craftsman nextec s08447 Review

The Craftsman Nextec Model #11812 is everything I expected it to be.  At 12 volts It is a small, light, powerful cordless drill.  It came with two lithium-ion  batteries which is an added bonus.  This is a very well thought out tool that even includes a light that comes on when you depress the trigger so you can actually see what your drilling into.  Smart!  When I went to look for a new drill for my frame shop I knew that I wanted a Craftsman because I feel it's the most trusted tool company there is.  I own a corded drill that belonged to my grandfather that must be at least 25 years old.  Guess what?  It still works great and has come in handy more times than I can count.  So when I was on-line researching drills I came across the Craftsman Nextec.  It looked different than all the other drills.  For one thing it didn't have the big bulky, heavy battery  I was accustomed to. On this model the lithium-ion battery, when attached, just looks like part of the drill!  I couldn't wait to go to the local Sears store to check it out in person.  And I have to say that I wasn't disappointed.  It was light and ergonomically comfortable to hold.  Sold!  Now I was all set to buy it on the spot except for one problem - not in stock at this store.  Well, I needed a drill that day as my old Ryobis' battery  couldn't hold its' charge any longer.  This is where a terrific Sears employee came to the rescue.  She knew I was set on this drill and proceeded to not only personally go into the stockroom and make sure the computer was right - which it was - but, contacted other local Sears stores and found one that did have it in stock.  They held it for me and when I arrived it was waiting for me at the pickup department.  Excellent customer service! 

After I got back to my shop and actually used the Nextec for the first time I was really impressed.  Its' ease of use is great. Light and powerful.  It has two speeds with a switch on the top of the drill that slides from high to low. Just make sure you don't inadverdantly bump it to the middle or it will grind.  Once I realized  this it really was a very minor problem. Its' pros definitely outweigh its' cons.  Its' compactness makes it fit very easily in tight spaces, it has plenty of power and torque and has a real drill chuck. The batteries last forever too.  It even comes with a soft-sided carry case that both batteres, the charger and drill fit into.  Great overall product at a great price!