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What Brand(s) cordless power tools do you go with?


Eddo Rogue

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Unlike cars, cordless power tool technology has really come a long way and in the right direction.

I started with a makita impact screwgun my old man left me when he passed, back when that was about all they offered as cordless. still works like a champ! Since then I have just about every battery powered blue doodad, including a radio, leaf blower, and tire inflator.

I also have a few Milwaukee items that were just gifts or come ups.

I have noticed Dewalt has come a long way, and evey Ryobi is not so bad these days....

It seems each brand rotates who is the first to offer something, and the rest soon follow. I think Milwaukee was the first, and Makita was the last to offer a tire inflator.
 


Dirtman

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I like dewalt for one reason, they have kept the batteries the same for decades or at least offer adapters to use new batteries in older tools. Alot of cordless tool companies change battery designs every few years and then stop selling the older ones so even if your drill is perfectly fine, you can no longer buy batteries for it and have to replace it.

The milwaukee fuel tools are awesome though, but who knows how long they will maintain that line. My dewalt drill and circular saw are almost 20 years old and still going strong and I can still buy batteries for them. Dunno if you'll be able to do that in 20 years with a milwaukee.
 

Grumpaw

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Kobalt from Lowes. Worked there in hardware/tools for 5 years part time. First and most important, they will honor the warranty without question, including batteries. Even if out of warranty for a bit, they may still do you right.
Milwaukee would have been my first choice, but their stuff is really expensive, and for a simple DIY'er like me, Kobalt.
I do have a 12 year old set of Porter Cable thats still going good, but when batteries go I won't re;p[lace cause new batteries are more expensive than new tools with new batteries. :sad:
Almost everything, including DeWalt, is made overseas. Only a few high end items are made in USA or Canada.
Crapsman, ugh, I mean Craftsman is garbage. Wouldn't buy there stuff on a bet. 25-30 years ago, yeah. Now, nope.
 

RonD

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My older Dewalts seem to last

The batteries, of course, do wear out, but there is a Battery Shop here that rebuilds pretty much any rechargeable battery pack, and with the latest rechargeable that works with the charger, so they last even longer than original
Price is about the same as new one if they still made them, lol
 

snoranger

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I had started buying Dewalt, but had issues with the 2 battery packs I owned. They were both less than a year old.... one wouldn’t last 5 minutes on a full charge, the other would get hot as you used it. Like hot enough to deform the case hot. Maybe it was just bad luck, but that put me off of Dewalt.

I have Milwaukee M18 and M12 stuff now...

47749
 

ericbphoto

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Milwaukee and Bosch
 

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Ryobi. Because at the time they were the only brand that sold tools separate from the charger. They are good enough...some really good like the 1/4" impact driver and some crap. A really wide range of tools. The 1.5A/hr batteries are garbage. The 4.0A/hr batteries are great.
 

sgtsandman

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I've been buying DeWalt as things break. I don't have much non-DeWalt brand stuff anymore. I think the rotary tool (I kill them including Dremels), a Black & Decker jig saw, a Harbor Freight Brand grinder, and a reciprocating saw of a decent brand thank I can't think of at the moment. Even the battery powered tools have held up decently for once.
 

lvwill

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Personally I am strictly makita.
In all the years I've been in the construction industry most dependable cordless tools made.
 

scotts90ranger

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I have an assortment but mostly two brands now...

I have some 12 and 18V DeWalt stuff, we have great luck with them at work, at work they switched to the 20V stuff because that's what's available. My DeWalt stuff hasn't been used in a while since I've for the most part moved on, but will spread things out again once I get the shop built...

I have some Milwaukee stuff, got gifted a M18 Fuel 1/2" drill from the boss after it stopped working when it went for a swim, turns out just one of the batteries died... then I found some clearance tools at a local farm store and ended up with some 1/4" hex impacts, another drill and a reciprocating saw... only the original drill is the Fuel/Brushless but at the price they were I haven't regretted it. I added some 4Ah batteries from Amazon, these have been GREAT for the shop build, there's a LOT of screws to put in the siding and roof...

I've also gone to the Bauer 20V stuff from Harbor Freight since the 3/8" impact is affordable, that was the first, then I got an angle drill, inflator, workshop blower, 1/2" impact, radio, random orbit sander, 4.5" grinder and weedeater (for the wife, she likes it...) as well as I think 4 of the 3Ah batteries, one of the 1.5Ah batteries and one of the new 5Ah batteries. They're not Milwaukee quality but not bad for the price. Several of those tools were found in the open box section for under half price otherwise I wouldn't have so many :)
 

88xltranger

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Really depends on the situation. Overall: Snap-on and milwaukee. Dewalt can be pretty good too. Every brand has good and bad ones.
 

Roert42

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When I was in school, I bought a drill driver set from porter cable. Works great no problems.

after that, everything has been Milwaukee for cordless. They seen to have the biggest selection of different tools. I’ve got a 1/2” driver, and 3/8” ratchet, and radio. Expensive though. never have to turn on an air compressor unless I’m filling tires now.

for corded tools, I just run whatever, portercable, skill, ryobi, craftsmen, rigid. Whatever seems to suite my needs at the time of purchase.
 

snoranger

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When I was in school, I bought a drill driver set from porter cable. Works great no problems.

after that, everything has been Milwaukee for cordless. They seen to have the biggest selection of different tools. I’ve got a 1/2” driver, and 3/8” ratchet, and radio. Expensive though. never have to turn on an air compressor unless I’m filling tires now.

for corded tools, I just run whatever, portercable, skill, ryobi, craftsmen, rigid. Whatever seems to suite my needs at the time of purchase.
I have a Porter-Cable corded belt sander... That’s a really nice piece of equipment.
 

Ramcharger90

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I have a bunch of Ryobi tools including an impact it has done great for years. The only one that burns out was the drill so I bought a Milwaukee. But the snapon tools are awesome.
 

Ranger850

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I go with DeWalt for the same reason as Dirtman and sgtsandman. I have a Rigid corded saw that sucks. I hope to replace it next. I like the bigger batteries with the life indicators. They seem to last longer than the skinny ones.
 

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