Originally Posted by RyanY
It's amazing how many lesser-known branded 1/2 impacts are available on Amazon, and the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Assuming these tools really do perform as advertised and are reasonably durable, I would hesitate to buy them because they lack batteries that are compatible with other tools. I prefer to have one or two chargers for all my tools instead of 5 chargers for 5 tools. Of course, this is not to say that well-known brands won't change battery technology in the future, at which point durability is moot and a serviceable tool is tossed to the trash.
I am dealing with that right now...my aging 18V DeWalt set includes a drill, 1/4 impact, and circular saw with two compatible chargers and three batteries. One of the batteries is great (Li-Ion), and the other two (NiCad) die after a few cuts with the saw. New 18V Li-Ion batteries cost nearly as much as a new 20V max tool/battery combo, so I don't plan to replace batteries but, instead, will just give the bare tools away or chuck them when the time comes. Therefore, if I were just buying a single tool (as the OP is), I would not be entirely against a lesser brand as long as it performs as advertised. The key point here is whether the tool performs as advertised...if not, Amazon has a great return policy.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...5D-L4ezJbQaApd3EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
It's amazing how many lesser-known branded 1/2 impacts are available on Amazon, and the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Assuming these tools really do perform as advertised and are reasonably durable, I would hesitate to buy them because they lack batteries that are compatible with other tools. I prefer to have one or two chargers for all my tools instead of 5 chargers for 5 tools. Of course, this is not to say that well-known brands won't change battery technology in the future, at which point durability is moot and a serviceable tool is tossed to the trash.
I am dealing with that right now...my aging 18V DeWalt set includes a drill, 1/4 impact, and circular saw with two compatible chargers and three batteries. One of the batteries is great (Li-Ion), and the other two (NiCad) die after a few cuts with the saw. New 18V Li-Ion batteries cost nearly as much as a new 20V max tool/battery combo, so I don't plan to replace batteries but, instead, will just give the bare tools away or chuck them when the time comes. Therefore, if I were just buying a single tool (as the OP is), I would not be entirely against a lesser brand as long as it performs as advertised. The key point here is whether the tool performs as advertised...if not, Amazon has a great return policy.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...5D-L4ezJbQaApd3EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds