Hilti drill sucks!

[D60]

So at work we had a 1/2" 5.5A Milwaukee which finally died. I dunno how long they had had it, but it certainly looked like it had been around awhile.

One of the harder things we do with it is chase 5/8-11 holes on these boxes we fabricate. The holes have already been tapped, but once it comes back from paint - and the paint is pretty heavy duty, almost reminiscent of powder coat - we gotta clean up the threads before assembly. We usually do about 40 holes at a time like this, so running a tap in by hand is not practical.

Anyhow one of the guys goes to Home Desperate and comes back w a Hilti as a replacement. I thought hey cool, Hilti is supposed to be good stuff. The first thing I do is look at the label, "600W." Ok, assuming 120V that's only 5A. Hmm. The drill is bit boxy and ergonomics are good but not great. The plastic housing has a cheap feel.

So I plug it in and pull the trigger. Not impressed. Poor trigger modulation at low speed. Pull the trigger a little, nothing. Pull it some more, the motor groans at you. Pull it some more and the drill is suddenly hauling ass. In fact it reminds me VERY MUCH of my 3/8" Milwaukee at home.

Next I go about trying to chase the holes. It can't even make it thru in a single pass. The Milwaukee could, even when it was clear it was dying a slow death. After just three holes of backing out and charging in, the poor Hilti is giving off that sickly sweet smell of eminent electric motor death. No magic smoke yet, so I stop before it gets to that point.

I go back and tell my boss the Hilti sucks, I'm bringing in my 8A Milwaukee next week, which is what they should have purchased in the first place. Hopefully once he sees its performance he'll order one.

Bottom line, this drill really did strike me as a 3/8" drill in a 1/2" body. It was the Hilti SR61 or SR16, I don't remember. I'm still a Milwaukee loyalist!

[kstatecruiser1]

Don't know about their normal drills, but I'm a solid fan of their hammerdrills and core drills. Reguardless, good info to know.

[Wolfmanjack13]

Hilti is the king for hammer and core drills. Used almost everything out there and it wins in everyway but price, but you get what you pay for. They never used to make standard drills, too bad their standard of quality apparently isnt used for all that they make. Thanks for the headsup.

[bgaidan]

Hilti is the king for hammer and core drills. Used almost everything out there and it wins in everyway but price, but you get what you pay for. They never used to make standard drills, too bad their standard of quality apparently isnt used for all that they make. Thanks for the headsup.


X2

Never found a better coring rig. When rental places sent out a Milwaukee I'd refuse it and make them send the Hilti. Last job I had 7 SDS drills running several hours a day for nearly 2 years straight doing holes and chissling/bushing concrete.

[D60]

I looked at Home Depot today and I don't even know where the hell he found this drill. The special Hilti display was all hammer drills (and grinders) as you guys have noted, so I looked in the main power tool area but didn't see it either. Really I was just curious how it compared in price to other 1/2" drills.

[Travis Waldher]

If you are willing to buy a hand tool from Home Depot or Lowes...

Just go to Harbor Freight and save the money.

It doesn't matter what brand is sitting on the case, HD and Lowes orders enough tools from manufacturers to "get their own line". That even goes for their lawnmowers, etc. Their cheap crap is no better or little better than harbor freights. Don't believe me? Check out all their 1/2 drill products and test each one out in the store.

HD and Lowes is not much different than Walmart. Remember the story about Snapper refusing to deal with Walmart because Walmart wanted to dilute their product line with a pile of shit bearing the Snapper brand name?

[Davethorik]

If you are willing to buy a hand tool from Home Depot or Lowes...

Just go to Harbor Freight and save the money.

It doesn't matter what brand is sitting on the case, HD and Lowes orders enough tools from manufacturers to "get their own line". That even goes for their lawnmowers, etc. Their cheap crap is no better or little better than harbor freights. Don't believe me? Check out all their 1/2 drill products and test each one out in the store.

HD and Lowes is not much different than Walmart. Remember the story about Snapper refusing to deal with Walmart because Walmart wanted to dilute their product line with a pile of shit bearing the Snapper brand name?

x2, I always wondered why Homo Depot offered Lincoln welders that weren't sold anywhere else...then I did some digging. Doesn't surprise me in this case.

[Kartracer55]

If you are willing to buy a hand tool from Home Depot or Lowes...

Just go to Harbor Freight and save the money.

It doesn't matter what brand is sitting on the case, HD and Lowes orders enough tools from manufacturers to "get their own line". That even goes for their lawnmowers, etc. Their cheap crap is no better or little better than harbor freights. Don't believe me? Check out all their 1/2 drill products and test each one out in the store.

HD and Lowes is not much different than Walmart. Remember the story about Snapper refusing to deal with Walmart because Walmart wanted to dilute their product line with a pile of shit bearing the Snapper brand name?

