Drills Reviews

I bought the DW124 several years ago, when it was the only drill of it's kind. The other alternative at that time was mainly the stubby Milwaukee Hole Hawg, which was what I had used up until that point. Makita also made a Hole Hawg look-alike but wasn't readily available in my area back then.
The Hole Hawg was fast and had lots of torque but the short body length made it difficult to control. The bulky gear case behind the chuck and the extended motor housing made it too wide to get into really tight spots. It also required you to stay on top of it at all times or it had a nasty tendency to wrench your wrist and shoulder, smash your hand against a wall, bruise your kidneys or pound your upper thigh mercilessly all day long. In addition, when working from a ladder it could throw you off if the bit began to bind up and you didn't react quickly enough.

I now use the Dewalt drill on the job almost every day and even though it is well worn, it has never given me any trouble.

It is fast and has plenty of torque. The long body and handle gives the operator more leverage, making it much safer and easier to control, which is probably why both Milwaukee and Makita copied it and came out with their own similar models last year. I have tried both the new Makita RAD and Milwaukee super hawg and even though the DW124 has a lower 8-amp motor and slightly lower RPM's in both high and low speeds, I still prefer the DW124. Mainly because the Dewalt's chuck is further forward and the top leading edge of the gear case is beveled, so with the bail handle removed, as it always is on my drill, it will fit into even tighter spaces than the others will.
The DW124 is reversible and has two speed ranges. It utilizes a clutch when in low speed to prevent the torque of a jammed bit from snapping your wrist.
I use it with hole saws up to a 4-5/8" with either a 6", 12" or 18" extension. Dewalt says the maximum hole saw size is 6". It is also used with self-feed auger bits up to 4-5/8" and "nail eater" ship auger style bits up to 1-1/2 X 18".
The DW124 kit consists of a steel storage case, adjustable bail handle and a threaded side handle.
An important advantage that Dewalt has over other power tool manufacturers is easy access to repair parts and technical information. You can get parts and tech bulletins online, direct from Dewalt's Service Net. Parts are also available through Grainger Parts Operation. This can be a huge time and cost saving convenience for owners that repair their own tools, as I do.
A drill like the DW124 is a necessity for contractors working in the plumbing, electrical, HVAC and pipe fitting trades, because with the fast pace of construction and high cost of skilled labor these days, you really can't compete or work efficiently without having at least one on the job.
This is a very solid tool and I will definitely be buying another when the time comes. I would also have no problem recommending it to anyone who works in the trades and needs to drill many large holes quickly.

I use alot of tool and seem to like the Dewalt products the best as far as performance and wear and tear. If I have a choice between Dewalt and another product, my choice is always dewalt! Great quality product at an affordable price.

I bought this drill to use in my work. I works great. It has a good reputation in the trades too. I have spoken with plumbers who use it and they like it a lot. It is a USA made tool and is built to last. I wish all my tools were made this well. I got this drill at Tool-up with free shipping. They are in CT. It was 299 and I love it.

Good set for working with soft metals with one caveat: upon penetration these bits pull the worked piece towards the drill quite agressively. Otherwise they are very effective, and the extra bits offer that assurance that you won't have to pause a project should you accidentally break one of those sizes.

The case is a bit bulky compared to other drill sets, but that's actually a good thing -- it's deep enough and there's enough extra space above the large bits to hold a 1/4" cordless screwdriver/drill chuck adaptor. (YMMV, mine is a Skil #92170)

DEWALT DW1263 13-Piece Cobalt Split-Point Drill Bit Set: Nice set product and packaging wise!

I bought htese because my old drill kit was missing a few bits and they were getting old. I had no idea how dull they were until I bought these. The effort required to drill holes was minimal. No more pushing hard and smoking holes from the heat of a dull bit.

Sure, I could have sharpened my old bits, but for the cost of a Drill Doctor, I can buy enough of these sets to last a lifetime.

