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by Editors of Consumer Reports
The Nov. 2008 review adds ratings of seven cordless tool combo kits to a summary of top picks among the 67 cordless drills and impact drivers tested for the Dec. 2007 issue. The ratings are based on… objective tests, but don't include many lithium-ion models or pocket screwdrivers. Nor does the review clarify whether the top-rated kits include top-rated drills or impact drivers. Still, given the plethora of models available, these are excellent reviews. An online interactive tool is especially useful because you can show only the cordless drills or drivers with high ratings on the tests and features that matter most to you - including runtime, charging time, handling and noise, as well as speed and power.
by Editors of Popular Woodworking
At last, here's a head-to-head comparison of eight 18-volt lithium-ion cordless drills. Tests include the number of holes drilled per battery charge, the number of lag screws set and how hot the motor and… battery are at the end of runtime (which affects battery life). The rankings also take weight, comfort and ease of use into account, along with the cost of replacement batteries. The lowest-ranked and least expensive cordless drill tested, the Skil 2835-02, doesn't have enough torque to sink 3-inch lag screws, but editors say it's still a good buy for homeowner use just for drilling holes. A June 2008 review tests the compact 12-volt Milwaukee 2401-22 impact driver, noting only a minor drawback.
by Michael Maines and Editors
This is the same review that appeared in the July 2008 issue of Fine Homebuilding (published by Taunton Press), plus results of a survey of readers of that publication and Fine Woodworking. Readers agree in… top-rating the Panasonic EY7540LN2S, the impact driver that earns top ranking based on several months of jobsite tests by a professional designer/builder. Tests cover 12 cordless lithium-ion impact drivers. Readers rank the Bosch PS40-2 Pocket Driver second. The 2008 Tool Guide reviews 18-volt cordless combo kits that include drills.
by Editors of J.D. Power and Associates
by Brent Hull
The comparison reviews at this site are thorough, based on both objective tests and practical jobsite use. This review tests and compares 15 half-inch cordless drill/drivers, mostly 18-volt models,… including three that use lithium-ion batteries. In addition to objective tests of both drilling and driving, testers use the cordless drills at jobsites installing millwork. A June 2007 review tests right-angle drills, and an earlier Jan. 2007 review, "Lithium-Ion Hands On," covers all the lithium-ion tools. A Jan. 2008 single-product review praises the Festool C12 cordless drill.
by Roy Berendsohn
This review compares nine cordless screwdrivers for drilling holes as well as for driving screws. For the ultimate comparison of driving power, editors even try to drive 2.75-inch lag screws. The editors… also evaluate each cordless screwdriver for overall comfort and ease of use; some slip in the hand or require downtime for recharging. The Hitachi DB3DL gets top ranking here despite an inconveniently placed trigger and a body hinge that's judged to be not rigid enough. A Feb. 2008 article recommends the 3/8-inch DeWalt Compact 12-volt drill as the best cordless drill for most users, but without any comparisons to other models.
by Andy Beasley
This review puts all the cordless tools in eight 18- to 36-volt lithium-ion kits through exhaustive objective tests. In addition to hammerdrills, kits include circular saws and reciprocating saws. This… review provides a head-to-head comparison of the Bosch and DeWalt 36-volt cordless tools, and is especially impressive since the author is careful to duplicate some testing procedures used in an earlier review to compare NiCad cordless tool kits. A May 2007 update covers two Panasonic lithium-ion cordless tools.
by Editors of Practical Woodworking
This article compares eight cordless screwdrivers, testing them by driving 2-inch #10 screws into soft wood without pilot holes. The voltage of the models tested covers a large range, from 3.6 to 12 volts.… Editors pick two cordless screwdrivers -- the Bosch GSR (available in the U.S as the Bosch PS20-2 10.8-volt Pocket Driver) and the Metabo Powermaxx -- as best, but describe all the models in detail.
by Editors of Workbench Magazine
Reviews of cordless drills and drivers in this woodworking publication include several small comparison reviews, but the newest models aren't covered here. A roundup review compares seven 14.4-volt cordless… impact drivers, testing their capacity to drive large fasteners and drill holes, as well as rating their battery life and noise level. Editors also test a 12-volt, 15.6-volt and 18-volt impact driver. Some of these reviews have a unique point of view -- for example, one review specifically uses female testers.
