Porter-Cable 9966 12-Volt Ni-Cad 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

by Porter-Cable

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Imagine the feel of 385 inch-pounds of torque in compact package. That's what this great drill/driver delivers in the lock-up position, powered by a 12-volt battery. Because of the two-speed gearbox, you've got drill speed ranges of 0 to 425 rpm and 0 to 1,300 rpm. Its 1/2-inch chuck is keyless, and the 20-position clutch takes care of drilling into all kinds of material. You'll never regret a Porter-Cable purchase; their drills are among the best on the market. But here's one more reason to go with this model if you're in the market for a cordless drill/driver: the interchangeable Grip-to-Fit handle inserts. Having grappled with tools handles that were too big to control, we think this system is a great idea. There are manly sized grips included, of course, but for the woman woodworker or cabinetmaker, welcome to a delight--small grips! You just can't go wrong with this. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste

Amazon.com Product Description

The 12-Volt Ni-Cad Grip-to-Fit 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver by Porter Cable is a powerful cordless tool that delivers 385 in./lbs. of torque. This ergonomically designed drill/driver features three removable soft-grip inserts around the handle for a comfortable custom fit, a two-speed gearbox for slower, higher torque applications and faster, rapid drilling and driving applications. The keyless 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck is made of durable steel and allows for quick and easy bit changing. The tool comes with two 12-volt rechargeable batteries, a battery charger, a double-ended bit, and a shock resistant carrying case.

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Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 14.2 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: B00006S7CW
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 9966
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,466 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great power, very happy, April 17, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Porter-Cable 9966 12-Volt Ni-Cad 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I got this at the same time as I got a cheap, 15.6v Crafstman drill as a gift. They couldn't be more different. If you're considering a cheap alternative like that, let me list some differences:
- The PC has WAY more power. Don't let the voltage rating fool you. I have had the Craftsman drill bog down far more often than the PC drill.
- Brake and locking chuck - When you take your finger off the PC trigger, it stops immediately and locks in place, making bit changes much easier and avoiding turning screws too far.
- Speeds - There is a speed switch on the top of the PC, not the Craftsman. I have found this very helpful when switching between drilling (HI) and screwing (LO).
- Apparent quality - The PC feels better built. It has that steel-instead-of-plastic feel to it. It probably is a little heavier, but that's probably due to more metal and more battery, a trade-off I'm fine with making.

This drill has had plenty of power and battery life for me in my furniture building. I drilled 400 holes in a pair of bookcases and had to switch batteries once. I asssembled 8 drawers using these two drills. I had three drilling tasks: drilling a large hole (3/4"), drilling a small hole (1/8"), and turning a screw. Eventually, the craftsman drill ended up just turning screws because it was too slow to change bits on it and it was slower drilling even the small holes. The only reason I used it on the screws was to skip another bit change to put the screwdriver bit in the PC.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid workhorse, September 7, 2005

By 

Jeffrey C. Connor - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Porter-Cable 9966 12-Volt Ni-Cad 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have had this drill for several years. Bought it as a kit with a super flashlight and two batteries. I was looking at this site because my handyman said he was thinking of getting a PC because he liked mine so much. I was surprised to see just a 3 star overall rating and a couple of negative reviews. No doubt those people got lemons. Mine gets used at least several times a month, has taken through many remodeling projects, and has performed flawlessly. I've used it to drill holes in all kinds of wood, drive screws in pressure treated 1 x 10 pressure treated lumber to build a 400 sq foot deck, many hundreds of dry wall screws, etc, etc. It charges quickly (about an hour?)and runs for a long time. Get the flashlight too - it's great. I thought I had made a somewhat frivolous purchase when I got the light but there have been dozens of times when I was very glad I did. Both have performed flawlessly and I'm 100% satisfied.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars happy with porter-cable, September 21, 2004

By 

Eric Jewart (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Porter-Cable 9966 12-Volt Ni-Cad 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I've had this drill for two and a half years and am loving it. Not one single time have I regretted purchasing it. It has met or exceeded my expectations every time I've used it. I was impressed enough by the quality of this tool that when I needed (okay, 'wanted') a nail gun, I bought Porter Cable for that as well (and it's great, also).

My wife and I bought a fixer upper two and a half years ago and have been working on it since. Among other things, we renovated our kitchen soup to nuts and built a new mahogany deck. We've used the PC drill/driver for everything we've done in the house. Having the two battery packs and the fast charger is great. We've never managed to drain the second one before the first one is fully recharged.

We bought a second drill when we were doing our deck so that my wife and I could work in parallel. We wanted it right away and ended up getting a Black & Decker because our local Home Depot didn't have this PC drill in stock. The B&D is useless. It's 15V instead of 12 but has noticeably less torque, fewer settings that can be adjusted, and just plain doesn't work as well. It also feels really cheap compared to the PC.

One reviewer said that the drill was unusable after 2 years. I haven't had any problem with it after 2.5 years of regular use. This is a very high quality tool that you won't regret purchasing.