Home Repair forum - Hitachi DS18DMR Cordless Drill

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Hitachi DS18DMR Cordless Drill

wiz561@gmail.com

2007-06-13, 1:25 pm

Hi!

My Ryobi cordless drill went out a few weeks ago and I was shopping
for a new one. I used Consumer Reports and they said that the Hitachi
DS18DMR cordless drill was the best one out there. So, I went to
Lowe's and picked one up over the weekend.

I have not opened it yet, but was wondering if I should or if I should
return it. I've heard mixed reviews....more better than worse
though. My main concern is that the DS18DMR at Lowe's has a Ni-Cad
battery while the Consumer Reports review had a NiMH battery. I read
somewhere that the 'big box' stores have to keep the prices down so
they sell cheaper versions of the product. The Ni-Cd batteries are
cheaper so that is why they sell it at Lowe's.

But my problem is that Lowe's is the only place I could find the
drill. So, I was wondering...should I keep the DS18DMR with the Ni-
Cd's or return the drill and look for a NiMH battery one...or just
look for a different drill all-together.

Thanks in advanced...

Meat Plow

2007-06-13, 1:25 pm

On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:29:00 +0000, wiz561@gmail.com wrote:

> Hi!
>
> My Ryobi cordless drill went out a few weeks ago and I was shopping
> for a new one. I used Consumer Reports and they said that the Hitachi
> DS18DMR cordless drill was the best one out there. So, I went to
> Lowe's and picked one up over the weekend.
>
> I have not opened it yet, but was wondering if I should or if I should
> return it. I've heard mixed reviews....more better than worse
> though. My main concern is that the DS18DMR at Lowe's has a Ni-Cad
> battery while the Consumer Reports review had a NiMH battery. I read
> somewhere that the 'big box' stores have to keep the prices down so
> they sell cheaper versions of the product. The Ni-Cd batteries are
> cheaper so that is why they sell it at Lowe's.
>
> But my problem is that Lowe's is the only place I could find the
> drill. So, I was wondering...should I keep the DS18DMR with the Ni-
> Cd's or return the drill and look for a NiMH battery one...or just
> look for a different drill all-together.
>
>
> Thanks in advanced...

It is a fine drill for home and hobby. Friend has the 14 volt version.

Edwin Pawlowski

2007-06-13, 1:25 pm

<wiz561@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1181748540.453986.210390@i13g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
> I have not opened it yet, but was wondering if I should or if I should
> return it. I've heard mixed reviews....more better than worse
> though. My main concern is that the DS18DMR at Lowe's has a Ni-Cad
> battery while the Consumer Reports review had a NiMH battery. I read
> somewhere that the 'big box' stores have to keep the prices down so
> they sell cheaper versions of the product. The Ni-Cd batteries are
> cheaper so that is why they sell it at Lowe's.

The 2.0 mAh batteries are pretty marginal for a tool of that size. If you
only use it a few minutes here and there, it should be OK, but if you are a
heavy user, I'd go to something better, like a Panasonic.

If you check out replacement cells at http://www.primecell.com/pctools.htm
you will see that the upgrade cost difference from the ni-cad to NMH is $24
per pack.

I'd return it for two reasons:
!. It is underpowered or under capacity for hte money
2. Hitachi tools are ugly with the new color scheme

wiz561@gmail.com

2007-06-13, 1:25 pm

> I'd return it for two reasons:
> !. It is underpowered or under capacity for hte money
> 2. Hitachi tools are ugly with the new color scheme

Thanks for the suggestions. I too, felt like it was kind of costly.
I don't mind spending that much, but I want to make sure that I'm
going to get my money's worth out of it.

Also, I agree... It is rather..ummmm....ugly. Not that I care about
how tools look...but I could really do with something simple and not
all crazy looking.

ransley

2007-06-13, 1:25 pm

On Jun 13, 9:14 am, "wiz...@gmail.com" <wiz...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the suggestions. I too, felt like it was kind of costly.
> I don't mind spending that much, but I want to make sure that I'm
> going to get my money's worth out of it.
>
> Also, I agree... It is rather..ummmm....ugly. Not that I care about
> how tools look...but I could really do with something simple and not
> all crazy looking.

Ridgid has a lifetime warranty on batteries, it was enough for me to
switch.