by Editors of Wood Magazine
In this review, three different editors at Wood Magazine test lithium-ion palm-size cordless drivers by driving 2-inch drywall screws into a pine 2x4 without pilot holes. A review update in the May 2007… issue gives a perfect five-star rating to the Bosch PS10-2 I-Driver. Earlier reviews include tests of cordless impact drivers, but four editors each test a different model with different screws, making comparisons difficult. An April 2005 review of 14.4-volt cordless drills is based on better comparison tests; all 20 drills are tested for torque, runtime, chuck grip or slippage and clutch consistency.
by Asa Christiana and John White
This review compares two cordless screwdrivers, the 10.8-volt lithium-ion Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver and the 9.6-volt NiCad Ridgid R81030, based on objective tests. The Ridgid is the favorite for big… construction jobs because of its superior power and ability to work in tight spaces, but the Bosch Pocket Driver is so much lighter that editors give it a top rating for workshop use. Other reviews cover the Skil iXO and the Bosch I-Driver PS10-2. The Winter 2007-08 Tools and Shops issue recommends the Bosch PS40-2 as the best basic cordless drill for most homeowners.
by Chuck Cage
by Bill Szydlo
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
by Sean O'Hara
This single-product review of the four-piece Ryobi lithium cordless tools (including a drill/driver) is detailed and well-illustrated, covering a week of testing by several staff members. A June 2007 review… compares two cordless screwdrivers, and the site includes a useful cordless drill buyer's guide. Readers add comments on the reviews published here, with several complaints that the Milwaukee V18 is too heavy and that the 9.6-volt DeWalt DC750KA neither performs nor lasts well.
by Contributors to Amazon.com
by Contributors to NorthernTool.com
by Contributors to Sears.com
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
by Contributors to Lowes.com
Lowe's doesn't let owners write full reviews of the cordless drills and drivers sold here, but does publish owner-written ratings, including detailed ratings for design, features, quality, value and ease of… use. Often the sheer quantity of owners rating a specific model makes up for the lack of detailed comments, and many cordless drills and drivers have been rated here, including quite a few light pocket drivers.
by Ben Jackson
This is one of the first reviews we found of the 10.8-volt Bosch PS40-2 impact driver. Editors note that although it weighs just 2.2 pounds, it's actually more powerful than the 18-volt Bosch drill/driver.… User comments are often very useful; readers weigh in on the review of the Milwaukee 2601-22 compact drill, with some preferring the similar but lighter Makita compact lithium-ion drill. Readers also debate the merits of the new Ryobi lithium-ion tools.
by Editors of Popular Science
This brief review by Chuck Cage tests the 10.8-volt Bosch Pocket Driver, finding that it drives twice as many screws as a similar cordless driver using NiCad batteries. Another Popular Science review,… written this time by Mark Clement, recommends the Festool C12 cordless drill because of its brushless motor, compact size, light weight and power. However, Clement documents no testing or comparisons.
by Editors of ToolSnob.com
by Editor of Rockler.com
by Contributors to ContractorTalk.com
A forum contributor provides a detailed review of the 18-volt Ryobi impact driver, reporting on a range of tests that show its power limitations. The reviewer is sold on the ease of using an impact driver,… but opts for a better pro model. Other contributors vouch for impact drivers by Hitachi and Ridgid. Links to other forum discussions cover other impact drivers by Panasonic, Milwaukee, DeWalt and more.
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This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.
Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
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 Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt NiMH 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit  from Amazon.com New: $193.49 In Stock.
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 Factory-Reconditioned Ryobi 12V Cordless Lithium-Ion Compact Drill Kit ZRHJP001K from Amazon.com
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 Makita BDF451 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch Driver-Drill Kit from Amazon.com New: $299.99 In Stock.
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 Bosch PS20-2 Litheon 10.8-Volt Lithium-Ion Pocket Driver with 2 Batteries from Amazon.com New: $110.00 In Stock.
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 Panasonic EY7540LN2L 14.4 Volt Li-ion Impact Driver Kit with Light from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
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