Looking for a smaller drill/driver around $100. Maybe a Bosch PS31-2A?

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Squashfan

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I am looking for a smaller drill/driver. I recently had a situation where I couldn't get my current drill/driver (d/d) to fit under a sink. My d/d is a cheap older Ni-Cad powered (I think. I bought the drill used and don't really know what kind of battery it has.) and it is also heavy. But it does everything I need. Except fit in small places. So I am in the market in for a smaller d/d. I have been looking around and like these features: 2 speed, has a clutch and includes 2 batteries. The current front runner is the Bosch PS31-2A. It is on sale at the blue home store for $99 and I think I have a $10 coupon around here. I know the Bosch is not a heavy duty d/d but even still, I think it will handle what ever I will use it for. I am a little bit of a DIYer but I am not in construction.

Do you guys have a better suggestion?
 
Being pretty close to your price range, I do recommend the M12 series from Milwaukee. Great little compact unit. They make other tools that use those batteries as well. I have the flashlight and the impact driver also, I love them all.

I think Makita makes a similar line of tools. I don't know the Bosch line, but n they are probably similar in nature.
 
glennbad said:
Being pretty close to your price range, I do recommend the M12 series from Milwaukee. Great little compact unit. They make other tools that use those batteries as well. I have the flashlight and the impact driver also, I love them all.

I think Makita makes a similar line of tools. I don't know the Bosch line, but n they are probably similar in nature.
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The M12 looks to be practically identical except that the Milwakee has a belt clip thingy. The Milwaukee would work too. I guess it comes down to which one I could get for the best deal.
 
I have three of that form factor -- a drill, a plain driver, and an impact driver. They're AWESOME. I really like them. I bought each one independently, and each came with 2 batteries, so now I have 6 batteries, which is also awesome. If I were doing it again, I'd skip the plain driver and get just the impact driver. Looking at Amazon, just the D/D alone is nearly $100 --- adding another $20 gets you the impact driver and more batteries in a Combo Pack.
 
Roadracer_Al said:
I have three of that form factor -- a drill, a plain driver, and an impact driver. They're AWESOME. I really like them. I bought each one independently, and each came with 2 batteries, so now I have 6 batteries, which is also awesome. If I were doing it again, I'd skip the plain driver and get just the impact driver. Looking at Amazon, just the D/D alone is nearly $100 --- adding another $20 gets you the impact driver and more batteries in a Combo Pack.
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You mean the Milwaukee?
 
I would recommend the Milwaukee m12 set as I used them before and they work quite well for a small set, I was impressed by the power.
 
Sounds like we are heavily trending towards the Milwaukee. The model I am looking at is the M12 2407-22 drill/driver.
 
Anybody know anything about factory reconditioned Milwaukee drivers? I can get the set of D/D and impact driver for $100. I wonder if it will explode on the first use?

Strike that question. The place selling the refurbs doesn't look reputable after closer inspection.
 
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I have been pleased with Hitachie (12v), Ryobi (12v), and DeWalt (18v) drills. My impact drill is a Milwaukee which is not a cordless. My backup corded drill is a Hitachie that stays in my work vehicle. My favorite is probably the Ryobi overall as it seems to have a lot of torque and does a job bigger than its size would suggest.
 
Roadracer_Al said:
Hi, sorry slow to respond. Not Milwaulkee, Bosch.
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No worries, Al!
The Bosch set would be easier for me to get and are about $50 cheaper. The only thing I have seen that concerns me with the Bosch is that a review said that the charger only puts out 10.8 volts. I don't think that is run time. IIRC, voltage is actually the usable current that the battery is supposed to be producing. Though battery out put is quite variable.

As a side note, I suspect, but can't prove, that the 10.8 volts thing is common to the other brands.
 
Battery capacity (stored energy) is not the same as voltage. Power (torque) comes from more voltage or higher current levels in a given tool. Lighter loads will give you longer run times between charges.

There is no "free lunch", if you want longer run times for a given load or more torque, you need more battery capacity (i.e. stored energy) or higher voltage/current levels.
 
The little 12V models on the market really look interesting, if you need small.

Many years ago I got a 14.4V (Nicad) DeWalt drill. It has worked well for a long time but the batteries recently failed so I asked for the cheap 20V (LiIon) DeWalt last Christmas. I didn't realize until I got it but it is a lot smaller and lighter than my 14.4V DeWalt. The 12V models are still smaller, but my 20V model is also relatively small.

We moved a year ago and had to have a new fence built. The workman was using the standard 18V (NiCad) DeWalt. I brought out my 20V model and let him try it. It was smaller than his 18V model and seemed to be at least as powerful. (DeWalt sells several 20V models, mine being the cheapest consumer model.)

DeWalt makes a 12V model also but it doesn't appear to be as small as the Milwaukee and Makita models.

It is convenient for me to have multiple drivers for some jobs so I thought about getting one of the new 12V models but I bought a generic 14.4V battery for my old DeWalt and now it works really well.
 
Sid Post said:
Battery capacity (stored energy) is not the same as voltage. Power (torque) comes from more voltage or higher current levels in a given tool. Lighter loads will give you longer run times between charges.

There is no "free lunch", if you want longer run times for a given load or more torque, you need more battery capacity (i.e. stored energy) or higher voltage/current levels.
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Thank you, Sid! I have known, but forgotten, what a lot of this means. I don't use my tools that often so I think that the 12V would be fine. But in the interest of being impartial, when I go take a look at the 12V tools in a store I will look at some 18V too.

Also, what is the difference between a plain drill/driver and a hammer drill/driver? Is it that the hammer drill impacts like and impact driver?
 
I've had the Bosch compact drivers for a number of years with good results. I've been pretty much amazed by power and run time. Impact driver will power through long screws. I use my corded drill so seldom I forget where I keep it. I've accumulated a variety of tools powered by these and have several batteriies, but even when I had only 2 I never discharged one before its backup was ready. The Milwaukee lloks very similar and both brands seem to have good reputations. Incidentally, lithium cells have very low self discharge rates so they stay ready to go.
 
I only use the 18v models on hard use jobs. They are too heavy unless that is all you have. I actually have two Ryobi 12v drills. Got a new one this past summer. I suspected the battery was begining to fail on the old one (years old and used a lot). But after several charges the old one and the two batteries are just fine when compared to the new one. The biggest use for mine is loosening and tightening bolts, metal screws, and placing longer essentially wood screws. Size matters and if a 12v will do the job, I always will use it. Don't drill many holes.

I have found the smaller (voltage?) screw drivers to be essentially useless and something people buy for presents. Bought one thinking it might be handy in tight spaces.... no power.
 
I originally looked at the electric screwdrivers but I wasn't impressed by the models currently available. Most of them are only 2 or 3 volt. I walked into my friendly local pawn shop last week and found a Black and Decker Pivot plus for $15. It is 6 volt. Gonna use it until the magic smoke escapes and then replace it with a 12 volt. It was able to remove the screws under my counter that started this whole mess with the B & D.

And I bought a $150 set of 20 volt Dewalt d/d and impact driver yesterday. And got a $130 Dewalt sawzall for free. Full story in my other thread.
 
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I have been very pleased with my 20v Dewalt "sawzall". I got it about a year ago. Basically.... man toys for christmas.
 
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