I purchased this drill because I wanted a powerful 1/2" drill. I like this drill because its rpm's match its purpose. I originally purchased the same drill with 2 speeds and the hammmerdrill function. I thought it was to big and really didn't like worrying about something else to break. The rpm range is ideal for heavy drilling. I received the drill, contractor bag and a set of spade bits for $99.00. I tried the drill out using a 1 inch spade bit through an 8 inch oak branch. It drilled straight through and never bogged down. I am glad I got the 7.8 amp drill versus the 6.7 amp drill. I really recommend this drill.

This is the toughest drill I have ever used that stands up to everyday use. Be careful to use the handle, that this drill comes with, otherwise the drill will easily overpower you!
Enjoy!

Upon initial examination, the Dewalt DW235G is a very well made 1/2" drill. I purchased it because I needed to drive bits (.75", .875", 1", 1.25" w/ 1/2" shank) that were large enough for toggle bolts fit through. It did what it is supposed to without a hitch. Since then, I have used it for a variety of household projects. I can recommend this drill to anyone who needs a 1/2" drill without reservation.

The batteries for this thing are ~$85 each. When you consider that, and the fact that this is an awesome drill, it adds up to an excellent deal. It comes with a smart charger so you don't fry your batteries and the thing has power that goes on and on and on. I can't wait until they get more of these in because I'm getting another one.

I bought this drill for my husband and it is great. He has worn out every other drill that he has used such as snap on, 12v porter cable, and several other drills but this one stands up to the test. I am hoping this will be the last one i will ever buy and so far i have nothing but praise for it. The batteries last forever and its great that it comes with two so there is no waiting. This drill is also a great price. I shopped around and this is by far the best deal. I just cant say enough about this drill. I hope this was helpful in making your purchase.

I am a professional developer/renovator. Working in old houses often means tough studs and hardwood floors and timbers that need some agressive power and other battery powered drills i have used failed the test, and this one has the strength and stammina to mix thin set mortor for the ceramic tile jobs we often do. This will be my third purchase of the same drill. My plan is to include this item in every work truck's tool box. If you only have one power tool, this out preforms a skill saw in use and versitility.

I LOVE this drill. It requires no cords or electricity. It's lightweight and simple to use. It's simply the handiest tool when you need to make a hole in most surfaces.

This is one of the most used tools I own. It is so much easier than hauling out the power drill. It does take some skill to use well but it is SO handy that it is worth the effort. I think I need another one so I have twice the chance of being able to find it. Mine is Yellow BTW.

We use this all the time for hanging pictures, repairing furniture, etc. It's easy to use, it's reliable and steady and is the perfect tool for anyone who needs a small drill for home projects. We considered buying a power drill when we bought our house a few years ago but we've found that this hand drill works fine for everything we do here.

I bought the Kreg pocket hole kit and love it. It comes with a few dozen 1 1/4 screws, and I bought these thinking they are the same. These are the Pan Head, which are nice, but the ones in the kit are washer heads that have more purchase on the bottom of the pocket. The pan heads will sink into the wood, even using walnut and cherry. I have not had one fail yet, but I worry that they sink about 3/16" deeper into the joint than the other screws. Visit the Kreg site to find the whole assortment of screws and plugs.

I have just built an entire set of kitchen cabinets using hickory, which is very hard in case you haven't worked with it before. I did not have one twist-off or spin-out with these screws. Excellent screws.

I bought these with the Kreg Pro Pack Pocket Hole Kit. They do the job well. Other sizes are available as well. It is a good idea to stock up on this 1 1/4" size, since they are intended for use in the most popular wood size of 3/4". That way you get 1/2" bite into the joining wood. These fine threaded screws are made for hardwoods. The point is so sharp that they will go into Red Oak without having to drill a pilot hole. Even though the Kreg jig comes with a drill bit with a tip on it, that bit does not even penetrate the first piece of wood, let alone the joining piece. They depend on the sharpness of these pocket hole screws to make their way through even the hardwoods. The shaft is narrow enough so as to not cause a split.
A coarse thread is available for soft woods as well.
These Kreg screws are well made, and do the job well. Hope this helps.

