Drills Reviews

I compared the Makita 6336 with the DeWalt 983, literally. I also compared the Makita 6336 with the Bosch 3660 and Porter-Cable 9878. Handsdown, the Makita was a better drill over-all and they got my money. The Makita had much better speed control (and smoother setting shifts), better torque control (unlike the Dewalt with none at the lower speed), and a better battery (2.6Ah vs. 1.7 with DeWalt and 2.0 with the others, not to mention Makita's NiMH). Makita's new ratcheting chuck, similar to DeWalt's, was an added bonus.
As for top-end speed, unless your doing precision work (which would drive me to a drill press anyway), I saw no performance differences. And for high torgue, if I need to drive 1/2" lag bolts into railroad ties, I'll hire somebody. Bottomline, go with what you need, not with what someone wants to sell you.
My ranking, Makita #1, Bosch #2, DeWalt #3, and Porter-Cable #4.

This is a great drill! I have no complaints about the drill.

This drill, like nearly all Makita tools, is flawless. Makita is especially good with cordless tools and they have led that field for a very long time. I am a professional theater designer/builder. I only say that to inform readers to the kind of work both my people and myself perform. Very exacting work usually on finish materials, and of course, under pressure. Equipment that is unreliable or worse, unpredictable, would do us in. If you look into any of our work trucks or job boxes you will find a predominance of Makitas.

With these drills, runout is lower than other manufacturer's corded drills that are more expensive. Chuck breakage is, well, I'll let you know if it ever happens. I have about 12 drivers and drills and I gave my oldest driver to my field supervisor as it looked like it would be the first Makita unit to "crap out". According to my Sup, it's still going strong helping him on the weekends with his household repairs.

Now the caveat. While it's always a good idea to use a drill for drilling, it isn't always a good idea to use them for driving. If your installing 3 inch screws with a drill, your working too hard and taking unnecessary risks. Both to the finished surface and also to the screw head. I would like to recommend anyone reading this to consider the Makita Impact Drivers. They are the finest tools I own. We literally cannot live without them. With an impact driver, the load on your wrist is a fraction or what it is with a drill. This extra load means if you miss, there's a huge dent in your work piece. But with the impact driver, you can cup the phillips head with your opposite hand and catch it if it "cams out". "Cams out" meaning the bit popping out of the screw head with a sudden twisting motion when the screw hits resistance. But the impact driver rarely cams out because with every rachet of it's mechanism, it reseats itself into the screw. With a drill, it's the force from your wrist and arm, (and sometimes your shoulder and back) that keep the bit in the screwhead. Not a great situation when your working extended off balance from a ladder! With the impact driver, I have hung off the side of a scaffold holding the impact driver in one hand, and tightened down a 6" long 1/4" diameter lag bolt that we missed without a struggle. And YES, with the quickchange 1/4" hex drive, screws, drillbits, sockets, and lots of other things snap right in and work great.

What I don't get is why nobody seems to know about these tools. Every new job site I go to brings a new group of subcontractors to me asking about the impact drivers. They hear the rachet sound, (sort of like a high pitched version of the impact drivers used at tire centers) and they come in to see what the noise is. Then they try it, love it, and go try to find one. Nobody carries these things. I try to send all of them to Amazon but half of them don't have computers. The Makita Impact drivers have to be the most poorly advertised tools around. But the word is spreading slowly. I also apoligize to anyone reading this expecting a review only on the drill and hearing so much about the impact drivers. But most people who are looking to drive screws with a cordless drill would be better served to try an impact driver and they probably don't even know about them so I am hoping they bump into this article and then with an understanding of this option, they will make an intelligent decision.

In closing, what we do is pre-drill with these drills and drive in the screws with the impact drivers. Each guy carries both. I know it sounds like I work for Makita but I don't. Week after week I loan my impact to someone for 5 minutes. With no pre-drilling, they drive a 3" or 4" screw into a 4 X 4, turn to me and smile.

I'm not particulary brand loyal, but these people really build some fantastic tools. Not all Milwaukee stuff is great, but this drill has more power than most cordless drills, can take massive abuse, and lasts a long time on a charge. It has weaknesses (the triggers destroy themselves) but all in all a super top notch unit. I've been through several other brands, but this one is a keeper. I'm becoming convinced that if you want indestructable heavy duty tools, milwaukee is the way to go. All of my other milwaukee tools have taken such abuse it is amazing, but not even a dent or scratch.

If you have a second battery and the quick charger, you never have to stop working. If you need to drive a 18" long 1" dia auger bit through huge timbers like I've done, this unit will do it effortlessly.

