Drills Reviews

This is a great blower for lightweight items (such as pine needles, leaves, etc.) - provided that they're dry and not built up with dirt, etc. Then you have to spend a bit more time on those areas, but even still, this is a great blower for the money. We use it about 10-20 times per year and have had it for more than 2 years; no complaints. 4 stars instead of 5 because dancing with the power cord is no fun!

Very light and the flex hose make it a breeze (no pun) to operate. Not alot of air power, but just enough for the area that we need it for. Lost my first one in Katrina, Amazon had the replacement.

My Grandmother and I both live in Oregon in separate households. She has a large gas powered blower but is unable to operate it because of the starting process and it's weight. She recently visited family in Minnesota who had one of these she was able to try out. She loved it and wanted one but none of the stores in Oregon carried it. Amazon to the rescue once again! Personally I could give a (you know what) less about Black and Decker products but this one works great for her. It blows, it's light weight, and oh yeah, it blows! The shoulder strap helps her carry it around when she is blowing all of the pine needles off of her driveway. I mentioned her and I blowing together because now I can operate the gas powered unit when I help her with yard work while she operates the FT1000. Side by side with the blowers we make quite a pair. Tried to get her to go into yard business with me but since she broke her hip just hasn't felt up to wandering around strangers yards all day blowing them.

This 6" vise by Delta is well made (now for the "but"), but as I'm finding out with Delta products, you better do your homework and make sure it fits your drill press. It doesn't fit the DP300 bench drill press. The slots don't match the table slots. If Delta just put the slot spacing dimension in their literature it would have helped. I'm going to use the slots on one side only and hold it with 2 bolts or clamp it to the the table with clamps. It also has no grooves for dowels (thanks Delta!). If it had the dowel groove and fit my DP300 table I would have given it 5 stars.

This is a quality vise as are most Delta products. Before ordering be sure this vise will fit on the table of your drill press. Those specs are not available on the website....call first. When I received this vise I had not realized it would not mount on my Delta model DP 250 drill press so I gave it to my son who is very pleased with it.

This low cost vise will hold whatever you need to drill a hole in on your drill press. The quick release lets you change pieces fast for repetitive drilling. Unfortunatly, it does not fit the Delta DP300 bench drill press .... It is much too large and the mounting holes do not line up...

I have been a " DeWalt" user for years, and have been happy the entire time. That is until I purchased the 5 peice kit. It was purchased in September of '02 and I have had to replace the entire kit with the exeption of the recip saw. I doubt i will be making any more DeWalt cordless purchases. There ARE better kits at better prices.

Tough call deciding to buy this DeWalt kit. At the time I did not need the reciprocating saw and if another manufacturer offered similar kit with cordless planer in its place then I would have bought the competitor instead. Good thing that it was also possible to purchase a 230V charger. Some things you don't think you will need until you have it, now every item has been used except the in vehicle charger. Tools are stored indoors and when taking tools to a job I would have to assess the job and decide what to bring for the day. Space is limited by a small stationwagon, as up to recently the tools only served for a home enthusiast, now they have to work for a living. Yesterday, didn't think I needed the mains Bosch reciprocating saw so it stayed at home. Trouble was there were wooden rail sleepers to saw up on site. None of the blades from the DeWalt kit would cut deep enough. Nevermind. Used the circular saw to saw cuts top and bottom. Finish off with the recrirocating saw what the circular saw did not reach. Well I was impressed. Or course it required a few changes of battery so good job I bought one extra on top of the supplied 3 batteries. Still have not used the vechicle charger yet. Next optional extras on the shopping list would be longer blades for the reciprocating saw if there is one, smaller cases to ease loading and unloading to the car.90% of the time I am only using the drill, jig-saw, and charger. I pray that DeWalt will come up with a cordless planer before I have to choose between Bosch or DeWalt. Better hurry up DeWalt because so far you are winning because you have an in car charger. Bosch has the tools I want although not collected into a kit form yet. But in all seriousness I would only need a planer 5% of the time and anyone getting this DeWalt kit won't be disappointed. Just like a well known advert, I never leave home without DeWalt.

I have been looking for an affordable but durable tool kit for a while, and this was well worth the money. The tools are made to work hard and definately help you get any job done right the first time. My first project used every single tool in the kit, and what a pleasure it is to swap tools/batteries in an instant. The round saw cut through 2x8's like butter, and the jigsaw made precision cuts for all of my trim work. The Drill is the best tool in the kit, because of the versatility in speed settings and high RPM which allowed me to drill right into concrete over and over again.
I highly recommend this kit to anyone looking for a great all-in-one package, and rest asure this kit will last for years...

We are a contracting company and have tried to stick to one brand of rechargeable tool at the same voltage so that the batteries are interchangable. This gets four stars because they do not last under heavy use conditions...the best we have managed is 11 months. We are carefull to fully discharge and fully recharge but they start to not a charge as long then will not charge at all. The other reason for the four stars is that they are way too expensive. It would not be so bad if it lasted for 24-30 months. We have 5 tools, each with 2 batteries and are replacing them about once a year.
Bring down the price and it would be a 5 star!

