OT - Cordless Power Tools

DoubleEgger

Eggdicted_Dawgfan said:

RRP said:

ColtsFan said:

I got tired of buying batteries or running out of battery. I am slowly replacing my battery tools with electric. I can easily whip around a 100' extension cord 

I hear you. BTW here is one of my prized possessions from when my late Father owned a blacksmith shop in IA. Back then it cost him an arm and leg. It's a 1/2" B & D drill which is now at least 75 years old. Yes, I rewired and polished it since I had to have the D handle repaired. It's one speed and the RPM is extremely slow, but the incredible torque makes it a beast! Once I loaned it to a neighbor to drill thru his poured concrete foundation and as I watched he did not have a firm enough grip on it when it must have hit a rebar sending the drill into a spin which honestly hurt my neighbor's arm badly when the cord twisted so tightly before he let loose of the trigger.

Ron that story had a much better ending than I thought it was going to. I witnessed a guy shatter his jaw doing the exact same thing. Those low rpm drills are no joke. Nice drill by the way.

Yeah. I was using a hole hawg laying on my back and it almost  spun me off of the top of an elevator cab and down the shaft. 

Eggdicted_Dawgfan

Touque is a mofo. Glad it ended with you on top. 

Markarm4119

Makita, Dewalt, Bosch, Milwaukee , Ridgid are all good, I would buy based on need, use, price. I have owned all along with Fein multimaster with great satisfaction.Some brands make better drills/drivers, some better saws,etc.

HeavyG

Kayak said:

I'm not sure how you're going to fit a drill and screw between 8" joists?

If you have a compressor though, you can pickup a cheap 'palm nailer' and drive joist hanger nails all day. It also sounds cool. 

They feel kinda neat also.

DMW

I might get banned for this...

DoubleEgger

DMW said:

I might get banned for this...

XXL owners get a "Get out of jail free" card 

nolaegghead

I've had most of the major brands.  The biggest technological advances in cordless tools have been lithium ion batteries and brushless motors. 

Lithium ion batteries have high power density, high current delivery and longevity.  Brushless motors are 30-40% more efficient than brushed motors so it's like having more voltage or a larger battery.  Plus, no brushes to wear out.

Most of the popular contractor brands are making cheap consumer versions.  You get what you pay for with them.  Porter Cable, Makita, Dewalt, Milwaukee, etc are making some crap.  They work fine but won't stand up to daily commercial use as well as the average cordless tool.

Some of the high end stuff - Fein and Festool come to mind, make some really high tech brushless stuff, but it's not worth the price if you're a homeowner, and it's not durable enough for drunk, semi-skilled contractors that abuse their tools.  It's not a good value.  I think Festool is worth it (in spades) for me for their corded tools, but you pay for it, and they're precision tools, not especially made for durability.

I've found the best quality/feature/value combination is Ridgid.  They have a lifetime battery warranty, and they're really well made and relatively cheap.  And have a good power/weight ratio.

I have at least 13 of their cordless tools 18+ volt range, and about 10 of their lithium ion batteries.  They put lights in everything and I've abused most of them beyond the limits of design with no problem. 

I build a lot of stuff and have been doing it since I was about 10 years old.  I've seen a lot of crap - especially avoid Ryobi, although I haven't used anything newer than 5 years old so maybe that's not totally fair.  Just about everything is made in China now, although that really doesn't mean anything insofar as quality goes.  The Chinese can match the quality of almost anything medium-tech made anywhere, although I've never seen them make anything that beats top-of-the-line German tools.

odie91

Ridgid owner here.  Bought into the lifetime warranty.  But just doesn't seem as smooth running as dewalts that I've borrowed.  My impact driver could barely get the oil filter off my car. (Toyota uses a reusable filter that's a pain)

camofreak

I have a Milwaukee set that I bought a couple of months ago. I have the 18V drill and impact driver. I have used them a few times. They seem like they are going to be winners. The drill has 500 in. lbs. of torque. That was the highest on the shelf in its size and price range. It is plenty strong. Home Depot had some good Father's Day sales. I don't know if they still have them.

Mickey

BulletGrillHouse said:

Got a set of milwaukee with me tundra purchase 5 years ago, still going strong and I have added a few more

In 46 years of selling Toyotas that was the best promotation I ever saw. Bet it makes it back in a year or two. 

fishlessman

RRP said:

ColtsFan said:

I got tired of buying batteries or running out of battery. I am slowly replacing my battery tools with electric. I can easily whip around a 100' extension cord 

I hear you. BTW here is one of my prized possessions from when my late Father owned a blacksmith shop in IA. Back then it cost him an arm and leg. It's a 1/2" B & D drill which is now at least 75 years old. Yes, I rewired and polished it since I had to have the D handle repaired. It's one speed and the RPM is extremely slow, but the incredible torque makes it a beast! Once I loaned it to a neighbor to drill thru his poured concrete foundation and as I watched he did not have a firm enough grip on it when it must have hit a rebar sending the drill into a spin which honestly hurt my neighbor's arm badly when the cord twisted so tightly before he let loose of the trigger.

we have some really big low speed, high torque drills for expanding boiler tubes. seen one slip out of a guys hand, handle went into his pocket, and completely tore his bib coveralls off before it stopped spinning another not so funny, big beard got caught and twisted tearing out part of his beard and the skin on his chin actually that was funny too

billt01

DoubleEgger

camofreak said:

I have a Milwaukee set that I bought a couple of months ago. I have the 18V drill and impact driver. I have used them a few times. They seem like they are going to be winners. The drill has 500 in. lbs. of torque. That was the highest on the shelf in its size and price range. It is plenty strong. Home Depot had some good Father's Day sales. I don't know if they still have them.

