Erbauer Drills any good

[Dustydazzler]

If you had to pay the new price for the Erbauer .... This would be the better buy for not a lot more

DeWalt DCF787D2T-SFGB 18V 2.0Ah Li-Ion XR Brushless Cordless Impact Driver - https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcf787d2t-sfgb-18v-2-0ah-li-ion-xr-brushless-cordless-impact-driver/489hp I have it with same batteries and some much larger ones. Even with the Kit batteries , it sure can sink screws..... Now here is a very over looked issue .I know people that are tool tarts . But skimp on using quality screws and the RIGHT types ! This make a HUGE difference . A cheap screw is not worth it in the end !!

I paid him £60 for the Erbauer and it came with 2 x 4Ah batteries ( Screwfix only seems to come with 1 battery )

As yo say for full retail price of you might as well buy dewalt or makita

Yes I agree the correct bits and decent screws are as important as what is smashing them in, the amount of lads I see on site driving in screws with the wrong bit is frustrating , especially when they mangle the heads and the next bloke would have zero chance getting the screw out

 

[Dustydazzler]

Just gonna throw in a shout for Hikoki.....had reason to "invest" in several of the multivolt versions,and what a piece of kit

The 1/2" impact wrench is awesome...will quite easily strip M22 ....and the best way i can describe the impact gun,is it feels like a child's toy with a nuclear reactor fitted

Got a pal who lives for Festool and Milwaukee,who was staggered with the little yoke.....after trying to find something it would fail on. Only thing he whined about was the larger battery,but he can keep his 60 quid a month gym fees,and i'll buy 3/4 of another battery to love

I have a feeling Hikoki is Hitachi re-branded and now on steroids

 

[LukeD]

I have a feeling Hikoki is Hitachi re-branded and now on steroids

Hitachi was rebranded years ago...

 

[Dustydazzler]

Hitachi was rebranded years ago...

Must have been as my old Hitachi impact was their first ever model and I reckon I have had it 15+ years now

 

[nicebutdim]

The big issue with tool manufacturers is the range of available tools. This wasn't an issue with corded tools, but who wants to maintain several different battery platforms? Hikoki and Festool gear is very well made, although expensive, but both manufacturers offer a limited range.

Being able to slap the same batteries in any tool is very convenient, right down to cutting the lawn or giving the floor a quick vacuum. One charger in the tool box and another in the house.

In an ideal world I'd have tools from multiple manufacturers, taking the best from each range, but I'd quickly grow tired of having a load of different batteries. Some tools eating the things, while others can go for a week or more on one charge.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Used my new impact to put up the last section of fencing in my back garden, new 8 foot rails and new edge boards all screwed in place with ease. The 4ah batteries make it quite heavy but you can't argue with its power.
Next up to try it on a couple consumer units

 

[GBDamo]

Is Erbauer any good

A mate has offered me his near new Erbauer 18v impact for cheap

never used Erbauer , would they compare to say bosch or makita ?

I've been avidly following a set of Erbauer tools bought by a colleague.

Initial impressions were they were clunky and a little wanting in trigger control but otherwise solid and capable.

I would recommend them as a starter kit but there is a danger you become platform stranded.

Perfect for DIY but if you're a pro then you need at least one of the big five.

Bosh, DeWalt, Hikoki, Makita, Milwaukee.

I'm not convinced any of these are stand out, across-the-board, better. They're all much of a muchness with maybe one brand having an outstanding drill and another an outstanding multitool etc...Even then its not easy to compare apples with apples as Makita, for example, have about 400 combi drills in their range, I can only assume the others are similar.

For specialised workhorse jobs, a step up to Hilti may be warranted for speed and longevity of the tool.

I have an Einhell mitre saw and table saw for hobby stuff and DIY in the garage and for the price they're remarkably good, but, I've also used the Makita stuff the chippies on site have and it's on another level.

You do get what you pay for.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I've been avidly following a set of Erbauer tools bought by a colleague.

Initial impressions were they were clunky and a little wanting in trigger control but otherwise solid and capable.

I would recommend them as a starter kit but there is a danger you become platform stranded.

Perfect for DIY but if you're a pro then you need at least one of the big five.

