Been lusting after a cordless SDS for some time, but the price has put me
off.

My mate wot helps me build decks is a bit of an Arthur Daly character & buys
pallets of catalogue returns, never knows exactly whets on them. Lot of the
stuff is brand new, never been opened.

Last pallet he bought had a JCB 24v cordless SDS which I purchased for the
princely sum of £20 (used notes). Plainly never been used. Obviously
Chinese, but worth a punt.

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.100-7573.aspx

So, a review. I've no experience of other makes so I cant compare it with a
top brand.

Its bloody heavy for a start, mainly due to the battery which is the size of
half a housebrick. It comes with two (2 a/h) & a huge 1 hour charger in a
decent blow moulded case. The case is also huge, I don't know where its
going to fit into the van yet - may just carry the drill & battery.

It works, drills holes in bricks that defeat percussion drills, but its slow
compared to my Wickes & Ryobi mains SDS. Not sure if all cordless SDS are
slower than mains? Can't find any specs for impacts per min or impact
energy.

Not sure I'd be happy drilling lots of holes working off a ladder because of
the weight & relatively slow drilling speed - you would need arms like
Arnold S. 'Boxed weight' is 12kg.

Looks tacky though. Finished in the JCB orange/black but with a couple of
'chrome' trims at the side & top that make it look cheap.

Am I happy for a score? Yes. Would I be happy at £100+? I don't think so.

I wonder if cheap Chinese power tools are based on old or discontinued
European/American tools? Bit like when they sell off the rights & tooling
to make cars?



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk