Genie 1022 1/2-Horsepower AC ChainLift Garage Door Opener

Customer Reviews

Great opener for a reasonable price
I just installed the Genie 1022 as a replacement for the second Craftsman that died an early death. It was very simple to install and the instructions were clear and easy to follow. It’s quieter than any chain driven opener I’ve ever seen and has a smooth start and stop. My only minor complaint (and it’s mostly because of my short, stubby fingers) is that the wire connector on the unit could be larger to make it easier to feed the wire ends into it.

Genie door opener
I was very pleased with the rapid and effecient delivery of the Genie Door opener. I was able to install the new opener myself after reading the very clear instruction book. I liked the manner in which each of the packages of necessary hardward were seperated into individual boxes and numbered. It keep the process of installation easier and efficient. Finally, when all the wiring was connected and electrical power was applied, everything worked just as it was supposed to perform. Even the programming the remotes was simple and effective. I am pleased with this product.

Impressed
I don’t usually write reviews, but I was impressed with this product so thought it deserved the time. First off, the packaging and care taken to label the parts was amazing. Although I don’t normally read through directions I felt the urge to, seeing how well organized everything was. The unit itself seems perfect (and much better than my old unit). The soft start is cool and the way you program the up and down limits is so easy (maybe this is how all new units are programmed though). Programmed up to both my Homelink vehicles with no real issues. When my others die I will definitely replace them with another of these units. I was not aware of the 7ft height when I ordered it, but decided to install it anyways… I was able to squeeze 7’2″ out of it and that was enough to get my stock F350 through the door with a few inches to spare, although my door does stop a few inches lower than the old unit.

Bare-Tool Milwaukee 2630-20 Bare-Tool 18-Volt 6-1-2-Inch Circular Saw (Tool Only, No Battery)

• Heavy-Duty Magnesium Guards for maximum durability and On-board fuel gauge displays remaining battery charge
• Ergonomic, compact and lightweight design with soft-grip handle for operator comfort
• Electronic brake stops blade quickly and Aircraft aluminum shoe provides greater accuracy
• Includes: 18-Volt XC Circular Saw, 24T Carbide Blade

Customer Reviews

Circular saw tool purchase
It states bare- tool and every body knows that means no battery included, but Amazon’s ad does not tell you which
battery is required!I was forced to purchase another $60.00 battery since my new drill and impact driver
battery will not power this saw!I probably would not have purchased this saw had I known all the facts and its a great
product. I blame Amazon for this oversight and will be very careful in future Amazon purchases!

Beware the battery compatibility
Here’s the bottom line. This isn’t an [...] saw. Its a $180 saw AFTER you have to buy the “correct” battery.
I have Milwaukee cordless 18V lithium tools that use the standard 18V lithium Ion Battery packs. So I figured I could by this saw which is touted to be “the new 18 volt lithium Ion battery driven saw ” and be able to use the batteries that came with my impact driver and drill…WRONG ! These batteries ( 48-11-1815) are NOT compatible with the saw which requires the ( 48-11-1828) XC high capacity battery pack which runs anywhere from $90 to $129 bucks ..OUCH! If you already own this battery then this saw @ [...] bucks is a steal…. if not it becomes a very expensive ($185 to $200) cordless saw.
While the saws and drills and anything “Milwaukee” is well designed hardware, I have two issues:

1. Milwaukee has a zillion different model/part numbers and you have to really look closely to figure out what is compatible with what. In the case of this Amazon offer, there is NO MENTION of the fact that the tool REQUIRES a special “XC” battery and that standard Milwaukee batteries are NOT compatible

2. All the “Milwaukee” stuff (makes you think its made in Wisconsin in the good ole USA, doesn’t it?) is made in CHINA or some third world country in the Far East. I wish i’d known that before subsidizing the Chinese economy and making some “Milwaukee” ( we don’t make it here) execs rich. They are greedy “traders” who don’t employ Americans.

Any future tools I buy will be good ole “MADE IN AMERICA ” SEARS Craftsman. Yup , they’re more expensive….why? ..Because AMERICANS make them…I’ll pay the premium for that for sure .

Great Saw
Works great. Have to get used to the electric brake, but seems like a very nice heavy duty saw. No opinions yet on battery life, but very satisfied so far!

Milwaukee 6310-20 18-Volt 6-1-2-Inch Ni-Cad Cordless Circular Saw (Tool Only, No Battery)

• 3,200 rpm with electric brake, great balance
• Tool only (no battery, charger, or blade), Allen Wrench
• Features all-metal upper and lower guards
• Rigid aluminum shoe for rigorous job site use

Customer Reviews

18 Volt Cordless Saw – perfect for the quick fixes
This is my first purchase of a cordless circular saw. Because of that I can’t say how this one matches up to other brands. The pros: medium sized therefore lighter weight than corded saws, lots of power – no problem cutting throught 2×4′s or 1 inch oak, cordless – no connecting extension cords, it has a push button blade lock for easy blade replacement, safety trigger release – for those with kids, batteries seem to last about as long as my cordless Hatchet Sawzall (probably could crosscut about 50 -75 2×4′s, and it will run on Milwaukee’s 18 volt Regular or Lithium Ion batteries. The cons: blades (6.5 inch) can be take a little time to locate at some of the commericial big box do-it-yourself places (I know the big orange stores sell them) and it has a left sided blade – not a really big deal since it works very well right handed , it just takes a couple of practice cuts to know where the blade is cutting like all saws.

Full Sized V18 Battery Compatible
At the sub $50 bargain price I got this for it is a great deal and a very handy saw. Do not expect it to replace a monster corded worm drive saw, but for smaller jobs where setting up extension cords would be a pain in the neck this is just the ticket. By all means use a thin kerf blade like comes with the saw when you get a replacement blade.

Milwaukee makes several different 18 volt Li-Ion battery packs. This works with the full sized V18 packs, but not their small compact cousins nor with the new M18 system Milwaukee has recently brought out. I suspect that the reason many V18 compatible tools are available at a deep discount is that Milwaukee is changing its battery pack form factor.

Personally I’m thrilled to have this one at a bargain price.

Excellent design and engineering, these people know tools
This is a great tool. It is quiet, very smooth running and well balanced. It cuts like it has eyes! I have a lot of cordless circular saws DeWalt, (2) Milwaukee (1) Craftsman (2) Black & Decker (1) Ryobi (1) Makita (1) Denali (1) and probably a couple I have forgot about. They range in blade size from around 4″ to the 36 volt DeWalt 7 ¼ inch. The Milwaukee is the first saw I reach for when cutting O.S.B, plywood or 2x or smaller lumber. The lack of any vibration and the great sight line make it easy to make very precise cuts on a variety of materials. The stamped aluminum shoe isn’t going to break if you drop it. It will bend and you can straighten it out unlike a cast aluminum shoe as used on some other saws. I don’t know what else to say, it is a tough saw, it doesn’t look very special but it sure does work good. And it is one of the quietest circular saws I own.

Milwaukee 6391-21 15 Amp 7-1-4-Inch Circular Saw with Blade on Left

• Pro-duty 7-1/4-inch circular saw
• 3-1/4-horsepower, 15-amp motor; adjustable handle tilts to most comfortable position
• Left-mount blade for better cut-line visibility; extra-thick aluminum shoe bevels to 50 degrees
• Blow-molded storage case
• Limited warranty

Customer Reviews

Fabulous saw!!!
I just recieved this saw from Amazon a couple of weeks ago. I have used it on two occasions. The power is awsome! You can barley feel the wood as you cut. All the controls work great. However, I had to place some oil on the front bevel lever pivot to get it to move fully into the locked position. One of the best features is the fact that you can easily see the blade and the cut line through an opening. I can cut along a line with perfection!! The tilt-lok handle is cool too. You can set the blade to cut 3/4 of an inch, then lower the handle to the normal position. Your hand is no longer way up in the air as with other circular saws. This is a fabulous saw. Considered Porter Cable. Glad I chose the Milwaukee. It’s great.

Great Circular Saw
I purchased the Bosch rear handle worm drive construction saw. I like the handle on the rear of the saw. It is ideal for cutting vertically directly away from you. A top handle saw is better for making cuts horizontally, as in across the front of you. What did Milwaukee do? They made a multi-position handle. That way you have all options open to you. No need to buy two saws. Milwaukees penchant for power is evident in this saw as well. My hat’s off to Milwaukee, their engineering did it again. Highly recommended.

I use this saw for woodworking
This saw is an excellent choice for reducing sheets of plywood to safely then cut on the table saw. I use the Freud TK303 blade for a very smooth cut. This saw can cut through 3/4 inch cabinet grade plywood with ease. I am right handed and bought the left blade saw since it improves visibility to the cut.

Milwaukee 6390-21 7-1-4-Inch 15-Amp Tilt-Lok Circular Saw

• Features a powerful 15-amp, 5,800 rpm and 3-1/4-horsepower motor with spindle lock and quick-lock cord for quick field replacement
• The locking, tilting main handle adjusts for comfort
• Aircraft aluminum shoe and soft-grip handle
• Kit includes 6390-20 saw, blade, wrench, and case
• 13-3/4 inches; 10.4 pounds; 5-year warranty

Customer Reviews

Six months of use and abuse, not a hiccup.
I saw that no one had a comment on this saw and wanted to give a testament on this one. I bought this saw to replace several others that were all tired and were for many reasons short on performance Skil, PC, Dewalt, B&D, Makita All 7.25 inch and would fail in less than a year of use and repair would be a Should I/Shouldn’t I because of cost reasons on Parts/Labor/Time. I picked this model for a particularly hard project on a remote island and one of the toughest sources of power, a small generator/@3000W to remove a roof, build an addition and remodel a complete Camp/Cabin and Outbuildings. Strength and adjustment are a pleasure with quick release and tightening. Remember to use a little silicone. Especially enjoyed the accurate bevel adjustments and beyond 45 degrees on dormers. This saw laughed at cutting microlam’s and plunging into scaffolding grade 2×10′s on exposed intricate ridge/tail rafter cuts. None of my other saws would do this. The long cord is nice to lower the saw from the roof peak or eaves with no concerns, even though no one else does this, right. The adjusting handle was nice, but I settled for only two settings depending on work material location above/below. The blade guard was especially strong and was able to be set down with confidence/safety. But overall this is one of the toughest & accurate circular saws I have owned to date. Just so you know that I have received no benefits from Milwaukee,the two things that could be improved on are small, but would perfect the package, First throw away the blade that comes with the saw, they must not want anyone to buy them. And secondly make a case that takes one hand to lock and is completely water tight. A 1/8 inch thin strip of neoprene/sanaprene is the fix on handle side. I want to be able to keep my sandwich fresh………On it’s birthday I may give it a new set of brushes $6.83 and use a nickel to remove and replace them

Pull the trigger and change your brand.
I have to stick my nose in here because something happened that never happened before. I am not using a skill 77 any more, or even the Porter Cable 743. In fact I switched from a left bladed worm to a right blader just to get the toughness and power that this Milwaukee saw has. The first guy to review this saw (conceptbydesign) hit the nail on the head when he said this saw was tough. There are many well-designed features on this saw but the best thing is the power and toughness.

Another great feature is the fact that if you set this saw to a shallow cutting depth, the handle stays where it belongs or where you want it to be – down near the work — instead of getting way up in the air where it’s hard to control. Also, the blade guard handle is back off the shoe where it’s easy and safe to grab. Setting a bevel on this saw is a dream. The markings are clear and the lock comes easy to the hand. On some saws the shoe is thin and “bendy” or too narrow. This one is almost perfect.

Now a circular saw is probably the second most personal tool a carpenter will own right after a hammer. I wouldn’t be surprised if every saw here on Amazon got five stars, because everyone likes something a little different with their saws. You have to decide which features are right for you. There are almost more opinions about which saw is better than there are saws. That’s why I used a 77 for 30 years without changing. But the first time I pulled the trigger on this saw it was clear that the sheer power was going to make for accurate cuts and pleasant work. This is also one of the lightest saws there is – at least amongst the beefy framing saws. It was time for a change. No saw is perfect – here are the gigs: This saw is a bit noisy. It has a good blade guard but it still would be nice to have a blade brake. Maybe someday Milwaukee will read this and make one that has a left blade. That would make my day.