Bosh, DeWalt, Hikoki, Makita, Milwaukee.

This is possibly my only initial gripe with the Erbauer impac is the trigger feels a bit 'all of nothing' which is fine when you are smashing in 2 inch wood screws , but it lacks the trigger control of my old Hitachi which was very sensitive.
As I mentioned before , I could comfortably do up board screws with my Hitachi , but the Erbauer I feel would simply mangle the screws

 

[Pegasus]

I can be a tool snob....But I am not a Brand Junkie .Not one brand makes a good range .Festool can be amazing . Dewalt I think has really upped their game .Makita has not really marketed themselves well. Ryobi are worth a look at . Milwaukee are really doing well .Hikoki (Hitachi ) amazing etc etc . I have a friend who has a very senior position with a UK brand and he has a good selection of Brands .He LOVES ERBAUER . as for the money they are hard to beat . With the rules changing soon. It will be battery only stuff and no one wants trillions of batteries and chargers . So slowly people will stick to buying "naked tools" to work with their batteries and chargers . Ive used a cordless grinder by Erbauer and with a good disc it was fine..... Ok, not as quiet/smooth as something costing 2-3 times more .But it was FINE ! If the impact comes with battery /charger .Then its a good starting point maybe to add in a few cheap tools that do not have to be top end stuff .

I had an Erbauer 18V for many years and it worked fine. The problem was when I lost the charger, and Screwfix had changed the battery design (changed supplier I assume) so that the new chargers didn't work

Now have Millwauke stuff, but at the right price I'd have no problem with another Erbauer as a drill, except for the hassle with another battery/charger. As others have said, Screwfix are good at replacing stuff there and then if it's their own brands..

I am still in the process of buying tools and currently contemplating which brand to give my £ to. Both of you mentioned Milwaukee and it is gaining lots of popularlity so I am curious why you went for Milwaukee? Is there battery interchagable between their range of tools? Isn't Milwaukee also made in China? but I presume most tools are these days.

 

[LukeD]

Milwaukee have amazing batteries and a great price point . The trouble is most of us have established tool collections and reluctant to start all over again as the cost can be high. If I was younger and needed lots of stuff .I also would look at Milwaukee

 

[Timbo]

Milwaukee have two main systems, 12v and 18v. There is also still 28v stuff around, although this has been superseded by the 18v all round. I still have some 28v gear. I am still using my original 12v batteries from 2004, although I did wear the drill out after 12 years.

 

[nicebutdim]

Used my new impact to put up the last section of fencing in my back garden, new 8 foot rails and new edge boards all screwed in place with ease. The 4ah batteries make it quite heavy but you can't argue with its power.
Next up to try it on a couple consumer units

Maybe a Erbauer circular saw next, to run along the top of that fence

 

[nicebutdim]

Just spotted this deal on Hikoki Brushless drill & impact, with 3x 5Ah batteries for £230.

Bit pricier than Erbauer, but excellent value all the same.

 

[mainline]

It is this one...

Erbauer 18V 1 x 4.0Ah Li-Ion EXT Brushless Cordless Impact Driver - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. High torque impact driver with brushless motor and LED light for work in poorly lit areas. Protective metal gearbox housing for durability. Advanced brushless motor technology for more power and higher torque. Keep Cool battery technology actively manages...

www.screwfix.com

My only issue with it , is seems all or nothing ( although it claims variable speed ) when you pull the trigger. Its a bit of a beast.

My old hitachi had a better degree of variable control and I knew how much welly to give it.

I would happily use my old drill on a consumer unit ( I woudn't ) but I would feel confident to get the correct tightness

The Erbauer I wouldn't go anywhere near a terminal screw with it

I've had erbauer stuff for years and still have the older sets with different style batteries.

I took the newer combi drill/impact back after 18 months because of breaking the drill gearbox, Totally my fault jamming it between joists, and they gave me a complete new combi set new batteries the lot.

Cant beat them for the price, imo.

 

[PEG]

As an addition to the Hikoki fleet....my 1st class sons,got me the Multivolt 115mm grinder,for father's day

Just as impressive,as the other kit...auto feature looked a gimmic,but proved a useful function during an afternoon of testing.

Recip saw,next... starting to look like an obsession...