Cordless Tools Recommendations?

[OilPatch197]

The cordless tools I still use are mostly drills. But my batteries are all NiCd. Is lifetime of lithiums any longer?

Ridgid 18V are my workhorse drills. DeWalt & Ryobi NiCd batteries didn't last, so I gave up on those brands. My Craftsman drill has just 1 battery left. Ridgid & DeWalt circular saws are both too weak & just eat batteries.

Aren't batteries always the limiting factor, not the tool? When batteries no longer charge, a tool is worthless. $80 for 1 new battery is expensive. Funny how buying just 2 batteries can exceed the cost of a brand new tool that comes with a set of batteries & charger. So the tool is free, but you gotta buy a big stack of our special shape batteries. Sigh. Too bad there's no standard battery shape. What a waste. I wish we could buy standard little replacement 1.5V battery cells (like AA or whatever) to fix them, once they'll no longer charge. I'd like to fix all these Ridgid battery packs.

I think the problem is the LACK OF A STANDARD when it comes to power tools! Everyone has their own proprietary connector. There is no "18v" outlet standard, and there certainly should be, just like household electrical outlets must meet a standard.

...and YES I got a bunch of USELESS cordless drills, the batteries are shot, and no longer available(or really pricey)

The biggest cordless benefit for me was the clutch, It's invaluable for the type of work I do. My newest member, is a Ryobi corded drill. I bought it b/c it was the only one I could find with a clutch. Seems like since just about every cordless drill has a clutch it wouldn't be a big deal to put them on the corded drills. But I just don't see too many.

 

[Shran]

I have a 12V Porter Cable, maybe 12 years old, I use for driving screws. The Porter Cable has excellent control though not a ton of power. I drive a lot of weak marine-grade screws--silicone-bronze and 316 stainless. You want absolute control and this Porter Cable 12V gives you that. You might drive 100 screws in for one panel that has glue curing on and you can't afford to snap a head. I want control and finesse, not brute power from a driver. When a single screw might cost a dollar, I'm not interested in power. My 12V Porter Cable has great control and the clutch on it is very precise. It's an older model, but I have to assume it's newer siblings are similar.

Just thought I'd offer some further input - I was given a 12v Porter Cable drill recently that supposedly had dead batteries, which ended up working fine, long story short. I really like it. I used it a lot on a project that involved putting handles and hinges on cabinets and it was great. Excellent battery life and it's really light and well balanced.

I am probably not keeping it, but it definitely won my approval.