Power Tools Reviews
Milwaukee 2601-22 18V Li-ion Compact Drill Kit
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 Defective batteries? I purchased this drill to replace my dead Makita 12v Ni Cad drill. Multiple sites seemed to give this drill a thumbs up with little complaints. Once I got my drill I charged up both batteries as per the instructions and started my project. Basically I just needed to drill 5-6 7/8" x 5-3/8" holes with a 7/8" auger bit. On the first battery, the battery died on the third hole. The second battery died on the 5-6 hole. These were pretty tough holes to drill but 3 holes? gimme a break. The batteries don't seem to be charging correctly or ?? The one battery will show "charged" after 5 minutes in the charger and the second battery will show "charged" after maybe 15 minutes. I realize that it's a fast charging system but based on the life of the batteries once charged seem to indicate either the batteries are faulty or the charger is bad. I'm going to call the 1-800 number for Milwaukee and see what they say. Other than the battery problem (which is major in my mind), the drill has performed great. Lots of power and torque to get the job done. I am happy with the drill if I good get some decent batteries,  Power, LED, Brand Name, WOW! Ok, I bought this to replace my Craftsman (and I could be Bob Vila with all of it that I own). I spent a little more than I normally would, but I can say it's been worth every penny. I just drove 3" door screws without any problem. The battery guage is awesome. The drill is balanced, and very attractive. I thought the light was a gimmick, but I actually really liked the feature. It helped when the sun was setting, and my project was several hours past schedule. Do NOT hesitate buying this. You won't be sorry. Very quick charge also. I can't wait to buy the Sawzall next. This will be your "go to" drill I purchased this to compliment the V28 Milwaukee combo kit. The V28 drill is an ultra heavy duty beast but it's no lightweight. At just four pounds with battery, I find myself using the 18V far more often. I'm very impressed with Milwaukee's implementation of the Li-ion technology. As a casual user, it's good to know that I can grab this drill and go to work even if it's been in storage for a while. I loved my trusty old Dewalt 9.6 but I don't miss it one bit now that I have this. Great Drill I bought this to replace a 15 year-old Porter Cable 12V drill that was a real workhorse. Unfortunately, the batteries on the PC simply wouldn't hold a charge long enough anymore to keep it in service, and replacement cost of batteries made replacing the entire drill attractive. I found the Milwaukee at a good price at Home Depot and put it to immediate use driving 60, 3.5" lag screws, along with several dozen pocket holes. Good Lord, does this drill have power! The power stays at 100% until the battery is exhausted, too. The batteries have a "meter" that's handy, letting you know the remaining charge. I noticed that the available power will dip a bit after a good run of use, then will recover a bar on the meter after a short rest. The chuck appears to have an internal ratcheting mechanism that really locks down on bits - you can hear the ratchet engage if you listen closely. I haven't spun a bit in the chuck yet. The bit ker-chunks a little when going from forward to reverse, and vice-versa, which I presume is also related to the ratchet mechanism. The drill is very well-balanced. It fits my hand perfectly (I wear a medium glove). I strongly recommend it. | |||||||||
