Cordless SDS drill

[richard.selwyn]

Apologies if there's already wisdom out there (I couldn't find it) but I need to get a cordless drill with some guts.  I have a couple of jobs to do in the next couple of weeks where I will need to drill brick or masonry and can't be sure of having an electrical supply.  I've looked at the Bosch 36v li-ion and Dewalt, but am totally ignorant about such things; a friend locally (N France) swears by HILTI;  SPIT (paslode?) appears to be popular here in France (I've got their gas nailgun and can't complain).  Since local pricing puts this stuff in the 1000 dollar range I may be prepared to make a trip to the UK where things are cheaper.  The Bosch 36v SDS with two chucks/batteries is about 700 dollars in the UK

Advice please!

 

[josephgewing]

I don't know if it is available in France, but my Milwaukee 18 volt hammer drill has done well for me.

Hilti should be excellent also.  I have only a "regular" Hilti drill -- not a hammer drill -- but Hilti hammer drills have a good reputation.

Joe

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Since I already own the 18 volt Makita stuff I'd personally go with their cordless rotary hammer. I guess it all depends on what size holes you'll be drilling. For smaller holes the 18 volt tools should work great, if you're looking for speed and bigger holes you may need to move up the voltage ladder. Tools of the Trade has a great article that you should find handy HERE. It looks like if you're going for the best out there, they're recommending the Hilti TE-7A.

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Just out of curiosity, what kind of concrete work will you be doing? Chipping? Drilling? Big holes or small holes? I've had really good luck thus far with Makita's corded rotary hammers, I have the HR2455 1" Pitbull (SDS Plus) and the 1 9/16" HR4010C (SDS Max). It looks like on the Makita UK website they are releasing a 36 volt SDS drill in Europe, might be worth checking out as well? You can take a peak at it OVER HERE.

 

[balrog]

I have a Makita 18v Li-on SDS. If it is smaller diameter holes then it is okay. If you will be boring a lot of holes, very deep or larger diameter- I would find a way to run a corded drill.

The main thing to consider- what is the size and depth do you need to drill.

If you can't run a cord and have to go cordless, how are you going to recharge the battery after it dies?

 

[mastercabman]

HILTI will serve you well....or,

What about a small generator?

 

[richard.selwyn]

Thanks for the replies. 

I do general carpentry and shop fitting so the holes are usually only for fitting my "woodbutchery" in place.  Having said that yesterday I installed a parasol  - 15ft in diameter - and my corded sds drill struggled to make holes in the guy's terrace for the chemical fixings - looks like a need a new corded drill as well.

I do have a small generator but as I'm usually just drilling a few holes in brick, block or regular concrete a good cordless should be OK.

While I'm pestering everyone is a big 36v drill overkill and too heavy for many jobs, or would I be better going that way to cover most options?  In the old days I'd just have bought both, but that was before I got credit crunched 

 

[dirtydeeds]

i dont think 36v ( LiIon ) is overkill

i picked up a bosch 36v sds drill the other day in the shop i was in

just to see how it felt for weight and balance, its much lighter and much better balanced than my old 24 v makita sds

it tells me what the new 36v makita will be like

if i was in the market for a 36v sds LiIon the makita would win hands down, yet again... because it has the "third action" hammer only

its why i have the old 24v makita, bosch and dewalt cant match it and wont match it

 

[Robkonkoma]

Hilti  Hilti  Hilti  ;D
I have used most of the cordless SDS drills out there..LOVE the Hilti TE 7-A  36v Li tool
Drilling range: 3/16" - 1". Optimum drilling range: 5/16" - 3/4".
3 modes of operation including: rotation only, rotation with hammer, and hammer only

I was amazed at the number of 1/2" holes I could drill, on a single charge,  in 5000psi masonry tilt-up walls I was working on.
This tool lasted through 12 months of heavy use, never gave me a problem once. Still have it 
36V Lithium Ion battery's are not heavy. The Hilti was surprisingly light for all its drilling power.
There's even an accessory self-contained dust removal system made for it that works very well.
Not an inexpensive tool though..But I consider it my Festools "red cousin" for concrete work 

 

[dirtydeeds]

seeing you love it so much

i BET yours is all scratched and covered in dust 

 

[Robkonkoma]

seeing you love it so much

i BET yours is all scratched and covered in dust 

Scratches..yes

Dust..not so much

Hilti's get wiped down & stowed in their carry cases..the DeWalts get tossed into the job box 

Don't ya just hate it when someone asks to "borrow the Hilti for just one hole" and you reluctantly hand over your cherished well cared for pride&joy hammerdrill..only to find it later in the shop, scratched up..full of dust and the "H" from the Hilti logo is mysteriously rubbed off the tool on one side...
And the culprit gives you the "innocent" look and says "it was like that when you gave it to me".....Hmmmm!

;D

 

[dirtydeeds]

i learned REALY REALY hard, not to lend my tools

my 24v battery operated dewalt chop saw came back with useless batteries

then the penny dropped, the same guy had complained a few weeks before that his 24v dewalt sds batteries where knackered

could i prove it ?    no

was he bigger than me ?........... yes ( a lot bigger )

he asked me if i was calling him a liar ?

i didnt, he was too dangerous in my eyes, he's been "bottled" before

you may have to google an english street dictionary to understand the term "bottled"

 

[richard.selwyn]

I always bottle if there's a risk of getting bottled 
So it lools like a Hilti or a Makita?  I'm tempted by the Bosch.  While we're on cordless tools I went to refit a door today that I'd repaired.  I had to take it back to the shop to remove an extra 5mm.  Anyone tried the cordless Dewalt saw with guide rail? - would have saved me a trip.

 

[mastercabman]

i learned REALY REALY hard, not to lend my tools

my 24v battery operated dewalt chop saw came back with useless batteries

then the penny dropped, the same guy had complained a few weeks before that his 24v dewalt sds batteries where knackered

could i prove it ?     no

was he bigger than me ?........... yes ( a lot bigger )

he asked me if i was calling him a liar ?

i didnt, he was too dangerous in my eyes, he's been "bottled" before

you may have to google an english street dictionary to understand the term "bottled"

JAILLED?

 

[Mac]

Hi Richard,

I've got the Dewalt track saw, cordless version. I love the thing, it's solid, dependable and performs at a top class level. No complaints at all. I've used it to cut the bottom off of solid doors while they're still hanging...no problems at all. Even though I only have the 18v battery I've never had a problem with it running out before I'm done.  It's not black and green, but it's still a fine bit of kit. 

Mac