I purchased my DeWalt 14.4 volt half inch hammer/drill in 1996 at Lowe's in Lake Charles, LA and am still using the original two batteries which were included in the purchase price. While the batteries are 6 years old, they still work for me but don't have the run life they had when new (that is to be expected!). I keep one battery in the drill and the other in the charger which is plugged in all the time. I have not kept a record of the number of recharges but I estimate it has been two to three times a month. I have always run the battery pack down fully before recharging. One note, don't store them in the cold because they seem to not hold the charge as long as a battery stored in a warm place. I use the drill for home repair, remodeling, and hobby projects. I will order two more sometime in the future.

I am a General Contractor and we use these batteries primarily for 14.4 and 12 volt drills (you can break off the tabs and they work fine in the DeWalt 12 volt drills -- have done it for 5 years with no adverse affects on the drill). We also use the batteries for a 5" cutoff saw.

I highly recommend these batteries; however, you have to watch how and when you charge them. One reviewer rated them low; however, admitted that he "always topped them off." To get the longest life, you have to run them down or their memory will tell them to only hold a small charge at a time. I have had two for over four years. They still work, but must be recharged more often. With the fast chargers, they will charge in an hour. With two chargers on-site, two drills, and four batteries, we never wait for a recharge. I tried Firestorm based on sales rep recommendation at Home Depot (have the same connections to DeWalt tools). They charged a few times and will not hold a charge if left in storage for a week or two. A waste of money on the Firestorm even though they were half the price.

While this tool is quite handy and convienent, it is definitely not suitable for extended use.

This is a permanent addition to my tool box. I use it for everthing (obviously not when I'm framing). You can get a ceramic blade, carbide wood blade, and the regular thin kerf steel blade. It gets used quite a bit in the post-framing stages of a project. Handy and cuts though most materials. The other cordless saws are too big and I just use my circular (corded) for those jobs, this is small enough to go with me in my tool box. I love it becuase I'm on the job everyday, however I'm not sure how helpful it would be to the occasional user unless it was always charged which is not practical most times.

This is the third one of these I have bought over 20 years. They are great! I do abuse mine alot, but I still go back to buying the same saw. It is small, convenient. One thing is to get the carbide blade for it, they seem to last alot longer.

We've seen a lot of what you might call "voltage inflation since Makita introduced what were probably the first quality cordless drills way back when. First there were 7 volt drills, then 9.6, 12, 14.4, 18 and even 24 volt. These days no self-respecting contractor would show up on site with anything less than an 18v monster, and most homeowners think anything less than 12v or 14.4v is just, well, a sissy tool ;-)

Problem is that most of the inexpensive higher-voltage drills are junk, with less toque and battery life than this modest Makita. And those 18v monsters, while great if you're installing a deck, are just too big and heavy to hang for most uses- especially if you're not used to carrying 4x4s and sheets of plywood around all day.

This little drill has tons of torque, great battery life, and will outlast any cheap drill by far. It'll handle just about any common home task- hanging cabinets, installing hardware, whatever- and it's small and light enough that it's a breeze to use. If you've been looking at those similarly priced 12 and 14 volt Ryobis, or the cheap imports with names like "Central Tool", spend do yourself a favor- spend few more bucks and get this drill instead.

I have been using this as my only cordless tool for about 3 years. It has always been reliable and the batteries are still very good. I always run them to empty before recharging.

I am a woodworker, and I have finally decided to buy a bigger one, because on some projects with a lot of long screws to drive, this thing runs out batteries too fast. But I'm talking about driving a LOT of difficult long screws. It does all basic jobs well, but when you're driving screws or bolts where you have to lean your full weight into it in order to turn the screw, this drill will wear out batteries fast. For many screws of that difficulty, you would want a bigger drill.

But for anything short of that, this 9.6 Makita is great. I got it on a crazy sale at a home center for $69.99. I consider it to be the best investment of any kind that I have ever made. Its that good. I have done a lot of projects with it, with no problems at all.

As far as drills go, I own and use everything from a 13 amp hole dawg to a full 18 volt cordless system, but this is the one that I like to use the most. It's lightweight, and the battery seems to last forever, which is something I wish I could say about my 18 volt. The drill has excellent balance and the grip feels nice and smooth - no weird contours or diamond textures. The Makita batteries also have the smoothest button release. You really don't have to pinch hard to get the batteries to slide out. The trigger response is good for variable speed. It also has two basic settings for torque or speed and a good reverse/forward/safety switch. I wouldn't use it for heavier tasks like driving long screws, or boring large diameter holes in wood or metal, but then that's why there's higher voltages (i.e. 12, 14, 18, & 24) - isn't life GREAT. A word of caution for first time buyers: always buy quality. There has been a lot of marketing that hypes higher voltage cordless drills. Why get a 9.6 when you can get a 18 volt for the same price? You'll be tempted to go for the "home owner special," but always be aware. I've once used a friend's low-quality "14 volt" drill and I would wager that this little Makita could beat it in every way. And for the first reviewer who was disappointed with this drill, all I can say is sorry Clare, but I think somebody has dropped the drill hard. I should know. I've dropped mine several times, including a couple of times while standing on a 6ft latter. And guess what?? It can be fixed. All I did was open the little guy up and set the motor back into the gear housing. I've done this every time - after a hard drop - and it's easy for the mechanically inclined. Despite the abuse, the drill is still reliable today. My only gripe is that I think Makita should integrate a spare bit holder and give the plastic chuck more grip for hand tightening.

