On Nov 22, 2:44*pm, "js.b1" wrote:
David wrote...
On the screw driver setting, even at the _highest_ torque
setting, I can stop the shaft turning just by holding the
chuck with my hand.

That is broken or at least not good enough, or you may have it on the
highest speed which allows momentum to build to overrun the clutch.
For screwdriving you should use speed #1 (at least for plasterboard,
cement board, rubbishy pine).

Yes, it was on 1. It didn't make much difference (except when the
clutch didn't engage at all and it slipped completely).

I have a Makita 14.4V 6337D.
I actually bought the body (£32), NiMH battery (£40), multi-charger
(£19) as odds-n-sods on Ebay as I disposed of other stuff. It is a
Marathon motor drill which does mean it has very torque, and uses NiMH
(or NiCad) batteries. It is a 2-speed drill and not a combi drill like
the MXT Combi which is about £45-55 for the body even on Ebay (and
heavier).

Set to screws, gearbox speed 1.
With clutch set to 5 it can be stopped with a firm grip, albeit giving
your wrist a good snatch.
With clutch set to 16 you can forget stopping it, it will actually
break your wrist before you can get the trigger fully down.

This is what I would expect!

I just phoned Makita to ask. The guy in the service department claimed
that he could stop all their tools with his hand in screwdriver mode -
it's just that some took more effort than others. ????

He asked what I was trying to do. I said 3" No. 10 screws into 4x2
(which I've tried, and it gives up). He said drill a proper pilot
hole.

He pointed out that this only has 40Nm of torque, while the better
model has 80Nm. But this is torque in drill mode - he couldn't say if
it made any difference to the max torque in screw driver mode. He
seemed to think I was a bit mad switching to drill mode to finish off
the screw driving - me too, but I've rarely needed to before!


I was thinking that maybe I'd keep the cordless as a glorified screw
driver, and get a mains drill for heavier jobs - but this one doesn't
work as a glorified screw driver, so I think it's going to have to go
back. :-(


btw, I really liked the keyless chuck. Far more convenient than any
keyed chuck I've had, and it didn't slip - whereas a keyed chuck did
in the same circumstances (though due to the lack of power the keyless
didn't get thrashed as much, so it's not a totally fair comparison).


If you do not need a Combi, buy a non-Combi cordless with occasional
masonry (Bosch Multiconstruction bit) and a proper mains SDS for
masonry because nothing matches it except the expensive cordless SDS
drills (£200+).

I think you're right - though there are times when a normal hammer
drill seems like the right thing to use and SDS seems like overkill.

Cheers,
David.