Cordless drill question

kenn · Mar 15, 2011

rardiH36 said:
I have an old 14v drill. When the battery pack died, I found it was cheaper to buy a newer higher voltage drill rather than a replacement battery pack.

But rather than throw the drill out, its now doing 12v duty on my boat. I opened up the drill casing and to the plus and minus terminals where the battery pack power connected, I instead soldered an appx 30' length of lamp cord. To the other end, I connected an automotive 12v cigarette lighter plug to match the receptacle on my boat. Now I can use a power drill at any time without plugging into shore power or even needing a charged battery pack. The drill does run a bit slower than with a freshly charged 14v battery pack because of the 12v. And the 10 amp breaker switch protecting the lighter outlet circuit cuts out if I try to use the drill for a higher torque purpose. But for a drill's main purpose -- to drill holes -- its been plenty convenient.

Ya beat me to it.

I was going to brag here about my converted 14v drill. I bought it, without battery for about $5 at a flea market. It's just fine for boat and mobile work.

I also have corded drills and an 18v cordless which work well, including for holesaws, though I haven't done anything bigger than 2-1/4" yet.

MrBill_FLL · Mar 15, 2011

Today I used a 9.6v Bosch adjustable angle screwdriver like this, and I really really liked its flexibility. -but I didn't see it for sale on amazon or bosch.. might be NLA.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/346757286/3_6V_4_8V_Mini_Cordless.html

one thing to watch on these battery powered tools, is if they stop making a battery to fit your tool, you are SOL. I try to get 2 with the tool.

^What gauge wire are you running on the converted 14v drills? 10?

rardiH36 · Mar 15, 2011

MrBill_FLL said:
^What gauge wire are you running on the converted 14v drills? 10?

Just normal lamp cord. My guess is probably 14. I figured 1) 14 gauge extension cords, even at 50', have always done ok to support my ac drills at home even for higher torque projects like repeatedly driving in 3"-4" deck screws and 2) I wasn't planning to use the converted cordless on the boat for much more than turning up to 3/8" drill bits = not much amp draw.

BobM · Mar 16, 2011

I second the Ryobi. They are inexpensive and reliable. I bought mine the first year I had a sailboat when I had to build a frame for my winter cover with the boat sitting on a pier without good access to electricity.

Their line of One Plus 18V items is amazing is scope. You can get a bunch of things useful on the boat vacuum, a fan, flashlight and a 12V charger. There is a right angle drill too. So far the only thing that I didn't like was the chain saw (to take down your rig in a storm LOL?). In particular, the new lithium batteries are incredible. They weigh NOTHING in comparison to a NiCad battery, charge in a quarter the time, work at near 100% until exhaustion (then they just stop) and are half the size. Batteries and new (green) or old (blue) tools all interchange.

My brother in law had avoided cordless after experience with them in the past. I showed up at his house last summer to work on a tree house for his sons with my 18V Ryobi circular saw, sawzall and drill and quickly changed his view. I bought him a drill for Christmas. The Li Ion upgrade package of a charger and two batteries is well worth the money.

Maine Sail · Mar 16, 2011

BobM said:
I second the Ryobi. They are inexpensive and reliable. I bought mine the first year I had a sailboat when I had to build a frame for my winter cover with the boat sitting on a pier without good access to electricity.

Their line of One Plus 18V items is amazing is scope. You can get a bunch of things useful on the boat vacuum, a fan, flashlight and a 12V charger. There is a right angle drill too. So far the only thing that I didn't like was the chain saw (to take down your rig in a storm LOL?). In particular, the new lithium batteries are incredible. They weigh NOTHING in comparison to a NiCad battery, charge in a quarter the time, work at near 100% until exhaustion (then they just stop) and are half the size. Batteries and new (green) or old (blue) tools all interchange.

My brother in law had avoided cordless after experience with them in the past. I showed up at his house last summer to work on a tree house for his sons with my 18V Ryobi circular saw, sawzall and drill and quickly changed his view. I bought him a drill for Christmas. The Li Ion upgrade package of a charger and two batteries is well worth the money.

Ditto! I love my Ryobi kit and actually do consider myslef a tool snob but the darn things just work and are very inexpensive.

After going through about 6 $129.00 each DeWalt batteries I grabbed an entire kit on-sale at x-mas for about $259.00 and threw my DeWalt in the trash. It came loaded with right angle drill, impact driver, flashlight, reciprocating saw, circular saw, drill, laminate trimmer, chain saw and a few others I am sure I am forgetting. This was a big one time deal kit that I never even saw again at any price.

At the time the batteries were 2 for $39.00 so I bought a total of eight batteries, why not when the DeWalt batteries were $129.00 each vs. just $20.00 each.

That was 5 years ago and not one tool has failed and not one battery. I beat on the stuff pretty hard and only occasionally my right angle drill makes a funny noise. The RA drill just drilled a total of about 12 1 5/8" holes through the multiple bulkheads of a Southern Cross 31 for a re-wire and the batteries and right angle drill paid for themselves quite easily but that is about the hundred and twentieth use..

