Makita DDF083 sub-compact drill-driver

[Rorschach]

Yes indeed! I've found myself re-examining my choices this year and whilst the main move (for me) has been from corded to "full-size" cordless tools I can see a need to add a "downsized" kit for jobs where mobility is more important than absolute power

I used to have a good sized cordless kit in ni-cad but when all the batteries started to die I sold them on while they still had value on ebay, I actually managed to pay for most of my new kit.

My new 10.8v kit is not as comprehensive but I found I wasn't making good use of most of it anyway.

I now have combi, impact, drill/driver, recip saw, multi-tool, torch and mouse sander (only cos it was £2 at the car boot). They all get a fair amount of use and rarely do I pull out the mains powered tools (I have a main SDS and recip for heavy work). Really the only tool that is lacking is the multitool, I generally prefer my mains tool for those jobs, but for those odd one off cuts when you are contorted inside a cabinet it does alright.

The best bit though is that whereas before I would think carefully about which tools to drag along for a job, sometimes trying to get away with only 1 drill for example, now I can put all the tools and a couple of batteries in a tool bag and it's really not too bag to lug around. I am happy to take a drill and impact and drill/driver all together and set them up with the bits ready to go, it really speeds things up.

[Kev888]

Yet again I agree. I'd previously been fairly happy with swapping bits in 1/4" hex/quick chucks, but for routine stuff two smaller lighter tools are more convenient and 'much' nicer to use. Drilling isn't so bad with the heavier tools, but modest screws are far nicer to put in with something smaller - that ease of use brings its own speed too, even if the gearing is then a tad slower.

That said, I'm in two minds about replacing my old small SDS, since I rarely used it. Either the big combi could usually do the job well enough for my modest needs (and by comparison with SDS drills isn't that big or heavy), or where it couldn't then a bigger SDS was normally needed anyway. More deliberation needed on that one.

[Rorschach]

Yeah I can't help on that question. I only use the combi or my honking big SDS. I made an adaptor to use my SDS bits in my combi drill and that works great, the SDS bits are usually much higher quality than plain shank masonry bits and seem to drill holes faster and easier, also it means I only need to have one set of bits for both my drills.

[big-all]

i know why 10.8v drills are so popular-----------------------









----------------- exactly the same weight as a pint in a glass tankard

[Argyll]

i can get a drill in my jeans side pocket and you cant tell its a drill

Is that what the girls tell you

[big-all]

i tried to avoid cheap jokes ---------


-----but failed