I've been using this set for 6 or 7 years now, on a variety of woodworking and home improvement projects. Beyond tightening up the allen screws every now and then, and replacing bits and phillips heads, this product has exceeded my expectations. To be brief, it's sturdy, compact, works as advertised, and is easy to use. Flipping from drilling to screwing is a snap--really, just slide the snap ring up, rotate the bit, snap the ring down and you're ready to go.

The drill bits are a little specialized, since they have a flat spot to set the allen screw against so it won't spin in place. I found a local distributor who was more than happy to sell me a couple sets of three bits in the sizes I wear out fastest (#6 and #8).

Go ahead and buy this product, you won't be disappointed.

Is it possible to purchase replacement drill bits for the "pre drill" unit. I need replacement drill bits. Thank you JB

After reading all the negatives. I had to give my opinion. The drill driver set is one of the best tools I have ever purchased. I've been a carpenter for over twenty years and I've spent a lot of money on tools. Good and bad. Whether your working in the shop or your building a deck in the backyard. This tool makes the job easier. You drill and counter sink the hole at the same time, flip the driver around and drive in the screw.
The shaft that fits in the drill has a locking collar, when you flip the driver around it locks in place and will not come out until you unlock it. The only problem I have with the tool is the shaft will occasionally fill up with saw dust and the collar will not lock. All you have to do is tap your drill and problem solved. This tool was well thought out, there is an allen key built in the end of the shaft. You can change your bits and screw tips right on the spot. They even give you extra drill bits and extra allen screws. $37.00 does seem to be a little high, I paid $29.00 a couple years ago at Woodworker's Warehouse. Buy the set it's money well spent.

When I read 2.25 HP being described as "powerful," I thought this must be some kind of sick joke. I use chainsaws all the time with my carcasses, and 16" ain't nothing. First of all, let's get one thing straight, o.k.? Electric chainsaws have their limitations. That being said, I could still use it for chopping down trees and roundin up firewood. However, as for my, shall we say, clandestine operations, I have found this Milwaukee variety of chainsaw to be less than cutting edge, pardon the pun.

I purchased this chainsaw in March 2001 and immediately noticed oil leaking. I notified a Milwaukee representative who informed me that a small leakage of oil was normal but if the oil reservoir was empty then I should bring it to a service dealer. I finally did this once I was convinced that it was leaking too much and after waiting about 4 weeks I was informed that the parts needed were still on back order. In turn for my inconvenience I was given a new chain saw. Unfortunately, this new chain saw is doing the same thing. I have put out an inquiry regarding this problem to Milwaukee but still have not heard back.
I must say that I am very satisfied with the way this chain saw works and easily cuts through large sized logs.

LBuono

when the time came to get a new chainsaw I saw Milwaukee made an electric. With the advent of portable power generators it made sence. The Milwaukee power chainsaw cuts everything it goes up against. The safety features are great and dont impede the "average" guy trying to get a "job done". Its tough, dependable (as your generator), and will cut anything its gas powered "cousin" will without all the "hoopla".

I bought this drill/driver because I already have a Porter Cable 19.2 Volt hammer drill. Getting two more matching batteries and a needed tool seemed like a good idea. But when I received the new drill, I discovered that it has smaller batteries with a shorter life. Both tools are 19.2 volt, but the drill/driver batteries have 1/4 to 1/3 less life. Very disappointed, and feel their should have been some disclosure.

I ordered this kit primarly for the two 19.2 volt batteries it came with as I already had a combo/kit with two bad batteries.
This item (9826) came with two batteries allright, but they are much smaller in size than the orgianal ones. The websight isn't clear that these are comsummer batteries and not commercial grade.

Fantastic item with plenty of power, durability, and long battery life. Is used in construction, and does the job very well.

Don't get this one, get the Stanley model above this. I have one, and also have the Irwin. The Stanley is better.

This is a very nice knife.

As was mentioned it is sometimes difficult to change the blade, you need to make sure push the blade ALL the way out and then press the blade release button. The spare blade holder is nice and big, I have about 5-6 blades there. The string cutter doesn't seem to work all that well, so I ususaly just use ther enitre blade to cut string.

This is an excellent knife, I have owned more than 20 in my career. (there must be many homeowners who own them now because of my absent mindedness) I would only say there is one knife better than this. It would be the Craftsmen knife of the same design because the Craftsmen is made of aluminum and weighs less and has a sleeker feel. If you can't get to Sears this knife is the next of kin.