A week or two ago I started suspecting my screwgun trigger was going bad again. It slowly got worse, then the brake went bye-bye. And next was the variable speed.
Those both happened the same day. The gun was nigh near unusable, then I started smelling something burning. Electrical-type burning. The screwgun was laying on the table where I was working, just sitting there. I touched it and it was smoking hot!
I quickly yanked the battrey out, only to find meltage and nastiness:
Notice the little warp or bubble in the right bottom corner, on top of the battrey? It was even getting hot down there inside, that started to melt too.
So I was forced to trade it in on a new screwgun. Had to go clear in to Elkhart for the nearest Sears too, what a pain.
I get in there and find that Craftsman has redesigned the 19.2 volt screwgun, so I got to upgrade. And this one is pretty nice.
The first thing I did of course was yard off that drill handle, I don’t need that. I’m sure it would be nice if you did a lot of drilling though, but I use it mostly for driving screws.
I certainly hope that they redesigned the trigger too! On the inside. The old one was definitely faulty.
The chuck is different, the clutch adjustment is much better, the grip is more ergonomic, the rubber is a little tougher, and the neatest thing is the little LED work light on the top of the battrey housing. It comes on with the trigger and casts a little glow up towards the front of the gun. Pretty slick. Nice if you’re working in a dark area and could use some extra light on the subject.
15 Responses
September 17th, 2005 at 7:45 pm
Tom, Tom, (He says with a sigh and a shake of the head.
It’s Dewalt, my friend…always go with the Dewalt.
-Ben
September 17th, 2005 at 7:52 pm
Sorry Benny. Craftsmans have their probs, to be sure, but I can hardly stand the DeWalt. There are a few around the shop and I don’t like them at all.
But I was given a loaner for the day my gun gave up the ghost. An ancient Makita from the early days! This thing was the Model A of battrey guns. Something like that makes the DeWalt look pretty good, of course.
September 17th, 2005 at 8:00 pm
Well, as I have never used a craftsman drill, I guess I have to give you the benefit of the doubt on this one. I just don’t know that I could actually bring myself to purchase a craftsman power tool. I would feel like such a “homeowner”.
“Excuse Mr. Sears Salesman, could you please direct me to your most powerfullest battrey drill…soes I can hang up this here picture for my wife?”
-Ben
September 18th, 2005 at 11:57 am
I can’t believe it Tom that you called my brother Benny instead of Ben. LOL
Thats what he was called when were were still kids at home. Did somebody tip you off on that or did you just luck out? Regarding cordless drills, I have been disappointed in the Makita models lately. Their batteries tend to go bad way too fast. I am ready to try a Craftsman if you can convince me that it will last me at least 2 years of normal use in my electrical buisness. I promise not to buy the el-cheapo model that they offer to help the situation.
September 18th, 2005 at 1:41 pm
I bet dewalt doesn’t have as good an ins. policy…..
or do they?
September 18th, 2005 at 1:50 pm
This post has been removed by the author.
September 18th, 2005 at 1:50 pm
Oh you guys! Selling your souls to Sears!! Especially for their “power” tools? After I saw what they did to their hand tools and watched their quality go in the septic tank, I won’t buy a Craftsman tool unless my life depended on it! My father has used the Dewalt for years and yes, he does wear them out in his cabinet shop every 2-4 years. But we can also drill 300-400 9/16 holes for maple spa taps on about 4 batteries.
What I am saving for is a RIGID made by Milwaukee. They are guranteed for life and really take a beating! A guy in our church has a construction crew and they’ve used and abused them for several years and the’ve never given out yet.
So Tommy, ;-) next time try to set your sights a little bit higher!
Oh, I forgot, your just married and covered with all those post nuptual bills! Ok, I’ll let up on this one!
September 18th, 2005 at 3:32 pm
As far as “lifetime warranties” go. I learned a long time ago that they are not all their cracked up to be.
