Customer Reviews

Milwaukee 0724-24 28-Volt V28 Lithium-Ion 1/2-Inch Cordless Hammer Drill/Driver Kit

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've used Milwaukee's 18v drill for years (I own two of them) and they've never failed me. By far, the best cordless drill available... until now. When Milwaukee came out with their V28 line, I was intrigued, but I didn't need a new drill. Besides, the 18v drill I had worked fine, I didn't think it was necessary to upgrade (especially for the price). When it came time to buying a hammer drill, I looked again at the V28 hammer-drill and decided to buy one, figuring it would at least allow me to combine two tools into one and save the room in my car. I ended up getting a LOT more then I expected.

First, the belt clip is amazing. I didn't think twice about it when I read the drill's description, since I have a holster that works fine. The holster's now in the garbage as the belt clip is absolutely ingenious. Now I can easy attach the drill to my belt without looking and it's fully secure. With one hand I can push down on the latch and detach the drill for use... a marvelous idea. Best thing about it is I can also use it with my V28 flashlight when I need to.

Another thing I really like about this new drill is the bit holder... I always liked the idea of DeWalt's drill's holding the single bits, but Milwaukee provides a place for two. However, the only downside to this is if you use the drill in the hammer-drill setting, the bits tend to slide out after prolonged use.

Then there's the power... one of my first uses was drilling a 1" hole at an angle through two old 1x10 joists and a 2x4 in order to run a wire. I've done it several times with my old 18v, but I always end up having to reverse back a bit then start again to get a bit of momentum. If I can, I normally leave the job up to a corded drill to make things nice a quick. Not anymore... the V28 ripped right through the wood without the slightest problem. The power difference between the 18v and the V28 is shocking... you'd think you were using a corded drill.

The hammer-drill function was another big plus for me... I used this drill side by side with another corded Milwaukee hammer drill to drill numerous holes into a concrete foundation. The cordless worked just as well as the corded... no difference at all, except I wasn't lugging around a cord.

Lastly, there's the longevity of the charges... usually I'll go through at least one full battery and charge it on the site. Again, not anymore. I rarely need to use the second battery during a single day.

If I could, I'd give it six-stars. This thing is just incredible.

Ive had this hammer drill for about 7 months now and can say it is the best cordless drill on the market for endurance.

The company claims it has 600in lbs of torque in actuality 600in lbs of torque is not near enough to be compared to a corded drill.

the drill will power a 2-9/16 self feed bit and I did get thru over 20 holes in redwood 2x on one charge but the motor stalls many times trying to keep that bit turning.

The fit and finish of the tool are not milwaukee impressive and the cheap chinese plastic pieces integrated into the tool are unacceptable for a $400.00 tool.

Overall you are paying for the battery which is very impressive but the tool itself is not. Milwaukee says "cut the cord" but they need to add about 200in lbs of torque to make that happen. the drill is larger than 18v units and slightly heavier.

If you dont earn money with your tools and you dont have it to burn I would pass on this one.

Milwaukee 0724-24 V28 Lithium-Ion 1/2-Inch Cordless Hammer Drill/Driver Kit

Cons:

- much heavier and larger than 14 or 15.6 volt drills. However, it seems no heavier or larger than my Bosch Brute 18v drill/driver.

- the main switch sometimes pinches my finger, where it meets the red frame. I scraped some of the sharp edge around the switch which seemed to fix it.

- should have a way to connect a safety strap; to wrap around my hand when working on a ladder, so the tool can't be dropped.

Pros:

- 28 volt Lithium-Ion batteries; the highest voltage available, and longest lasting, batteries; latest battery technology. If you can afford a professional-grade cordless tool, get one with NiMH or Lithium-Ion batteries. NiCad is cheaper, but it's old and inferior technology.

- V28 power. 600 in lbs. of torque is more than any 18 volt tool. Even though it lacks the maximum torque of many corded 1/2" drills, it handles 99% of my heavy drilling. I might used a corded drill once per work week. (Doesn't count using a Milwaukee SuperHawg for the really big holes.)

- Press the button on a V28 battery and 1 to 4 LEDs will shine, indicating remaining power. You'll know if it needs a charge BEFORE climbing the ladder, etc.

