 Incredible |
| Review Date: November 13, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Angus, Naperville, IL |
This thing is a beast. Maybe I feel this way because I'm coming off a recently blown up Crapsman 18v drill that was sub par. However, I do have experience with the Panasonic 15.6v drill that has been arguably the best drill out there. I would easily put this up against the Panasonic anytime. Sure the Milwaukee is brand new and the Panasonic has been around for years so we'll see what the China-made Milwaukee will do long term. That said, it's lighter, shorter and more powerful than the Panasonic. Not by much, but it is. Even the charge time of the battery is quicker! I've always been a fan of Milwaukee's cases so there's another bonus over the Pany.
The previous reviewer complained about the placement of the forward/reverse switch but I don't agree. In my opinion, it's located just fine and very similarly to other cordless drills I've used (Craftsman, Panasonic and Porter Cable). If you're a homeowner and looking for a weekend project cordless drill, this may be too much for you, especially considering the cost. Being a contractor, this is EXACTLY what I was looking for. It's light, it's stout (not too long) and most importantly, it's POWERFUL. It is currently priced very competitively with the Pany. You can't lose with either! |
Great Drill
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| Review Date: April 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: New England Yankee, Northern New England |
| I bought this to replace a 15 year-old Porter Cable 12V drill that was a real workhorse. Unfortunately, the batteries on the PC simply wouldn't hold a charge long enough anymore to keep it in service, and replacement cost of batteries made replacing the entire drill attractive. I found the Milwaukee at a good price at Home Depot and put it to immediate use driving 60, 3.5" lag screws, along with several dozen pocket holes. Good Lord, does this drill have power! The power stays at 100% until the battery is exhausted, too. The batteries have a "meter" that's handy, letting you know the remaining charge. I noticed that the available power will dip a bit after a good run of use, then will recover a bar on the meter after a short rest. The chuck appears to have an internal ratcheting mechanism that really locks down on bits - you can hear the ratchet engage if you listen closely. I haven't spun a bit in the chuck yet. The bit ker-chunks a little when going from forward to reverse, and vice-versa, which I presume is also related to the ratchet mechanism. The drill is very well-balanced. It fits my hand perfectly (I wear a medium glove). I strongly recommend it. |
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