Spend the money, you’ll be glad you did
After owning a cheap craftsman circular saw for 15 years, it was time to upgrade. I actually tested out about 15 saws and settled on the Milwaukee 6390 for the following reasons:

1. Power – This thing will cut through it all and it helps with accuracy of the cut. It also just sounds great when you fire this thing up. 2. Weight – Light and easy to handle. 3. Adjustments – Easy, quick and accurate. No effort or tools required except for blade change, and even that is easy and quick. 4. Base – Large, sturdy and the cut line is quite visible. 5. Trigger – Responsive and crisp. On some saws it takes quite a bit of effort to keep power to the trigger

The downsides: The case is a giant and takes up way too much space. The blade that comes with the saw is cheesy.

The bottom line: Circular saws will last a long time, so spend the bucks on a good one, like the Milwaukee. You will be glad you did. If you buy this saw, you will find excuses to use it often.

Makita LCT203W 10.8-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Two-Piece Combo Kit

Makita LCT203W 10.8-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Two-Piece Combo Kit Features and Technical Details

• Ultra compact driver-drill and impact driver offer best power-to-weight ratio
• 2-Speed Driver-Drill (0-350 / 0-1,300 RPM) delivers 200 in.lbs. of Max Torque in an ultra compact size of only 1.9 lbs.
• Variable speed Impact Driver (0-2,400 RPM) provides 800 in.lbs. of Max Torque in an ultra compact design of only 2.0 lbs.
• Makita Lithium-Ion battery and Energy Star rated charger produces 430% total lifetime work with 2.5X more cycles
• 3-year warranty on tools and 1-year warranty on batteries and charger

• Makita Lithium-Ion battery and Energy Star rated charger produces 430% total lifetime work with 2.5X more cycles
• 3-year warranty on tools and 1-year warranty on batteries and charger
• Dimensions: 11.00″ h x 7.50″ w x 10.50″ l, 8.53 pounds

Customer Reviews

Impressive power and performance.
This drill and impact driver combo is impressive. They have lot of power, comparable (beter) than most 12v nicad or lithium tools out there. For small to medium drilling or screw/bolt driving, these are just what you need. I currently own Makita 18V LXT tools and have been using Bosch 10.8 V Litheon drill (PS-20), impact driver (PS-40) and right angle I-driver (PS-10) before I try this new Makita combo. They are very similiar in size and power. But I found both Makita drill and impact driver has little more power and feel better in my hands than Bosch tools. They are all good tools and and you can’t go wrong with either brand. I love these small, light weight tools that pack with power for 95% of my work.

Great Compact Pair of Tools
Makita LCT203W 10.8-Volt 2-Tool Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit

I purchased this combination in order to do some light internal repair and remodeling with occasional heavier duty work doing outdoor construction with pressure treated lumber. Most of the prior reviews talked about the small and light size, and this does make the tools very easy to use and even slip in a jacket pocket or a tool belt.

However, none of the other reviews provided much indication of the battery life, which is a question with the less than 18V models. My experience in doing a wooden bridge today was as follows: the impact driver quickly drove about 30 3 inch screws through pressure treated 2 x 4s into 2 x 6s before running out of juice. The drill did somewhat better, pre-drilling about 125 holes in the 2 x 4s with a 5/32 bit, and we ran out of bridge before that battery ran out.

Good power in both cases, as driving long screws drains any battery fast. It is interesting that in using the impact driver as it gets a little lower on power, you can see the driver action as the screw stops rotating just long enough to notice in between each strike. And as with other impact tools, there is little twisting pressure on your wrist while in use. On the other hand, the tool is significantly louder than a drill, and when using in a small space like an empty closet, probably would be a good idea to use ear plugs or other protection.

