Ambulances Look Out!
Written: Oct 17 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Solid construction with great ease of use
Cons: Case could have better design
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| bdolcourt's Full Review: Ryobi Hp1201k 12v Center Handle Cordless Drill/Dri... |
Last December, I was working for an ambulance company. Every year, they have huge blow out for the employees (it is cheaper than giving raises). Since my girlfriend, now fiancée, was out of town and I didn’t feel like showing up alone, I decided to work on the truck that night. I picked up a little overtime and I further endeared myself to management (yeah, right).
I was quite surprised when I came to work the next day. Everyone kept saying, “Hey, I think you won a trip last night!” The company does give away 1, 3, and 5 thousand-dollar trips to its employees. Needless to say I was psyched. After we headed out for the day, I was called into the main office to speak to the CEO. Since I hadn’t done anything wrong, I figured, “He’s gonna give me my trip!” I rushed up the stairs, worked my way past his secretary, into his office. After identifying myself, he looked at his list and said, “Congratulations, you won a cordless drill.”
“Thanks!” I said, “I going to Las Vegas in a few weeks and boy will this help out...wait, you said a drill.”
That is how I acquired the Ryobi HP1201K. So, now I was back on the road, a bit unhappy, and with a brand new drill. Since it was slow day, my partner and I sat in parking lot so that we could cover our area. I broke out the drill. First thing I noticed is that it is not too heavy. It has a 12 volt battery, which mushrooms out to form the base of the grip. The grip and the battery appear to put the center of gravity right in the center of your hand. I have a large hand and it is not cramped at all by the battery. It is fairly comfortable to hold, although the molded middle finger may be uncomfortable for those with small hands.
Taking things apart
The forward/reverse switch is right above the trigger switch and can be operated easily and comfortable with the index finger or thumb (depending on the side). It also comes with two charged batteries...which created somewhat of a problem at the time. I was still a little unhappy at having received a drill instead of the expected trip.
The drill comes with two screw bits: 2 Philip’s and 2 flat head. They are conveniently latched into the top of the drill by a molded bracket. I popped out the #1 Philip’s head and screwed it into the 3/8” keyless chuck. Nice tight fit. I tightened it more using the drill’s motor and set to work. Within 5 short minutes, the front panel, which houses the switches for the lights and sirens, was off. 2 minutes later, the siren box was loose. Next came the door molding and part of the seatbelt. This was fun. It was quick and easy. The variable speed motor reacted linearly to the pull of the trigger and was quite responsive. There was no hand or wrist fatigue and I was getting to stick it to the company. Philip’s and flat-head screws alike succumbed to the drill. When I needed to change bit heads, it was not problem. Either flip the bit over or snap the other bit out of the bracket and lock it in. Fast and easy.
Suddenly, it dawned on my partner and me: I HAD JUST TAKEN THE AMBULANCE APART.
Putting things together!
Panic set in. I had to get this thing together before something happened! I started with the front panel. I striped the screw hole. That lead me to the torque adjustment. It has 23 levels of torque. If the screw stops turning, the limiter only allows a certain amount of force to be applied before the drive shaft clutch releases. The limiter can be turned off if you really want to maximize torque. The limiter easily adjusts with a twist. After that, it was smooth sailing. The screws went in just as easily as they came out. With the torque adjustment, they all were driven in tightly without risk of stripping the hole or the screw-head. At one point, I had a hard time getting the molding to snap back into place. I flipped the drill over and used it like a hammer. Problem solved. The 2 screw bits snapped back into the drill when I was done and none were the wiser (except my partner who found this all most amusing).
Other things
It comes with two batteries, a case, and a charger. It takes about three hours to charge a fully discharged battery. The battery discharges in about 2 hours of normal use. I haven’t really tried putting it through the paces, so hard, heavy use will probably shorten that time. It appears to have enough power for tough jobs. I was able to drill a ¾ inch hole with out any difficulty. Of note, on top of the drill there is a level. The bubble is very visible, but I don’t have steady enough hands to really use it while drilling a hole. When I’m finished, everything slips into the fitted plastic case (the case has a decent handle, BTW) and snaps closed. The snaps are plastic, but they seem to do a pretty good job. The drill is constructed of durable plastic, that while I have babied, will probably last through some abuse.
I’m going to break one of my own rules and say that there really aren’t many notable negatives. More battery life would be nice, since you really need three to use the thing constantly. It also has a hard time fitting into cramped spaces, so it certainly can’t totally replace a screwdriver. It would also be nice if there were a little more room in the case for drill bits (there is a small one, but those would be small bits).
Overall, this is a pretty good drill. It probably would stand up to the riggers of home construction and would be a nice choice for the home handyman. It is comfortable and quite easy to use. It packs away nicely and the screw bit holders on the drill are a nice touch. One more thing, the batteries hold a charge really well. Even if I haven’t used the thing in a month, the batteries are still fresh and ready to use when called upon. This has to be my favorite part...I know that the drill is always ready. I highly recommend getting one, just don’t leave it in an ambulance.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
bdolcourt
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Member: Bram Dolcourt
Location: Valhalla, NY
Reviews written: 33
Trusted by: 35 members
About Me:
After graduating in Chemistry from Brandeis and a short EMS career, I'm a Medical Student.
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