Drills Reviews

First of all let me say that my experience is with a P-C Model 872, 14.4 V drill and not with the 9876. That being said I feel that my experience is so similar to those negative ones expressed here that it bears noting.
I bought the 872 new in April 2000. The clutch has stripped out three times, most recently yesterday. P-C tells me that they cannot repair it under warrenty this time. What a piece of junk!
Incidently, I am strictly a home user.

I have owned this drill for at least two years. Have not had one problem with it, but then I do take care of my tools and I use them as they were meant to be used, unlike some of the other people that are writing these idiotic reviews. One guy has stripped out three clutches? Others can't get any time out of the batteries? Maybe they should read the owners manual and learn how to charge and discharge batteries. I have this drill and the 9.6 volt and neither have given me any problems. Having said all this the only thing I would do differently is I would buy the 1/2" drill, just because of that few times that you need to use a larger bit. For the difference in cost it would be worth it.

Like most things in their product line it is excellent....
Works just like you would expect and I see no problem...

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 own Dewalt, Bosch, Hitachi, and now unfortunately a Delta - so I know a good miter saw and how they should work. This thing has been a headache from the start. There is no arbor lock for blade changes, it constantly needs adjusting if you really want a true 45 or 90 cut. Good thing I bought this as a light duty saw for shoe moulding and little stuff like that instead of dragging out one of my 'real' miter saws. I don't know what the deal is, I've tried different blades and there isn't much run-out but the cut quality is much less than the other saws with the same blade. It also runs after the drigger is depressed for a second or two before it kicks off, and the base get's energized from time to time and can give you a small tingling shock when you touch any of the bare metal on it. If you only have one had to carry it with you have to put it down on the miter adjustment handle and picking it up with one hand puts pressure on the same spot. The handle is on the bottom of the back instead of on top like the dewalt, the fence is way to small, the table doesn't slide smoothly at all and the bevel gauge is useless for setting a precise angle without at least a hand bevel gauge to check it. There is a reason the other 10" saw cost more, you get much better quality and three times better function. I could care less if I drop this think now or it gets rained on because I'd love a reason to get another 10" Dewalt and put this were it belongs, a landfill.

This saw is great for light work, etc. Don't buy it if u plan to use it for heavy projects or for projects that require extreme accuracy. The bevel part of the saw is hard to read, and even harder to adjust. Don't use this saw for crown molding. Even though it has positive stops for crown molding, they are not as accurate as they should be. Oh, and make sure u have all the pieces if you buy it. Mine came without the little knob for adjusting angled cuts. Also, take to note this saw does not come with any clamps for securing yer work piece. This is unsafe (i suggest getting one or two, before using the saw. They are available at Sears for about 20 dollars)

Other than mentioned above, this saw gets that job done when used properly. It also is a good saw for beginers

After getting by for years with a miter box for odd projects, this is my first power miter saw and it is super. OK, it hasn't got all the features you can think of, but it should cover all the projects I expect to do in the next 20 years. It is solid and easy to use, not too heavy or space-consuming for me to put away somewhere after use.

It appears that (according to the CPO customer support) all CPO Bosch items sold through Amazon are reconditioned. Buyer Beware; Unless I missed the small print, I had not been aware that I purchased a reconditioned item until I received the package. The CPO representative looked up the item on Amazon & agreed with me. Needless to say they (CPO) did not give me a hard time about returning the item, however I need a NEW cordless drill, & I wasted weeks time waiting for this unknowingly reconditioned item to get to my house only to send it back. I will think twice about purchasing another item of this nature through Amazon. (one star rating reflects Amazons product description)

This drill is my favorite. It so smooth and refined that it makes drilling or screwing easy and fun. The great thing about this drill is that it is just one of the most durable drill on the market. I've purchased the 18 volt Dewalt drill and it unfortunately pales to the Bosch drill. Take for example, I accidentally dropped my drill from the top of my 8 foot step ladder onto a concrete foundation and it still worked just like new. My Dewalt on the otherhand is another story. I left my Dewalt drill on my toolbox which couldn't have been more than a foot high. My dog accidentally knocked it off and it cracked at the base where the battery is inserted. I couldn't believe it. A $200.00 drill that was supposedly heavy duty obviously was not the case. Like most professionals, I'm busy so I didn't bother trying to get it fixed but just made a point about not purchasing Dewalt products anymore. As for my future purchases, my first choice is Bosch.

I owned a 12V Dewalt...and the clutch gave out. Not with this one (it has metal gears). The drill is solid. I used it three weeks straight doing remodeling (drilling and screwing), without a single charge. It actually has enough torque to replace a corded drill for most applications! Unless you're a professional (buy the 24V), this is the drill!

I purchased this tool for 1 specific job and it was perfect. I completed the task in 1 day. The assembly was easy and the instructions were perfectly clear

This drill press is great. It goes together easy, has lots of power, and is heavy and strong. (Note to the Reviewer: Phil "alienspine", this drill press is not ment for saw bits or bits larger than two inches in diameter.) This tool has plenty of power when used properly. Also, I reccommend not using spade bits with this tool-they tend to wobble. Great tool for the money.