Good little set!
I am a cabinetbuilder by trade. I have owned Makita’s LXT set for several years and love them, but then I saw these little cuties and had to have them. They are small, light, and soooo handy! Powerful little buggers, too. I have owned the set for a week now and have used them pretty much every day. The impact has just as much power as the 18v LXT does, but of course the battery life is less, which is to be expected. They are compact enough to fit in tight spots, like cabinets, and light enough that you can use it all day without fatigue. I will update this after awhile to let everyone know how they perform after longer periods.

Rockwell ProGrade RK2722K2 14.4-Volt Cordless Drill Technical Details

• 14.4-volt cordless drill with 3/8-inch no-slip keyless chuck with twist locking system
• 24 clutch positions with 310 in./lbs. of torque; magnetic bit/screw tray
• Dual gear variable speed range
• Soft grip comfort handle
• 2-year warranty

Customer Reviews

Great drill!,Great drill to use, although I’ve had limited use of it. Love the extra battery and the magnet on the front to allow for easy carrying of screws. I would highly recommend this drill to anyone!

Please note, however, that it DOES NOT come with any drill bits (other than a couple screwdriver bits). This is clearly stated in the description but want to ensure others are aware.

Not a whole lot to say,I was most impressed with the fact that the drill was on sale for 49.95. I am not sure if this is common or not, but you just can’t pass up deals like that. I really like the fact that the drill has free battery replacements for the life of the drill. This was the original reason why I went onto Amazon in the first place before purchasing this drill. My old drill’s batteries costs were nearly the cost of this new drill so I just had to upgrade. I am not a contractor or work in the construction field so I really don’t know or have the interest in buying a 500 dollar drill so this one will suit me just fine for years I am sure.

An amazing tool for the right price,Considering that I paid around 30 bucks for this item (it is often on sale for precisely that on amazon.com) and it was shipped free of charge, I figured I would end up with some chintzy Black and Decker like drill – good enough for some light work. What I did not expect was for this thing to have excellent torque, fantastic build quality and come as well appointed as it did.

The power, at 14.4 volts and its RPM makes this a sensible drill for just about any wood working. I have no issues whatsoever drilling into wood around the house. Planters, picture hanging, deck work are no problems at all. I even did some house framing work for Habitat for Humanity with this tool.

Build quality could not get better unless this was a Festool or a Bosch. The only thing I’m not a fan of is the drill button, but that’s just a matter of preference, not quality (it feels slightly spongy to me).

Lastly, the unit comes in a nice sized plastic case and it comes with TWO batteries and a charger. The charger does get a little hotter than my Dewalt does, but as long as it won’t melt or burn anything down, I’m won’t complaining.

All in all, if you can get this Rockwell for the price I paid, do yourself a favor and buy two.

A Wonderful Drill,This replaced our Bosch 13.2 V drill which we enjoyed for 20 years. The Bosch batteries are no longer available, and one of ours died.
This 14.4 V drill has plenty of power for most of our work. For the heavy stuff we use our 18V DeWalt. It would have been a mistake if Rockwell had used a larger chuck.
Here’s what we like best. 1) free battery replacement for the life of the tool. 2) It’s a complete package in a nice case. 3) It’s beautiful 4) The reasonable price 5) Both my wife and I enjoy using it. In fact she hi-jacked it, and left me with the Bosch and one barely servicable battery.
We have not had it long, but we expect it to last. Our other Rockwell tool is the Sonicrafter, which has worked well and often for over a year.

Converient, well designed rechargabel drill.,This drill has enough power and light weight to be very usefull. Only draw back is the chuck would be better with 1/2 in. bit size. Price, carrying case and design makes it outstanding

DEWALT DCK655X 18-volt XRP cordless 6-tool combo kit Technical Details

• Hammerdrill features patented 3-speed all-metal transmission and self-tightening
• Circular saw can cut 2×4′s at a 45-degree angle in a single pass
• Reciprocating saw with keyless blade clamp allows for quick blade changes
• Impact driver features 1,330 in-lbs of maximum torque
• Cut-off tool with 6,500 rpm provides high power for cutting and grinding applications

Customer Reviews

excellent tools,Dewalt quality. The seller had top notch customer service as well. I haven’t used all the tools yet, but the ones i have work great.

finally a good deal.,I ordered the dewalt tool set for my husand,who was thrilled with the exellent quality of the tools.It was very well priced we compared and saved some good money.The shipping was fast and delivered the day they promised.So all i can say is me and my husband are very happy.

great deal, fantastic shipping!,Love this product. Ordering was easy, shipping was immediate and product was as described!

