Brand recommendation for Power tools (drill, small impact, screwdriver) for apartment?

[dubber09]

I'd say that cordless is a better choice for an apartment tasks. If you have friends with such tools who would be willing to loan you tools or batteries on occasion, consider buying a tool using same batteries. My choice with cordless is due to improved portability, not having to depend on power outlet near by or power at all (beside the battery).
My only corded power tool is Dremel. I went with Milwaukee for all cordless tools as my buddy auto mechanic (shop owner) ran his shop/business with those tools. Imho, for apartment use a 12V drill is basically all one needs, it can be used as a driver as well utilizing torque settings to control power. My drill is a 12V hammer drill and I never needed 18V one inside the house.

 

[Dave P.]

I use DeWalt but I'm also a Pennzoil guy so maybe I just have a fixation on the color yellow!
Seriously, I've found Dewalt batteries are much better. I had a couple of Ryobi cordless drills years ago and the batteries seemed to have an inferior life expectancy. I have DeWalt drills, impact driver, string trimmer, leaf blower. Never been disappointed.

 

[JMJNet]

At Amazon, you can buy non Dewalt tools that can use Dewalt battery.
You may want to check to see if there are some tools there that can use the batteries that you have now e.g. Ridgid, if it is just for household chores not professional mechanics.

 

[Hohn]

We have Makita in the States and in my humble opinion they make a great tool. A bit pricier but worth it for a heavy users. I have never seen nor heard of Hikoki. Is that a Swedish brand?

Hikoki is Hitachi Power tools. Dont know why they rebranded since some years ago.

HiKoki was Hitachi-Koki. Hitachi's Power Tools brand was purchased by a private equity group that also owned Metabo. They decided to rebrand the former Hitachi Power Tools as Metabo HPT. (presumably, Metabo/Hitachi Power Tools).

I bought a ton of Hitachi stuff on closeout when they rebranded-- mostly the excellent pneumatic staplers and nailers they make.

 

[nbpt100]

At Amazon, you can buy non Dewalt tools that can use Dewalt battery.
You may want to check to see if there are some tools there that can use the batteries that you have now e.g. Ridgid, if it is just for household chores not professional mechanics.

I am not 100% sure what you mean but I do know you can adapters that will allow you to use other brands batteries on Dewalt and on other brands. I have seen them on Ebay. I do not see this as a desirable way to go if you are buying new. If someone gives you a free tool then yes, sure.

 

[wavinwayne]

If I were buying tools to give to someone for strictly household use, I would buy Ryobi. They've got a bazillion tools and they're not expensive compared to the mustard and ketchup color tools.

 

[walterjay]

For household use Ryobi is a no brainer. No need to spend more.

 

[Rand]

I'd go ryobi the value to $$$ is very high.. and their newer HP line is as good as anything.

Their newest big impact replaced and eclipsed my dewalt dcf899 easily.

 

[Trav]

I would go for the Harbor Freight Hercules. The brushless tools have a 5 year walk in warranty, the performance is as good or better than the name brands and the batteries are good quality and cheap.

 

[RyanY]

I concur with the above criticisms of corded tools. I still have some but have not used them in years (except for my Milwaukee angle grinder and Sonicrafter which have not yet been replaced with cordless).

Several people also mentioned cordless Mikwaukee, Dewalt, Makita, Ryobi, Hercules, Bauer, Craftsman, etc. For a homeowner (and even more so for an apartment dweller), any if these will work fine. I have Ryobi and Dewalt tools and they have worked well for 5+ years. Dewalt has smaller/lighter units, so advantage Dewalt. Ryobi has more non-tool options, so advantage Ryobi. Dewalt tools and batteries are available everywhere, whereas Ryobi is only available at HD and Direct Tools Outlet, and maybe Amazon, so advantage Dewalt. Ryobi is cheaper, so advantage Ryobi. Ryobi warranty is good if you buy them at HD, but if you buy at Discount Tool you still have to ship it out from HD...weird! My Dewalt tools have not needed warranty service so I can't speak to their process.

In other words, pick one that is available nearby and has warranty service nearby. If you live near HF their warranty on Hercules/Bauer is reportedly easy.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Thank you everyone for the ideas, links, pro's and cons.

We actually hit up Harbor Freight and Home Depot and I let him decide. I showed all the Ryobi tool options, he held and tried each etc.

In the end he really liked the Milwaukee M12 brushless kit so we got that with the promo larger battery. We've been using it all week for assembling furniture things and today will be fixing a cabinet/chest his grandfather-in-law built. The blocks where hinges mount had like 3/16" of screw into sides holding hinge for flip up top.

Still on first battery, smallest one, still 3 out of 4 bars.

 

[D60]

We actually hit up Harbor Freight and Home Depot and I let him decide. I showed all the Ryobi tool options, he held and tried each etc.

In the end he really liked the Milwaukee M12 brushless kit so we got that with the promo larger battery. We've been using it all week for assembling furniture things and today will be fixing a cabinet/chest his grandfather-in-law built. The blocks where hinges mount had like 3/16" of screw into sides holding hinge for flip up top.

Still on first battery, smallest one, still 3 out of 4 bars.

Smart kid!

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Side note. I had to repair my daughter’s mirror/frame/hooks for her bedroom today. There was 24 little ¼” screws in it to remove. ½ way through I’m like WOW that M12 driver is so much lighter than my Ridgid 18V and would be nice to have……..

We'll see in future.

 

[burbguy82]

If I were a professional still, Milwaukee or Makita not Dewalt

Non pro, Ryobi stuff.

Impact driver are a bit much, a drill is more useful.

1' level

6in1 screwdriver

studfinder

 

[tc1446]

You said you had Dewalt drill but batteries were shot: get the aftermarket ones they work just as good. Or any inexpensive SMALL drill will suffice as it won't get used much and not take up lots of space. Hammer, screwdrivers, is prob all he will need.

 

[TomYoung]

You said you had Dewalt drill but batteries were shot: get the aftermarket ones they work just as good. Or any inexpensive SMALL drill will suffice as it won't get used much and not take up lots of space. Hammer, screwdrivers, is prob all he will need.

It’s a fact that all of these tools will outlast the batteries, which may have limited availability.

 

[TomYoung]

I am surprised that nobody is advocating for no name Chinese tools from Amazon. Go for decent consumer ratings and save a few bucks

 

[factorytuned2012]

Ryobi, Hart, Bauer, Hercules all good stuff. I’m no contractor but have 10 year old Ryobi power tools that took drops from 6 ft ladders even my garage roof and still ticking. the knockoff 4 Ah batts are still rocking

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

Milwaukee only here.

 

[Trav]

Do this with a chicom TTI/Milwaukee.