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With the heavy duty commercial hammer drills I can turn off the rotation but not the hammer action and for some drill bits the hammer action will quickly destroy the drill's cutting tips or even knock them off (as they are brazed onto the tool). Whether Makita products are better or not is up for debate but their replacement batteries have the widest distribution of any manufacturer which should be a consideration. The "V" drills work with either the V lithium-ion batteries or the old NiCad batteries, but the new "M" drills work only with the new "M" type lithium-ion batteries. For large holes we have moved away from the TCT core drills to the laser welded dry cutting diamond core bits, like the ones from Blue Boar and Husqvarna, where no hammer action is needed or recommended.The drill is an excellent drill though a bit on the heavy side for extended overhead use (where a Makita is a better choice).
If you are chucking your old NiCad batteries there are places including Home Depot that have recycling bins which keeps the deadly cadmium out of local landfills and the water supply. Milwaukee has recently started to sell its new "M series" lithium-ion cordless which are replacing the old "V series" drills like this one. For most people the full kit will be a better deal but if you have an old Milwaukee 18v NiCad drill and want to gradually ease into lithium-ion this would on the surface seem like a good approach. One aspect of this drill that is much better over the new M18 is the design of the second handle which can be positioned (like the DeWalt XRP) anywhere in a 360 degree arc. Something that is a little curious is that the Makita lithium-ion battery packs charge in 15 minutes while the small Milwaukee M-type battery packs take 30 minutes and the large battery packs take over an hour to charge. I like lighter duty hammer drills like this one from Milwaukee as I can turn off the hammer action and just use it as a drill.
The best feature of the drill is its ability to use old NiCads that I had from an older Milwaukee 18v drill. Over time it will become more difficult to find the "V" batteries as this was a pretty short model run by Milwaukee. Unfortunately with the new M-type drills that will not work with either Milwaukee Ni-Cad or Milwaukee V-type lithium ion batteries, this drill is a bit of a dead end and a dubious investment over the long run.Having been bit in the past by manufacturers that stopped producing batteries for early NiCad drivers and drills I am now much more cautious and want to verify the easy availability of replacement batteries (at local stores) before making a purchase decision. A nice aspect of the new Milwaukee M18 lithium-ion drills is that there are 2 different sizes of power packs so a lighter one can be used by many people who will not need the amps of the full pack and have a lighter drill to work with and the recharge times are half as long for the smaller battery packs. The hammer action of this drill is adequate for small holes in masonry which is where we have used this drill. Anyone buying a drill they want to be able to use and get new batteries for over the next 5-10 years would be better off getting the M18 or another brand that is more stable in this regard.
The new M18 side handle has to be 90 degrees, left or right side, to the drill handle is quite a bit more limiting.
Works great on concrete. I bought this as my primary cordless drill and so far I am overjoyed with it. It was brand new however and came with a user manual and the detachable handle.For $80, this is an incredible deal. I used to own a dewalt, and this drill is much higher quality. It has a ratcheting mechanism that really locks down on the bit. I purchased the 824-20 (bare tool) here on Amazon, but the seller was bestcutleryandcookware and the price was $69.99 + $10 shipping.
So I can only speak for my experience throught the retailer that sold me the drill.The drill was apparently from a larger set, so it did not come in the original packaging. The model has been discontinued, which doesn't make any difference to me other than driving down the price. I didn't know if I would use the hammer action that much but have used it quite a bit. I love the chuck as well. As soon as I made the purchase I noticed the retailer associated to this link changed and the price went up a few dollars. I can't believe I was able to buy this drill for the price I paid.
Fantastic product. It is one of my finest tools in my garage, and I have a lot.It has lots of torque and plenty of battery life.
Great tool that I bought specifically to work with my older 18v batteries from Milwaukee. Very satisfied.
Great product, glad that it is sold without the battery. I was able to replace my broken drill without the cost of expensive batteries I already had.
This thing is great for drilling into concrete and hard woods. The bit it had in it broke and it got scratched up a bit, but the chuck is still straight, and the hard plastic body is still strong and in good shape. The motor keeps the chuck locked in place when the drill is not in use so you don't have to tighten it with two hands, or by running the drill with your other hand on the chuck. There is no doubt it is the strongest and best made drill on the market.
I have never had the chuck slip on anything I have put in it, the ratchet really gets a great grip on the bit or driver. This drill keeps going through hot and cold conditions, and doesn't bog down as it gets to the end of it's cycle. Also it can be used with ni cad or lithium batteries, and the lithium charger charges both. I bought mine in a combo with the sawzall, and circular saw for $250 on sale. It will be the last time you switch brands, that's for sure.
The batteries last forever, and show you how much they have left on side. Also the chuck ratchets tight to whatever you put in it's jaws. Too many to write here. Every time they died on me I changed brands until I found this drill. My favorite aspect of this drill is the chuck for two reasons.
The most important are the strength and battery life/power. I am a finish carpenter/ contractor and have used so many different cordless drills over the years (Dewalt, Ryobi, Makita). I have put mine through a lot and it shows no signs of ever stopping, or loss of power. Also this drill may be a little heavy but it is built indestructable. There are so many reasons to get this drill. As stated in other reviews it is made of metal and carbide for a better grip on your bits, and durability.
This drill performs far superior to all the others in every way. I dropped mine off a 40ft roof onto the pavement, and it is fine. Milwaukee spares no expense on the quality of their tools. Other drills I have owned have broken from falling from a 7ft ladder (Dewalt).
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