Great Set of Power Tools,I come from a Makita family and had always planned on getting a Makita tool set. While I was at Home Depot these power tools were on sale, and my wife surprised me with them. It has been over 2 years and I am so glad she did. I love (LOVE) my Dewalt power tool set. I use the drill most frequently (of course) but I can’t even count how many times the grinder has been the perfect tool for whatever job I have been working on. I try and take care of my stuff, but I have dropped my tools several times and they still work great. This has been such a great purchase and I absolutely recommend them to anyone.

Laughed at every task so far,I have been using this combo kit for about 6 months now, and I have yet to have an issue that this kit can’t tackle. I have been using the saw for different types of plywood and MDF board and it works quickly and easily. The grinder kills the battery pretty quickly so have an extra in the charger if you are cutting a lot. The impact driver seems to be more useful that I imagined. I have driven anchor screws in concert block and it will drive the screw 1/2″ to 3/4″ with ease. It will also tackle those pesky IKEA you put it together stuff the wife always brings home. The hammer drill is a little on the weak side, it seems to shake more than hammer, but it works great as a standard drill. Great group of tools!

DEWALT DCK655X 18-volt XRP cordless 6-tool combo kit deals at Amazon.com

Customer Reviews

Work Horse Drill,Excellent price, includes 2 batteries, so when one is charging you have the other ready to use.
Doing home renovations this summer has been the perfect tool for any job we needed it for.
Worth every penny and then some.

Awesome Service,I had to cancel my order on this product in the last minute, and the salesperson was exceptionally considerate. He was able to cancel the order right before it was shipped and refunded my payment. I am certain that the product would have been as excellent as the customer service.

Lots of torque and excellent chuck,There are few things more frustrating than to be drilling away and all of a sudden find yourself making no headway because the chuck has loosened up. Even worse is when you are up on a ladder and the bit falls out of the chuck and down to the ground. This is a common occurrence with the Makita and Milwaukee and in particular the Hitachi drills we use but never with the DeWalt drills.

We started out with the NiCad and they work well but you only get a 1-year warranty on the batteries so we have found it less expensive in the long run to buy the 20 volt lithium-ion battery powered version of this drill, the DeWalt DCD760 (not sold on Amazon but easily found elsewhere). For an extra $40 we can buy the DCD760 with two of the lithium-ion batteries which have a 2-year full warranty from DeWalt – longest provided by anyone.

The clutch is smooth and the adjustments are evenly spaced. Some drills make it hard to make a quick adjustment when you want 30% more or less torque with the clutch setting. The forward and reverse selector is placed where it is easy to find but difficult to press by accident. We have a couple of the Makita 452 compact drills and the selector is much too close and we hit it all the time while drilling and like having the chuck come loose it is a pain to find the drill has stopped drilling and have to stop and figure out what is wrong. The people at Makita on the engineering team in Japan must have small hands or just not realize the size of the average American hand.

This drill has lots of torque and none of the battery overload problems that I find with some lithium-ion drills (Makita and Hitachi in particular). It is a good idea to not make it work any harder than it needs to and avoid old fashioned bi-metal hole saws and selfeed drill bits. With a modern hole cutter the holes can be cut faster and the battery charge lasts a lot longer – win win as they say.

As many others have already realized cordless drills are a great substitute for a cord drill so long as you use modern high efficiency hole cutters as well. We started using the Hole Pro adjustable hole cutters to make 13″ holes for solar tubes using 18v cordless drills and now make 6″ holes in lumber using the Blue Boar tungsten carbide hole saws which surprises people on the job site the first time they see them in action. After that they want to know where we got them. I tell them Amazon.