I bought a 25′ tape measure from (s)Lowes that had a lifetime warranty. It was pure misery the minute I pulled it out of the package. I asked myself, “Do I really want to subject myself to this torture again…I think not.”
-Benny
September 18th, 2005 at 3:57 pm
Ok, it is not Dewalt, the true name is Default because default is built in. My working everyday brother-in-law in Ohio says so and I believe him. I moved from Makita to Milwaukee and could not wear them out. I had to sell them off to get a new model. So I agree with Japheth.
Ben, Lowes warrantees their tape measures for any quality control reason, I know because as a vendor in Lowes for tools and hardware I have to do the paper work on them. Lowes just throws them away and gets credit for them, so take it back and get your money back.
BTW, all power hand held tools are eventually going to come from a single source in the future. They will probably come from a factory in China and only the outside will be different. Same will be true for most other hand tools. Just check that made in tag or label, if it is not China it will be some other Asian country or assembled in Mexico. Of course you could switch to Bosch I think it is still made in Germany or in the USA yet.
September 18th, 2005 at 4:11 pm
My big complaint with Milwaukee and Makita is the balance. They are so ergonomically impaired that I just want to scream everytime I get one in my hands.
However, I have to admit, there is a a dewault model floating around that is a joke as well. The model with the long nose and hammer setting is a disaster. It takes muscles of steel just to keep the thing vertical. The DEWALT DC987KA 18-Volt XRP 1/2″ Drill/Driver Kit is a pleasure to own. Well balanced and smooth. Just like a good cup of coffee…slurp!
-Ben
Tom, sorry to be clogging up your blogging, you happened to touch on a subject close to my heart.
September 18th, 2005 at 7:40 pm
Funny stuff…….
I was always informed that Dewault was the only way to go….
Of course when “Benny Boy” is your lone brother-in-law what can you expect.
September 18th, 2005 at 8:20 pm
Glen, apparently brother-in-laws do not agree!
I remember the first battery drill I aquired, a Makita 7.2 volt model and I thought that I really had something. How things have changed!
Balance is important and most of the 18+ volt drills do not balance well for all jobs, but I never had any trouble with a Milwaukee and a friend of mine had a Default, ‘scuse me a Dewalt, and was always using my Milwaukee when he could. Maybe his Dewalt was that model that Ben was referring to.
I think that the 14.4 volts balance the best overall. Tom, your new one looks good, I wonder who Sears had make it. I do not think that Sears has ever made anything on their own; they sub it out to the lowest bidder. I hope it works as well as it looks.
September 18th, 2005 at 8:35 pm
As the saying goes.. “time will tell”
September 19th, 2005 at 12:39 am
Rob: I’m innocent, I wasn’t even sure which Ben I was talking to!
I can guarantee you the old 19.2 definitely won’t last that long, time will tell with the new one. But within the first year you can get them replaced if they fail.
Glen: I don’t know for sure on DeFault’s warranty, but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as good as Crashman’s.
Japh: Spot-on analysis. The Craftsman is definitely cheaper than a Milwaukee!
Benny: Yeah, you gotta be careful. And if the i’s aren’t crossed and the t’s dotted they’ll refuse to exchange stuff too.
Ben: That’s one of my big complaints with the DeWalt. I don’t know what model the guys at work have, but I think it feels and handles terrible. They are 3-speeds though, that would be nice.
This subject is close to my heart also, or I wouldn’t have posted it!
TS: So far it does, but it’s only been a few days!
September 19th, 2005 at 3:02 pm
Interesting thing happened at Lowes today, they were having a clearance sale of some Hitachi 14.4 volt drills and I got one with carrying case, two batteries, charger, flashlight and accessory bit holder and bits in a case of its own; all for the nice price of under $40.00, tax included. Regular price was over $75.00 before tax. I will see how well it works, but it balances well and is compact.
Never tried any Hitachi before, but it can’t be any worse than any other brand from overseas. Hitachi is coming on strong in the power tool business with some interesting items. As Tom said, time will tell.