Milwaukee 0616-24 14.4 Volt 1/2-Inch Lok-Tor Driver/Drill Kit

by Milwaukee

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Milwaukee introduces the new Lok-Tor series of cordless driver/drills and hammer-drills. The rugged Lok-Tor series delivers higher torque, higher speeds, longer run-time and the increased durability and quality expected from Milwaukee Electric Tools. All Lok-Tor models feature an exclusive all-metal, single-sleeve ratcheting chuck with carbide jaws to provide the highest grip torque on bits of any competitive product. A new Milwaukee-built high efficiency motor delivers up to 460 in.-lbs. of torque. The high efficiency motor and superior battery technology combine to provide the ultimate run-time. Another Milwaukee exclusive is the dampened or 'quiet' spindle lock mechanism which relieves the stress of metal slamming on metal for increased durability and smooth operation.

Product Description

Includes 14.4V Cordless Lok-Tor 1/2-in Drill/Driver with T-Handle Kit - 0616-84, (2) 2.4 Amp-Hr. 14.4V Batteries, Universal Charger, Carrying Case

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Product Details

Product Manual [2.17mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 13.7 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000789HU
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 0616-24
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #237,411 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This drill is top of the heap-Compare, May 11, 2003

By 

Bob Feeser "MillCrafters.com" (Springfield, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Milwaukee 0616-24 14.4 Volt 1/2-Inch Lok-Tor Driver/Drill Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have been looking to upgrade my 14.4 cordless when the batteries expire. For the cost of two batteries, you might as well buy a kit with a new drill. The new Makita with NMH batteries got my attention. They were giving more drill time and charged in 45 minutes instead of 90 minutes like the NiCads. I also liked the ergonomically designed handle. It felt good in my hands-very comfortable.
Then my brother got wind of this Milwaulkee, and now I am sold. I own a corded hammer drill from Milwaukee, and never experienced that level of torque before. It caught a bit, and almost broke my wrist. When I went over to the local Milwaukee factory store, I got a better introduction to this cordless 14.4. First it had the ergonomics that I like in the handle grip, just like the Makita. At 460 in/lbs of torgue it outperfoms the Makita which is only 340. The 14.4 and the 18 volt are simply the highest torques-strongest cordless drills on the market today in their respective voltages. Additionally this newly introduced Milwaukee has advanced battery technology. They took the NiCads to the next level. Milwaukee is able to get the recharge time down to 1 hour, while still maintaining the longer life expectancy of NiCads. The NiMh batteries have a shorter shelf-usage life. Something to consider with the hefty cost of replacement.
So some technical stuff. The Milwaukee has ALL copper windings in the motor. The yellow guys have a metal mix in the coils. Net result, more cost to build one but yielding more reliability and muscle. Additionally it has more gears. More gears with finer teeth, result in less polish-sliding-resistance on the gears. The gears are all metal, with a metal housing. A big competitor gives you metal gears in a plastic housing.
Another interesting note is that is does not weigh any more than its competitors in the 14.4 range.
The large 1/2" capacity chuck jaws are serrated carbide. Imagine that carbide teeth in a drill. No slip there, and they have a single sleeve on the outside, so you can run the drill to tighten the bit. No having to stop and grab two sleeves to get a good grip.
So there you have it. Reversing drill, two speed capabilities, more power, more reliability, quicker recharge times, great ergonomics in the handle, a nice price, and now even better with the special going on for a free extra battery or car charger. I'm becoming a devout Milwaukee fan, and the big red is easy to differentiate on the job site, when everyone else has their yellows recharging. Helps to not have your new battery "accidentally" swapped out with an old one. Just don't tell your buddies about the torque, otherwise you will start to see a lot of big reds showing up. :-)

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Billy Bob, November 25, 2002

By 

busrey "bcpu" (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Milwaukee 0616-24 14.4 Volt 1/2-Inch Lok-Tor Driver/Drill Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