HOLE PRO X-425 Kit 1-7/8″ to 17″ infinitely adjustable Twin Tungsten Carbide Blade Hole Saw Cutter 12″ 13″ 14″ 15″ 16″ and fractional holes in wood sheetrock plaster plastics MDF cement board. Use ¼ torque of hole saw cut twice as fast

BLUE BOAR 4″ (102mm) Self-Feed TCT 2-1/4″ deep multipurpose Tungsten Carbide hole cutter outperforms self-feed bits & bi-metal hole saws. Cut wood, MDF, OSB, laminates, Hardie & chipboard, plaster, drywall, brick, Formica

The charger is of average size and about 2/3 the size of the Makita chargers which makes it easier to have more than one going at a time. The charger fits neatly into the DeWalt case which is about as crude as they come. DeWalt spends the least amount on designing and manufacturing its cases and it shows. On the other hand they do not cut corners with their drills and this shows as well in their power and durability.

We have lost quite a few Makita 18 volt drills with blown gearboxes and yet not a single Milwaukee or DeWalt drill. The DeWalt gearbox is built like a tank. Not refined but incredibly solid. New patented design and easily the best available. Prefer the 3-speed gearboxes but they are not used on the compact drills. If you do not really need a compact drill and want the most powerful 18 volt drill get the DeWalt DCD760.

We had a lot of problems with Milwaukee’s NiCad batteries and Milwaukee was very very slow to issue a recall and start replacing them. After that we tried to get only lithium-ion drills even if they don’t produce the same amount of prolonged torque as the Nicads thanks to the overload protection. Glad that DeWalt has at long last started producing some top quality drills with their high capacity XRP lithium-ion batteries.

Something to consider if trying to decide whether to get a drill with NiCad or lithium batteries in addition to the warranty period is the convenience factor if you only use your drill a couple times a month or less. A lithium-ion battery will hold its charge for a month or two so as long as you charge it before putting it away it is likely to have more than enough power for whatever job you have. With a NiCad you will need to remember to charge it the day before you need it.

This compact 18 volt drill is a good compromise between size and power. There are lighter drills you can buy but they are not as well built and they do not provide as much power. Unless all you need is a 12 volt drill this should be the least drill to consider. At the price it is a great buy though I would expect most people to be happier with the DCD760KL version with the lithium-ion batteries.

dewalt 18 volt drill,dewalt drill has plenty of power,batteries seem to last awhile between charges. I like it alot better than the makita I owned before.

Lots of torque for a compact drill,The DeWalt DC720KA is compact in size but still provides very good performance with its 18 volt NiCad battery cartridge. More power than the Makita BDF452 I have and a much better chuck (does not loosen up the way the Makita often does). It also has a much better placement of the forward and reverse switch than the compact Makita so I do not accidentally switch out of forward in the middle of drilling a hole or driving a screw. The problem with the forward-reverse switch I have only found on the Makita drills. No problems with any of my Milwaukee or DeWalt or Hitachi drills, only the Makita.

It is important to keep the batteries charged and to periodically top them off. They have half as long a warranty as the DeWalt Lithium-ion batteries so in the long run it may be less expensive to buy the DC760 version of this drill. Good idea to recharge the batteries after using the drill and not to wait until the next time you want to use it.

The DeWalt chucks are easily the best I have used in gripping a drill bit tightly and not loosening up no matter what I am drilling. The chuck has a smooth action and no visibly runout. Not as smooth as the Bosch, but equal to the Milwaukee and better than the Makita in this area.

The DeWalt charger works well and is quiet unlike the Makita “quick” charger that has a loud fan. Slower charging is better for battery life and so long as the first battery is charged before the second one runs out of power that is all I need. The NiCad battery will lose power sitting on a shelf at a much faster rate than the Lithium battery so it requires more forethought (to charge it before starting work) for a drill that is only going to be used occasionally. With the Makita you are supposed to leave the battery on the charger for an hour to let it cool off so the total charge time is actually longer (for maximum battery life) than with DeWalt.