- Excellent ergonomics; comfortable grip, good switch function, plenty of clutch choices, excellent side grip (when needed).

- Battery is reversible if it the normal mounting gets in the way.

- Excellent chuck; 100% steel to take the pounding of the hammer-drill function. Once tightened, bits rarely come loose.

- Good speed choices so you can work faster: 0-600 (lo) and 0-1800 rpm (hi); other cordless drills use lower speeds to get decent torque ratings - not this one.

- Superb trigger control. E.g., when driving 3" stainless steel screws into decking, the speed can be slowed to under 20 rpm.

- Terrific tool-belt-hook. Slide the receiver slot onto the hook and it locks in place. Tool holsters are pathetic by comparison. This is really important when working on a ladder, since you don't want to drop this expensive tool. Although the drill is heavy when hanging on your tool belt, once it's properly secured to that hook, it won't fall off. Removing it is simple; grab the handle, and press down on the release catch with your thumb.

- Tool is guaranteed for 5 years, parts and labor. (Register online at Milwaukee dot com.) Batteries are guaranteed for 2 years at full replacement, and prorated for 3 more years.

Other:

- Choose drill or hammer-drill by turning the black steel ring behind the clutch ring. The hammer-drill function is for light use only (i.e., it is NOT a rotary hammer). But of course, it's a much smaller tool. It works fairly well for small holes in concrete, and really well when drilling into mortar, soft brick, or cinder block. It's just about perfect for drilling those 3/16" masonry holes for Tapcon and similar screws.

- This drill is too big and heavy to by my primary light drilling tool. For those jobs, I still use one of my [light-weight] Panasonic 15.6v drill/drivers. This isn't a "con" of the Milwaukee V28 drill; powerful drills are heavy.

Summary:

I have to agree with Fine Woodworking's 2008 Tool Guide, which calls Milwaukee's cordless line-up, "the best tools for serious work".

Consider buying this hammer drill/driver as part of the Milwaukee 0928-29 V28 Cordless 4-Tool Combo Kit. For [only] $200 more, you also get the V28 Sawzall, the V28 circular saw, and the V28 flashlight. All are excellent and designed for day-in day-out contractor use.

I have been working as a carpenter for the past year and a half. I have worn out a craftsman corded drill and have had a dewalt begin to over heat every-time I used it. I have ran about 60,000 2 1/2 screws with my dewalt and expect to run even more with the Milwaukee. I have used the drill to run many screws and have not had any problem out of the second drill. I only gave this drill 4 stars, because the first drill I received ran two screws and died. I love the lithium battery. Lithium batteries are the better batteries for power tools. It is so nice to have the first screw have the same torque as the last. I am very happy with the drill and am glad i got it. As with all tools, you get what you pay for. This drill is very much worth the money. I am also a big fan of all Milwaukee tools.

This cordless drill is a little more than most people really need. It is heavy, not excessively, but noticeably compared to other 14v and some 18v drills. It is made for the situations where you would have pulled out your corded drill but now can use cordless. It is very powerful; very cool technologically; and has a very long battery life. It is a good drill for doing decking, concrete, brute power stuff. This is not the drill to get for hanging rock. I tried using it for that, but my friend with his light and slow 14.4v Milwaukee was able to go faster than me. He could whip his drill around faster and more accurately than I could with this drill. But when it came time for drilling 1.5" holes through the floor joists he stood back while I ripped through 'em! This baby is built for power, pure power!!! The battery power gauge is very accurate and when the battery is dead, it's dead! Overall, a great drill for the right job.

The Milwaukee V28 tools are incredible. I'm the superintendent of a mechanical company and I've easily invested 10K on these gems over the past year. With all of the free tool rebates that have been offered, I've been able to outfit multiple crews with the product. I literally took all the Dewalt cordless tools I had and gave them away, as they were a waste of space.

