Can anyone recommend me a drill driver Li-ion for quick charge on a good deal at the moment, what’s best vfm for an occasional but multi use user?

makita on screwfix for 99 quid would take some beating?

Blue Bosch – Great drill

+1 for the makita. If you can stretch a little then the the 3.0Ah battery is better but the price difference is pretty big and the 1.3 will be fine general use.

I’ve got one of these that I’m really happy with http://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-gsb-14-4-2-li-14-4v-1-3ah-li-ion-cordless-combi-drill/25293

+ two batteries
– no case

That Makita looks like a very good deal.

I was going to suggest this, as it was £65 yesterday:

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=118056

Now back up to £100! Fantastic little drill for the money though. I bought one last week and am well impressed so far. Small and light, but still has enough power for most household jobs (get a corded hammer drill if you want to drill into brick, concrete etc).

That blue 10.8v Bosch is ok but a bit weak; it’ll struggle into anything dense or thick, or using larger bits. More of a screwdriver really.

Here’s the same Bosch as mine, in John Lewis’, for just £67:

http://www.johnlewis.com/231769545/Product.aspx?s_kwcid=ppc_pla&tmad=c&tmcampid=73&pup_ptid={adwords_producttargetid}&pup_kw={keyword}&pup_c={adtype}

So this ends up being £140 for drill with two batteries:
http://www.screwfix.com/p/makita-bhp453sh-18v-1-3ah-li-ion-cordless-combi-drill/58614

That does seem pretty good.

There’s this Dewalt 3.0ah one too:
http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/section//sn/DEWDCD785L1

£70 for an extra 4.0ah battery, but I guess that’s getting expensive now.

wouldnt be in a rush to get big batteries…..

li-ions charge so quick now that the all a big battery achieves is a sore wrist -especially if your a limp wristed office monkey like my self and not using your drill driver every day.

2x 1.3ahs would be much preferable to a single 3 or 4 ah imo

Cheers all nickjb, this 3.0ah?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/makita-bhp456rfwx-18v-3-0ah-li-ion-cordless-combi-drill/25600#

Like, now how to justify the NEED

The 10.8v Blue Bosch is trade quality + 2 speed gearbox, it charges fast and you get 2 batteries. If a drill driver (not a combi drill) is what you want (as stated) for everything from screw driving to wood and masonry this is great. I’d steer clear of the green Bosch – they are only single speed and retail quality + only 1 battery.

I only ever seem to to get the SDS or the 18v combi out for serious concrete these days. The other blue Bosch suggested (which is a combi, not a drill driver) or the makita are also good bets.

Stafford Screwfix opened yesterday so 10% of everythingthis weekend if you buy from there.

I have a Makita 18v 3.0ah with 20 mins charge time and it’s a beaut. I use it every day and it feels just right and has plenty of punch. I’ve drilled 15mm holes through brick walls, assembled hundreds of wardrobes etc and the only time it looked like it was struggling was with a 80mm hole cutter through a 25mm MDF worktop (which made my other mains drill smoke).

Cheers all nickjb, this 3.0ah?

That’s the one. I think you can get it for that price with a few bits thrown in. It’s a great drill. Whether you ‘need’ the extra capacity depends on you use. Mine seems to last ages. It’s handy for me because I can take to site (which I often do by train) and I know it’ll last all day so I don’t need to take a spare battery or charger.

echo comments about batteries – the 3 or 4ah ones are heavy for all day use. A corded sds and a light drill driver is a much better combination.

I disagree about the weight. I recently bought a De Walt with a 1.3 when Tradepoint were selling off the NiCads for £25. Small and light but the Makita is so well balanced that it feels better in the hand.

See my dyslexia led me to read that as for heavy all day use rather than too heavy for all day use, was thinking stuff like screwing and fitting out the camper and other stuff the day long use would be good.

Got an old Nicad 14v blue Bosch that’s reasuringly heavy, but doesn’t hold charge and for the cost of batteries may be better to upgrade.