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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
Yeah, that's why i like the Milwaukee system. My ratchets, jig saw, and a flashlight all use the same battery, so i have four or five of those at any given moment. My area light already uses the same battery as the chainsaw, which will also be the same battery the bigger impact gun will use. So my S.O.P. is to always have batteries in all tools, and one in the charger.
 
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After three decades of cordless "systems" I have come to learn that simply tolerating a cord attached to my power tool would have saved me thousands of dollars.
 
fraz said:
Craftsman C3 line (not in list)
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Not on the list because the C3 system is deader than dead. You'll be able to get batteries for them for some time, but replacement parts are damn near impossible - for example blades for the planer I mentioned in an earlier post. I have a box of them that are going on Ebay soon.

Coincidentally, it looks like Stanley Black & Decker, who now own Craftsman power tools, has just announced a new 20V line: https://toolguyd.com/craftsman-20v-cordless-power-tools-brushless-made-in-usa/
 
Blankpage said:
Hilti or go home
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That’s up ther with Festool and the return on investment is just not there for 99% of buyers especially in cordless drills.

Now the festool domino, damn I lust for one of those.

I’m used my dads old 14v Dewalt set; circular saw, drill, impact driver, flashlight and sawsall. He switched to makita years back. I haven’t needed anything bigger than 14v for around the house, diy, woodworking.

Actually looking for a 12v drill to use when putting in small head screws.
 
I love my Ryobi set. I bought one of those 6-piece kits for some sale and it's great. The batteries charge fast and last long and strong.

There's a ton of stuff that uses the 18+ battery system. I want the garage door motor, that thing is cool. My only gripe is the light that came in my set is bullshit. It uses a dim as hell 1970s style incandescent flashlight bulb. If you're looking at a kit and the light isn't an LED worklight, just know that you're buying a piece of garbage with your set. The rest of the tools are the shit. Bought a weed whacker that uses the same batteries. It's great.

I think Ryobi is a good answer for anyone starting a thread like this, because if you needed "the best" you'd already know what to get
 
Dewalt 20v 5 tool set is on sale for 299 right now.
 
I’m a ryobi light home user. Hard to argue with the wide variety of tools hey make. My 18v lithium will power my little leaf blower and a shop vac making it cordless. Really enjoy all the creative tools the system has. Like the pool speaker and light too. Plus that cool neon color reminds me of Rossi. :shrug



If I was a professional I’d be doing dewalt or Milwaukee. Maybe rigid based on the fact that someone suggested it’s rebranded Milwaukee with better availability.
 
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I've been told that tools from major manufacturers that are sold to Home Depot, etc. are of lesser quality that what you can find at retailer like Jackson's Hardware in San Rafael. The reason is that the manufactures specifically make a lesser product for the big box stores so that they can sell the tools cheaper than elsewhere. Anyone have any first hand info about this?
 
BURNROPE said:
I've been told that tools from major manufacturers that are sold to Home Depot, etc. are of lesser quality that what you can find at retailer like Jackson's Hardware in San Rafael. The reason is that the manufactures specifically make a lesser product for the big box stores so that they can sell the tools cheaper than elsewhere. Anyone have any first hand info about this?
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Home Depot might be a bad example of that, as they are both construction and tool specific. But i wouldnt doubt that Kmart or Target gets lower grade tools with brand names on them.

Companies like Black and Decker and Porter Cable, and more recently Craftsman, tend to lend their name to things they shouldnt. Craftsman has been sold i think, as Sears goes belly up. I will go elsewhere for a while.
 
In general I’ve found Milwaukee to be superior in the 18v power tool category.

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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I’ll never use corded even if it’s a huge project, high capacity batteries and extra batteries keep things going.

I’m amazed at the life of the angle grinder and sawzall with just a 4/5 amp hour battery (Milwaukee).
 
thehandyman said:
I don't think the batteries from the brand with dewalt or bosch tools are more expensive as it's big names!! They have great material with sufficient life of the batteries in power tools!! I have tried many time but this time dewalt is the great option as My Affiliate Link Spam Site would recommend you should try as Diy!!
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Fixed. Go away.
 
Also, you have to order batteries online. They’re about twice as expensive at Home Depot. The power tools are a fair deal at HD/Lowe’s, not batteries.
 
I've owned so many battery tools, starting when they came out forty plus years ago. As mentioned, if you have a shop, a corded drill will be a great option. I have two that are 40 years old and still great. During that time I have gone through probably ten battery powered drills.

When I was still working full time, it was always Milwaukee or Makita, now I own Ryobi and a few Milwaukee.
 
East Bay Mike said:
In general I’ve found Milwaukee to be superior in the 18v power tool category.



I’ll never use corded even if it’s a huge project, high capacity batteries and extra batteries keep things going.

I’m amazed at the life of the angle grinder and sawzall with just a 4/5 amp hour battery (Milwaukee).
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I'm in love with Milwaukee's m12 line
 
I guess since the spammer resurrected this thread, I suppose I’ll add that I’ve since gotten rid of my Milwaukee cordless (at the shop). I transitioned my impact guns to the Ingersoll-Rand brushless 20v. Shadowless work lights and I do believe the most torque out of any gun around. The 1/2” one has max working torque of 1000 ft lbs. The rest of my guys have either Milwaukee (including my old one) or Snap-On, and when all those can’t turn it, they come get my I-R. It’s really as strong as the strongest air powered 1/2” gun any of us has.

Milwaukee is still totally fine even for professional use. After visiting their booth at SEMA last year, it’s hard to not just recommend them for everyone. It was an absolute plethora of different tools they have that use the M18 and M12 batteries.
 
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