18V 1/2" Lok-Tor Driver/Drill Kit - 0622-24  Product Reviews

"I do not recommend this drill. The battery failed within a year and the new 18 volt NiCad is failing again after about another year. I use it only occasionally so the comment regarding battery failure in this tool for DIY resonates. Also, I don't think the tool lives up to its torque claims. Finally, the battery from day one has been difficult to remove. The side squeeze mechanism never worked properly."

"I don't own this drill, but I do know why so many folks have had battery problems. The 18V batteries that Milwaukee includes with this drill are nickel cadmium. Nicads are known for having "memory" problems caused by recharging batteries before they are fully discharged. And here is a gem of a quote from the wikipedia - "NiCd batteries, when not used regularly, tend to develop dendrites (thin, conductive crystals), causing internal short circuits and premature battery failure, long before the 800-1000 charge/discharge cycles claimed by most vendors." Bam! This means that if you are an occasional user (weekend warrior), you'd be better off with a different brand that uses Nickel metal-hydride batteries. They are less prone to the problems described above. The 18V drills made by Makita, Panasonic, and Bosch all use NiMh batteries. Dewalt 18V drills come with NiCd."

"This Tool is incredible, I upgraded from the Makita 18 volt. It was like moving from a Model T to a Mercedes. The balance is correct and I am sure to find a situation that will utilize the reversing battery mount. The chuck really locks the bit in place. The clutch seems to be calibrated the same as the Makita and I have yet to break a screw. It seems slightly heavier than the Makita but the comfortable grip makes up for it I can recommend this product to any serious wood worker or to anyone that uses a Battery powered drill frequently"

"Don't buy tool, batteries last for only one year. I purchased this tool one year ago from amazon along with a makita thats working and charging just fine. I now have a Milwaukee drill and saw that are paper weights!!!"