Bingo. Weber grills are aperfect example. The normal genysis gold line has stainless steel grills. The HD version is priced significantly cheaper. How? They use cheap cast iron grates and You would swear that the frame itself is actually cheaper. HD and Lowes have HUGE buying power

Jim

[Travis Waldher]

Just think, 10-12 years ago this wasn't the case.

[CTENG]

I just got a Hitachi recently after the OLD craftsman (when they were good) finally died. The Hitachi, thus far, is fantastic.

[D60]

It doesn't matter what brand is sitting on the case, HD and Lowes orders enough tools from manufacturers to "get their own line".

Ya know the local Fastenal guy was trying to tell me this awhile ago. I didn't believe him, partially 'cause he was young, hyper and didn't come across as overly credible. Maybe there's some validity to it after all. Would be nice to see something more concrete 'cause you can't deny it still seems like a rumor.

Plus if a manufacturer finds they can sell cheaper shit to HD, what's to stop the bean counters from just making the "cheap" line the "standard" line and selling it to every retailer regardless of size? How do I know that what I get from the local mom and pop hardware store or from a web retailer is any different than what HD carries? I don't think I've seen unique Milwaukee model numbers at HD, is it hidden in the SKU or?

[Travis Waldher]

Honestly, I'm not sure anymore.

It's been enough to turn me away from Bosch, Dewalt, Milwauki, and all the other big names that have their products shop up in big box stores. I just can't trust that they sold out. At least some did and IMO when they did the price of the product never came down to match the quality change. The profit margin just got larger.

So now - when I buy a tool of any value I make a trip to the stores around town, compare each one, the feel of the motor (since I can't power it on), the mechanics, balance, weight, amperage ratings, etc.

So far - I've been turning to harbor freight more often. The last time was a 12" compound sliding miter saw I got for $159 (IIRC). HD wanted $600 or so for a comperable saw. Mechanically they felt identical. The HF motor sounds sicker than a HD motor - but it hasn't had any issues running. So I feel I got 90% or better of what the name brand was for 25% of the price.

If I had to depend on the saw for my living I may have gone a different route or at least had a nest egg to go name brand in a hurry should the HF one crap out. But the biggest complaint I could find on that saw was a woodworking mag bagging on it because their higher end blade that made it cut much better cost more than it. That was about it.

It's just all in the research.

[indulf]

i buy all my tools at grainger, and they are (mostly) all milwaukee. can't go wrong. i pay cash and get my company discount which makes it bearable, but still more $$$ than homo depot.

you definitely get a better product at an industrial/construction supply place. the weight in your hand is different. it's sickening, actually...

the only exception i've found is porter cable. it seems that the routers available at homo depot are the same as everywhere else. at least as far as i can tell. don't know about other PC products.

[randii]

So now - when I buy a tool of any value I make a trip to the stores around town, compare each one, the feel of the motor (since I can't power it on), the mechanics, balance, weight, amperage ratings, etc.
Comparing the heft of the tool may serve you poorly. The Chinese aren't exactly known for their engineering, or materials... heavier may not be better.

Yes, the big box stores have been able to use their volume to essentially spec out custom runs. You don't HAVE to buy there...

If you're motivated by cheap (I sometimes am), then buying at Harbor Freight makes sense, especially if you don't mind returning after a tool breaks. If you want quality, that's the last place I'd look.

So I feel I got 90% or better of what the name brand was for 25% of the price.
What do you factor into this for reputation, service, and availability of replacement parts? I know my Milwaukee cordless impact gun will be working YEARS from now, and that if it ever stops, there's a local service center with parts on-hand.

Randii

[Travis Waldher]

Comparing the heft of the tool may serve you poorly. The Chinese aren't exactly known for their engineering, or materials... heavier may not be better.

What do you factor into this for reputation, service, and availability of replacement parts?

Randii

heft of a tool is only one factor, not a deal breaker.

reputation, service, and replacement parts - given how bigger name companies have diluted their products.

Their reputation is no better than harbor freights. You just can't go to HD or Lowes and pickup a big/bigger name tool and trust it'll last like the last one did. The build quality is no longer on par with what it was 10 years ago. If I can't trust their product line at the big boxes, how can I trust it elsewhere and know I'm getting a better quality product than I would at the big boxes?

Service/Parts - I have this issue so infrequently that it's not much of a factor. If it fires up the first time, it tends to fire up every time after that until it dies of old age.

[randii]

reputation, service, and replacement parts - given how bigger name companies have diluted their products... Their reputation is no better than harbor freights.
I think you overstate. For most products, the big manufacturers, even at 50% dilution, still work better than Harbor Freight.

Hell, I was at Harbor Freight today -- I'm no hater -- but I wasn't buying any power tools, that's for sure.

We may have to agree to disagree on this one...