Ive owned the Milwaukee 18 volt drill for over twelve months
now and its without a doubt the best cordless Ive ever used!

Just to name a few I have driven 150-3inch screws into hard
wood on a single charge! Ive drilled 5/8 inch holes into
concrete 8 inches deep (I dont have the hammer model) too
many times to list. Ive drilled 1/2 inch holes into marble.
basically no screw or drill material has evan slowed it down.

The tool has been under daily use for 12 months with many days
of up to 6 hours usage. The first two days I used the Milwaukee
it felt heavy but I havent noticed it since. The balance is
incredible especially working overhead with the battery reversed.

My drill has hit the deck dozens of times with one 15 foot fall
off a ladder onto a concrete driveway, the only damage was
a few deep scratches in the body.

If possible the tool seems to get stronger with age!
Milwaukee has a real winner here and over all I say it smokes
the yellow and blue brands (I own both)

My only commplaint is that the Milwaukee emblem is wearing of the side.................

After using the Milwaukee 18volt drill for over 7 months now I am simply blown away. Just to name a few, I have driven over
150, 3" inch screws into hardwood on a single charge, drilled 5/8 inch holes 8inches deep into concrete with ease (even though I do not own a hammer model) drilled 1/2 inch holes into marble and drove 1/4 inch lag bolts that were 10 inches long, just to name a few.

I have dropped the tool several times including one 15 foot drop onto a concrete driveway with nothing but scratches resulting.

The balance of the tool is excelent especially when working overhead. The weight of the drill seemed heavy on the first
and second day I used it, but I havent noticed it since.

For 7 months I have used this tool everyday and many times that included 5-7 hours of use in a day, the tool performs no differently than the first day I used it, if anything it seems
even more powerful now!!!

This tool performs better than some corded drills I have owned in the past, and in my experience outperforms the yellow brand
and the blue brand over the long haul. The only critiscism I have
is that the milwaukee emblem is starting to wear of the side of the tool..............

I was all set to buy a Dewalt 14V cordless drill but after reading the reviews I decided to buy the Milwaukee. This is the first Milwaukee tool I have ever bought. It just happend that a local hardware store had the 18V on sale. I'm glad I went with the 18V instead of the 14V. The 18V had to work a little to drive in the 3/8 x 6" lag screws I was putting in. I used too small of a pilot hole. But hey, I now know what this drill can do. Since I have purchased this drill I have yet to use my corded drill. Because of the quality of this drill I will consider future purchases of Milwaukee products.

I've had my Milwaukee 18v drill for over a year now, I'm a plumber by trade, and I punish this drill on a daily basis. Although I don't recommend abusing any power tool, there are times when you don't have a choice. I used to have a DeWalt 18v that worked great for about 6 months, then things started happening, like the trigger assembly went out, and then the motor burned up, and then I threw it away. The Milwaukee is one heavy duty piece of equipment, you can't go wrong with one. All I can really say is, that if your looking for a high quality cordless tool that won't let you down in the middle of a job, then the Milwaukee power plus should be number one on your shopping list.

I am impressed with this tool every time I use it. I comparison shopped the Milwaukee against several other top brands, including Dewalt 24 volt. The reversible battery really helps adjust the tool's balance point, and it has substantial torque for driving large boring bits and seating hefty wood screws, even in high gear! Battery capacity is also impressive - lasting much longer than I expected. Don't be fooled by other manufacturers "24 volt" ratings - power is NOT measured in volts. The secret to prolonged power is the watt-hour and amp-hour ratings of the battery pack, not just the voltage. The new generation Milwaukee 2.4 amp-hour batteries provide tremendous charge duration and tool power. It is very well made, with solid construction and tight seams that do not squirm under load. The rectangular battery packs are tidy to store in the tool box, much better than the irregular shaped battery packs on some other brands. If I lost this drill tomorrow, I would immediately replace it with another Milwaukee. Simply excellent!

This drill is great. I have this and the 7751 1/2" hammer drill and they are the pair of the century. This drill stacked up against every other drill I tried. The only other drill that came close was the Milwaukee, but it was much heavier. I highly recommend this one. The 2620 is tough, lightweight & powerful.

The keyless chuck version of this drill model is my right hand in the shop and I depend on it daily. It's solid PorterCable quality ready to do anything I ask of it. Put it up against the 3/8 inch Milwaukee magnum model and it will keep pace with it. The ergonomics are better for gripping than the Milwaukee and it's much lighter, too. I also have the 1/2 inch PorterCable drill model, and what a team they make. I keep them in a metal Sawboss case for easy portability to jobsites. It's PorterCable all the way for me!!

