Pdc/4 quaddrill

[donwon]

Thinking of buying this drill and wondering how people like it. Is it overkill compared to the T18?  How is the hammer drill function

Thanks!

 

[Staniam]

I love it. I bought the 2.6ah battery for it and it's the main battery I use on it. It's so compact and it's got power to drill and drive like no other. I drilled a 3" deep by 1/2" wide hole in my concrete driveway for a gate spike and it didn't miss a beat. It's crazy loud using the percussion so I recommend using ear protection for prolonged use. I've used the LED light as a flashlight a bunch already, just as a flashlight, wasn't drilling or driving or anything, just needed light.

Turns out I reach for the PDC more often than my beloved CXS, even for small things. It's just so small and compact for a hammer drill. I mean, percussion drill.

 

[AlexThePalex]

If the PDC is overkill or not depends on what you want to do with it.

I've been using my nephew's PDC 18 a lot again last month, and it is great for situations that require more power, like big screws, or holes in stone and concrete. The gear selector switch is a PITA though, it's always stuck.

But for screwing lots of smaller screws I prefer my T15, which is almost the same as the T18. Easier to handle and much more precise than the PDC.

 

[greg mann]

As usual. Alex nailed it. The PDC can do more things, lots of low end torque and lots of high end speed, but you cannot finesse it like the Ts and Cs.

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

The PDC is an amazing drill.  I use mine professionally, so it gets used everyday and some days all day long.  Never had any issues.  It's has a very long battery life.  My favorite thing to do with the PDC is drilling pocket screws.  With the high speed it works great for drilling.  I use the hammer option often for drilling tile and concrete.  Drilling anchors in concrete works great.  I typically use the PDC when I have a few holes to drill in concrete when I don't want to pull out my sys drill and cord.  I sold my T15 to buy the PDC and I'm very happy with my decision. 

 

[Alejandrom]

I have The pdc and I must say it is a must have. Very powerful, very well made and can do a lot of things, not as well as a specific tool but reasonable well.
I use it every day and I am very happy. My sister, who works with me and is not as expert in tools as me, said when she used it for the first time: " This drill is very good "

If she says that, buy it, believe me.

 

[#Tee]

lol dam it you guys, i just got the t18 and after this thread ill have to get the pdc for no reason. i do like how heavy duty it feels in the hand paired with the 2.6 bat its a luxury to have!

 

[pingvinlakrits]

I got the DRC 18/4 just to spice things up. I like it more than the T18. It is subtle enough for the tougher jobs yet strong enough to warrant that extra handle that comes included.  The gearbox is probably just as coarse as the PDC - I have to try a few times to get into third gear, the other gears are "fine". It has gotten "better" after some use though.

I didn't find the PDC too convincing over the DRC and I think it is too loud. I'd rather have a proper impact from Festool.

 

[Jak147]

I could never justify spending £££ on a drill. They get a lot of abuse of site and I have had at least three Makitas in two years.
Then last X as the pdc was being sold cheap on eBay.
All I can say is wow. number 4 speed is crazy fast. Like seriously crazy. And number one will break your wrist if it gets bitey.
I was using it to enlarge a hole in a rsj from 8mm to 13mm. The first one got fightable at the break through, so for the second hole I employed the side grip..... It too got fightable only this time the 13mm hss drill snapped like a twig!
The on board electronics are great, no chance of cooking the motor, so confident of this am I that the 150mm hole saw is no longer kept with the big 36v Bosch.

The only tricky bit that caught me at first is if you change direction without fully releasing the trigger it will continue in the original direction. Thought I had a duff drill to start with.
Get the set version with the angle chuck it gets used all the time.
I have a 36v sds so don't really use the hammer function, which FYI operates in no way what so ever as an impact driver and is not designed to be used as such

 

[yetihunter]

If the t and c series drills are more precise than the PDC, they must be the most precise drills in the world!  [big grin]

I bought a PDC planning to only use it as a drilling machine.
I'm used to hefty 12 lb corded drills that run over 3000 rpm
and had already purchased the CSX for driving screws.

To my surprise, I've found myself using it all the time for both.
The electronic clutch is phenomenal, I enjoy stunning screws with this thing!

 

[CumminsDiesel]

Thinking of buying this drill and wondering how people like it. Is it overkill compared to the T18?  How is the hammer drill function

Thanks!

Alex right!

I absolutely like my PDC 18/4,best drill I ever had!Torque/High speed all in one!
This drill can do a lot of things,thats why I sold ALL my Dewalt/Bosch.
But I find its a best combo PDC 18/4 + CXS.

 

[CumminsDiesel]

If the t and c series drills are more precise than the PDC, they must be the most precise drills in the world!

I find my PDC 18/4 is absolutely precise !

[wink]

 

[donwon]

Thanks everyone for the input  Seems like a great machine and have not heard anything negative about the performance now I just ha to think about how to save up for one.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Got my PDC some time ago, very nice drill, switching gears seems to get easier after some use. It's something that has a learning curve.. I agree that this drill in combo with a CXS  is all you really need.

I'll probably pick up the SDS though, as a basic kit without battery it is sold at a very good price point.

 

[leakyroof]

As usual. Alex nailed it. The PDC can do more things, lots of low end torque and lots of high end speed, but you cannot finesse it like the Ts and Cs.

  Not true from what I've experienced with mine.  The first drilling that I did with it was a tiny 1/16" drill bit into old hardwood. Total control and even with the larger 5.2 battery in it, not too heavy for that task.  Very low runout in the chuck as well, which for a drill bit this small, was a very good thing.  Would my CSX drill have been smaller and more suited to the task, yes, but that wasn't the drill in my hand.  My PDC was, and I needed the percussive driving for other work at the same job.

 

[AlexThePalex]

As usual. Alex nailed it. The PDC can do more things, lots of low end torque and lots of high end speed, but you cannot finesse it like the Ts and Cs.

  Not true from what I've experienced with mine.  The first drilling that I did with it was a tiny 1/16" drill bit into old hardwood.

I don't really see drilling as something that requires a lot of finesse. You'll best test a drills' finesse when driving screws.

Last week I had to remove lots of hardboard from a floor, about 80 sqm/860 sqft. Many boards were fastened with slotted screws, others with nails. The slotted screws were also a bit rusty because they were there for over 40 years. I started out with the PDC18, because the drill was already there, but it turned out to be a very frustrating exercise to align the slotted bit with the screw. And just as frustrating to try to drive the screw out without breaking it or camming out.

After doing this for an hour I went home and got my T15, and with its precise trigger control it was very easy to align the bit and pretty easy to unscrew them all in a slow but steady pace.

 

[greg mann]

As usual. Alex nailed it. The PDC can do more things, lots of low end torque and lots of high end speed, but you cannot finesse it like the Ts and Cs.

  Not true from what I've experienced with mine.  The first drilling that I did with it was a tiny 1/16" drill bit into old hardwood. Total control and even with the larger 5.2 battery in it, not too heavy for that task.  Very low runout in the chuck as well, which for a drill bit this small, was a very good thing.  Would my CSX drill have been smaller and more suited to the task, yes, but that wasn't the drill in my hand.  My PDC was, and I needed the percussive driving for other work at the same job.

I would use my PDC for drilling a 1/16 hole as well, simply because it has so much more rpm. That is not a finesse situation because any Festool drill would snap a drill that size if it were to bind. Driving screws, especially small ones, is what takes finesse. It can be done with the PDC but finding the right speed range and torque setting will take a bit more fiddling.

 

[leakyroof]

As usual. Alex nailed it. The PDC can do more things, lots of low end torque and lots of high end speed, but you cannot finesse it like the Ts and Cs.

  Not true from what I've experienced with mine.  The first drilling that I did with it was a tiny 1/16" drill bit into old hardwood.

I don't really see drilling as something that requires a lot of finesse.

  Can't say that I agree with that as a blanket statement. Very small diameter drill bits require very low runout from the drill/chuck that they're mounted in, otherwise the runout at the end of the drill bit not only makes it hard to start the hole exactly on your mark, but the wobble of the bit leads to drill bit breakage due to the side loads being placed on it.  Nothing new there.
The load or torque needed to drive or remove screws/fasteners is different. Nice to have an exact trigger control, esp. with Slotted screws though... [eek]
I'm glad I haven't had to do that, that's many screws to remove that aren't in a more friendly head style like Torx or Square drive...
I've only used my PDC in percussive/hammer mode to drive some Phillips screws so far, and I only camed out on one of them, so I was happy with that. The electronic limit seems to work well,but I need much more work with this drill to learn more about it.

 

[mrboult]

I've only used my PDC in percussive/hammer mode to drive some Phillips screws so far, and I only camed out on one of them, so I was happy with that.

[eek] That mode isn't designed fro screws, rather drilling in masonry. The PDC isn't an impact driver.

 

[CumminsDiesel]

As usual. Alex nailed it. The PDC can do more things, lots of low end torque and lots of high end speed, but you cannot finesse it like the Ts and Cs.

  Not true from what I've experienced with mine.  The first drilling that I did with it was a tiny 1/16" drill bit into old hardwood. Total control and even with the larger 5.2 battery in it, not too heavy for that task.  Very low runout in the chuck as well, which for a drill bit this small, was a very good thing.  Would my CSX drill have been smaller and more suited to the task, yes, but that wasn't the drill in my hand.  My PDC was, and I needed the percussive driving for other work at the same job.

I would use my PDC for drilling a 1/16 hole as well, simply because it has so much more rpm. That is not a finesse situation because any Festool drill would snap a drill that size if it were to bind. Driving screws, especially small ones, is what takes finesse. It can be done with the PDC but finding the right speed range and torque setting will take a bit more fiddling.

Yeah,same here,just couple days ago use 1/16" drill bit,on a 3800 rpm (4th gear) ,its just awesome!
I'm amazed how balanced and light drill is and also very low runout,great control to drill 1/16"!