Cheap cordless drills are one of the most popular tools for gifts. Just about everyone who lives in an apartment, condo, or house can use one for hanging pictures, drapes, assembling furniture or home improvement. You want a no-frills drill that can get the job done, but you don’t want to pay a lot for it. But the problem when you buy a cheap cordless drill for less than $50 they only last about 2 years. These cheap drills are heavy and nicad batteries that come with them never stay charged.
Over the last two years lithium-ion battery powered drill/drivers have become very affordable. Yes, they cost about $20 more than that cheap drill you bought two years ago but they have advantages you can’t get with your old drill. These new batteries will hold a charge for over a year so you will always have a drill ready to use. The Craftsman NEXTEC cordless drill is the most affordable and best value of all these drills.
The great thing about a Craftsman NEXTEC is you can buy an affordable drill and the battery and charger will work on a good selection of other cordless tools…tools that will make your home owner tasks much easier. You can buy a drill for a present this year and then have plenty of ideas for additional gifts for other occasions. The NEXTEC line uses a 12 volt lithium-ion battery.
Craftsman has expanded the NEXTEC 12 volt cordless tools considerably in the last few months. They have also updated many of the tools to include a battery monitor and add convenience factors like tool-less blade changes on the Multi-tool. The original tools have all proven to be very good, but if you want all the latest features buy the G2 NEXTEC tools. It is time to review everything that is in the line.
New Craftsman NEXTEC Tools!
Craftsman Nextec G2 12V Drill/Driver
Craftsman Nextec G2 12V Drill/Driver This is the new drill. It is an upgrade from the 17586 and now has 260 in lbs. of torque! This is plenty to perform most drilling and driving tasks around the home. Couple this drill with an impact driver and you can tackle just about any task that needs a hole drilled or a fastener installed or removed. This kit includes the drill/driver, battery, Quick-Boost charger and carrying case.
Craftsman 17586 NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver
Craftsman 17586 NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver This is the lithium drill that is becoming the most popular home-owner/hobby drill on the market. It is 195 in lbs strong, lightweight, and full featured. It come with the a battery and standard lithium charger. (charges in 30 minutes) This 3/8 drill and the G2 have 2 speeds, clutch, reverse and built-in light. I own this drill myself and it is the one I always pick up first. (I own and or test about 20 different drills a year)
Free NEXTEC Drill With RAID There is a great promotion going on right now. Purchase the NEXTEC right angle impact driver with battery and charger and Sears will give you a drill. The drill is the same as the one above but comes without a battery or charger.
Craftsman Nextec Model 01430 Cordless Drill/Driver
Craftsman Nextec Model 01430 Cordless Drill/Driver If you have plenty of batteries and chargers (you really only need two batteries and one charger) here is the bare tool of the drill I own.
Spare NEXTEC Battery
Spare NEXTEC Battery One of the best features of the NEXTEC line is the battery, This lithium battery only cost $25 retail and will drive hundreds of screws per charge. It charges to 25% capacity with the quick-boost charger or fully in 30 minutes. It holds a charge for over a year so it is always ready doesn’t self-discharge or develop a memory like the battery in your old drill.
Craftsman Nextec Rotary Tool
Craftsman Nextec Rotary Tool I just wrote a review of this new tool. Finally, A great cordless rotary tool! If you have a “Dremel” on your Christmas list seriously look at this new tool. I had a chance to demo one and it is the on the top of my Christmas list.
Craftsman NEXTEC R.A.I.D.
Craftsman NEXTEC Right Angle Impact Driver You need a drill/driver and you don’t know it yet, but you also need an impact driver. This NEXTEC R.A.I.D. looks weird and looks different than the other impact drivers out there, but has become my favorite. It actually has more driving power than all the large 18 and 20 volt drill/drivers on the market. You can buy bits for all the different screws, bolts and fasteners you will find around your home and garage) If you do woodworking, home repairs and small engine repairs buy one…you’ll be glad you did!
Craftsman NEXTEC Impact Driver
Craftsman NEXTEC Impact Driver The “regular” version. Most of the impact drivers on the market look like this one. Small, powerful and once you use it.. .indispensable.
Craftsman Nextec Impact Driver Model 61189 Tool Only
Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Hammerhead
Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Hammerhead How do you make the wildly popular cordless electric hammer better? Make the head so it angles! If you use nails or just the upper half of a hammer handle :) this is the tool for you.
Craftsman NEXTEC Auto Hammer
New Lower Price! Craftsman NEXTEC 12-volt Hammerhead Auto Hammer Original Auto-Hammer. Still a winner and even better at $79!
Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Multi-Purpose Work Light
Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Multi-Purpose Work Light This light is bright! You can hang it a dozen different ways and if that’s not enough it has a built-in magnet.
NEXTEC LED Worklight
Craftsman NEXTEC LED Worklight My wife saw this when I got one in a kit last year and the next thing I knew it was on her bedstand. This little palm-sized light is bright, stands by itself, runs for about 8 hours on a battery charge and the battery will hold a charge, ready to go for over a year.
Craftsman NEXTEC True Finish Sander
Craftsman NEXTEC True Finish Sander This is a “Mouse” style sander that is cordless and has a built-in counter balancer that makes it a breeze to use. No more numb hands. I have one of these and it is the FIRST sander I pick up when I am woodworking.
Craftsman NEXTEC G2 VOLT Vacuum
Craftsman NEXTEC G2 VOLT Vacuum ”Dust Busters” are so 80′s This powerful little vac comes with attachments so you can pick up litter on the floor, clean the crumbs off the couch and dust the blinds and furnace ducts. It comes with a hose so it will get where no other household hand vac can go.
Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Cordless Inflator
Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Cordless Inflator Blow up balls, balloons, bicycle tires, lawn tractor tires, and basketballs. It’s cordless so you don’t have to be within 6 feet of your car lighter! It has a neat preset feature. Set the pressure you want and it automatically shuts off when it gets there.
Craftsman Nextec G2 Multi-Tool
Craftsman Nextec G2 Multi-Tool By now you know if you need one of these or not. The G2 now features tool-less blade changing and variable speed. It does the work of over $500 worth of tools … jamb saw, grout removal tool, rasp, detail sander, paint scraper, keyhole saw and flush-cut saw. This new tool comes with a battery, case and Quick-Boost Charger.
Craftsman 17438 Nextec Cordless Multi-Tool
Craftsman 17438 Nextec 12-volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Multi-Tool ENERGY STAR Still a good tool. At $79 a great value. I just used mine this morning to clean the underside of my mower deck, sand between rungs on an antique chair and scrape excess dried glue off cutting boards I am making for Christmas presents.
Craftsman Nextec Multi-Saw Model 14299 - Tool Only
Craftsman Nextec Cordless Multi-Saw Model 14299 – Tool Only This is a cordless sabre saw. It works great for cutting drywall etc, but lacks a blower to keep the cut line clean. I use it, but not very often. If I was a hobbyist I would use it more.
Craftsman NEXTEC Circular Saw - Tool Only
Craftsman NEXTEC Circular Saw – Tool Only This saw cuts 3/4 inch deep. It cuts slowly and will use up a battery in about 8 feet. I have about 20 other hand and powered saws so I don’t have much use for this. If I just did small woodworking hobbies or if I needed a saw to cut modern trim ……… On second thought, don’t buy this. Every tool line has a dud and this is the NEXTEC DUD! If you want a small saw I suggest buying a corded one. The new Dremel SM20-02 120V Saw-Max Tool Kit
Combo Kits:
Here are some NEXTEC combo kits: These can be great deals if you want multiple tools.
Craftsman NEXTEC Drill and LED Light Combo Kit
Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0 Volt Drill and Impact Combo Kit
Craftsman 17588 4-pc. Nextec 12-volt Cordless Combo
Craftsman Nextec 6-tool Combo Kit with Storage Tool Box
I made a few videos using NEXTEC Tools over the last year. Here is one showing a few of these tools and I go into the NEXTEC Right Angle Impact Drive in Detail
Yard Tools:
Last, but not least. Craftsman also make a line of cordless yard tools that fit the NEXTEC battery. I like each one of them for small yards and gardens. But, these items are out of stock right now and won’t be back until spring.
Nextec 3-In-1 Garden Tool
Nextec Grass Trimmer and Edger
Nextec Grass Trimmer and Edger
NEXTEC Replacement Flail Pack
Craftsman NEXTEC 2-in-1 Pole Pruner
Craftsman NEXTEC 2-in-1 Pole Pruner
Nextec Hedge Trimmer
This grass trimmer is a piece of crap. Sears doesn’t even sell it any more, the flails break if you breathe on them and you can’t buy them anywhere. Wasted my money on one, used it a few times and Sears won’t provide any compensation toward a different trimmer.
@Melody, Do you still have the receipt or instruction manual. Most of the Craftsman L&G electric power tools has a 2 year warranty. They only carried it one year (last year) so it should still be under warranty. If they can’t replace it, they should give you something else.
I really like the 19.2 string trimmer.
Armed with that knowledge, if you still can’t get anywhere with your local Sears go to mysears.com and log into the discussion boards. Find the L&G board and tell them you story there. I’ll bet you get this resolved within a few days.