I bought this drill, and its 1/2" sibling, and have nothing but praise for them. It has good power, smooth speed control, and a very nice, heavy-duty chuck. The only thing I did not like about it was the leather chuck-key keeper; but this was easily replaced with Milwaukee's rubber version for $4.00. Before buying it, I tried out the Bosch 1005VSRK, the DeWalt DW106K, the Milwaukee 0233-21, and the Makita 6408K. The Porter Cable drill was far superior to all but the Milwaukee, and was Milwaukee's equal. (The Milwaukee had a little bigger motor, but was a little too front heavy and had more rpm's than I needed; it was built like a tank, though). The Porter Cable had the perfect blend of power and comfort. With the metal gearcase and bearing plate, it seems it will take whatever punishment you can dish out.

When you consider that you could buy four and a half of these for one of those "yellow" branded tools, and that Skil is a Bosch subsidiary, it kinda' puts things in perspective. OK, so the yellow brand is an excellent professional tool, but for most of us in the real world this Skil will do just fine.
My wife bought mine as a gift to me almost three years ago when my old corded drill took a powder. I have to admit that I was disappointed when I saw the brand she had chosen. After all, what do most women know about tools, huh? But after that time it has helped me build a deck, put up doors and moulding, and numerous other projects, and it is an indispensable staple in my workshop. I hardly know what a regular screwdriver looks like anymore. And I don't have to tell most of you what a convenience the cordless feature is.
Since then I have purchased an 18 volt Skil combo pack containing a 1/2" drill and 5-3/8" circular saw and I am just as happy with this purchase. (Four Amazon Stars)
My drill/driver has the now older 5 position (plus lockup) clutch which I personally find useless in anything but "5" or the lockup position, but it does have enough power to twist your arm off if you get caught off guard, so be careful!!
Also mine doesn't have the built in stud finder, or work light that is the current (but useful) gimmick.
As a left-hander I find it comfortable to use with either hand.
I would like Skil to include an extra battery and perhaps the one hour charger in place of the three hour version that is standard. Mine died, but I suspect it's because it was plugged in most of the time. Replacement batteries can be hard to find too, but not impossible. I now have five of them from several different sources, including the original which has seen better days. I've found them to be between $...-$...depending on the source. That's not bad by comparison.
Read and follow their very complete instructions for handling of the batteries and chargers. It's good information to get the maximum life out of both. And, unlike me, UNPLUG THE CHARGER WHEN NOT IN USE!!
If you have a little more to spend, get the combo pack. Two tools, two batteries and the one hour charger, plus carrying case for about twice as much, but worth it. Both are an excellent deal if you ask me.

I bought this on sale at home depot for $29. I was not expecting much and actually was intending to hand it down to my wife for use with her projects. I'm really pleasantly surprised by this drill. First off it's much more powerful than I thought. There is enough torque to drive 2" deck nails. Battery also lasts much longer than anticipates, though not as long as Bosch 18v that I borrowed from a friend...then again that costs 6x more. The battery snaps on and off easily, and charges in about 2 hours using a snap on cap. There is no battery 'craddle'. No, this is not the most feature rich, nor is it the best cordless drill out there, but it is a great value and is a definite 5 star in this price range.

I second the opinion on all the positive things that about this cordless screw driver. I used this tool to set screws when I built a deck earlier this year. This tool may not be too well suited to drill many large diameter holes in wood or other materials -- just because the rpm is low. When you set hundreds of screws or drill many, many holes a corded drill may be better suited. I would like to add the following details:
1) Invest in a good set of driver bits that match the screws you are using
2) the stud-finder is a bit flimsy and works so-so, but I used it once or twice successfully
3) buy a second battery for example on a major auctioning web-page. You should be able to get one for 1/4 the price of this tool. That helped me a lot
4) once you have this tool you are not very likely to use your hand screw drivers any longer

enjoy -- this is a great purchase!!!!

This is well made and works great. Very nice for small drilling jobs without the hassle or size of a power drill. Surprisingly powerful for a hand drill.

I looked through many auctions for this tool thinking they didn't make it anylonger. Time wasted. My girlfriend ordered it for me and I was thrilled to now have a new one. Great tool and handy. I'll suggest getting the Spokeshaver as well, another usefull tool to own.