Overheating is not a problem as it is with other brands. These provide full power right up until the battery dies, which brings me to the four-star rating. The batteries go bad and fail on you. I have 24 batteries and I've had 8 go bad on me in the past year. Judging by the jobs or tasks that the batteries start failing on, I believe that they are shorting out due to moisture. I'm not talking about dunking them in water, I'm seeing a high failure rate on the demo side of jobs where residual water will run from the piping to the tool via a sawzall or porta-band blade and get the tool wet. The tools themselves continue to work fine but the batteries start to refuse a charge. On "dry" jobs there is not a high failure rate. That being said, I can attest to the fact that Milwaukee honors the warrantee on the batteries. I send them to my supplier and I get sent new batteries once Milwaukee looks at them. This could be an issue for you if you were limited in your battery supply as it's about a 4 week turn around.

The only other disadvantage that the product line has, which would pretty much be limited to the drill, is the weight of the tool. If you were using it continuously to drive screws (door or cabinet installers), there are lighter products available. Be warned though, lighter products = lighter work loads. I would recommend the 12V Dewalt if weight were an issue for you.

The advantage of cordless tools with corded power on a job site is incredible. As I alluded to above, these are in use on commercial jobs being used heavily on a day to day basis. Losing extension cord management is a HUGE timesaver. I don't have to deal with finding power at the spider boxes in order to go to work, this time is saved again and again as we move from work area to work area. I don't have to provide or inspect any cords for tasks with the exception of "task" lighting. As so much of our work is done from ladders or scissor lifts we lose the safety issue of having our cords being damaged on metal studs or ran over. When power goes out on the job, we keep right on going.

Overall these are high quality tools. The money that I've spent on them has already been returned to me via increased efficiency and productivity.

June 2008- I'm still happy with the product but the battery issue is not going away. I have the milwaukee reps direct line and I get the batteries sent to me directly when they fail. I have about 40 batteries now and I get 4 replaced every other month.

May 2010- Still using the tools and having the same battery issues. Batteries are now going past the warranty due to usage but Milwaukee is replacing them with a new battery at a low price of $59.00 per battery if the battery is bad. Tools are beginning to wear out and I've been happy with them so I'm committed to buying more of them. I kind of expect a new generation of tools and batteries to come out soon as they have done with the 18v tools. I'm not going to wait though, I'm replacing them as they go out.

August 2011 - Milwaukee has come out with a new battery series "M28", so the V28 tools will be systematically retired as they bundle them up with the M28 battery. Hopefully the new battery is waterproof! The M28 battery will work with all V28 tools and accessories. The advertising states that the M28 is more powerful and longer lasting. Time will tell...

Drill is a little on the expensive side but it is worth every penny. I have been using this drill for about 2 months now and am very happy it. The only problem is that I have to buy another one because my crew is constantly fighting over it. Like all Milwaukee products this drill is an absolute workhorse.

Bought the V28 kit 2 years ago. To me its not dependable. These batteries loose their charge in chilly temps. In 58 degrees and lower you will be unable to walk up and believe it will be ready for work unless you pull it from the charger. I am a cabinetmaker and care for my tools and even the saw-zaw looses its power fast after a full charge. For the $500.00 + I paid for it, I expect more and should last more. Even the Bag it came in has the tension spring bars ( help hold the bag open) poking out of it. They are very heavy. I simply will not buy another Milwaukee product.
Expect everything except performance from these tools.

At 600 pounds of torque and 1800 RPM this baby makes quick work out of any project. It is a heavy bugger, so you if you're a pansy don't even pick it up. You have to pay attention while your using it, I've seen people let it spin around on then and get jaw-jacked by the battery. The batteries seem to last forever and they recharge very quickly. Unbelievabley better than the old Ni-Cad batteries. No complaints at all.

I have had this drill for about 3 months, so I guess now is a good time for a review.
I got this drill to replace my old milwaukee 18 volt, which I was very happy with. This drill is powerful! I like it because it can handle just about anything, and the battery lasts forever. The led indicators on the battery are very useful; you don't want to go across site to find you need a fresh battery.

However I can't reccomend this drill for any one, newer drills are now much more powerful and the milwaukee is very heavy.Only buy this if power is essential to you.Most of my friends don't like it because of it'e weight, but borrow it once in a while for certain jobs ' because your drill is more powerful'.
I plan to buy a lighter drill for less demanding work. However if I were to have only one drill, this be it.