I have only used this drill a few times, but I am impressed with its capabilities so far. I used to have a chicago drill, and this is like a cadillac compared to that one. my coworkers have smaller Dewalts & Milwaukees, but this works as well as those do, just a little heavier. I love the instant stop feature, saves stripping screws!

I'm a homeowner and occasional DIYer. I do appreciate a good tool and splurged on a previous version of this drill 3 years ago when I needed a cordless. It has been a workhorse... it handles all of those "around the house" tasks without breaking a sweat. It's lightweight enough to be very handy to just grab and use, and laughs at my typical jobs- hanging stuff on walls, putting Ikea furniture together.

The controls are really well designed- the direction switch is in easy finger reach, but never gets in the way. The gear shift is on top and thus easy to see, reducing the number of "oops" moments. The speed control is very precise and easy to fine-tune, and the drill stops instantly when you let go of the trigger. The body is narrow enough to fit in tight spots, and the thing is light enough to hold and control at arm's length without being a weightlifter.

But I came to have a new appreciation of it last weekend when I was replacing the decking on our back deck with Trex composite lumber... I used this drill to pre-drill and drive all of the screws for a 300 sq. ft deck. The power was plenty sufficient, and the excellent batteries were able to keep up with me- by the time I ran one out, the other was charged and ready to go- I was doing the cutting and carrying the lumber too, so it got regular breaks. The battery life was still excellent after three years of neglect- being left uncharged for long periods of disuse, or alternately staying in the charger for weeks at a time. I had only rarely done a "full cycle", and yet I felt like all the power was still here.

Anyway, I've been really, really pleased- unless you're a pro that *really* needs a lot of power and run-time, don't be seduced by higher-voltage drills- this is likely to match the endurance and needs of even a relatively serious DIYer, and you'll have something a lot lighter and nimbler than one of those monsters.

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVE MAKITA TOOLS ,SO I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MY NEW DRILL,I ALREADY HAVE AN 18V AND THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEING QUITE A BEATING, FOR THE PASS 2YRS NOW,AN MY ,IT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF EVERY CHALLENGE.THIS 12V IS NO DIFFERENT.THOUGH IT IS MUCH LIGHTER,WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I BOUGHT IT ,AND IT FITS MY GRIP,AS IF IT WERE COUSTOM MADE FOR MY HAND,THE TOOL IS VERY COMFORTABLE AND EASY TO USE,I AM A FULL TIME W/WORKKER,AND THIS TOOLS,MAKE MY WORKERS ONLY WANTS TO USE IT,I AM NOT SORRY THAT I BOUGHT IT ,ONLY THAT I TOOK SO LONG TO BUY IT..MY NEXT BUY WILL BE A SLIDEING COMPOUND,12" MAKITA OF COUSE...FLETCH..

Milwaukee always represents quality and this set is no exception. Well worth the expenditure.

If you want good, really really good, drill bits - GET THESE! The differance between these and cheap ones is unbelievable. Worth every penny. Accurately sized, finely machined, SHARP, properly ground angle, and somewhat larger sized index case with size markings that are easy to read. I first used these to drill some holes in metal for tapping. Granted I was using a drill press but I hardly felt any resistance at all in the handle. A perfect clean hole.

