Cordless Power Tools- What do you like?

[hubs97xj]

Looking to replace my well-used cordless drills, and I'm eying the newer Lithium-Ion whatever battery style. I'm looking for a drill, impact driver, two batts, charger, case/bag. Don't need much in the way of accessories, although lines/brands that let you use additional tools with the same batts could be handy.

Like to hear some feedback from real people. My BIL uses a beefier LI Milwaukee kit (28V, I think) at work (plumbing/HVAC outfit) that he speaks highly of, but I don't know anyone else personally who uses anything but Craftsman, DeWalt, or B&D, with the older Ni-Cad batteries. Any thoughts on cordless tools? What's been horrible, what's been great, how's battery life, etc?

Thanks for your input.

[8Mud]

I think Skill and Dewalt are both engineered by Bosch now. Don't really know about the newer stuff much, but had a Skill NiCad that refused to die for decades. Outlasted everything else two to one, probably just an accidentally good batch or something.
I generally stick with Bosch now, mid range with as few electronics (bells and whistles) as possible. Though a good torque adjustment is really handy.
Matulka is what most of the professionals are using around here.

[ladywolf]

My dad loves his 18v Dewalt stuff. I have an 18v Craftsman that i love. To each his own i spose.

[igotanxj]

My makita has never failed me, it has a LOT of power for a little 9.6v too.

[blue95xj]

Makita, Millwaukee, DeWalt, and Snap-on are all very very acceptable. I prefer Snap-on just because I work (well got laid off from) a dealership and the Snap-on guy would warranty just about anything for us. He even warrantied a few batteries for one guy!

[5-90]

My Makita 14.4V (Ni-MH, I think - I know it's not NiCd) is finally having trouble holding charges in battery packs - after Gawd knows how many cycles! I've long since quit counting, but I'm sure it's well past spec life for the things.

Now it's a question of, "Do I get new packs, or do I replace the thing outright?" I keep wanting to look at the 18V DeWalt kits...

If I felt like they could hold up to the sort of use I'd put them to, the Ryobi One+ series at Home Depot looks nice - but I've not had good luck with Ryobi. I did get a Ryobi cordless for my wife (she doesn't push tools as hard as I do) and it's lasting her fairly well, but she doesn't drill holes through 6x6 for any reason, and never drills metal. I've had to punch holes through 3/4" thick plate a couple of times, and I want to make sure the thing will hold up...

[ehall]

Personally I'd like at the heaviest tools you think you'll use, then buy the other tools to fit the power pack. Something like a cordless impact, then buy the other tools to match

[hubs97xj]

While I like DeWalt tools in general, I'm not a huge fan of their drills- I've used several 18V (are they also NiMH? I think the XRPs might be), and they had some quirks with the gear selectors, and were heavy working on a ladder or on my back. I used a 3/8" corded briefly, but it self destructed running a spade bit through 2x4s.

I've got some Ryobi corded tools as well which I am pleased with (miter saw and 4.5" grinder), but not used any of their cordless tools. Their drill/driver combo comes with the smaller LI batteries, while I would prefer the fullsize batts- an additional $200. Durability is questionable, depending on who you ask.

The Milwaukee seems to be a good unit, and gets good reviews (the BIL said his set is great, except for the sawzall, which he said was worthless for cutting black iron pipe, lacking guts), and we abused their Holehawg drills and worm-drive saws horribly when I worked for a tile and terrazzo firm (converting worm-drive saws for wet stone-cutting, mixing mortar and terrazzo with the drills). It's one of the more expensive pairings, but I was impressed by the abuse their other tools withstood.

I've read that the current Craftsman line are Ryobis (haven't confirmed, but wouldn't be surprised), and I've got a 14.4V drill that has flaky batteries. One of the more affordable units, but slightly higher voltage (19.2, IIRC). Same ability to use a variety of tools as the Ryobis, although I don't know if Ryobi tools can use Craftsman batts and vice versa. Not terribly impressed with my buddy's drill, which is newer, and apparently different than my Craftsman drill. My Hitachi (which belches smoke, and is about 6 yrs old now) still beats on it.

