I've always used mains or air tools but I'd like to get a cordless drill/driver, simple!?? until I thought I'd quite like to get a few other cordless tools at a later date, impact wrench, sander etc (insert your innuendo here!) so it kind of means tying myselt to a battery size, was thinking 12v or 14.4v then a battery type ni-cad, ni-mh or lithium iron, although that later looks out of budget. I also attend a few construction industry shows a year and makita and dewalt have some colosal discounts on their stands, so errr which brand has the most diverse range of stuff and at what voltage etc, I use makita stuff and always liked the balance of their stuff but am I missing ouwt, advice welcome.

Cheers

ryobi have a good value range of tools which all use the same 18v battery. ive used there combi drill to screw plasterboard to ceilings and have done about 200 screws (the first inuendo ) on one charge.

will

[Edited on 13/9/09 by dinosaurjuice]

i use mine all day every day at work ( please insert ) i use makita and have never had any problems if you can afford get there 18 volt lithion drill/driver. But theres not much point buying the expensive stuff if you are only goin to use it a few times a year. If it was just occasional use id save my money

all of my cordless tools are ryobi and they are great. haven't let me down yet in 2 1/2 years.

Another vote for the Ryobi gear,good quality,at a reasonable price.

personally i have 14.4v makita and dewalt stuff which i abuse and love! Most of the contractors who work for me (building storage tanks, seriously heavy duty metalwork!) use makita stuff.

my dad is a carpenter/builder and has a 14.4v dewalt drill which has built tens of houses over a 12 year period. It is bombproof.

B&Q Were selling off some 18v Bosch Drill/Drivers the other day...about £70 IIRC

i got a ryobi drill driver 18v which is great, but heavy, so ive got a 12v halfords one which at 14.99 on offer is great for using on the car or when reaching up high, when the ryobi one is just to big and heavy for my weedy arms

I love my 18v Makita Drill/Driver.

Can't fault it (though I worry slighltly about it not having a matal gearbox but nothing's gone wrong).

It's been pretty heavily used for 2 years and not missed a beat yet.

And it is *SO* much more capable than my 14v Black and Decker for putting in bigger/longer/tougher screws into old/hard wood.

Having said that, I have a 750watt Ryobi corded hammer drill and can't fault that either. So Ryobi are looking pretty good too.

Cheers,
James

I just got myself an 18v hitachi nicad and I'm chuffed with it. Screwfix were selling them for £80 but they sold out, I managed to get one off Ebay for 85 including postage. It's very powerful....

If you want to be able to get lots of add-ons for the batteries and can get a good discount Makita are pretty nice