Good drill bits are getting harder and harder to find! These are the fastest and smoothest bits I've found for drilling metal hands down.

i'll preface this by saying i'm a professional carpenter and make my living using my tools.

i have owned or used worm-drives from skil, makita, and bosch, as well as sidewinders from porter-cable, makita, hitachi, skil, and dewalt. this milwaukee is my saw of choice in nearly every situation--it is light (4+lbs less than a worm-drive), powerful, accurate, and the tilt-lok handle is a great feature. at first, i thought i'd not use the tilt-lok often, but i end up using it in a different position several times a day. another feature easily overlooked but crucial is the positioning of the secondary handle. i most often cut one-handed anyway, but when i do grab the front handle, my hand and wrist are far enough forward to stay well away from the blade sightline.

my only (small) complaint is that i'd prefer the dust collection to be a bit more organised. porter-cable saws do a great job with this, and i wonder why the other manufacturers can't seem to get it together.

if i had it to do over again, i'd spring for the blade brake model--the blade can do a lot of damage in the 8-10 seconds it takes to spin down.

I received this saw as a birthday present, allowing me to retire my old underpowered and inaccurate Black & Decker "Sawforce" saw. The Milwaukee arrived in perfect condition and purred like a kitten from the start. I have been very impressed with every aspect of this thing, most notably:

The tool-less ability to change the base plate angle as needed;

The POWER. It cuts wet framing lumber and quarter sawn white oak with equal ease;

With all that power, I have not experienced any binding, stalling, kicking, burning etc;

The tilt lock handle is fantastic. I cannot conceive of using a saw without it now that I have it;

The blade that came with the saw is quite good.

Overall I cannot say enough good things about this saw. Its relatively light, very accurate, powerful, and feels like it will outlast me. Buy one yourself and you won't be sorry!

I bought this saw about 5 months ago to replace an old Makita and have used it almost daily since. I did a lot of research before buying using online reviews and magazine comparisons. After reading the reviews and having previous experience with other Milwaukee products, I opted for this one.

The tilt-lok handle makes it very easy to change positions, allowing for maximum control and comfort while sawing. I especially like the adjustable front handle. It makes beveled cuts a snap, keeping maximum leverage right where it needs to be. Once you use it, you will miss it if you have to use anything else. With 15 amps, I haven't found any wood too tough to cut with it even with a dulling blade. I purchased the edge guide about two months ago. This is a necessary addition if you cut lots of plywood.

I am becoming quite a Milwaukee "fan-boy". Every tool of theirs I've bought has been a winner. As long as they keep making tools with this kind of quality, performance and features, I'll be a user for life. This saw will be a welcome addition to any serious woodworker's shop or contractor's truck. If you're still undecided, give this saw a try. You won't regret it.

The drill functions great, but from the begining I had problems with what I beleive to be the charger. It could be the batteries but I doubt it becouse at this point even the lights on the charger are completely out. Im willing to purchase another kit at $250 + s&h only becouse now Ill have two drills and four batteries.(Im hoping my batteries are fine)

Other Drills used: corded bosch hammer drill, corded hitachi, and cordles 14.4v and 18v Ryobi.

.... The first time I was using the Porter Cable, I thought someone was charging the battery when I wasn't looking. This thing just keeps going. The power is unreal. I just ordered a second one, does that tell the story?

Received yesterday and I used it putting the new Brazilian cherry floor with walnut borders at night. This is my first ever cordless drill/driver. All I have for the past ten years for drilling is a less than $40 Craftman 3/8" corded drill. It has served me well. I did a bit of research on what I will get for this cordless drill/driver. I went to stores to handle similar models, DeWalt, Bosch, Makita, etc. I picked this one for the value and quality. It is a very nice tool at first look. I wish that I had it when putting the floor in our master bedroom. It's very comfortable to handle, although it's on the heavy side. But for this class, it's normal. Well balanced. I used it drill counter sinking holes with 3/8" plugs in Brazilian cherry since the air floor nailer could not face nail it (it's so hard), I have to set nails once a while even when blind nailing. The drill operates smoothly. Love the electronic brake feature. The clutch setting for driving the screws is also very nice. I used a magnetic bit holder instead of the one comes with it, worked well. Have not tried hammer drilling just yet. Only thing I would ask for is a level bubble, not that I have to rely on that, just I am so used to with my other drill and often to get an idea how much I am off when drilling.