My old 12v Porter Cable's charger starting having problems and the battery was getting old so I did the math and decided a new drill with two batteries and a new charger made more sense than buying replacements. So to Amazon's[.com] tool reviews I went for a little in-depth reading. I was mixed as to the size I wanted because my two 12v PC's had served me well over ten years but after handling both sizes I decided to opt for a 14.4v drill. I really liked the feel of the Dewalt drills in my hands but the reviews were bad and I need my tools to always work. I steered away from the PC also because of reviews, which left me with Milwaukee, Bosch, and Makita. With the reviews read I headed to HD & Lowe's for a little touchy feely. I have short fingers and being able to switch between forward and reverse while holding the drill is important. I was unable to find the Bosch drills so the showdown was between Milwaukee and Makita. After playing around with both drills for a while I noticed the Makita drill started rubbing the side of my thumb which would become a bigger problem toward the end of a day of hard use. I finally chose this Milwaukee for the following reasons: The drill is manufactured in Germany and has a lifetime warranty. (The Makita only has a one year warranty. When reading the Milwaukee manual it simply says that if the drill fails they will replace it.) [Batteries are made in Japan and the charger in the USA.]

This drill has a new motor that is made by Milwaukee that produces 460 in. lbs of torque, which is outstanding. This drill also has a solid feeling 1/2" metal chuck with a spindle lock that is easy to operate by holding it and using the forward and reverse. A quick snap of the wrist locks the chuck or unlocks it as needed with no slippage noticed. It also has a great case not too small but not too big. All in all a well balanced, powerful, solid drill that will work with you all day, every day.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good drill, but there are other options..., August 8, 2003

By 

Christopher Kennel "remodel carpenter" (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Milwaukee 0616-24 14.4 Volt 1/2-Inch Lok-Tor Driver/Drill Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I bought this drill but ultimately decided to return it and go with the hammer-drill version. Even though I don't use the hammer function much, I went with the hammer drill because the hammer function increased the length of the drill's nose. The longer nose decreased the angle between the handle and the chuck so that the drill can be pointed in a tight area without the handle and/or battery hitting an obstacle. Of course, you can get extension pieces for driving screws and some bits, so the longer nose is probably a minor point. But without such attachments, the longer nose and reversible battery (which is a feature of both hammer and non-hammer drill models) allow the hammer-drill version to access tight areas where the handle/battery would interfere a little better. On the downside, the longer nose increases drill's overall length, making it more difficult to insert into tight areas where the drill's motor & chuck length is the limiting factor.

I compared this drill to the 14.4 volt Bosch Brute Tough drill, and I preferred the higher rpms that Milwaukee offered. Bosch has a better warranty on its battery (1.5 years compared to Milwaukee's 1 year), but Milwaukee's lifetime warranty on the drill beat Bosch's 3 year warranty. Although I was impressed by Bosch's durability claims, I found many similar testimonials on the Milwaukee website that attest to their drill's toughness (stories of people dropping them from heights or driving over them with construction equipment). The Bosch drill's case had a compartment to hold Bosch drill bit cases-you just snap them into the space provided. Although the Bosch kit included a screwdriver bit holder and small metal ring attached to the back of the drill, I found the removable side handle included in the Milwaukee kit a more useful option. If you want to tether the Milwaukee drill like the Bosch, there is a small ring built into the lower back of the Milwaukee drill's handle that can accommodate a tether. Just buy some thin cord at a rock climbing shop and tie a loop to the ring.

If you're mainly interested in driving screws, then an impact driver/wrench such as the cordless Milwaukee 9083-22 might be what you're after. In hindsight, I wish I would have bought one of these. The 9083-22 has much more torque, is more compact, and is better at driving screws. With the proper chuck, it can also be used to drill. Or you can get hex-shank drill bits that chuck directly into impact drivers. For an interesting demonstration of impact drivers, check out the video on cordless impact drivers on the Fine Homebuilding magazine website.

Interestingly, if you quickly release the trigger on Milwaukee cordless drills, the braking mechanism will shoot sparks out of the rear vents. At least this is what happens when the drill is brand new.

This is a great 14.4 volt drill, but it's not the most powerful thing out there. It offers a good balance of size, weight, endurance, and cost. It's a really good choice for medium duty drilling and driving tasks, but it didn't compare to the power of an 18 volt or corded drill when drilling 1.5 inch holes through 1 inch compressed particle board with a somewhat dull hole saw bit. For heavier duty tasks, I'd skip the larger cordless drills and go with a corded one. They're cheaper and much more powerful.

Update: Although my Milwaukee cordless tools have proven themselves to be reliable and sturdy after several years of jobsite use, I'd seriously consider the Panasonic line. They seem to be a bit more technologically advanced than the rest of the competition, and Fine Homebuilding reviews consistently rate them highly.