Randii

[Travis Waldher]

Depends - have you actually tried some of the HF tools and given them a fair chance?

There was a day when I wouldn't give their electric tools a chance either. That was until I took a chance and got one.

I agree, we may have to agree to disagree here.

[Bmf24]

hilti is over priced crap as far as i can tell. we used to have all hilti hammer and core drills at work. we have started buying Bosh hammer drills for the smaller one (1" and less) to replace the old hilti drills and they are by far a better drill, and usually less money.
i usually order all my power tools online as home depot and lowes wont stock anything i actually want.

[MQYJ]

Love the hilti hammer drills, best around period. Even their bits are better, expensive, but they drill quicker, even in another brand of drill.

As for the box store influesnce, my local contractor supply house told me that there are a LOT of Bosch tools coming through those big retail stores that are not made in the US. They are fakes, not made by Bosch. He gets offers all the time to buy skids of Bosch drills for a couple hundred bucks for the entire skid. Fortunately he doesn't roll that way. But unfortunately the big box stores only see dollars and cents.

[randii]

Depends - have you actually tried some of the HF tools and given them a fair chance?
Yup, let the smoke out of a grinder last week, FWIW. That's OK, though, I treat them as consumables, and had a spare one on the shelf ready to go. I think they get down to $19.99 on sale. Some things are simply too cheap to worry about...

For my *nice* tools, though, I look upscale. I don't use these tools for my livelihood, but I can't afford to stock spares of everything!

AGTD.

Randii

[D60]

Yup, let the smoke out of a grinder last week, FWIW. That's OK, though, I treat them as consumables, and had a spare one on the shelf ready to go. I think they get down to $19.99 on sale. Some things are simply too cheap to worry about...

For my *nice* tools, though, I look upscale. I don't use these tools for my livelihood, but I can't afford to stock spares of everything!

Agreed. IME any electric motor from Harbor Freight is simply not gonna last as long when you really start pushing it, even if it's arguably user error/abuse. The big names know the consumer is gonna abuse the tool, at least to a point. But stall a Harbor Freight motor just once and it's almost never the same again. Get it too hot once and it sounds sickly forever more.

I also have plenty of Harbor Freight grinders, but the only one that gets an 1/8" cutoff wheel is the Milwaukee. Cutting is fawking hard on grinders.

I wouldn't even consider HF drills and especially not their cordless tools.

I also agree on service, there are Milwaukee service centers all over the place (searchable on their website). I had a grinder serviced and repaired under their 5 year warranty, no charge. Even if I was outside the 5 years I'd at least get a quote on the repair.

[nissancrawler]

One main difference is that cheaper ones often run bushings instead of bearings, which makes a big difference in the long run.

I also have never seen an hf grinder with an amp rating worth a shit. I have one, it runs the wire brush, and it's ok for that, but certainly not overqualified.

Hell, I'm looking at getting rid of my 9 amp dewalt 4.5" for a 12 amp 4.5" metabo.

[kf4zht]

I do have to say that HF tools are optomistic, the last couple I have gotten have spare brushes included with them, if I get to use them on any of the tools I will be extremely impressed.

[Gummi Bear]

Hilti can suck it.

I won't use any of their tools. They're overpriced (tools and consumables), mediocre performers, with shitty service and even shittier jobsite support.

I'll stick with Bosch and Milwaukee for my SDS and larger stuff.

Big box stores are for homeowners, keep that in mind whenever buying any tools from them. Grainger still does pretty well by me, as do some of the local tool suppliers.

Wanna save money? Go to an authorized tool repair center, and buy a reconditioned or abandoned unit from them. Often, you can negotiate to have them go through it completely, for still less than you'd spend at a big box store.

[Bmf24]

Wanna save money? Go to an authorized tool repair center, and buy a reconditioned or abandoned unit from them. Often, you can negotiate to have them go through it completely, for still less than you'd spend at a big box store.

reconditioned tools are great. my last cordless was reconditioned. used it every day for over a year. there wasnt anything wrong with it at all when it was stolen.

[max adams]

Just curious, but what are you plugging into? I know when you plug into a 120v DC power supply, yes DC from a welder or generator it doesn't like the variable speed and usually puts the motor in to thermal protection after 5-10 minutes. The guys at work tried to wire a GFI to a 120v DC circuit, and wonder why it kept blowing immediately.

[nissancrawler]

you mean a 120vac tool doesn't like 120vdc? well no shit.:laughing: Where in the fuck did you get a generator that puts out 120vdc...mine sure runs ac.:shaking:

[whistle pig]

you mean a 120vac tool doesn't like 120vdc? well no shit.:laughing: Where in the fuck did you get a generator that puts out 120vdc...mine sure runs ac.:shaking:


A lot of lincolns larger engine driven welders will put out that much DC voltage.