I have found through my own experience with drills that are supposed to be 400 inch pound or 450 or 550 or 650 that a 550 will handle situations where a 450 drill will struggle and die. No idea why this is but I have experienced it with every medium duty drill we have from 4 different manufacturers. The DC720KA is an excellent medium duty drill that will work well in general drilling and driving. If you need the ultimate in performance and something that will take the place of a 1/2″ stud drill the DeWalt DCD940 or Milwaukee 2611 drills are better choices. Between the two drills the Milwaukee is the more refined drill but the DeWalt is the more powerful thanks to its all metal 3-speed gearbox.

Cordless drills burn up or have gearbox problems more often than corded drills of the past and I believe that this is the result of people trying to use them the same way as they did their cord drills and with the same old hole saws and self feed drill bits. Battery power, NiCad or Lithium-ion, is different than wall current and batteries do not work well then the current draw is very high. Easiest way to avoid problems with cordless drills is to use them on the correct speed range setting and to use modern hole cutters. The DeWalt gearboxes will take abuse much better than the Makita drills but if you want the drill to last it is a good idea to use the speed selector and modern high performance hole cutters.

As expensive as the cordless drills are compared to corded drills at 1/4 the price it surprises me that so often people will use $15 bi-metal hole saws and beat the drill (and themselves) up. They would not buy a new truck and then use the cheapest motor oil they could find to protect the engine but it amounts to the same thing. It is not really a good savings anyway if you plan to cut more than a few holes. The TCT hole cutters cut ten times as quickly and put about a tenth as much stress on the drill’s gearbox and motor bearings.

This DeWalt DC720KA is not powerful enough for a 2″ hole saw in a 2×4 piece of lumber but if I use a modern hole cutter with large side slots like the Milwaukee Big Hawg or the Blue Boar TCT I can easily cut a 4″ diameter hole in the same board and do it in a fraction of the time and needing a fraction of the battery’s power.

BLUE BOAR TSF12 12 Piece High Performance Tungsten Carbide Hole Saw kit – 2-1/4″ Cut Depth. Cut 10x as fast and using 1/40th the battery power. Cordless Drills cut holes 3x as large versus bi-metal hole saws. Deep side gullets for fast plug removal

I have been able to cut 4″ holes for dryer vents using one of the Blue Boar stucco hole cutters and the drill had no problems going through the stucco, the metal mesh, or the plywood to make the hole. I had tried using a Makita BDF452 but the drill kept cutting power to the motor and stalling and the chuck kept loosening up and needing retightening so I gave up using it for anything more than light duty work. Probably time to sell the Makita on craigslist.

DeWalt calls this a heavy duty compact drill and it is the only one I have found where this description was truly accurate. You can easily find lighter drills but rest assured they are also much lighter duty as well. The half size battery cartridges in reality provide less than half as much power and as one would expect they do not last as long but what was initially surprising to see was that the amount of power they provided even when new and fully charged was less than half that of a full size battery and this has a big impact on drill performance.

The only drills that are in the same league are the DeWalt DC760 lithium version of this drill and the Milwaukee 2602 (so long as you use it with a full size Milwaukee lithium-ion battery). My recommendation is to spend the extra dollars up front for the DeWalt DC760 and take advantage of its more powerful 20 volt lithium-ion batteries and the DeWalt 2 year lithium-ion battery warranty (double that from other manufacturers).

DeWalt DCD760KL 18 Volt 1/2″ Cordless Compact Li-Ion Drill/Driver Kit

When I need to cut large holes in wood siding I use one of the Hole Pro adjustable hole cutters as I can cut four times as large a hole as I could hope to do with any other hole cutter. With the DeWalt DC720 I have cut 6.5 inch diameter tankless water heater thimble holes in wood siding (on the low speed range) and 7 to 12 inch holes in drywall for can lights and ceiling speakers. The drill was more than up to the job.

Hole Pro X-305 Kit 1-7/8″ to 12″ infinitely adjustable twin blade Tungsten Carbide Hole Saw Cutter 6″ 7″ 8″ 9″ 10″ 11″ 12″ holes in wood drywall plaster fiberglass OSB cement board- Use ¼ torque of hole saws and cut twice as fast