Popular Woodworking 2003-02 № 132, страница 67

PROFESSIONAL MODELS

HITACHI • This professional-model drill from Hitachi finished competitively in both performance tests, without standing out in either. The ergonomics of the drill placed it in a tie for third, with a comfortable (though slightly large) grip, good weight and balance. The 50-minute charger is a nice addition, with reasonable graphics to inform the user, but it's not a "smart" charger, requiring the battery be removed after charging to maintain peak performance. This makes the charger a pro/con wash in our book. I have nothing bad to say about this drill. It did very nicely in all respects, but there are other drills tested that performed better at similar prices. If you've invested in Hitachi tools previously and would like to continue that trend, you won't be disappointed.

MAKITA The Makita came in a respectable second in the lag bolt test, performed comparatively well in the spade bit test and placed third in ergonomics. This is a good, all-around drill at a reasonable price. While not outshining its competition, it didn't lag particularly either. It is one of only three professional drills using a two-sleeve chuck, which isn't our preference. The Makita does have a unique feature, which seems odd the first time you use it, but is very smart. Rather than twisting the clutch through all the settings to reach the "screw" position, Makita has added a bypass switch that moves right to screw, leaving the clutch in its last position.We also found the Makita's smart charger easy to use and understand. Overall this is a very good drill, and if it weren't for the Panasonic's huge 3.5 amp/hour battery, we'd recommend it even higher.

METABO • This is a well-made,

well performing drill that finished fourth in the lag bolt test and comfortably even with the secondary tier of drills in the spade bit test. Metabo isn't a well-known brand in the United States, but it's well thought of in Europe, and this drill competes well with the better-known brands. In addition to the expected quality features (single-sleeve chuck, smart charger) the BST12 plus offers an "impulse" feature in the gearing that applies the torque in short rhythmic bursts. This feature directs all the significant break-free torque of this drill to loosening a stuck bolt or screw, or sinking either into tough wood without risking stripping the head. It's a nice feature, without making the price unacceptable. One quirk the drill has is the forward/reverse switch. The Metabo switch operates in the opposite direction of every other drill tested. A good, reliable drill at a reasonable price.

MILWAUKEE For a name that

carries as much respect as Milwaukee does, we were a little non-plussed by the performance of this drill, falling below the pack in both main tests. Our testers also found the forward/reverse switch somewhat awkward, and the ergonomics uninspiring. The battery charger is a smart one-hour charger with a single blinking light to inform the user. The battery is a 1.4 amp/hour, making it tied for lowest amp-rating in the pro class. This is also one of only two professional models to offer a ³/s" chuck rather than a V2", limiting bit options.The Milwaukee battery does offer an interesting option, allowing the battery to be mounted facing forward or backward, allowing easier maneuvering into tighter spaces.This is an OK drill, but it doesn't compete in this category as well as expected.

PANASONIC • Panasonic knows

cordless batteries (see the article on page 70) and that knowledge shines in this very impressive drill. With a 3.5-amp/hour battery smaller in size than most of its competitors' 2-amp/hour batteries (they made the battery cells square rather than round, eliminating the wasted space, duhl), it's no wonder that the Panasonic swept the spade bit test and held a reasonable lead in the lag bolt test. The Panasonic also polled second place in ergonomics, with a solid, compact feel, comfortable grip and good balance. We did question the ratcheting single-sleeve chuck design (rather than a loose, free-spinning chuck) because it seems to encourage tightening the chuck by running the drill with your hand gripping the chuck - not a recommended practice. One other place for improvement is in the labeling on an otherwise very nice charger. We had some confusion as to what the symbols meant.This is a very fine drill at a competitive, professional price and worthy of our Editor's Choice award.

PORTER-CABLE • This heavy-

duty (and I mean weight) drill pulled off a second place in the spade bit test, but fell back into the lower part of the pack in the lag bolt test. Economically the 9866 finished nearly third even with its status as heaviest drill tested. General use of the drill was adequate, with a charger that allowed easy understanding of the battery status. The drill has a nice single-sleeve chuck, but we weren't as pleased with the battery removal/replacement mechanism. We found the button awkward to work, though the slide-on arrangement reduces concerns of dropping the battery. This is another one of the very competitive drills in the test at a more-than reasonable price. Though it didn't perform at the top of the pack, the $135 price tag makes this tool very attractive and earns it Best Value recognition in the test.

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