We use the lightweight Bosch drills. They are great. Every installer that has been exposed to one goes out to buy his own. I also give them as gifts to select clients, which is a huge hit.

I decided to take a risk on a new brand and got a Porter Cable drill. I'm in the living room right now and don't remember the voltage, but...

The LED is placed so the chuck throws a shadow exactly where you want light
For some reason, if you run it slowly and let go of the trigger, it won't start again until it has stopped spinning
Unlike many drills, it freewheels when you let go of the trigger

But most importantly, I find zero value to the bag. You can see what's in a case, but a bag is just hidden stuff.

Milwaukee hands down.
And yes the Fuel line.

I'm still flogging my Milwaukee 18V NiCD hammer drill that I bought in 2008. It's my second one, bought because the carbide inserts in the chuck of my first one were chipped and didn't hold some bits well. When I went to their service center, I found that the new chuck would cost more than the price they were asking for the hammer drills that were returned by Lowe's when they decided to stop carrying Milwaukee at the same time the economy took a crap. I eventually replaced the chuck with a generic Jacobs part, but rarely use the original one because it's in the case and I don't often need two drills on the same job.

I bought the original in 2004 and have bought four batteries- two were direct replacements and two are refills. So far, the refills have been great, for half the price. Both have been dropped multiple times and the only parts that have been replaced are the one chuck and a set of brushes on the same drill. I leave my tools in the van during Winter and use them as soon as I enter the job, never letting them acclimate.

I too love this line. I use the quick change hex heads. Runs forever on single charge

[Link: amazon.com]

I bought the DeWalt 895 impact when I started at my current employer nearly 5 years ago. It has been used and abused since. I planned to buy the hammerdrill to go with it, but have just not needed to as of yet. I have a company provided Ryobi drill I use for some larger stuff on prewires, but I normally grab my impact and drill up to 1 1/2" holes with spade bits through studs and double top plates with no problem. We do have a hole hawg that rarely gets taken out anymore....and it has a wonky trigger that makes it fun to use.

I know guys who are still plowing around the old DW 18V stuff.....they get new batteries every now and then, or use the adapters for the LiOn batts. The stuff is tough if you get the right ones. I think the only 18V piece we have left is a recip saw. I use it to cut 2x material for bracing ,etc. on rough-ins.

It is tough because you see tools here and there that are great, or would serve you well for your needs, but they are all made by different brands with different batteries, etc. So you can either pack around 4 different chargers and sets of batteries, or compromise on a couple of tools to make them all the same. Pick your poison.

My biggest issue with upgrading is I would have to replace a lot and it becomes quite the investment. I have Dewalt 18v gear. I have the hammer drill, impact drill, sawzall, circular saw, angle drill, snake light, regular light, and a flourescent type light, 6 batteries, 2 chargers, and I am probably missing a piece or two I am not thinking of right now. Everything works. Only issue is the angle drill pops out of gear often, which I think has something to do with the placement of the switch. I think it is just more loose than it used to be. Whenever it does pop out, it is when my hand is over the switch so I think it is too sensitive now. Other than that, its been great.

I do have 2 of the 12v Dewalt drills and love them. I use them for 95% of what I do. They are light, powerful, and did I mention light? Heck, even 3pedal couldn't find anything bad to say about these little drills when he tried them out.

Milwaukee Fuel is the only way

I have had a Makita BDF452 for about three years now. It is superb! Never lets me down.

I have 18v and 12v Milwaukee Fuel, they're better than any of the competition i've seen. I think you'd have to go with a brand like Hilti to match/top the power of the Fuel.

I just realized this thread is two pages now and someone hasn't chimed in with Fess. Has anyone heard from Brendon? Is he OK?

I'm not Brendon, but I'll chime in.

My Festool CSX has become my primary, go-to drill / driver.  I've been at this game for almost 30 years now and have seen it all with tools.  The CSX is the best I've ever used.

My Milwaukee Fuel drivers still get used, but they are now secondary.

Brendon didn't even pay me to say that.  ;-)

Upgrade to the 20V dewealt and buy the 20-18V battery adapter ([Link: dewalt.com]) for your existing tools. Get a few 5 or 6Ah 20V batteries and be set.

Is that the top end combo? Your experience is nothing like mine, I love my 20V Dewalt stuff. The reciprocating saw doesn't die after a few cuts.

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