Hitachi 14.4V Ni-Cad Drill/Driver DS14DVF3(H2) only $53.10 (Save $115) on Clearance and with 10% off Code @ Masters. Seems to be click & collect only, which works out even better.
Plus use code as posted by jh1000
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/147841
GROCERY10
Listed as $59, saving $109
With code only $53.10
Overview
Hitachi 14.4V ni-cad Drill driver
2 speed gearbox
10mm keyless chuck
Includes 2x 1.5ah NI-CD batteries
There is no argument. Lithium pwns.
How does this compare with similar deal from Bunnings for Makita drill? Both are NiCad so not the best but which one is better out of these two? Both are good brands but if you are some one who work with drills day to day which one do you buy out of the two?
If there was a deal on Lithium one I'd go for that, but nothing at this price range. So I would buy one of these two. (I don't use them frequently. The Ozito one I bought a year back is hardly used. It doesn't hold the charge well. To drill one whole I have to charge it over night and then I can drill half of the whole before it finish the charge. Then plug it back for charging and have to finish the drilling next day or after few more hours)
Mainstream consumer gear can be very differently built to the pro-aimed stuff.
I had plenty of contact with tradies at one point and I do know that Makita (and Ryobi) lost a LOT of cred many years ago when they introduced separate consumer-grade ranges in their cordless powertools.
I distinctly remember gathering (because it led me to ultimately buy Metabo - while also shopping around for Hitachi) that some tradies who were tempted by the price difference, decided to buy some of the cheaper Makita (and Ryobi) stuff - only to seriously regret it.
I also remember (probably via Choice mag articles back when their own testing was better than it is now) that the reputation damage that flowed through, saw consumer mags around the world do lots of cordless tool testing, which ended up - mainly - giving a huge boost to the Bosch brand.
Ok - all of that aside. I have no personal knowledge of current Makita quality, but I think that Hitachi powertools still have their well-earned general reputation intact.
Does that help?
Ironically, having written all of that, for your planned and infrequent use, you'll be much happier if you pay (a bit?) more for a cheap (Ozito for awhile now has been an ok cheapie) drill to have on-hand - with lithium power on-board. Also,14.4 volt drills are still useful, but 18 volts = much better.
If, solely because of price, you've decided to buy either the Makita from the other deal, or this one, I'd personally buy the Hitachi.
Either way happy screwing drilling and or both.
Spoke to a guy at a Industrial Tool Shop just weeks ago & he reckons Hitachi's also got a mainstream consumer range now, its not like the old Hitachi Industrial Tools anymore. Having said that i have the 18V Li-ion Hitachi drill & impact driver, currently building 2 decks & it hasnt failed me yet. It stomps on my old skool Black & Decker thats for sure.
Ive noticed that most power tools these days, even the Makita's, Hitachi's, Bosch are all made in asia now - PRC, Malaysia, etc. Hard pressed to find one that is still made in Germany or Japan. One can only hope that they are still made to the same previous standard in Japan, Germany…
To the Op, I wouldnt have any issues buying a Makita, Hitachi, Bosch Blue, Panasonic, Metabo… and as Tas mentioned if possible i would pick a 18V Li-ion but for this price, it'll be a good occasionally used device or backup drill.
I was going to mention Panasonic as another brand with a huge tradie reputation, but at least in Oz anyway, they still don't seem to dabble at the consumer end.
Country-of-origin manufacturing doesn't matter as much it used to. Good stuff can and does come out of just about anywhere these days.
With tools, as long as basic materials are good (that does still vary alot), computer-controlled manufacturing tolerances have changed manufacturing hugely.
As regards country-of-origin manufacturing specific to powertools - reminds me of the stretch of time when AEG tools (expensive then, Made in Germany) developed the reputation for being THE most unreliable brand that you could buy.
It turned into a bit of a scandal. They did turn things around eventually, but it almost destroyed the company - and the businesses of people using their gear. Container loads of under-warranty replacement tools failed as quickly as the originals did…
Thanks for the information. I will look for a Li Iron one. If I couldn't find any in my price range I might still buy the Hitachi one.
Thanks again.
how do you use the discount code with a online purchase?
Even though the battery is ni-cad at this price its a good bargain.
10mm chuck only as well
all sold?
Yeah none available 3 stores here in WA
Because it's Click & Collect its store specific, thou I can confirm there's still stock in my local store, North Lakes, and the likes of Mackay, Morayfield etc in Queensland
Use code on stage one of checkout, lower right is promo code input section
good deal.
in Melb, only Braybrook & Hawthorn East showing stock (low stock) AFAIK
Just got mine at North Lakes, Queensland
What's so good about this drill even though it uses NiCd battery? also is this a hammer drill?
Drills use torque to turn screws, holesaws, etc.
Look at the torque rating of a decent drill (aka this one, dewalt, makita, vs ozito or other crap brand).
You will find, even at the same voltage (ie 14.4V) the good drills have significantly more torque.
http://www.hitachipowertools.ca/en/Products?cat=14&pid=78&ta…
huck Size
3/8"
Max Torque
300 in/lbs <——————— Convert this to Nm(newton metres) - google it
No-Load Speed
0-400/0-1,200
Clutch Stages
22
Tool Length
7.75 in
Tool Weight
4.0 lbs
Bit Holders
2
Battery Ah
1.4
Charger Volts Accepted
9.6-18V
Charging Time
1.4 Ah=35 min
tried googling it all i get is images of sweaty men in gym gear. what does it convert to Nm btw?
Cordless drills must be the only consumer products propping up the NiCad battery industry. It represents 2% of the battery industry (and those figures from 2009).
It's unfortunate, but the reason NiMH batteries haven't replaced NiCad's at the cheap powertool / handheld vac end of the market isn't because they're much cheaper to make, it's actually because the chargers they are bundled with are either low-amp continuous charge, or switch to trickle ones - if you're lucky.
Either way manufacturers assume (rightly) that lots of punters will leave tools on-charge for long periods.
NiCad's can cope with trickle charge/overcharge much better than NiMH batteries can.
You mean Li-ion? Most manufacturers are only producing Li-ion powered tools or the few NiCad ones. Yeah true, continuously charging Li-ions significantly reduces their lifespan but the numerous other pros to Li-ion technology, like the absence of the memory effect and a constant level of power until the last screw, still make them far superior to NiCad.
No, I intentionally left Lithium-ion batts out of the comment, because economies of scale have now reduced the cost of them and their charger-tech, so much. Lots of cheapish stuff with lithiums now.
Just explaining why NiCad batts are still kicking around at the very bottom-end, with (the assumed by many as obvious, interim step) NiMH's almost nowhere to be seen.
Great bargain. Most of the 'experts' here are not. : )
You might note that nobody above has actually said - at this price - that this isn't a bargain.
Or have claimed to be 'experts'.
Thanks for the neg on the comment above. Charming.
In b4 ni-cad vs li-ion argument.