Cosd Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) Looking at getting a cordless SDS. The tool is for home use and will be used to do a variety of jobs being I have a whole house to fix up. Id like to stick to Makita since I've just bought a drill and impact driver with two 4ah batteries, so sticking with Makita means I can buy the body only. I've seen as well as the normal 18v type, Makita also do 36v using two 18v batteries. I'd like to know whether the extra power justifiies the extra weight. Does anyone have any experience with cordless SDS any do"s or donts when it comes to choosing one? Edited October 11, 2015 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hambone Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 I have the Makita 18v and cant fault it. got it 'bare' because I already had other tools with the 18v batteries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitehackle Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 I have got the 36v sds drill, its brilliant, but if its just for your personal use then the 18v is good enough. The 18v is a good tool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn2233 Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) I have the 24v one and love it great sds iv had it now 10yrs plus Edited October 11, 2015 by martyn2233 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harris2006 Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 I had the 18v makita one and it was an excellent bit of kit. It does have its limitations though, obviously will never replace a mains powered drill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBS Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Got the 36v makita, great bit of kit apart from the stupid handle which is supposed to reduce vibration, if your using the hammer only action it just pinches your skin as it moves and gives a big bloody blister! Also worth bearing in mind that you won't charge two batteries as quick as this runs them down with constant use when on hammer only Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted October 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Got the 36v makita, great bit of kit apart from the stupid handle which is supposed to reduce vibration, if your using the hammer only action it just pinches your skin as it moves and gives a big bloody blister! Also worth bearing in mind that you won't charge two batteries as quick as this runs them down with constant use when on hammer onlyThat's a great point, with the 18v you can have a battery in charge so you always have a battery to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBS Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 That's a great point, with the 18v you can have a battery in charge so you always have a battery to use. But that's the problem it still doesn't work because starting with two full batteries (unlikely) you use one then put it on charge while you use the second but the second will die before the first is charged, I have eight 4ah batteries but even with them all charged I can get to a point where I'm waiting for them to charge using the 36v kit. I really need to invest in a multi battery charger I suppose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 All the Sky fitters have Bosch. must be a reason for that ? 36 v Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Silly question, but IF you have somewhere to plug in a charger! WHY go cordless? I have a Dewalt cordless, and while it's a good bit of kit it can not replace my mains powered drill, My SDS is a mains powered beast! I use it to break up fence post concrete, drill bore holes in the walls, drill through for cables. The chisel feature is cracking "literally" If I was to use cordless I would be forever changing batteries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 All the Sky fitters have Bosch. must be a reason for that ? 36 v Last Bosch SDS I bought WILL be the last never again! The hammer action is fubar after less than 14 month! I now use a Netto own brand one! Had it for about 15 year and it never skipped a beat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I have the makita 18v and around the home it's done everything. Drilled holes a mains powered normal hammer drill couldn't. Used it for light concrete breaking duties, though if you need to do a lot of that, I'd get a mains powered one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted October 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I do have a few bathrooms which are fully tiled that I need to strip, will the cordless be ok for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLuke Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I do have a few bathrooms which are fully tiled that I need to strip, will the cordless be ok for that? I'm sure it will but if purchasing a drill solely for this then why not get a mains one as you will have power available? Considerably cheaper and no down time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I use cordless drills and impact drivers a lot. If the job needs an sds drill then it's mains powered. If you need an SDS it's heavier duty work, so you need power. Batteries are OK if you just need to make a hole, but they'll soon go flat if you're doing much with them and the motors aren't as powerful as mains powered ones in the first place. I expect someone will make a cordless core drill sometime, and I expect someone will buy it, but it won't be me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 All the Sky fitters have Bosch. must be a reason for that ? 36 v Arn't the Sky fitters, franchised independent companies/fitters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I do have a few bathrooms which are fully tiled that I need to strip, will the cordless be ok for that? Yes it will easily knock tiles off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brixsmaid Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Arn't the Sky fitters, franchised independent companies/fitters? Not that one that came to me yesterday - he is directly employed by Sky. They are apparently moving away from the piece work and scarper fitters - having learnt the hard way - all rush and little quality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 The 24v with the rotary stop chisel/breaker function had for years and been fantastic but of kit. If only for drilling go for the 18v if you want one that can chisel blocks and bricks out then the newer 36v is your best bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweedledee Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 BosCh 36v was my last buy BosCh 36v was my last buy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 No idea about the employment status of the Sky guys but if there was ever a need for a decent sds theirs must be it. I have cordless drills, impact drivers, jig and circular saws and the same in 110v. I've never found a situation where a cordless sds drill would be of any benefit over a 110 one. They are ok for light duty work but even the 5ah batteries don't last that long. Only reason I have cordless and corded versions of the same tools is 1. Sometimes carrying the transformer and leads is a pain / too many leads etc and 2. I'm a certified tool tart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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