I don't have easy access to the Snap On guy anymore, and have zero experience with anything but their hand tools. I've used Makita corded tools, but not cordless. I've not heard any complaints regarding their tools, and liked what I've used. They've dropped the price on their pairing to around $200, IIRC, although there are no additional tools available that I've seen. Not a deal breaker, but something to consider.

One thing that bothers me is the lack of specs offered for most tools. I care greatly about runtime, inch lbs, and charge times, and not much at all about ad copy. With my current drills, I can drain a battery faster than I can charge one- on the days I've really used them, I wind up standing around waiting- not good at all.

Ridgid also has some tools, but I noticed my Ridgid vac is identical to a Craftsman vac- I suppose power tools are like most things- dozens of brands from only a few manufacturers. Best rating on the impact driver (~130 ft/lbs, I believe), but if it's really just a rebadged [insert brand], I don't see a point in paying a premium.

Yeah, I really geek out on things like this, but I've never regretted researching a purchase, while I've paid for impulse buys by buying the same things again. Looking for some feedback from other users, and it seemed logical to ask around here, seeing as this is a pretty hands-on bunch. Thanks, and keep it coming.

[hubs97xj]

<hic> double post

[hot_rod_hooligans]

When I was working construction I had the chance to use both the DeWalt XRP stuff and the LI Milwaukee 28V stuff, both worked really well, but the Milwaukee was awesome, plenty of torque, and the cordless drill would run all day long. Even the Saws-all would last quite a wile, we could get a good 10 min continuos use out of it, didn't get to try any of the other 28V stuff, but I'm a believer.

[seanR]

Dewalt 18V hands down!
I beat the piss out of them and they keep going.

[alex22]

I've used the Milwaukee 18V Lithium powered drill and its the best one i've used so far. The only down side is its weight, compared to the 18V makitas, hiltis and the dewalt its damn heavy, but its tough and can survive a lot of abuse.
If you want lightweight then I would go with the Hilti, the Makita is about the same weight but we broke two of them in one year. they wouldn't stay in gear any more and one of them was stuck in low gear permanently.

I use one of these for my small household projects or wroking on the jeep.
Milwaukee 12V subcompact drill (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00989638000P?vName=Tools&cName=PortablePowerTools&sName=Power%20Screwdrivers%20&%20Screwguns&psid=FROOGLE01&sid=IDx20070921x00003a)

[seanR]

The only thing about Milwaukee, is you are paying for the red paint.
Back in the day, Milwaukee was the only player on the block for commercial / industrial use, any more, a Bosch or Dewalt will hold up just as well fo a fraction of the price.

[Tenny]

Dad just got a Bosch 18v Litheon yesterday... Was pretty XXXXing impressive, esp compared to his older ones.

[beakie]

I think it was Consumer Reports or something like that who did a rating on them.
Makita turned out #1 for the test.
I have always liked my Makita tools, always ran, took a beating and still kept going. One battery pack has a cracked case but still works aswell as the others after 5 years now I think.

Not sure if you have them in the US, but Rigid tools seem to work rather well too. Not to mention they come with Lifetime Guarantee on all parts, including the battery.
Dewalt from what I remember is a Black and Decker brand, and over the years have gone down hill in quality. Milwuakee I find is hit n miss, we had kits overseas for each section. The batteries were garbage lasting maybe a few minutes in some cases, at best an hour of casual drill use. But that could be a bad batch (of 18 or so batteries that is)

I would like to give Bosch a bit more time on the market before I buy any of their cordless tools, but if they are anything like their corded, they will be top notch.

When it comes to brute force and dependability Makita takes the cake, but with a lifetime guarantee its hard to skip the Rigids.

[ehall]

When I worked construction 15 years ago, the professionals were all using Makita tools. Nowadays they are sold at Home Depot and I'm not sure I would trust those to be the same quality.

