of possible uses is enourmous.
For example, I needed to trim the ends of some MDF. I used one of these clamps, with a square, grabbed the rear attaching brace, snugged it up to the rear of the piece, and then gave the front lever a push, and it easily clamped firmly to the piece. I took out my Bosch Jig Saw, and the guide was so accurate, that it enabled me to make a smooth cut. Finally I used a long board, with some medium grit, gave it a light sanding, and it was indistinguishable from the factory cut.
I find these to be so accurate, and easy to use, I could see a contractor using the 4 foot and 8 foot models to cut 4x8 sheets of plywood on the job.
I plan on buying more of these. I want to get another of the clamp and tool guide, so I can mate two of these up, for different operations, and I defintely want a pair of the back to back clamps for a quick way to secure pieces of sanding, and even gluing up.
It sounds expensive, for clamp and edge guides, when you think of buying several of them. Once you buy one or two, and start to use them, you will definitely be back for more.

Dewalt is good but why does Amazon have to bait us and mislead by its claim of a higher retail price of 189.00. It sells everywhere at no more than 99.00

Several years ago I retired my corded Makita drywall gun which I had used for years and bought the DeWalt DW272. Since then I have hung my share of drywall and this gun is fast and reliable! The 'dial-up' depth setting is simplicity itself and never faulters. The gun is light; powerful; well balanced; and rugged. For the average homeowner's drywall needs, this gun is all that he/she needs.

I recently purchased the DeWalt DC520 18v drywall gun (which can be very pricey), because I hate dragging around a cord. But for the overhead work I still grab the DW272! This is a fabulous screw gun for the money! If you are in the market for a corded drywall gun, get it, you won't be sorry.

Gotta agree with others who find this one of the best, easiest to use guns out there. I gave up on my Porter Cable gun after 2 switches gave out ($45 ea). This gun is comfortable and lightweight. 5 stars!

That should say someting right there! Guess I will make it 8! I spent more money on a biscuit joiner and a bag of biscuits than I did on this tool! I had a drill by the way! Received both at the same time, was not sure which would work better. Anyone out there looking to buy a buscuit joiner (new condition, only used to cut 2 joints, still in it case collecting dust now)?

The DowelMax jig is going to make biscuit joining a thing of the pastas soon as more people realize how great this jig is. Biscuits = sloppy joints in one axis along the length of the buscuit. Dowelmax gives you an accurate alignment in all 3 axis of the joint and is almost as fast as a plate joiner once you get the hang of using the jig (watch the video that comes with the jig and then spend 5 minutes practicing and you should be a pro.. it is that simple).
Take a chance on the price... it is worth it!

One additional thought, if you think the price is a little spendy, consider the price of a biscuit joiner collecting dust instead of making some! I am still trying to find Some use for that joiner.

This is easily the most versatile doweling jig on the market. It lets you place dowels relative to a reference face with great precision. Note that this is a lot more useful than a standard doweling jig that only places dowels in a self centering location. Also, you can place sequential dowels with similarly excellent precision.

The tool is easy to use and the accompanying documentation and video is excellent. The jig is well made and sturdy.

My only gripe with the product itself is that it would be somewhat easier to use if it were slightly larger. The jig is only about four inches long.

Having said that, it is an excellent tool and a nice complement to biscuit and pocket hole joinery. It adds a lot of flexibility to woodworking. I would buy it again.

I am relatively new to building furniture and decided to try out dowel joints. Based upon research and other reviews, I decided to try out the Dowelmax. What a surprise! Even us who are considered a novice had success with the very first joint. It is so amazingly simple and accurate, its unbelievable. I have several furniture projects lined up and plan on using the Dowelmax extensively. The folks at Dowelmax had my jig to me in exactly one week, so I can't say enough about their responsiveness. The overall quality of this tool certainly speaks for itself. (It should have come packed in a fine mahogany box as it looks more like a piece of jewelry.) I expect it will last long after I am gone. Thanks Jim and the rest of folks at Dowelmax!

These are great lights. I have had at least 5 Maglights in my life and each one has been there reliabily even after being dropped and on in the rain and in the mud...I am pretty rough on them. I even had one in the bedroom I found them so very useful. I am sure you will find them usefull too, no matter what size you get! Other than that, take care and good luck shopping.

This is the perfect size for around the house or in the car (we bought about 4 of them to keep them in both places). We use rechargeable batteries (2 - C size) and they work great. The light is just the right amount to see what you need to see without being a big bulky flashlight. Solid too - will lsat forever I think.

