What’s your favorite flavor of cordless tools?

[Travelin Ram]

I have been full circle on this topic myself. Decades back I bought an 18v Makita drill / driver when they were fairly new to the market. I have abused it many times doing things it really shouldn’t like hole saws and concrete drilling yet it has never faltered.

These days I no longer use tools to make money, more the opposite. Working on things is something I enjoy and I do appreciate the feel of a quality tool. A few years back I decided to start investing in cordless as I replaced air or 120v corded tools.

I did some research at the time, and team Red looked more affordable and available, so I bought a couple of Milwaukee pieces. Didn’t think they were as well built as the blue, so when some thieving ****** stole most of those, I gave away the remainder and started fresh with DeWalt. Which have served OK so far, emphasis on “okay”. Under heavy use -beyond their reasonable use to be fair- they don’t push through like the old Makita does.

A while back while on the road I needed a drill for a lightweight task, so I picked up the cheapest thing I could find, a Ryobi. Got the job done, and it’s well worth the price paid. However it’s a grade below the red and yellow in my opinion.

So, this week I decided to spend some more money on blue. When I started the cordless conversion I expected to eventually toss out the old Makita. But it’s still reliable, and the best quality of the bunch I feel. Got a compact 1/2” impact on the way to see of the new stuff is as well built as the old.

If you read this far, I salute you as a fellow tool nut. But isn’t tool use what separates us from the animals? So, what’s your favorite and why?

 

[DILLIGAF]

Milwaukee all day long !

 

[danielmid]

I'm on team yellow, 20v Dewalt, hoping to expand to 60v when I get a house for some bigger tools. Last add was a "medium" (really a high) 1/2" torque gun that zipped off lug nuts and shock bolts like nothing, then a solidly okay cordless heat gun.

My strategy has been to check HomeDepot.com randomly to see what package deals they have going, I'm sure this works for other brands as well, I scored a 2 pack of large 5aH batteries with charger for less than a single battery most recently.

 

[chri5k]

I have mostly DeWalt. Been happy with the performance and battery life. I say mostly because I did get a Milwaukee framing nailer. The DeWalt nailers have an annoying spin-up time when you press the trigger. This is due to using a centrifugal system. The Milwaukee uses a closed pressurized nitrogen system. It fires instantly upon pressing the trigger.

 

[zrock]

tried dewalt once when i needed this stuff for work, thing did not even last 10 min before 2 fully charged battery's were dead. Took it back and went makita and have never had a issue with them and continue to grow my collection.

 

[Travelin Ram]

@DILLIGAF I see one lonely Bosch case hiding there. I do have a Bosch laser level that’s been great. I use it mostly outdoors and it exceeds the range rated.

I will also admit to a few random Harbor Freight tools (nothing cordless though). I’m not above buying them for a one time or rarely used piece.

 

[Travelin Ram]

I have mostly DeWalt. Been happy with the performance and battery life. I say mostly because I did get a Milwaukee framing nailer. The DeWalt nailers have an annoying spin-up time when you press the trigger. This is due to using a centrifugal system. The Milwaukee uses a closed pressurized nitrogen system. It fires instantly upon pressing the trigger.

That’s the kind of valuable information you only find from first hand reports. You probably know this already, but there are adapters made to use brand A batteries in brand B tools. So you could use your yellow chargers and batteries with the red nailer.

That’s my loosely formed plan going forward.

 

[Fritter]

Back in the day (as in way back) I bought a few Porter Cable tools, all are still in good shape and get the job done. Switched to Dewalt for the miter saw and kept going with the 20v XR cordless gear. I’ve had no issues with the equipment and they get the job done.

 

[danielmid]

@DILLIGAF I see one lonely Bosch case hiding there. I do have a Bosch laser level that’s been great. I use it mostly outdoors and it exceeds the range rated.

I will also admit to a few random Harbor Freight tools (nothing cordless though). I’m not above buying them for a one time or rarely used piece.

For hand tools I've never been let down with buying HF tools and then if I use it enough to break it I'll upgrade it.

 

[HemiLonestar]

I have most of the 19.2v Craftsman set for quite a few years now. The NiCad batteries SUCKED but the Li-Ion batteries worked great.