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Posted by Neon John on October 18, 2007, 5:44 pm
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On Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:38:11 -0500, me@privacy.net wrote:
>>I'd hate to think how many deck screws my 10 year old 18 volt DeWalt cordless
drill
>>has driven. NiCADs and not NiMH. NiCADS still rule for power density. That
is, the
>>ability to deliver high current (and thus power) from a small package. The
energy
>>density trails behind NiMH and Li but that's usually not an issue with a
portable
>>tool.
>
>Maybe I should stick with NiCad after all then? What
>you think?
If I didn't already have just about every 18 volt tool DeWalt makes, I'd be all
over
the Milwaukee V28 line. The 28 volt pack is lighter but about the same size as
my 18
volt NiCd pack. It stores just a little over twice the energy. I've had the
opportunity to use the drill. It kicks butt against my 18 volt one. A friend
has a
24 volt DeWalt NiCd drill. I've used both. No comparison. The 24 volt version
is
heavy and clumsy. Just the opposite of the V28.
These tools are amazingly tough considering that they're made of plastic. I
remodel
my restaurant, helped build a metal building (read: about half a million screws)
and
have worked on many other projects in the 12+ years that I've owned it. It was
my
first DeWalt tool. It still runs like new, though the case is kinda beat up.
The circle saw was my second tool. It's hard to believe that a saw that small
can do
actual production work. It can. It cuts pine 2X4s almost as fast as a standard
line-operated saw. It's hard on batteries, though, drawing probably twice the
current of the drill. Getting the saw occasioned my getting a couple of spare
batteries and another charger. It pretty much took two 1-hour chargers to keep
up
with the saw.
I should note that the V28 saw is twice the saw of the Milwaukee. It uses a
standard
7" blade and cuts like a corded saw.
The jig saw is nice. Well balanced and smooth.
Their version of the Sawzall reciprocating saw works OK but the genuine Milwaukee
Sawzall is sooo much nicer. Better balanced. The quick-change chuck is better.
More
powerful, etc.
I have the analog radio. It sucks. I use it mostly as amplified speakers for
my MP3
player and for the built-in quick charger.
The cordless vacuum is handy beyond imagination. IMO, DeWalt screwed the pooch
by
not including a charger in the unit. It has a cord for corded operation so why
not?
Actually I've been thinking about selling my DeWalt setup and starting over with
the
V28. I probably would had I not just had several NiCd packs rebuilt.
You can't go wrong with either battery system but if you're starting from
scratch,
then I highly recommend one of the Li systems. The V28 is my personal choice.
John
--
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.johndearmond.com <-- best little blog on the net!
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
Beware the lollipop of mediocrity. Lick once and you suck forever.
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