Do you use a Firestorm?

[Dullblade]

I was wondering if anyone uses the Black and Decker Firestorm drills or other tools. I have a Porter Cable drill 18Volt and I have a Firestorm 12 volt. The firestorm no longer works due to water damage. I loaned it and it was dropped in a fountain. It worked a while then quit. I have taken it apart but no fix.

My question is this... Are they worth buying as a second drill? How many of you use them. Should I spend big bucks and get another porter cable? I was using the Portercable for most projects but when I gad to drill and then install screws repeatably I set them both up, one with drill bit and one with phillips bit. Whats your take on this? Thanks

[DaveO]

I use a 9.6v Firestorm drill. It was my first cordless. I have since upgraded to a more powerful drill, because it was lacking in power. But I still use the 9.6v for quick things around the house when I need a lighter drill. But it's biggest use is with a 1/16" bit for drilling pilot holes for small hardware. My bigger drill won't chuck that small of a bit.
Dave

[Canuck]

I have not personally used the Firestorm drill. I have a Dewalt 9V and 14.4V as well as a Skill hammerdrill (corded) and the small Dewalt (corded). I find that with the cordless drills each having two batteries, I keep one on charge at all times.

If I am drilling a lot of pilot holes etc., I will chuck up the necessary bits in the corded Dewalt and use one of the cordless drills for driving screws. The Skill hammerdrill is great for drilling concrete and driving deck screws.

I never did spring for an 18V like Dave, but the 14 volt has been fine for the projects that I have worked on. (The 18V Combo kits can be pretty enticing! )

Wayne

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Well, I have a bit of a prejudice (possibly unwarrented) against firestorm tools. I owned one of their routers, before I really understood what a router was. It did a fine job for what I asked of it, which was virtually nothing. When I started increasing those demands, however, It immediately buckled under the pressure. It was advertised as something like a 1 3/4 hp router, but I have since used even 1 hp routers that cut more smoothly and easily, with the same bits. I think their HP rating is fudged bigtime. It was a decent tool as far as fit and finish, but lots of things didn't hold up on it like the dust extraction port broke off due to fatigue and the bracket that held the depth scale did the same thing. A drill may be fine to buy, especially if it's light duty, but IMHO it would be worthwhile to save your money and buy something that you know won't fail you. my $.02

[Travis Porter]

No firestorm for me. My second drill is a Delta that the LOML got me for Christmas a year or so ago. I believe it is 18V and it came with 2 batteries from Costco for $80. It looks almost exactly like my 19.2V Porter Cable, but I am sure the gears and other parts are made substantially cheaper.

[Ryan]

I have the old style 14.4v Firestorm that looks like the Dewalts (and was made somewhat like the Dewalts). I've had it maybe 4 years, and it served me well until the batteries died about a year ago. IMHO the new ones aren't worth what you have to pay for them, especially the ones with the removeable chuck, because they've had problems with those. From what I've seen the Ryobi tools are a better quality product than the Black and Deckers, for the most part.

[clowman]

I had a firestorm sander years ago. It fell apart in my hands. Literally. That was the last one of those with the name firestorm I was willing to get. Which was a blessing, I got so frustrated I went out and got myself a Porter Cable Random Orbit sander. And said.. there... I bet this sucker won't fall apart.

[NCPete]

sorta related:

BatteryRebuilders.com

(something useful I found at Woodnet.)

[DaveO]

That is very interesting, I am amazed that such a relatively disposible item like re-chargeable batteries can be rebuilt. Thanks for the link.

Dave

[NCPete]

I recall from the Woodnet thread that these rebuilts are highly regarded, too. One thread that didn't disintegrate into name-calling, at least not before I left it....

[Splinter]

My son has a Firestorm portable drill that he really likes. I think it is a 18v. I have used it on ocassion when I help him on a project. It seems to have a lot of power/torque.