Drill / Driver for Home Use
Discussion
Just thought I'd throw in my tuppence.
I recently bought a full range of bosch professional (blue) 12V tools.
Drill
Impact driver
Jigsaw
Mini-circular
Mini angle grinder
Host of batteries.
The first drill and driver I got was a base model twin pack. The amount of axial run-out on the drill was a joke so that got returned. I read loads of reviews and everyone basically said the same so I opted for the more expensive brushless version. No run-out on this one, more torque and higher max rpm. It is SMALL, I mean really tiny, yet packs way more punch than the 18V PSB1800 Li2.
The impact driver is amazing too. From what I understand the limiting factor on impact drivers are the bits you use and how often you're prepared to replace them. Sure, ones with more torque are available, but you'll likely just obliterate bits and heads faster, for me, the little bosch one is more than adequate.
The jigsaw is the nicest one I've used to date, the circular is great for sheet materials like MDF/Ply, i use it on 1.2mm sheet aluminium and it works amazingly well. The mini grinder is an odd one. It is NOT a replacement for a full size, but if you have some nails/screws/bolts to trim/shorten or dress then it is ideal. Or if your access is very limited. Again, it's absolutely tiny. You can think of it as a half way house between a 4.5" grinder and a dremel.
I recently bought a full range of bosch professional (blue) 12V tools.
Drill
Impact driver
Jigsaw
Mini-circular
Mini angle grinder
Host of batteries.
The first drill and driver I got was a base model twin pack. The amount of axial run-out on the drill was a joke so that got returned. I read loads of reviews and everyone basically said the same so I opted for the more expensive brushless version. No run-out on this one, more torque and higher max rpm. It is SMALL, I mean really tiny, yet packs way more punch than the 18V PSB1800 Li2.
The impact driver is amazing too. From what I understand the limiting factor on impact drivers are the bits you use and how often you're prepared to replace them. Sure, ones with more torque are available, but you'll likely just obliterate bits and heads faster, for me, the little bosch one is more than adequate.
The jigsaw is the nicest one I've used to date, the circular is great for sheet materials like MDF/Ply, i use it on 1.2mm sheet aluminium and it works amazingly well. The mini grinder is an odd one. It is NOT a replacement for a full size, but if you have some nails/screws/bolts to trim/shorten or dress then it is ideal. Or if your access is very limited. Again, it's absolutely tiny. You can think of it as a half way house between a 4.5" grinder and a dremel.
A good set of impact driver bits goes a long way towards having butchered bits or screw heads - I have a couple of different Wera sets, and they don't seem to wear out at all. They will knackered cheap screw heads, but if that happens then you weren't getting that screw out by any means!
One thing they do knacker is washing machine drain pumps, when you leave them in your Jean's pocket before washing the jeans...
One thing they do knacker is washing machine drain pumps, when you leave them in your Jean's pocket before washing the jeans...
If you're using an impact driver, I'd recommend torx head if possible - far easier & the bits fit way better. The Screwfix ones even come with a bit in each pack
https://www.screwfix.com/c/screws-nails-fixings/wo...
https://www.screwfix.com/c/screws-nails-fixings/wo...
Damn this thread.
One of my batteries has snuffed it and the cost of Panasonic replacements is astonishing to the point that if they're all at that stage that you have to consider if replacing all the 5 year old tools and batteries with new would make more fiscal sense.
Man maths, how spending a grand upwards on tools makes more sense than couple of £30 snides off eBay.
One of my batteries has snuffed it and the cost of Panasonic replacements is astonishing to the point that if they're all at that stage that you have to consider if replacing all the 5 year old tools and batteries with new would make more fiscal sense.
Man maths, how spending a grand upwards on tools makes more sense than couple of £30 snides off eBay.
Teddy Lop said:
Damn this thread.
One of my batteries has snuffed it and the cost of Panasonic replacements is astonishing to the point that if they're all at that stage that you have to consider if replacing all the 5 year old tools and batteries with new would make more fiscal sense.
Man maths, how spending a grand upwards on tools makes more sense than couple of £30 snides off eBay.
I think this is the thread you're really looking for One of my batteries has snuffed it and the cost of Panasonic replacements is astonishing to the point that if they're all at that stage that you have to consider if replacing all the 5 year old tools and batteries with new would make more fiscal sense.
Man maths, how spending a grand upwards on tools makes more sense than couple of £30 snides off eBay.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
another Q for you knowledgeable bunch ....
any recommendations for a good general drill and driver bits set? not fussed about brand just needs to be compatible with the erbauer kit.
had the dewalt 100pc screwfix set, but it went back with the drill - happy to buy it again if it's as good as anything else.
any recommendations for a good general drill and driver bits set? not fussed about brand just needs to be compatible with the erbauer kit.
had the dewalt 100pc screwfix set, but it went back with the drill - happy to buy it again if it's as good as anything else.