My advice is still to go find the heaviest tools you will ever use and buy the junior tools that use the same packs.

[law.74]

Its been a few years but a manufacturing plant I was a maint. mech. at used dewalts in 18v. We periodically tried other brands, but stuck with dewalt. This was mostly due to the broadest (at the time) available tools using the same battery pack. Great torque, speed, longevity and durability.

I do remember bosch battery packs being fragile in comparison to the dewalts. We were hard on things.

[RescueXJ]

I worked in a fabrication/ repair shop for a year. We used Craftsman. We had like 20 batteries and a charging station set up (10 chargers nailed to a shelf). I guess we never bought the other brands because there was nothing ever wrong with the Craftsman. I've dropped the drill and impact drll off an 8ft step ladder and they both survived.

I was impressed with those, and the price was right so I bought them for my garage. I might spring for a DeWalt cordless impact in a few weeks though.

[Mark WNC]

Makita all the way.

If you are a serious tool guy stay away from the white Makita tools
they are cheaper quality. Go with the Makita green litho ion because they have a
battery tender built into the charger so you can plug them up and forget about
them if you want but i personally wouldn't recommend it. Just charge it and put it up the next day if you have to.
NiMH batteries have a charge cycle life.They only have so many charges and then they
start getting weak so if you have these run them as long as they will go before charging.

NiCad batteries will form a memory so you need to charge these in an erattic cycle,
for example, run it down half way then charge but next time run it all the way dead,
then next time run it a quarter or three quarters the way down.

But with all batteries its best to keep them fully charged if possible while being stored.

Thats What I 've learned about rechargable battery tech over the last 20 years.

[hubs97xj]

Went with this pairing-

http://www.makita.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/ToolDetails.aspx?Name=LXT211

I couldn't find another drill I liked with an impact driver, and full size batteries. Hammer/drill/driver, 1/2" chuck, good specs (450 in/lbs for the drill, 1330 for the driver), LEDs and metal belt hooks on the tools, decent hardcase (I have very limited room, both in the garage and the Jeep- stackable cases are very handy). 22 tools available that use the same battery, from fluourescent lights to metal-cutting bandsaws. Hope it's a good set.

[beakie]

Went with this pairing-

http://www.makita.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/ToolDetails.aspx?Name=LXT211

reading that site I really like that the charger has a built in cooling fan. I have noticed a few times with new Lith/Ion batteries that they will not re-charge when warm, or if they were used to the point the tool shut down. A few times I have had to let them cool off, or give some down time, then use them in the tool again to flash the battery into allowing a charge.

Not sure how many other names are using the cooling fan, but my Rigid pack isn't.

Another check mark for Makita.

[Cox89XJ]

I'm on my 3rd set of batteries for my 14.4 volt Dewalt drill. Purchased it in the mid 90's. It has served we well and it's still going.

[XJEEPER]

Rigid Lifetime Battery Guarantee????

I'd like to hear more about this.....I own a Rigid 14.4 Cordless drill, which I really like, but the batteries are starting to loose their standby charge. I could see this if it were a daily use tool, but I only use it every couple of weeks.....and I have to charge them before I use them.

Nice drill though.

[kevin s]

I have the Craftsman 19.2v C3 series. I started with a drill and Fluorescent light, and have added a flashlight and radio. The original ni-cad batteries lasted 2-3 years, then started to wear out. I recently got a lith-ion battery and charger and like it a lot better than the ni-cads. I liked mine enough to get my kid a complete $300 set that had a half dozen tools + 3 batteries (ni-cads) for a wedding present (his wife got a comparable gift, LOL). I think Craftsman is plenty good for the weekend warrior type mechanic. I use my stuff all the time and it has never let me down.

I will also add that I see A LOT of Dewalt on construction sites. I think they like the boombox charger a little too much.

[Nuke Proof]

I've had Craftsman, Dewalt, Makita and Milwaukee. The Milwaukee 28v lithion is what I have now and I love them, so much in fact I bought the 18v impact annd several others.