I love good quality tools but these damn Ryobi tools have proven themselves to me. I am not the only fan Tim Lackey of Northern Yacht Restoration uses them too as does Morris Yachts!!

Cheap & reliable what more could I ask for..

My favorites:
Laminate Trimmer
Drill (the good one though not the less expensive one)
Impact Driver
Right Angle Drill
Circular Saw

Big Windy · Mar 16, 2011

Like FastOlson, I have many Harbor Freight products. However, I got one of their 18v drill/light combos. Worst battery tools I have ever had! Very weak an will not hold a charge over night...either battery (I bought a spare). Still buy HF's hand tools, but no more battery tools!

Maine Sail · Mar 16, 2011

Big Windy said:
Like FastOlson, I have many Harbor Freight products. However, I got one of their 18v drill/light combos. Worst battery tools I have ever had! Very weak an will not hold a charge over night...either battery (I bought a spare). Still buy HF's hand tools, but no more battery tools!

My rule with HFT is to not buy anything requiring electricity but many of the hand tools are good "boat grade" tools for short money. I have many HFT tools I have tried that require electricity, and nearly every one has failed..

sandpiper10471 · Mar 16, 2011

I bought a dirt cheap HFT 18V drill figuring if it lasted me a month it was worth the $20. Damn thing is still going strong 3 years later. Maybe I got lucky. Only came with one battery though. That is a problem.

gettinthere · Mar 17, 2011

different angle...

Buy a 28 volt Milwaukee rite angle drill and a winch bit. You get a power winch and a drill. The rite angle attachment can be removed and used straight. It is an amazing piece of gear. I really notice the smooth torque compared to my cheap drill.

And my elbows really appreciate the "power winch"

Ross · Mar 18, 2011

if you have one kw inverter power you can use a corded drill on the house battery.

catsailor · Mar 18, 2011

Roger Long said:
I know every boater should have a cordless drill but I keep talking myself out of it because, almost every time I need to drill a hole, it seems to be in a place where the extra bulk of the battery pack would make it impractical to use anyway.

Now, I'm facing a 200 foot run to the nearest (single) outlet in my new and rather poorly wired boat yard. I have a portable generator but it's too heavy to lug in the car myself.

Question: Will a good 18 volt cordless drill have enough guts to do 1 1/4" hole saw cuts in 3/16" of fiberglass or 3 1/4" hole saw cuts in 3/8" polypropylene? If so, I might treat myself to one. If I have to run all the cords for those jobs anyway, I'll probably just continue as a Luddite.

I sure wish I could afford one of those carry away Honda generators.

You don't have an inverter? Though I do have a cordless, the one I keep on the boat is a 1/2" 110v model. Smaller and lighter than my cordless, doesn't need to be left plugged in, and with the omph required for a 6-inch hole saw and really tight screws. I also have a small hand drill for really small stuff. I do take the cordless on project days.

Canukwi · Mar 18, 2011

Youn might consider one of th small 1200 watt motor/generator sets that's selling at Wallmart,Menards, Fleet Farm for under $90. It's handy to keep on board as an emergency battery charger too. Canukwi

c_witch · Mar 19, 2011

HIee

The batteries are what really make the difference tween one drill or another. Look for fast recharge time and capacity. I would advise getting a unit that can use the new LiOn batteries way better charge and last much longer as well.

Brina

FastOlson · Mar 19, 2011

Plan B ?

All,
I do not wish to subvert or highjack a thread... but when I only need a few holes drilled in FRP or wood around our boat, the best tool for that job is usually my 15-year-old Fiskars hand drill. Current price is $18. retail.

"Power" is wonderful, 110 or battery.... but by the time one could run an extension cord or assess the state of charge on the DC drill, the little manual drill has the job done.

No perfect answers, but it sure helps to have several choices to suit the scope of work.

Fair winds,
L

catsailor · Mar 19, 2011

Roger Long said:
I do and have actually drilled some holes with it and a regular drill. Much over 1/8" x 1/2" deep and it blew the fuse to my 12 V. outlets though. I don't like to tax my batteries much and don't have any other large 110 volt loads so I haven't invested in a larger inverter than will run chargers for camera batteries and such. I've since installed a larger 12 volt outlet.

Not wanting to bring power to my boat through 200 feet of 3" deep snow melt right now means I don't want to draw my expensive AGM's down by running an inverter.

I bought the Ryobi and love it. The angle drive was the big deciding factor since I have to drill some holes that absolutely require it. It chewed 1 1/4" holes saw holes through 3/8" fiberglass like nobody's business.

I guess I wasn't thinking about being on the hard so far from power. A tough spot, trying to get something from nothing. Still, for a few tight spots, 110v is an answer. And as you have guessed, multiple batteries.

Best wishes. Warn weather is coming. I find the toughest bit of spring jobs is not pushing the temperature envelope on paints and adhesives; by early spring, 50F feels warm to me!

kloudie1 · Mar 21, 2011

Saw the "black Friday" ad at Home Depot.. They had both Ryobi drills, the standard and right angle for $79.. Top of page.. Price good only thru 3/23.. and "while supplies last"

Cordless drill question

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