Posting here rather than starting a new thread - what are the opinions of the masses on this:-
https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcd785p2t-sfgb-1...
I need a new drill for regular DIY use and had provisionally set a budget of £150-£200 for a drill, charger and two batteries - this seems to fit the bill, can I do better?
It's brushed rather than brushless but for non-professional use does that really matter? It would appear the batteries and charger on their own are probably worth the £150 anyway. I already have a corded hammer drill for heavy duty stuff.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcd785p2t-sfgb-1...
I need a new drill for regular DIY use and had provisionally set a budget of £150-£200 for a drill, charger and two batteries - this seems to fit the bill, can I do better?
It's brushed rather than brushless but for non-professional use does that really matter? It would appear the batteries and charger on their own are probably worth the £150 anyway. I already have a corded hammer drill for heavy duty stuff.
Edited by yellowbentines on Tuesday 15th September 10:18
yellowbentines said:
Posting here rather than starting a new thread - what are the opinions of the masses on this:-
https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcd785p2t-sfgb-1...
I need a new drill for regular DIY use and had provisionally set a budget of £150-£200 for a drill, charger and two batteries - this seems to fit the bill, can I do better?
It's brushed rather than brushless but for non-professional use does that really matter? It would appear the batteries and charger on their own are probably worth the £150 anyway. I already have a corded hammer drill for heavy duty stuff.
I got a (brushed) Milwaukee set last year for less than £200. Drill, Impact Driver and 2x 4ah batteries. I reckon there might be better deals somewhere... https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcd785p2t-sfgb-1...
I need a new drill for regular DIY use and had provisionally set a budget of £150-£200 for a drill, charger and two batteries - this seems to fit the bill, can I do better?
It's brushed rather than brushless but for non-professional use does that really matter? It would appear the batteries and charger on their own are probably worth the £150 anyway. I already have a corded hammer drill for heavy duty stuff.
Edited by yellowbentines on Tuesday 15th September 10:18
If you can get the drill AND a driver in your first kit that's a big upgrade. Wouldn't personally worry about brushless for DIY.
snotrag said:
I got a (brushed) Milwaukee set last year for less than £200. Drill, Impact Driver and 2x 4ah batteries. I reckon there might be better deals somewhere...
If you can get the drill AND a driver in your first kit that's a big upgrade. Wouldn't personally worry about brushless for DIY.
I've seen a Milwaukee kit that fits that description for £230 in a few places, but really didn't want to spend over £200 right now. My thinking is I can always add a DeWalt Impact Driver later, as you can buy the 18V bare units (brushless) for around £80 anyway.If you can get the drill AND a driver in your first kit that's a big upgrade. Wouldn't personally worry about brushless for DIY.
yellowbentines said:
Posting here rather than starting a new thread - what are the opinions of the masses on this:-
https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcd785p2t-sfgb-1...
I need a new drill for regular DIY use and had provisionally set a budget of £150-£200 for a drill, charger and two batteries - this seems to fit the bill, can I do better?
It's brushed rather than brushless but for non-professional use does that really matter? It would appear the batteries and charger on their own are probably worth the £150 anyway. I already have a corded hammer drill for heavy duty stuff.
Picked one of these up myself two days ago. A big step up from the 14v Makita which cost me £130 ten years ago.https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcd785p2t-sfgb-1...
I need a new drill for regular DIY use and had provisionally set a budget of £150-£200 for a drill, charger and two batteries - this seems to fit the bill, can I do better?
It's brushed rather than brushless but for non-professional use does that really matter? It would appear the batteries and charger on their own are probably worth the £150 anyway. I already have a corded hammer drill for heavy duty stuff.
Edited by yellowbentines on Tuesday 15th September 10:18
I bought one of the 18v Hitachi drills from Screwfix around 3 years ago - it's been brilliant and was not dear (around £100 IIRC).
Very recently I've purchased a 700Nm Kielder impact gun and it is seriously impressive for the price point (£210) - their drills may be worth considering?
Very recently I've purchased a 700Nm Kielder impact gun and it is seriously impressive for the price point (£210) - their drills may be worth considering?
yellowbentines said:
Posting here rather than starting a new thread - what are the opinions of the masses on this:-
https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcd785p2t-sfgb-1...
I need a new drill for regular DIY use and had provisionally set a budget of £150-£200 for a drill, charger and two batteries - this seems to fit the bill, can I do better?
It's brushed rather than brushless but for non-professional use does that really matter? It would appear the batteries and charger on their own are probably worth the £150 anyway. I already have a corded hammer drill for heavy duty stuff.
That looks like a really good price. 2 x 5ah batteries would last you ages... so you might want to consider getting on the slippery slope and buying another body e.g. an impact driver https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcd785p2t-sfgb-1...
