On 4/28/2013 8:26 PM, mike wrote:
On 4/28/2013 5:04 PM, wrote:
I'm assuming the cheaper cordless drills at Harbor Freight are
disposable junk that will die in short order. Anyone have experience
with them?

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-t...olt-68239.html



It's not clear to me what the difference is between the above model
and this moderately more expensive unit. Both seem to have similar
stats - 18v, 900 rpm, reversible, variable speed.

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-t...uck-67024.html



What would you consider to be the next tier for a cordless drill? Just
light to moderate occasional home handyman use. What features do you
think make a big difference?

Thanks for all input

I've found HF tools to be acceptable for occasional use.
Problem is that all the batteries seem to be CRAP.

Battery powered tools are pretty useless if the batteries are crap.


Problem with occasional use of rechargeable tools is that they're always
dead when you need 'em.
NiCd's seem to short if left discharged forever.

So, you can leave 'em on the charger and guarantee the batteries die.
Or you can plan ahead to charge before needed and hope they still work.

Not really, I haven't used one of my cordless drills in 3 months and it
worked fine when I needed it. What you described is typical of lower end
tools with cheap/old battery technology.

The other feature of good battery tools is they also come with better
chargers that are able to charge quickly without destroying the battery.


You can expect better results from high-end tools, but it's nearly
impossible to tell without just trying it. They're optimized for
contractor use where they're in continuous use.
YMMV