There are some jobs where a powerdrill can be unsuitable and this one is just perfect. If you are drilling aluminium doors or windows, or attaching fittings to boat masts you need delicate control to prevent damage to the aluminium. A power drill can catch in the hole and rip out a chunk of metal. If you use a hand drill that will never happen.

It is also ideal for delicate woodworking when control is more important than speed.

Because it needs no power, cable or batteries it is ideal for use in the outdoors and in wet situations where electrical appliances can short out.

I have owned this knife for over 10 years and though it is scratched from rough rides in several toolboxes, it still works like new. Although this knife does not have a fancy 'ergonomic' grip or flashy color scheme going for it, what it does do is perform reliably well for a long long time, and not cost you much up front! I agree with the previous reviewers - some of the best features of this knife are the ability to store up to five blades inside the knife body, and the ability to expose the blade at several different settings.

Now that I have set up a woodworking shop in my garage, the handy hole in the end of this knife makes it easy to hang on a pegboard hook. If you need a real workhorse of a utility knife, I cannot recommend a better one than this!

There is nothing like a good tool that does its job everytime. Other knives may look cooler or feel squishier, but the Stanley 10-099 Utility Knife will always be as near to perfection as may be found. Solidly built and utilizing an ingenious mechanism for replacing and storing blades (a simple screw to hold its two halves together), this knife is utility par excellence.

Look no further, unless you like squishy grips and well thought-out color schemes. Did I mention the unmistakable positive feeling of the blade-locking mechanism?

When I was in 8th grade in technology class, this was the prized utility cutters among the class. Unlike other utility cutters we had this was lightweight so using it repetively was less a burden and practically unbreakable (I should know because I accidently broke some of the others after repetitive collisions to the hard floor)no matter how many accidents or kids just trying to break it for fun. As for its cutting ability, this blade so sharp and sturdy that along with normal cutting of boxes we have cut thick rubber, half inch dowels, and the dare devils even cut some thick copper wiring with this knife without the blade breaking like the other utility knives we had. So over all this thing is cheap, light, sharp as ... and simply just the best regular utility knife out there.

I've had my Superbar for about two years, Next to my Estwing's(hammers) I don't think I've used a tool more. it's still my trusted tool for remodeling and almost all my Nail pulling, prying, and drywall butting needs. I think I've found as many uses for this tool as I have any other, trust me, working around the house, I keep full tabs on my Superbar! Not to mention, as much as I've put it through, it's a wonder the only thing wrong with it is chiped paint.

ive used this for everything from remocing deckboards,to taking down base board moulding to taking tires off the rims. it works great the spring steel allows you to ealy pull out the logest of nails.its cheap and very effective with a large range of uses

Vaughan manufactures hammers for Sears Craftsman. I am convinced that they also make these and the nail pullers too.

I had a Craftsman flat bar for more moons than I can count. It was most excellent. A helper that I had left one of these Vaughan Superbars when he quit/was fired and I can honestly say that there is no difference, other than the warranty.

Someone stole the Craftsman bar so now I depend a lot on Mr. Vaughan. It is also most excellent.

i highly recomend this bit, it makes a hinge mounting a breeze.
great quality.

Vix-Bits are one of those things that once you use you wonder why you waited so long to get them. Great on-center holes each time. These genuine Vix-Bits appear to be better made than the Chinese or Taiwanese clones that some companies sell.

I had been stubbornly using an awl or an eyeball to center my holes until I finally broke down and bought one of these. I had a couple of doors to hang so I figured about 20� per hole to get it right. The Vix sure makes it easy to do things right. Those doors actually LOOK like they were hung by a sober man.

This item connected easily to my drill and seemed securely fastened. It is light in weight, so cuts on surfaces that are not horizontal work well. It is eaasy to follow a straight line cut with this tool. Arc cuts are possible, with gentle curves, but don't plan on doing any pattern cutting, which is probably true of any of these style cutters.

Definitely a great and well-executed tool, and it is nice that it can swap between a cordless drill for remote cuts, and back to a corded drill for bench cutting.

There is no flying dust from the cutting process, although there is a slight amounnt of waste (1/4" or so) from the cut. Be sure to practice cutting along a scribed mark on some scrap before using on finished work, and think before you cut to be sure to leave the waste on the correct side, away from your measured piece.

After using a circular saw, this product is superb. Easy to attach and remove, a great price/performance ratio. I love it.

This works very well, so well that I did not use my saw for anything except plunge cuts around windows. Absolutely no dust at all. Very satisfied. This is very much a quality product. Anyone putting up fiber cement siding should have one. I had no problems at all with this and I expect it to last for some time yet.