28v drill turns a 2.5 spade bit through treated lumber (read railroad ties and so on) without slowing down. The impact driver breaks bits all the time...it will drive an 8" 1/2 lag with no pilot like it is a sheet rock screw. I won't go into the saws performances.

Check this out http://www.toolup.com/milwaukee/0920-24.html, I know you only wanted a drill and a driver, but the saw is pretty handy.

[Jeepm@n]

Makita ,the Milwaukee 28volt li-ion, and my old reliable Dewalt 18 volt XRP are all good. Although I've smoked the transmission once on the Dewalt drive 150 3/8x6" lags putting up x-ray's all day. I usually use the Milwaukee just due to the weight. Light enough to carry all day. Nice choice with the Makita. I love the impact driver they have.

[alex22]

It took a couple of not too smart high school kids and one contractor about a year to break two of those makita drills. I help the contractor out on weekends at his house and those drills sure were nice while they lasted, the two LED's are real nice to have and they were they were light. no, i'm not one of the kids that worked for him building decks during the week, I didn't abuse the tools.

As with everything else, if you take care of them, they will last a long time.

[GoSlowGetStuck]

I was shopping around for some cordless tools a few months back, I didn't want to spend too much so I went with the Ryobi. Overall I'm fairly impressed, I got the 5-piece kit for $200 or so, of which I really only use the flash light and drill. The sawzall has come in handy a few times. I did spend an extra $60 on an impact gun, it's not very strong (200 or 300 in-lbs I think) but I use it all the time on my XJ. Only very rarely do I break out my Goodyear 24V impact.

I did like that Ryobi's new Li-ion batteries are backwards compatible. My kit has the old batteries, but if I wanted to buy the Li-ions, they would/should work with all of the tools I already have.

They are definitely on the cheaper side of things, so if you want something to last for many years, they might not be the best...

[Jeepm@n]

I was shopping around for some cordless tools a few months back, I didn't want to spend too much so I went with the Ryobi. Overall I'm fairly impressed, I got the 5-piece kit for $200 or so, of which I really only use the flash light and drill. The sawzall has come in handy a few times. I did spend an extra $60 on an impact gun, it's not very strong (200 or 300 in-lbs I think) but I use it all the time on my XJ. Only very rarely do I break out my Goodyear 24V impact.

I did like that Ryobi's new Li-ion batteries are backwards compatible. My kit has the old batteries, but if I wanted to buy the Li-ions, they would/should work with all of the tools I already have.

They are definitely on the cheaper side of things, so if you want something to last for many years, they might not be the best...


One of my co-workers had the Ryobi stuff. They were pretty good about the warranty, but you may want to look into getting a trigger switch for the tool you use the most in the kit. They will eventually smoke.

[SteveT]

I just got these (http://www.rockwelltools.com/RK1814K2.htm) on Friday, so no long term results. Rockwell had been a great name in tools, years back (a division of Delta, I think). I don't know if the name is just a marketing tool, but time will tell.

I'd used a Dewalt 14.4 drill/circ saw for over twelve years, and the tools are still fine, it's just that I'm down to one battery, out of four. The final two batts, I had rebuilt, and in the circ saw, they would literally smoke under hard use.

For $215, I thought I'd give these a shot. I still like Dewalt, but even with new batts, I'd still be at 14.4v, and I still wanted a recip saw, also. So, for the cost of a recip, plus two batts, I've upgraded to new tools, 18v, and I get free batteries for life.

The carry bag is heavy duty, and well made. It's just big enough to hold all the tools and charger, so no/little room for extras (other than bits and blades).

So far, I'm real happy.

Steve

[wolfpackjeeper]

I like my Ryobi stuff. Holds up great. So far we built a house using 2 ryobi drills, and I use all of in a pretty unforgiving manner.

The last time I used dads drill it was under the jeep, and I was using a floor jack to press it against the framerail to drill that.

[ZacSquatch]

Makita Lithiums or Hitachi....