No good sales. Appliances seem to be the biggest thing on sale for the 4th. 

Bill_Swerski

everyone seems to be loyal to their brand.  I burned through a DeWalt and a Makita before stepping up to Milwaukee, and there's no turning back for me.  they've been phenomenal.  

DoubleEgger

Bill_Swerski said:

everyone seems to be loyal to their brand.  I burned through a DeWalt and a Makita before stepping up to Milwaukee, and there's no turning back for me.  they've been phenomenal.  

I used to be a construction manager. I've seen every tool crap out. 

scdaf

I have all the new Ridgid 18 volt tools and love them.  The real kicker, assuming you purchase at HD and register online, is the lifetime warranty on everything, INCLUDING BATTERIES!                                                                                                                                                                                               I am thinking this will be my last set of cordless tools. 

Fred19Flintstone

I feel like the proverbial red-headed stepchild.  I have the Craftsman 19.2 volt system.  I bought them 3 years ago because I was in need and Sears is just a mile away from me...at least for now.  I burned out the reciprocating saw last year cutting scrubby trees from the fence row.  Meh.

bgebrent

Fred19Flintstone said:

I feel like the proverbial red-headed stepchild.  I have the Craftsman 19.2 volt system.  I bought them 3 years ago because I was in need and Sears is just a mile away from me...at least for now.  I burned out the reciprocating saw last year cutting scrubby trees from the fence row.  Meh.

I thought you'd learned your lesson with saws Fred. 

Focker

Fred19Flintstone said:

I feel like the proverbial red-headed stepchild.  I have the Craftsman 19.2 volt system.  I bought them 3 years ago because I was in need and Sears is just a mile away from me...at least for now.  I burned out the reciprocating saw last year cutting scrubby trees from the fence row.  Meh.

I had a 19.2 drill, 75th Anniversary edition.  Great drill, served me 10+ years.  Had a level on the end that was handy.  Got pissed one hot summer day trying to mount a flower box, and chucked it across the yard, breaking it.  Stupid Tax Day for sure.  Kept the bag for a good gun range bag.

SaintJohnsEgger

Legume said:

I've got a bunch of ryobi 18v with small and large lion batteries.  Never had a problem with any of it, but I don't beat on it as heavily as some of you do. 

Had a Ryobi drill that the batteries (18v) had died on from several years of the heat in my garage. Just wouldn't charge.

Boutgh a new Ryobi 18v edger/string trimmer and a new drill/impact driver over memorial weekend. The new batteries fit my older drill and hedge trimmer. I am not a real heavy user but the batteries fit any 18v Ryobi ever made. As long as you stay at the same voltage the newer batteries will always fit. 

Fred19Flintstone

bgebrent said:

Fred19Flintstone said:

I feel like the proverbial red-headed stepchild.  I have the Craftsman 19.2 volt system.  I bought them 3 years ago because I was in need and Sears is just a mile away from me...at least for now.  I burned out the reciprocating saw last year cutting scrubby trees from the fence row.  Meh.

I thought you'd learned your lesson with saws Fred. 

Wilma says the scar gave me a "butt chin".  At least one of my chins, that is.

blasting

DoubleEgger said:

I used to be a construction manager.

In that case you already know that harbor freight makes the best tools around.

YukonRon

Festool. The best. Cost vs quality is worth it.
I have used their tools in our lab and on work sights. Unbelievable quality compared to the Asian made craft tools.
First time I used their light cordless drill, it was a beast, compared to the Dewalt I had at the time. Everything I have used of theirs has been a "wow" type moment for me.
Well built and ergonomically correct for any job.

Lit

@DoubleEgger dewalt is the special buy at homedepot today might be able to save some money. http://www.homedepot.com/SpecialBuy/SpecialBuyOfTheDay 

bearsgonefishin

Markarm4119 said:

Makita, Dewalt, Bosch, Milwaukee , Ridgid are all good, I would buy based on need, use, price. I have owned all along with Fein multimaster with great satisfaction.Some brands make better drills/drivers, some better saws,etc.

Agree with this statement. hard to beat dewalt for impacts/hammer drills. worth it to get brushless. i think bosh and miluwakee make the best circular/reciprocating saws. if you are geting a reciprocating saw make i would purchase one with the option for different blade positions. alot of times the bundles dont have this model just FYI.

Dewalt also has a cordless min shop vac that works extremely well to clean out the egg....