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Cordless Power Tool Battle Royal

Which brand(s) would you recommend?

  • Bosch

    Votes: 6 8.8%

  • Makita

    Votes: 15 22.1%

  • DEWALT

    Votes: 19 27.9%

  • Rigid

    Votes: 5 7.4%

  • Roybi

    Votes: 10 14.7%

  • Milwaukee

    Votes: 30 44.1%

  • Porter-Cable

    Votes: 3 4.4%
  • Total voters
    68
Couple of years ago I needed Dewalt batteries for my electric hoodie. Went to HD and it was cheaper to buy a drill which included two batteries and a charger than it was to buy just two batteries. I don't think I've ever used that drill since I already had another Dewalt which uses totally different batteries.

Btw heated hoodies are not all that great.
 
Ill never buy another cordless sawzal nore will i ever buy a cordless angle grinder. Probably never buy another cordless circular saw either. Just bought a corded dremel actually because i hate my cordless one so much.

Drills and impacts cordless, everything else corded.
 
JesasaurusRex said:
Ill never buy another cordless sawzal nore will i ever buy a cordless angle grinder. Probably never buy another cordless circular saw either. Just bought a corded dremel actually because i hate my cordless one so much.

Drills and impacts cordless, everything else corded.
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Word. The cordless DeWalt sawzall is good for very small things but when I gets serious, the corded Milwaukee comes out.
 
DTM74 said:
Word. The cordless DeWalt sawzall is good for very small things but when I gets serious, the corded Milwaukee comes out.
Click to expand...

There is only one Sawzall. It is a Milwaukee trademark. Everything else is just a reciprocating saw.

Skilsaw, Vise-Grip, Channel Lock, Cresent wrench, Unibit, are a handful of “Coke” names for tools.


:nerd
 
Sawzall, reciprocating saw, skilsaw, circular saw, vice grips, locking pliars, channel locks...channel locks , we know homie :twofinger
 
I can't say I've ever used a cordless sawzall

Sounds like it's for the better.
 
JesasaurusRex said:
Ill never buy another cordless sawzal nore will i ever buy a cordless angle grinder. Probably never buy another cordless circular saw either. Just bought a corded dremel actually because i hate my cordless one so much.

Drills and impacts cordless, everything else corded.
Click to expand...
Oh, now you are qualifying these opinions. I already have plug-in stuff, like a circular saw. And better yet, I have air-tools. I don't think a battery impact wrench is going to do well with serious torque values. Heck, I have had to use my air impact wrench because the plug-in impact wasn't strong enough to remove a bolt. And there is nothing like airing up the die grinder to do some port and polishing. What a great tool. RPM's are just amazing with air. :thumbup

I really like the convenience of the battery tools. I mostly have small home jobs, so I use them all the time. But they have limits, like as serious yard equipment.
Edit: P.S. I have 6 battery packs. You know, just incase. ;)
 
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You know, I still buy corded. I just don't seem to get enough grunt out of cordless.
 
I voted Ridgid. I have been using their tools for years and the lifetime service thing swayed me over the others. I haven't used it for the battery yet but I had an issue with my drill the other day so I took it in and they gave it the once over, fixed it and I picked it up no money changes hands. I do a lot of my own work at the house and have completely remodeled a house or two in my time and it has always been with Ridgid tools so I know they hold up over time and I do not baby them in the least.

Cordless Circular saws are okay but they do die and it is usually when you need them most so I keep both corded/cordless around.

Cordless Sawzall suck I stick with corded for these tools.

I did find out that when I upgraded my Ridgid set with a newer one a few years ago that the same batteries fit in my old tools so I now have two sets of tools.
 
My old Makita stuff gave up the ghost over 3 years ago and I started back up with Ryobi and found it to be outstanding quality despite some negative press. Not busting houses as a contractor these days but I do a good amount of woodworking and use my stuff daily without issues. And the 2 18v batteries (2AH and 4AH) are still going strong.

I use the same two batteries for all of the activities below and there is not a single day where I am not hammering on one or more of these guys.

