Which combi drill/driver?

[DNS1]

Looking to replace my Bosch (green) which I've been perfectly happy with, except the Ni-Cad batteries don't last long.

Orange shed are selling a Hitachi 18v with a pair of 1.5Ah lithium ion batts for less than a hundred quid. Anyone got one?

I've got a DeWalt mains SDS which is great and have heard the usual good opinions of Makita, Bosch blue, Milwalkee etc, but all of those brands seem a fair bit more expensive.

How do Ryobi compare? Are their lime green tools the consumer stuff, equivalent to Bosch green? I've got a mains circular saw by them and it's a solid bit of kit so started contemplating getting one of their combis as well as a right angle drill and share the batteries between them.

What does everyone else use for general drilling of joists, plaster and screwing down boards etc...

 

[Adam W]

Hitachi seem to be a respectable brand, although I wouldn't buy power tools from B&Q.
A guy I used to work for swore by the blue Ryobi gear, and to be fair it wasn't bad. I'd probably get an impact driver for screwdriving, so you don't have to keep changing from drill bit to driver bit.

 

[Martyc]

Got a hitachi sds plus cordless at work. Only lasts about 5 minutes on drill mode, pretty useless for anything apart from drilling one large masonry hole on hammer/drill or 20 small holes in wood on drill. Then hoping the other battery's charged in time for the next part of the job. Fairly powerful til it dies tho.

 

[applemac]

i have bought a hitachi 1.5 drill for a companies tool kit, used it and it is poor! battery lasted for about ten 7mm masonry shallow holes...

milwaukee 18v fuel is my ride, she's a beasty.... pay the money and get good kit, cheap drills are carp!

 

[DNS1]

Thanks guys, appreciate the opinions.

Think I'll keep saving the pennies and make do with my Bosch for the time being and then look at spending a bit extra...

 

[telectrix]

AEG 18V from b&q. think it's around £79 with 1 batt. £99 with 2. mine has only the 1.5AH batt but lasts quite well. have just got a AEG impact driver with 2 3AH batts which fit the drill as well. good piece of kit, better than ryobi and dewalt. IMO.

edit: and they're Li-Ion.

 

[Dcf]

Panasonic 21v .best batteries in a drill I've had plenty of grunt as well.bought a metabo Sds recently and I'm quite impressed with that

 

[Amp David]

The Metabo 18 v combi is a top drill for the money

 

[Heisenberg]

ScrewedFix currently have the top of the range Makita BHP 451RF on at £199.99, but it only comes with one battery. However, get a couple of the compatibles off of Amazon @ roughly £50 each and you'll be sorted.

 

[Guest111]

The last place i worked at bought me some dewalt the 18v one for about 100 quid its pretty decent actually for the price,if you buy one from b and q try it for a week if you dont get on with it take it back.

 

[HandySparks]

ScrewedFix currently have the top of the range Makita BHP 451RF on at £199.99, but it only comes with one battery. However, get a couple of the compatibles off of Amazon @ roughly £50 each and you'll be sorted.

They also have the Makita BHP452 at £169.99 with one battery. Not quite as powerful as the 451, but does me very well, and a bit lighter.

 

[One_of_them]

another vote for makita and screwfix have a good deal as above. 20min charge also so you can get away with having a cuppa while it charges.

 

[Sparkie30]

Makita BHP451RF for me.

 

[amlu]

my mate recenty bought hitachi one in scrfix. feels a bit plasticky and lightweight.
i cant complain about my 18v ryobi.... yeah i know its not dewalt, but so far it survived 2 years on various sites, drills 5.5 into brick with no problems. lithium batteries are half of the dewalt/makita price too.

 

[ExArmy]

ScrewedFix currently have the top of the range Makita BHP 451RF on at £199.99, but it only comes with one battery. However, get a couple of the compatibles off of Amazon @ roughly £50 each and you'll be sorted.

DONT buy a battery from amazon for £50, the genuine ones are £75 anywhere, anything cheaper and it's a fake and will last 2 charges and then not charge again. my mate bought one, said it was 2/3rds of the price but one third of the quality.
the 451 has a metal chuck and 3 speeds, the low speed is handy for drilling 32mm holes in joists