Fawk the yellow brand

[TheAlmightySam]

Have lots of Makita goodies, and they've never let me down. My little 9.6V has lasted for years under horrid abuse. My 18V is a monster.

[Jeepm@n]

Looking forward to use my Dewalt 24volt for drilling me some ice fishing holes. Did a stupid 2 years ago with what I call the widow maker. Did not wear my cleats and was carrying my earth and ice auger. Slipped and fell directly on the auger bit. Chipped my rib and missed my spine by less then an inch. Thank the good Lord I did not break my back. The hand auger adapter I have for my drill makes that rig only weigh 16 lbs. Better then 42lbs of my widow maker.
:woohoo::woohoo:

[GRIMUS99XJ]

years ago when I was in construction all I ever used was rigid and never had any issues with them as far as cordless power tools went, I may be wrong now but at the time they were an exclusive brand to home depot. The only other brand I ever used was Hilti and I had all there digital tools, tape measure level and so on. I remember my rigid battery charging station had a set of dual cooling fans for cooling while charging

[KentuckyXJ]

dont mean to bring this back up from the dead....but i work on power tools for a living...

dewalt is the way to go to me, i replace so many milwaukee switches and thier battery's are complete junk

buy dewalt and dont over heat them and youll be happy

[JNickel101]

My dad loves his 18v Dewalt stuff. I have an 18v Craftsman that i love. To each his own i spose.

x2, I love my 18v Craftsman...

EDIT: Holy crap, didn't even see that this was a slightly expired thread....

[kujito]

EDIT: Holy crap, didn't even see that this was a slightly expired thread....
meh, minor details

I bought a set of Ryobis a while back as a quick, cheap way to get back to work after my DW set got stolen while I was crawling around in an attic. 3 1/2 years later I've still got 'em. I had to replace the drill, but that was my own fault. It got dropped onto the sidewalk from about 25 feet up. For the money, best tool purchase ever! I always kept up right along side guys with stuff that cost twice as much.

[Carol.92124]

I work at a contractor's supply, and have used many cordless tools over the years. My favorite for balance used to be Panasonic, but they're not a major player anymore. Makita, Bosch, and Hitachi all tend to make durable & well-balanced tools with a good weight/power ratio. Bosch has a darn good warranty on most of it's newer Litheon stuff, and guaranteed fast repair turnaround (Rapid Repair dealers); can't remember about the others. Bosch now owns Skil, Dremel, RotoZip, and CST/Berger. DeWalt owns Porter Cable, Black & Decker, and Delta. Ryobi makes decent disposable tools--don't bother trying to get it fixed (you can't), just toss it out & buy another. Ridgid is also very difficult to find a repair shop for if you end up with "non-warranty" issues.

My advice... go to a tool store, look at Bosch, Makita, Hitachi, and DeWalt. Figure out which brands have the tools you need (look in catalogs or online--few stores stock all the tool options! Feel the balance with the battery attached, see if the drill will stand up by itself or nosedive, etc. Buy the one that feels best. Enjoy. And yes, you get more power & repeated recharges with the newer Lithium Ion batteries, followed by Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), followed by Nickel Cadmium (NiCad). Smart chargers with cool-down cycles and so forth are also a good thing to help extend battery life.

[KentuckyXJ]

dewalt or bust...never buy a hitachi, ive been in them and you wont like what you see

[kujito]

don't bother trying to get it fixed (you can't), just toss it out & buy another. Ridgid is also very difficult to find a repair shop for if you end up with "non-warranty" issues.
Not true, mostly. It depends where you are. There is a Ridgid/Ryobi warranty/repair place here in Denver. Same place for both brands and Bosch I think. I suppose that they could do repair work, but everybody I know of who's been there just ended up walking out with a new tool. Zero hassles.

[outlander]

I'm on the market for a new drill and have it narrowed down to the craftsman 19.2v or the ryobi 18v
Someone sway me either way.....the ryobi is $30 more but comes with a sawzall,light,two batts and circular saw.