Tug

I'm using the M12 lantern, awesome light, great for camping too. USB port on the side as well!

Love it! I hate digging! Can you vid some masonry action next? Cheers!

Didn't exactly buy it, but today received my free flexvolt pack from Dewalt! A gift for purchasing the 323 sds. Cheers, Dewalt. Much appreciated!

Couldn't agree more, can't stand the noise or buzzing vibration, but for a few fixings, the percussion will suffice. I also find an sds too violent for some masonry applications, so I'll use something with less brute force.

The M12 will cope with those, I'm sure. Check out the Oztooltalk channel, they've featured it in one of their vids. They rated it quite well for that size of hole.

Sorry, not depth, I meant diameter.

Bit as I said, the M12 is a rotary hammer, not percussion. It's just not as punchy as the M18, which, if memory serves, has 4.1 joules. Percussion drills will cope with masonry, not concrete. What size are these Tapcons? I'm UK, so not familiar with them.

The M12 is a true rotary hammer, but with only approximately 1.3 joules of impact energy it's really only a fixings drill, 5mm up to 10mm at the most. The M18 is far more powerful, only drawback is its weight compared to the M12.

Going from zero RPMs, a brushed motor is far smoother. BL motors will always be slightly notchy, it's inherent in how they work. It can be tamed through more expensive electronics, but that pushes prices up and can make them more fragile. BL will do small delicate work, but I don't think they'll ever be as good at ultra low RPMs as the tried and tested brushed variants. And as Hilti mentioned, you're not likely to wear the brushes out. My V18 set was eight years old and the brushes were still showing no sign of wearing out. Then they were stolen.

BL motors can't do very low RPMs, so if you're doing delicate work a brushed impact is actually more desirable than BL. Or use a screwdriver. Only recently started getting different brands, got some 12 and 28 Volt red kit, then some Ryobi that I'm not fussed about being stolen. I also use Ryobi for things an electrician doesn't need in high-end form; jigsaw for example. Now got some flexvolt from Yellow because...........I just really wanted it. Then got some 18 Volt from Yellow to compliment the 54 Volt sds. I need to stop buying, a sparks only needs so many drills.

2 Amp slim-pack for the 887.

I always lay my drills down, if they're standing up, they can fall down, if they're laying down, they can't fall up.

No, sorry. It was one of their live vids on youtube, they've improved some of the existing line-up, but also added some new lights including the string you mentioned. Some of them look quite impressive, the updated lantern looks far brighter than the old model.

Got an M12 LED lantern, great bit of kit. Ryobi has lots of interesting new lights about to be released, all work off of the One+ system and some are hybrid. I need decent cordless lights with good runtimes, sparks spend a lot of time either installing lighting or repairing lighting.

Want one so bad, but sadly have little use for it. Awesome punch at 6.1 joules!

Yeah, lots of people only use sds for all types of masonry, but sometimes it's just quicker to use the combi drill if it's already out of the box and in use, saves getting the big guns out. This percussion instrument is proving quite the multi-tasker!

Yeah, already looking for a suitable bit holder, I'm incredibly fussy with these as I won't use a bit holder unless it's very magnetic. I can't see the point in using non-magnetic holders as it becomes a two handed job to drive every screw. Any links to quality holders is welcome.

Only had a quick go in brick, quite impressive hammer action, but very loud!

Had a brief go, nice machine. However, it's way too lopsided with a large battery, so I've ordered a 2 Amp pack. I'm not used to stubby machines, this has trouble reaching inside recesses, but I'll get used to it/adapt to it. Very impressed by its different power settings, will be trying those out in more detail when I'm back at work (we're away for a few days).

That's makes sense, I'll run with that. Cheers.

What's the difference between hard and soft torque? (Off topic I know! Sorry.)

I'll have to buy some coach screws just to have a play with. And a large piece of timber!

My 887 arrived today! Sweet!

This was more fun than it should've been! These are 79mm in diameter, cut using a Starrett TCT hole-saw. Four holes in first gear, as recommended by Starrett, last hole in third gear just to see how the 996 would cope. In first gear the Dewalt probably didn't notice it was doing any work, in third..........pretty much the same. Unfortunately that was all the 4 by 2 I had, I'll grab a load of off-cuts and then do a side by side with the M28. That's all for now.

I'll be comparing it to my beloved M28 combi drill, I'm curious to see how close they are. The M28 has actually sprained my wrist in the past, it's an absolute animal, no kickback control on the big Milwaukee. (Note to self; use the bloody side-handle, it's there for a reason!) Thoughts will be forthcoming.