A typical example of a "good ole" American quality product! If you don't lose it I am sure your Grandchild will still be using it!

If you can deal with a cord, you can't do better than this drill. It's very impressive. Amazon is selling them a little high, so check around. I got mine on ebay for $80 brand new.

POWER is the word! I was on a ladder drilling with a 4" hole saw overhead. You can see where this is leading. Use to wimpy 18 volt guns I was 1 handing it when hole saw hooked up and stopped! My new magnum however kept on turning. I hung on for 1 turn and got clobbered on the following 2! I love my drill! It broke my wrist and I still say it's the best! It's the Top-Fueler's of screw guns.

The 302's long fault is that it needs a cord.
I have had this drill for 3 years and I don't use it much.
I use my cordless drills including my powerful Dewalt 988.
Today I used a 3 in holesaw to drill thru a 2 by 4,once I used the Dewalt,It struggled but drilled the hole. Then I used the
Milwalkee 302,it drilled It with ease and didn't even slow down.
I was very impressed.I will use the Milwaukee for the really heavy drilling from now on.I will use the cordless drills for
light to fairly heavy use (about 95% of the time). Why put unneeded strain on a good cordless drill?
If you are looking to buy a strong corded drill,look at Milwaukee first.

I had this kit for less than 1 month and cannot tell you how many times I have used it..I just built some shelves for my mom and it was a breeze having the cordless conveinence but furthormore the circular saw does not stop..I ripped down some boards with no problem and it has plenty of power. I did look at dewalt circular saw and the milwaukee is built 10 TIMES BETTER..
Dewalts cordless drills seem fine but I think milwaukee is built with tough standards..Buy this combo you will not be dissapointed...I know this was the best purchase I made!!! Hope this helps...

I tried an entry-level Ryobi quad-pack (at the Orange store) with circular saw, sawzall, 1/2 drill, and flashlight. Not all that bad for $199.00, but I needed a hammerdrill and wanted longer battery life as well as more precision tools. I bought the Dewalt saw and hammer/drill and found it was physically impossible to make one-handed 45's with the saw. Very clumsy "safety" switch, probably ends up being somewhat dangerous considering what you have to do to be able to finally pull the trigger switch.

I then discovered Milwakee's saw/hammerdrill combo on Amazon, all I cold find was the higher item count sets at the Orange store. I am extremely happy with my choice. Some of my oldest tools are Milwakee and I have no reason to get new as they are tough and capable ene though 25 years old (sawzall and 1/2" angle drill, both have lot of miles on them).

One thing no one has mentioned is the brake on the saw. Let go of the switch and it stops instantly, something my wormdrive and other circulars don't do. When it comes to safety, that is right up there as far as effective. A coasting cirluar can do a lot of damage, if it gets away from you. Safety switches and blade gaurds are questionable in the final analysis, but without them, the lawyers would be driving bigger cars, I suppose.

Another reason I bought this saw was, aside from the incredible conveinece, is it is light and well balanced and at 60, I'm just not as strong as I used to be. This saw is light comparatively speaking.

I am a homeowner and hobby woodworker. I purchased this set of cordless tools after using a friend's DeWalt set. Milwaukee sends DeWalt to the back of the line in quality, ruggedness, power, you name the category. You want to see a friend cringe with envy, pull this set out while he is using his DeWalt. I chose this set from shopping in the local stores and using Amazon's reviews. Thanks everyone who posted five stars, you all were right. This is one of my first reviews on anything, I usually don't take the time, but I just had to tell the world about this set of Milwaukee tools. Simply, these tools ROCK!

This tool bag works great and seems very durable. My only complate is the the shoulder strap cannot be detached. Other than that I am very happy with this purchase!

Larger than expected with more room than expected. Very high quality and would purchase again.

I was an electrician before I retired so the fact that this bag was supposedly designed with that particular trade in mind, drew me to it, initially. I've actually been searching for the perfect handyman/homeowner small project tote for awhile. I've tried several different things from tool boxes with wheels to other bags and small tool boxes, never really being satisfied. Most are either too big or too small or if you CAN get everything you need in it, you can't find it when you need it. This is the perfect item for my purposes. It holds everything I need in a small, convenient, easy-to-carry bag with a strong, comfortable handle on it. It comes with a box in a big pocket for small parts, miscellaneous screws and nails which is very convenient. It has a small pocket above that that is perfect for my reading glasses. I can't work on anything closeup without them anymore. The holder for the measuring tape is ideally positioned and it's loaded with enough pockets for every tool I routinely need to work on my honey-do list. I highly recommend this bag and it's also a bargain price. You can't go wrong.