New tool we all could use!!

[NCcrashman]

First and foremost, don't laugh at me but "As see on TV" people have finally come up with something I bought: and works like a charm! I found mine at a local Ace Hardware and even the guy's there love it! Yes, it's the Half-Time Tool! Check it out: Oh, did I happen to say don't laugh at me?? Hehehe lol.
http://www.gethalftime.com

[doncolga]

First and foremost, don't laugh at me but "As see on TV" people have finally come up with something I bought: and works like a charm! I found mine at a local Ace Hardware and even the guy's there love it! Yes, it's the Half-Time Tool! Check it out: Oh, did I happen to say don't laugh at me?? Hehehe lol.
http://www.gethalftime.com

That looks pretty cool to me.

[Frederic Gelinas]

I have one very similar to that one. I got it as a gift 4 or 5 years ago. Mine looks more robust than that one. I never use it. I don't like the length it adds. I much prefer working with 2 drills.

[Jon Barnhardt]

I much prefer working with 2 drills.

Or three!

[Harley]

After that router round-up I did, I wonder if I should do a drill round-up now

[AntonZ]

Have mercy on us please, Harley. I cannot afford to buy more drills nor do I have place to store them. Seeing your collection may cause me to buy yet more cordless drills (got two now but the batteries don't hold a charge anymore).

[Doug Hart]

I have a Firestorm cordless. The chuck pops off and reveals a driver bit.
http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/1181#
Very handy for drilling then driving.
It's been a great drill but it's starting to wear out and they don't make them anymore.

[67baja]

The last cab I built I used this tool from Lowes - it works like that tool posted above.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?par ... &cId=PDIO1

I prefer the tools I used in the previous builds, however:


Harley has the right idea. Use a drill with a countersink drill bit and another with the phillips head driver. Those Milwaukees work excellent and I think I can do an entire THT on one charge.

[Trey Fisher]

2 drills for me, too. They came in a set. 1/2" drill loaded with the drill bit/countersink and 1/4" hex impact driver with a phillips bit. The tool does look like a time saver for those who don't run 2 drills.

[NCcrashman]

Well, it's a winner for me at least. I cannot justify buying 2 drills, charging 2 drill's and having to stop work so I can put 1 drill down and grab another when I have both functions for 1 drill. Maybe 1 of us besides me will find a use for it. Thanx for the replies.
~Patrick~

[AntonZ]

I have a Firestorm cordless. The chuck pops off and reveals a driver bit.
http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/1181#
Very handy for drilling then driving.
It's been a great drill but it's starting to wear out and they don't make them anymore.

One of mine is a Firestorm too, older model. I haven't been lucky with a few newer B&D tools that I have purchased since, but the old cordless has been great. It's just the battery failing.

[Harley]

It's just the battery failing.

If you have one of those special screwdriver bits available you can dis-assemble the battery case and go to one of those specialist battery shops and buy a couple of decent battery cells for it - and you're good to go again!

[AntonZ]

I hadn't thought of that, thanks for the suggestion. I will have a look at the batteries of my Firestorm and Makita tomorrow, see if they can be opened without breaking anything. Is there a standard size cells in there?

[Harley]

I hadn't thought of that, thanks for the suggestion. I will have a look at the batteries of my Firestorm and Makita tomorrow, see if they can be opened without breaking anything. Is there a standard size cells in there?

Normally there are std sized cells in them, but the opening them up without damage is the trick.

[hilo4noff]

I've got my nice set of panasonic cordless tools, and have this summer discovered the ultimate in drilling nirvana. Walk the neighborhood go to yard sales, buy 2 or 3 little corded drills, (will be missing chuck key) Pay 2 dollars each or less. Return home, grab old orange extension cord (now long missing the 3rd ground blade on plug) cut off female end and install 25 foot cord on to 2 dollar drill. Install standard pre-drilling bit with pliers on chuck or if you have the driver based drill bits, no chuck key is even needed anymore. At these prices I could have a rack of drills that all have a different sized bits in them. (with drilling you don't need reversible or variable speed)

I had a 20 dollar harbor freight cordless for my pre-drilling needs last year, but discovered the hard way that the old technology ni-cad batteries that came with the el cheapo set do NOT do well in freezing garage.