I need a new drill for regular DIY use and had provisionally set a budget of £150-£200 for a drill, charger and two batteries - this seems to fit the bill, can I do better?
It's brushed rather than brushless but for non-professional use does that really matter? It would appear the batteries and charger on their own are probably worth the £150 anyway. I already have a corded hammer drill for heavy duty stuff.
Edited by yellowbentines on Tuesday 15th September 10:18
https://www.powertoolworld.co.uk/ have some good prices for DeWalt gear from time to time.
I saw the Screwfix offer in store the other day, it's essentially a free drill, the battery's, charger and Tstak case would.cost more.
I was very tempted myself but I've already got 3 DeWalt battery's so probably enough for me.
OK the drills not the best they make but more than adequate I'd imagine, I'd definitely suggest an impact driver as a future upgrade. I use my impact way more than the drill
I was very tempted myself but I've already got 3 DeWalt battery's so probably enough for me.
OK the drills not the best they make but more than adequate I'd imagine, I'd definitely suggest an impact driver as a future upgrade. I use my impact way more than the drill
If you ever want to really disappear down a rabbit hole try to follow the various Bosch Professional packs for a single product.
You can get the same drill but sometimes in an L-Boxx, sometimes not, sometimes with one or two batteries, the batteries can be anything from 2 to 5Ah and sometimes things like boxes of bits are in there too.
I ended up searching by product bundle codes rather than description and found I could get a full drill/L-Boxx/2x5Ah/sets of bits bundle from Travis Perkins at a point where most places barely had stock of anything, and for a price lower than places - include TP themselves - were selling the most basic packs for when they had stock. Possibly helped by poor descriptions (the TP ones were all over the place for 8 different versions of the exact same tool) and no-one apparently knowing the different bundles existed in the first place.
Seems like lunacy to me but it's worth digging around.
You can get the same drill but sometimes in an L-Boxx, sometimes not, sometimes with one or two batteries, the batteries can be anything from 2 to 5Ah and sometimes things like boxes of bits are in there too.
I ended up searching by product bundle codes rather than description and found I could get a full drill/L-Boxx/2x5Ah/sets of bits bundle from Travis Perkins at a point where most places barely had stock of anything, and for a price lower than places - include TP themselves - were selling the most basic packs for when they had stock. Possibly helped by poor descriptions (the TP ones were all over the place for 8 different versions of the exact same tool) and no-one apparently knowing the different bundles existed in the first place.
Seems like lunacy to me but it's worth digging around.
JimbobVFR said:
I saw the Screwfix offer in store the other day, it's essentially a free drill, the battery's, charger and Tstak case would.cost more.
That's the way I'm viewing it, I've ordered one for collection. My old Ryobi 18V has had 15yrs of use and the NiCad batteries no longer hold any charge so it's got to be better than that.Batteries will be useful as I'll add an impact driver to it, and could do with a cordless jigsaw too eventually.
Well well, who would have guessed PH has a long running thread on something so important like power tools!
I should have known to check before buying my new drill (a very old Bosch cordless on its last legs), but I think I did ok, reading this thread would have made the process a bit more confusing!
Anyway - we've had a lot of tradesmen in the house over the last few months, so I've seen their real world experience with tools, and most recommended Dewalt (apart from the total useless ponce of a kitchen fitter who had a whole set of matching Festool gear). So I'm now a proud owner of the brushless Dewalt, which came with charger, box and 5AH battery, bought from Toolstore at what seems to be a good price with free next day delivery.
https://www.toolstoreuk.co.uk/dewalt-dcd796p1-18v-...
In comparison to my old Bosch drill this is chalk and cheese. Quality feel, lots of metal parts, high drilling speed, and 70NM of torque. I've got a lot of projects planned, so looking forward to using this a lot. I also know what extras (multi tool, torque driver, saws, batteries etc) I can ask my family for birthday and christmas presents!
I should have known to check before buying my new drill (a very old Bosch cordless on its last legs), but I think I did ok, reading this thread would have made the process a bit more confusing!
Anyway - we've had a lot of tradesmen in the house over the last few months, so I've seen their real world experience with tools, and most recommended Dewalt (apart from the total useless ponce of a kitchen fitter who had a whole set of matching Festool gear). So I'm now a proud owner of the brushless Dewalt, which came with charger, box and 5AH battery, bought from Toolstore at what seems to be a good price with free next day delivery.
https://www.toolstoreuk.co.uk/dewalt-dcd796p1-18v-...
In comparison to my old Bosch drill this is chalk and cheese. Quality feel, lots of metal parts, high drilling speed, and 70NM of torque. I've got a lot of projects planned, so looking forward to using this a lot. I also know what extras (multi tool, torque driver, saws, batteries etc) I can ask my family for birthday and christmas presents!
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