Al Bundy

2007-06-14, 3:25 am

"wiz561@gmail.com" <wiz561@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1181748540.453986.210390@i13g2000prf.googlegroups.com:

> Hi!
>
> My Ryobi cordless drill went out a few weeks ago and I was shopping
> for a new one. I used Consumer Reports and they said that the Hitachi
> DS18DMR cordless drill was the best one out there. So, I went to
> Lowe's and picked one up over the weekend.
>
> I have not opened it yet, but was wondering if I should or if I should
> return it. I've heard mixed reviews....more better than worse
> though. My main concern is that the DS18DMR at Lowe's has a Ni-Cad
> battery while the Consumer Reports review had a NiMH battery. I read
> somewhere that the 'big box' stores have to keep the prices down so
> they sell cheaper versions of the product. The Ni-Cd batteries are
> cheaper so that is why they sell it at Lowe's.
>
> But my problem is that Lowe's is the only place I could find the
> drill. So, I was wondering...should I keep the DS18DMR with the Ni-
> Cd's or return the drill and look for a NiMH battery one...or just
> look for a different drill all-together.
>
>
> Thanks in advanced...
>

Just an FYI.

Costo in the northeast has been selling a Kawasaki 19v cordless for $40
lately. Comes with 2 batteries and a 2yr warranty. Lot better than
pulling out my heavier Ridgid on 75% of stuff.

wiz561@gmail.com

2007-06-14, 1:25 pm

> heavy user, I'd go to something better, like a Panasonic.

I was wondering, where can one find the Panasonic drills besides
online? It seems like nobody carries them!

wiz561@gmail.com

2007-06-14, 5:25 pm

Arghhh... OK, I just got back from Home Depot and saw a Makita.

In your humble opinion, which drill would you choose? The Hitachi
DS18DMR *or* the Makita BDF452HW?

The Makita is lighter, has a smaller battery, but it's a Li-Ion....
Both are the same price; 200 bucks. That's really what I'd like to
stay around.

Thanks again for all the help!

Meat Plow

2007-06-14, 5:25 pm

On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:42:18 -0700, wiz561@gmail.com wrote:

> Arghhh... OK, I just got back from Home Depot and saw a Makita.
>
> In your humble opinion, which drill would you choose? The Hitachi
> DS18DMR *or* the Makita BDF452HW?
>
> The Makita is lighter, has a smaller battery, but it's a Li-Ion....
> Both are the same price; 200 bucks. That's really what I'd like to
> stay around.
>
> Thanks again for all the help!

I would buy either but the LION battery is interesting.

Jim Yanik

2007-06-14, 5:25 pm

"wiz561@gmail.com" <wiz561@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1181846538.506974.87480@j4g2000prf.googlegroups.com:

> Arghhh... OK, I just got back from Home Depot and saw a Makita.
>
> In your humble opinion, which drill would you choose? The Hitachi
> DS18DMR *or* the Makita BDF452HW?
>
> The Makita is lighter, has a smaller battery, but it's a Li-Ion....
> Both are the same price; 200 bucks. That's really what I'd like to
> stay around.
>
> Thanks again for all the help!
>
>

Li-ion will hold a charge for 6 months,while NiCd or NiMH lose charge
daily. You can put your Li-ion drill away for months and use it right away
without having to recharge the packs.
Also,Li-ion cells mean fewer cells for a given voltage,and thus a lighter
pack or greater total energy content.Replacement will be more
expensive,until Li-ion costs come down.

Makita has a good reputation,so does Hitachi.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

wiz561@gmail.com

2007-06-14, 5:25 pm

On Jun 14, 4:04 pm, Jim Yanik <jya...@abuse.gov> wrote:

>
> Makita has a good reputation,so does Hitachi.

Well...thank you for all the great information. I know it's only a
drill...but it is 200 bucks and I would like to get something
decent.

I think that I might return the Hitachi and keep the Makita. The
reason....well, the Makita is a lot lighter and has the Li-Ion battery
that takes 15 minutes to charge. The salesperson at Lowe's said it
took 30 minutes for the Hitachi to charge....but I don't know how much
I trust him on that one. And besides, I'm a little irked that Lowe's
didn't carry the 3amp Hitachi and in order to save money, they used
the 1.5 or 2.0 one.

Thank you all for all of your help!!!!!

Edwin Pawlowski

2007-06-14, 9:25 pm

<wiz561@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1181837808.982857.130960@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> I was wondering, where can one find the Panasonic drills besides
> online? It seems like nobody carries them!
>
>

Just plug in your state and find a dealer at
http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_e.../how_to_buy.asp

I got mine at Coastal Tools in CT.

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