desperado wrote:
I just got a Hitachi cordless screwdriver and it looks like a great
tool but haven't been using it long so cant say one way or another
about Hitachi, although I think it will be ok.
I do know that for many years I have been using the DeWalt 1/2 in
drill driver(a little over $200 now in cost). It is reversible, has
two main speeds and a tease trigger. Can be used as a hammerdrill
too
for masonry. There are 5 clutch settings. This tool is tough as
nails, as are most Dewalt tools I know of that my friends use. You
need at least two batteries and the 90 buck cost of their battery is
a bit much. You can get off brand batteries that are LI ion for
about
half the price and I have found them to be better so far than the
stock Dewalt battery. the only problem I have noticed so far on
the
tool is that there are small stress cracks developing where the case
is screwed together near the screw holes. I did not find this to
detract from the performance of the tool. I am very impressed by
Dewalt products in general.

I don't see the original post, so I'm responding to it here.

Any decent brand of cordless tool is going to be good these days.
Hitachi, Bosch, deWalt, Makita all work.

Each brand does some things that are outstanding and others that are
just OK. For example Makita's lithium ion 18v impact driver has the
others scrambling to catch up.

But the thing to do is look at the _system_. Life is a lot easier if
every tool you have uses the same battery, and ultimately it's cheaper
as well because you can add to the system with bare tools intead of
full sets with battery and charger. And eventually you very likely
will accumulate tools, so it's best IMO to buy into the system with
the widest range.

By chance my first cordless was a deWalt 18v hammer drill. So far
it's been working fine--haven't really been beating on it but haven't
been babying it either. I've added other 18v deWalt tools over time
and they've all been fine as well. The battery packs seem expensive
but you can usually find them 2 for a hundred bucks which is a pretty
good saving over the single unit price. The latest from them is that
they have 18v lithium ion batteries that fit most of their existing
18v tools (and the price has already dropped 40 bucks on them
apparently). That said, if I needed a tool that wasn't part of the
deWalt range I'd not hesitate to go with a different brand.

I'm not really sure who has the most extensive range at this time--so
far everything I've needed I've found from deWalt.

Presently have an Hitachi cordless 14.4v. impact driver. Use it
for
driving screws into wood. Very pleased with it so far. But this
is
my first ever impact driver, so I don't really know whether I
should
be impressed with Hitachi or the fact that I'm now using an impact
driver for screws rather (ostensibly a better match) than my
(corded) drill driver. That said, I am in the market to buy a
cordless drill driver (since I discovered my impact driver is not
quite as handy as a dedicated drill for when used for drilling).
But I'm kind of torn between my long time admiration of Bosch tools
and my current infatuation with Hitachi (or, at least, their
cordless drivers). And since I'm not independently wealthy, I
can't
afford to just by one of each (although that would certainly make
for a more fun afternoon). Therefore I'm seeking
opinions/feedback/advice/experiences related to cordless drill
drivers by Bosch and/or Hitachi (and/or any other decent quality
brand worth mentioning). Thanks in advance.

Ken

PS: Bosch and Hitachi both make a 1/2 in. drive 18v. drill driver
that puts out up to 550 in.lb. of torque, even though the Hitachi
one uses a 3.0 Amp/hour battery whereas the Bosch uses an only 2.4
Amp/hour battery.

--
--
--John
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(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)