Cordless Powertools - Which Brands Do You Like

[Mossyoakglock]

I am trying to get a new cordless powertool combo out of the wife for Christmas and I am trying to decide what brand I want.

 

I have always heard good things about DeWalt but have also heard that Rigid and Milwaukee make good ones as well. I'm leaning more towards to the DeWalt but wanted some other opinions. I want to get at least 18V but would consider a 20v combo if the price is not much more.

 

Final question is on battery type. Li-Ion or NiCad? Li-Ion seems to be better choice and the battery type I would most likely go with but wanted to see if there NiCad had any major advantages over Li-Ion.

[RockySierra]

Rigid is just a rebranded something or another, probably black and decker. Nothing wrong with that but I personally would go with DeWalt. They simply make the best, but will cost the most. Next choice would be Makita.

[txab]

DeWalt

[06_GMC]

I agree with Steven, Dewalt first then Makita second and Li-Ion for sure.

[wavery]

You may not want to be too quick to discount Craftsman. I have their Li-Ion 20V cordless drill.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_kw=craftsm...v&_kw=drill

I use it every day and it has more torque and the battery lasts longer than my $300 DeWalt. I originally got it just for using on my trailer jacks and awning. Now, I use it all the time.

 

I used it when I put a new roof on my house. Each battery would drive about 300 screws (1/2 day). By the time the battery needed replacing, the other battery was fully charged.

 

Last year, just before Christmas, Sears had a sale on them for $99 (with 2-batteries). I bought 5 of them for gifts. I would have bought more but every store in town sold out in 1-day. Haven't seen that sale since.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRAFTSMAN-PROFESSI...=item3a6a19f461

[RyanbabZ71]

dewalt has been the best for me

[slapshot]

Dewalt here too

[jdubub]

I agree with Steven, Dewalt first then Makita second and Li-Ion for sure.

 

 

Well said! Those 2 brands are the only 2 I own with li-ion

[cracked_up]

Rigid is just a rebranded something or another, probably black and decker. Nothing wrong with that but I personally would go with DeWalt. They simply make the best, but will cost the most. Next choice would be Makita.

 

I just think it's funny that Stanley/Black and Decker owns DeWalt

In 1960 Dewalt sold out to Black and Decker. Black and Decker decided on running Dewalt as a separate company.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeWalt

[jrsavoie]

I got a bad taste of Dewalt years ago when their drill chucks would not hold a bit. I always had to tighten the chuck with a pair of channel locks.

 

In general I've been a Milwaukee fan but Dewalt has the best tool selection

 

I heard Ridgid was made in China and I try to keep away from that whenever possible.

 

In general the 18 volt range seems to be a good compromise between weight, battery life and power.

[GasHog369]

I love my ridgid!

 

Ive had my 18v kit for at least 8-9 years and as of recent with a dead battery was the first bad taste it gave me.. BUT, i do have a lifetime service warranty! Free service / parts / and batteries!

Lets see dewalt say that.

 

I sold tools at HD for 5 years, and although dewalt are nice, tough , and powerful, there batterys were always failing within 2-3 years!. Thats why HD always ran the specials on the 2 pack 18v's..

 

away from those 2,

 

Milwaukee was ok, but makita is top of the line!

 

I love makita tools but they are pricey. Price = quality tho.

 

I got my kit for more than half off tho so i had to go ridgid.

[wurgs]

+1 on the Craftsman. I've been happy with everything I've ever bought from them. The very few problems I've had have always been corrected very quickly with no hassle what so ever. Their prices seem to be a little cheaper also.

 

As for price equalling quality, not always true. My truck was the cheapest by about $2000 compared to the equals of Ford and Dodge but I still think GM is better quality overall.

[ajcain79]

I used to use cordless tools every day at work when I was in construction. I rate Dewalt #1 and Milwaukee a very close second. Makita is good, but they just don't feel right in my hand, IDK.

[tyhuck]

You may not want to be too quick to discount Craftsman. I have their Li-Ion 20V cordless drill.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_kw=craftsm...v&_kw=drill

I use it every day and it has more torque and the battery lasts longer than my $300 DeWalt. I originally got it just for using on my trailer jacks and awning. Now, I use it all the time.

 

I used it when I put a new roof on my house. Each battery would drive about 300 screws (1/2 day). By the time the battery needed replacing, the other battery was fully charged.

 

Last year, just before Christmas, Sears had a sale on them for $99 (with 2-batteries). I bought 5 of them for gifts. I would have bought more but every store in town sold out in 1-day. Haven't seen that sale since.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRAFTSMAN-PROFESSI...=item3a6a19f461

 

X2 on this one. My father-in-law has a 19.? volt kit that he bought 6 years ago when he started building his own 4K sq ft log home. These things have untold hours on them and they are still rockin on. Granted he has gone through two batteries in those 6 years, but he had 6 to begin with, and a couple were used from Ebay, so they may have been the used ones that quit. They also bought me a smaller version of his kit with just the circular saw and drill with the Li-ion battery, and I love it. Batteries last longer, and they are not supposed to develope a memory. Plus, I like the light and battery charge indicator lights options.

 

I would say that DeWalt is not all its cracked up to be. The batteries are good, but the clutches and brushes in the drills just dont seem to last more than a year or two. But, I buy DeWalt for use in the shop at school. They just dont seem to hold up to the abuse of HS students. However, Im convinced they could destroy an indestructable object. So my opinion may not be accurate.

[99silverado1500]

I always use milwaukee at home/when I do any hvac work on the side, but at work they supply me with makita tools, and they have never skipped a beat and take a beating and still keep going