Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt NiMH 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit
Originally posted this review in January 2005; updated in February 2011. I own two of these drills, with a total of four 3.5 amp hour NiMH batteries.
Power. The Panasonic's 390 inch pounds is sufficient for most drilling and driving applications. However, putting things in perspective, my DeWalt DW235G 1/2" Heavy Duty 7.8 Amp corded drill has much more torque; so don't buy a cordless drill thinking you will have the "most powerful" tool.
Chuck. Terrific one-handed keyless chuck will tightly hold any bit, from tiny 1/16 inch round bits to 1/2 inch bits. Very quick to change out bits, even with one hand. My Panasonic chuck wobbles a tad and sometimes the shaft turns 1/2 revolution or so when trying to tighten the chuck, before it locks in place. (One Panasonic reviewer said "It is difficult to center small bits in the chuck"; probably a result of the chuck being open too far -- simply close-up the chuck more before inserting the bit.) Terrific electric brake. Release the trigger and the chuck stops instantly.
Weight. I can use it all day without arm fatigue. Heavier drills can be uncomfortable to use overhead for any length of time, and I'm 6/4 260 lbs.
Size. Relatively small for a powerful drill - e.g., it's shorter and 1/3 lighter than my Milwaukee V28 hammer drill/driver. Consequently, the Panasonic can be used in tight spots where larger drills won't even fit.
Run-time. Excellent run time due to the excellent NiMH batteries and their high amp-hour rating. When not in use it maintains a charge longer than any NiCad tool. On big jobs, keep the spare Panasonic battery in the charger so it will be ready when needed. On a construction job when the Panasonic is used frequently, a battery discharges about once a day. On rare days, I change out batteries twice. The battery does not get hot sitting in the charger for hours (or even days).
Battery life. Batteries began to noticeably deteriorate after 5 years of serious use. At the 6 year mark, my two drills are still usable, but run-rime is ½ of what it was, drill speed is reduced, power is diminished, and the charge only lasts a week. At this rate of decline, by 6.5 years, the NiMH batteries will be completely dead. By comparison, the NiCAD batteries on my [previous] Porter/Cable, Delta, and Bosch cordless drills were totally dead within 3 years.
Clutch. Offers a wide range of choices, from a few pounds of torque for small screws, to drilling a large hole. The "lock" position bypasses the clutch to provide maximum torque. It's pretty easy to snap a screw and/or Phillips bit by over-torquing.
Charge time. About 30-40 minutes. However, this isn't important if the spare battery is kept fully charged, because run time is far longer than charge time.
Ergonomics. Fits my [large] hand well, has no sharp spots, nothing pinches my fingers and the grip is comfortable. The reverse switch is perfectly logical.
Speed control. Excellent, going smoothly from a dead stop to full speed. Release the trigger and it stops instantly.
Gearbox. No problems with either of my Panasonic drills, so the gears must be steel. (One reviewer said the motor was turning but not the chuck; my guess is he had the speed selector set between high and low.) Steel gears are important to me ever since my Porter Cable 14.4 v drill stripped its nylon gears after two years.
Noise. The Panasonic whines a little, as though its gears are really tight. So what; it is not annoying.
Auxiliary handle. The Panasonic does not come with such a handle, probably because it is not sufficiently powerful to need one. E.g., the Milwaukee V28 hammer/drill is much more powerful (it's also huge and more costly), has a side handle that's useful when working with large bits that can bind and stop instantly. I.e., that handle could save your wrist from a nasty sprain if the drill continued turning before you could release the trigger.
Ruggedness. Drills have been dropped onto the floor a couple of times from about 5', with no obvious effect.
Tool case. Case is molded plastic, has metal latches, and fits the tool just fine.
Reliability. Couldn't be better. I've used my two Panasonic drills on a 2-year total home renovation, finishing a basement, and countless other construction projects, without a problem of any kind.
Summary:
An outstanding tool with terrific batteries. Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt 3.3Ah NiMH 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit
Shear power. At 390in./lbs. of torque I have been having trouble trying not to shear the heads off of galvanized screws (pre-drilled w/countersink). I've tried both speeds, and all of the clutch settings. This has forced me to drive screws 7/8 of the way home and finish off the deal by hand. I just finished using this Panasonic to drill 3/4" x 2 3/8" deep holes into a hardwood workbench for bench dogs. The Panasonic maintains constant speed under strain, and while getting hot, it did not overheat. The only reason I would need to stop was to let the fostner bit cool down.The 3.5 amp NiMH batteries are A+++++. The kit comes with two, so you always have one in the ready. One charge lasts a full day under heavy use. The drill is well balanced and has good ergonomics. The electronic brake stops on a dime. This can't be good for the brushes, but no problems so far. I like the weight of this drill, it is substantial but not too heavy. The best feature of all - SMALL DRILL BITS WILL NOT SPIN IN THE CHUCK. WOWI will probably dedicate the 15.6 volt to drilling and buy the Panasonic 12 volt cordless for driving screws. The 15.6 easily overpowers cheaply made screws. Highly recommended!! - Panasonic - Power Tools - Drill - Cordless'
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