Triton TDC100 18-Volt Ni-Cad 1/2-Inch Cordless Plunge Drill/Driver Kit

List Price: $289.95

Features:

• Multi-function plunge base attachment for square, round and rectangular sections
• Hammer Function
• ½ Jacobs single sleeve keyless chuck with auto shaft lock
• LED worklight
• High intensity LED work light

Accessories:
Milescraft 1390 Drill90 Right Angle Drill Attachment	Irwin 3041006 Speedbor Max 6 Piece 1/2-Inch to 1-1/4-Inch Self Feeding Spade Bit Assortment	Stanley ST-02151 150 Piece Drill and Drive Bit Set in Plastic Case	Milescraft 1300 Orbiter 360 Degree Drill Attachment	Stanley ST-03146 Power Drive 53 Piece Screwdriving and Nutdriving Set with Plastic Case

Customer Reviews:

Considering the cost it is a poor quality product [Posted on 2005-06-19]
I was really excited to have a plunge drill. The concept sounded great. The tool store I shop told me it is made by a company from down under.

Upon purchase, I found out it is made is China. The drill is very heavy and when it comes to power it does not come close to other expensive drills. The first time I tried to use it I found the plunge locking clamp to be very stiff. So I used a pair of pliers to gently tighten it and it broke instantly. It seems to be made of pot metal. There is a lot of thin plastic on the body also. One of the batteries would not charge when I first brought it home. I left it alone and the next day it started charging on its own.

I would have expected more for the money. Great concept but poor manufacturing.

excellent concept with good results [Posted on 2006-01-21]
I bought this product to drill 3/4s" forstner bit holes in 3/4" MDF for dog holes to match my maple bench top holes for a protective top. The triton did an excellent job. Very beefy, nice hand grip feel and balance, chuck never slipped and is easy to lock bit in. It drilled perfect 90 degree holes and the carry box is well layed out. The light came in handy when drilling up from under the bench to put starter location holes in the mdf sheet. Mine had no problem whatsoever tightning the depth stop screw finger tight with no slip whatsoever. This is a well made product that is definitely worth the price with all the features and extra's that come with it.

Useful to hobbyist if careful [Posted on 2007-02-02]
In this price class, I have higher expectations. Swapping batteries requires that you unplug/replug the charger to start charging a new pack. The drill guide is plastic, and the depth clamp is Zamac or some cheap pot metal casting. Neither of these will stand up to heavy use. No contractor should buy this drill. For hobbyist use, it has its place, just don't overtighten the plastic and pot metal parts or otherwise abuse the unit.

All that said, on the positive it can be made to work quite accurately. I don't have room for a drill press. I have built an entire large suite of office furniture out of 3/4 cabinet plywood and knock-down hardware using this drill. Knock-down hardware requires a lot of precision drilling, both precisely placed and drilled to precise depth. I was able to accomplish it all with this drill, carefully used. A drill press is the right tool for that job, but no room, so this drill was an adequate substitute. If you need drill press precision in a portable drill, this tool can get you most of the way there.

So, in summary, at this price point I expect something more rugged. Something that will stand some abuse. A charger that "just works". Don't charge me Makita prices for low-end Craftsman functionality.

A solid cordless drill with exceptional design features [Posted on 2007-02-24]
This drill has a reassuring heft and delivers impressive power for a cordless. The second included battery adds significant value to the package and keeps you working while you re-charge. The TDC100 standard features stack up well among generally more expensive 18V competitors: there's an integrated bit tray; a well-designed wrist strap; a 1/2 inch solid metal chuck grips tightly and locks itself for easy bit changes; the clutch adjusts for applications from gentle driving to hi-torque drilling; metal gears in the two-speed box should promote durability; and there's a hammer setting.

Although the direction switch could be more positive (it is reluctant to stay in the locked off position) the overall price, performance and basic feature set make this a great drill for the price. And although the integrated LED work light is too easy to switch on by accident, it is a very useful touch for drilling in those awkward corners. But the unique plunge mechanism & depth stop make the TDC100 exceptional. It is a great feature in theory and very well implemented in practice. The depth stop screw is small but that keeps it out of the way and it clamps well with light to moderate finger tightness (it is not intended to be clamped down with pliers). The plunge mechanism is easily deployed and connects easily with a well thought out set of inserts to help centering and accurate drilling in a range of applications. For me it means I can save a few hundred on a drill press. For those who still need a press, the TCD100 is still a quicker option when absolute accuracy is not essential and will keep you drilling square in places where a press just won't go.
This is a great tool.

Good drill, awful batteries and charger [Posted on 2008-08-14]
Battery charging is a nuisance in that you must power down/power up the charger prior to recharging a battery. Since there's no power switch on the charger this can only be accomplished by unplugging waiting 10 seconds and replugging the charger. On top of this, the batteries give very short run time and a full charge barely lasts 2 days when left unused in the drill. The LED is easily turned on with the user being unaware and will run down the battery in a short time. Drill works great, batteries/charger do not.

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