Ryobi Arsenal and mini reviews
-----------------------------------
drill - Solid 2 speed and easy and reliable clutch and keyless
right angle drill/driver - rarely used but great for tight spots like installing speaker boxes
screw impact driver - new addition and what a game changer. Assembly time of my 3 stand up planter boxes was drastically reduced.
5" circular saw with Diablo ripping blade - I gave zero credit to this thing and considered it a joke. With the Diablo blade it cuts through plywood, MDF, and pressure treaded 2x10s like butter. Not to mention hella quiet.
bright light - came with kit and I use this all the time and never thought I would.
sawzall with Milwaukee "The Axe" blades - yeah Rob, we hear ya. But I'm just a NASCAR hillbilly that still calls 'em motors instead of engines" :p Didn't think I'd use this either but with this blade, great for trimming trees and powered through some big roots when laying down new patio.
dust buster type vac - Works great especially in garage for dryer lint traps :)
mini leaf blower - Epic little tool Ryobi just released. Many of the other mfg had them and this thing rocks for quickly blowing of smaller decks and patios.
6" random orbit sander - works excellent. Sure you are not going to sand all day on a single battery, but the 4AH gives you plenty of sanding to where your arm is tired and you don't mind taking a recharge break.
hedge trimmer - something I never thought I would own and certainly not a wimpy little electric thing. Holy shit was I wrong. This thing is a beast. They say cuts up to 3/4" branches and while I try not to push it quite that big... it will chop 'em. I have used this thing many times to render a massive bush/tree to a manageable shape and size as well as my big cherry tree. Does not miss a beat and ran for a long ass time on the small battery which was nice as it was lighter to hold over your head for long time.


Craftsman C3 line (not in list)
---------------------------------
18v drill driver - solid, smooth, great deal
1/2" drive impact driver - absolutely amazing tool. I bought this specificlly for the race track and changing tires. I am an old school die hard who hated plug in electric drivers. I have used everything air/nitrogen powered from my 400ft/lb Ingersoll-Rand impact to Brunhoetzl race drivers, to other modified impact drivers and felt like no way could battery operated hold a chance. Boy was I wrong. This little impact is lightweight, and I used all day taking wheels on/off 2 cars throughout the day and no problem whatsoever. would I use one in pit lane for a race stop, no way... but for wrenching around the pits, they rule.
 
I vote Milwaukee primarily as I live close to the factory and knowing several in Engineering etc., I get the stuff free.

The M18 fuel drill is ok. The LED that points to the work area is obscured as it points directly at the chuck. Dumb.
The chuck is crappy and out of the box the spindle bearings are loose and wobbly.

Owell, it and a few other tools were free.
 
For me, the most annoying thing of the earlier offerings from most companies was that every new tool seemed to use a specific battery each time.

Seeing a decent selection that all used the same battery and decent ergonomics, I decided to buy into the Milwaukee system awhile ago. I really appreciate the number of tools they've developed, while keeping with only two battery connector types. I have a couple of their ratchets and a 3/8"impact driver that's been used a ton as a mechanic, a jig saw that I've used for a couple projects, and an area light at the moment, and haven't been disappointed in any of them. I'll be buying their soldering iron, impacts, and their new chainsaw, soon. I'll also buy the 12V DC charger they have, so everything will just live in my camping-mobile.
 
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It's primarily for emergency trail clearing. I currently carry an axe, but have to admit that dealing with the random tree, at altitude, is not as entertaining as it used to be! Haha!

The various YouTube reviews have been pretty impressive. So far the only real complaint I've seen is over oiling the chain. It's designed with a pretty hefty 12ah high current battery pack in mind. But even the 9ah pack drives it properly.
 
Charles R said:
It's primarily for emergency trail clearing. I currently carry an axe, but have to admit that dealing with the random tree, at altitude, is not as entertaining as it used to be! Haha!

The various YouTube reviews have been pretty impressive. So far the only real complaint I've seen is over oiling the chain. It's designed with a pretty hefty 12ah high current battery pack in mind. But even the 9ah pack drives it properly.
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Well that might work. :dunno BUY a SPARE BATTERY, for timber's sake. Also buy a spare chain, and learn to sharpen the darn chains. Avoid oak and creosote railroad ties with that thing. Those are my best chainsaw advices. Oh, and don't cut your leg off. :ride
 
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