This is an excellent tool for the home shop. It is simple, well made and has the features that are important in a basic drill press - smooth spindle rotation and a solid frame. The gear driven table height adjustment and flexible lamp make this drill a pleasure to use. The owners manual is clear and very well illustrated. Assembly is simple and takes less than an hour. I used acetone instead of oven cleaner to clean the spindle before mounting the chuck. This was a very satisfying purchase.

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.

based on the reviews, there seems to be two completely different schools of thought on this product. My vote goes with "junk". Everything is very loose, the chuck is not true, so it turns in an eliptical motion (instead of a circle) and while I haven't had problems with the chuck falling off, the method of installation called for in the instructions "pound it in with a rubber mallet" --seriously!-- makes me certain it is only a matter of time. Also, you have to tighten the chuck with the key extremely hard and the bits still slip nearly every time.

I purchased the Delta 11-990 drill press for small commercial shop use about two months ago because of very limited space and previous experience with a similar model. The newer model DP300 was temporarily out of stock and the distributor was offering a discount on the 11-990 because technically this model is two years old, even though both have exactly the same specifications. They are the low priced "Shopmaster" grade, manufactured in China, supposedly at Delta owned facilities. The drill press came with a tool tray and magnetic mount worklight. The tool tray was unnecessary for me, so it went in the recycle bin to be reincarnated. The worklight is much more useful when stuck to a 4-11/16" square junction box cover and hung from a hook on the pegboard at the edge of the workbench than on the drill press itself. I have this drill press mounted to a mobile base I made from a Makita 2703XL table saw stand, 3/4" plywood and 2" locking swivel casters. This works great because it gives the proper height and stability for safe operation and it doesn't take up valuable bench space.
The 11-990 was easy to assemble and even came with the bolts to mount it to a stand. The thick oily coating on the parts wiped off cleanly with a rag dipped in regular paint thinner.
I cleaned the spindle and chuck taper bore with acetone before mounting the fully opened chuck with a wood block and mallet and have had no problem with the chuck falling off while in use. The chuck is not a Jacobs or other name brand but the geared collar turns easily by hand without binding for initial bit insertion before tightening with the key. Runout is minimal and I have had no problem with bits slipping in the chuck jaws after tightening.
The drill press runs smoothly and quietly with no vibration or spindle chatter. The motor is a 1/3HP, 1720 RPM, capacitor start.
Delta says the maximum hole size in steel with an HSS bit is 3/8" but I have used it on several occasions to drill 1/2" holes in 3/8" thick mild steel plate in low speed [620 RPM] without stalling or any sign of motor overheating. It has also been used with a 1-1/2" spade bit to bore holes in 2X and a 3-1/2" hole saw in 1X and 3/4" plywood. Changing the five belt positions is simple and only requires loosening one thumbscrew. The speed range is 620-3100 RPM.
The table swivels 360-degrees and tilts somewhat easily by removing the locking pin and loosening a 3/4" hex bolt. Rockler sells a ratcheting handle for about five dollars that supposedly fits this table and replaces the bolt, eliminating the need for a 3/4" socket wrench. I think I will probably try it.
The 4" Delta 20-622 vise is also a nice accessory if you drill metal frequently. I have it permanently mounted to the table with 1/2" bolts at a slight angle to the chuck.
Overall, I feel the 11-990 is a good value. For less than two hundred dollars, it seems surprisingly well made and should be able to meet the demands of most small shop or home use.

I am impressed with this drill press. I think it operates very well. It is quite and smooth during operation. I agree with one review that the light is a good idea, but it slides and won't stay in place. The others that commented and said that everything is loose, "You better check your manual" you must have done something wrong.

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.

This is not a drill I use very offen, and I would expect that it would have lasted a little longer. While running in a screw, I stripped out the gears and now have a tool that will cost as much to repair as it will to replace. Also the paddle switch is not very well designed, for a drill that is intended for cramped spaces I would expect something that was less prone to getting bumped or caught up, also the drill continues to spin long after you let off the paddle. This drill is fine for drilling small holes in cramped spaces that don't need to be damaged, that's about it.

Excellent drill. Allows you to get in tight spots with ease. I borrowed one from a friend and after using it, I had to get one for myself. This is a handy item to have. Easy to use. Lots of power.

I like this drill a lot, but I use it for what is is--a close quater drill to get into tight places. It amazes me that someone would try to drill 1 inch holes with it. Would you try to haul 5 tons of iron ore in your 1/2 ton pickup truck. That won't work either.

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. Rather than wasting $120 on this tool, go to your local machine shop, pay an old timer $25 to show you how to properly sharpen a drill bit, and take him out for a coffee afterward. It will be money better spent. The bits I sharpened on this machine, especially the split points, walked all over the material and could barely drill aluminum. The method to sharpen a split point is dismal. The only useful feature on this tool is the plastic v's on the side that tell you whether the drill is at 118 or 135 degrees. Do yourself a favor and buy a bench mounted belt/disc sander and have someone who knows show you how to do it by hand. I guarantee you will be much more satisfied with the results. This tool is truly a piece of rubbish.

The Drill Doctor is a great tool, it works just as advertised if the follow the instructions given.
Wonderful manual and a great video to get you the the sharpest bits in town!

After viewing the video and reading the instructions, the product was very easy to use. I was able to sharpen a set of bits and they seem to be as sharp as the day they were bought 40 years ago. I would recommend this product to any do-it-yourself person