Cordless Tool Batteries

[IndyIan]

Started doing some work on a mower and garden tiller yesterday. When I grabbed a Milwaukee drill off the shelf I found out my last two 18v batteries are shot and won't hold much of a charge so I figured I would use the old Porter cable and I'll be darned both of those batteries are shot too. Last winter must have been hard on the old batteries and now it's going to cost a fortune to replace. Sure am glad I still have corded tools.

I think for the average homeowner, Rigid is the way to go, due to the lifetime tool and especially battery warranty. Worth jumping through a couple hoops to get the tools registered for it.
The tools I have are certainly "good enough" in my experience, and while not commercial grade, but I haven't worn one out yet, and my poor 1/2" hammer drill has been through it all in the last 16 years. I've rarely used the hammer function but I think a hammer drill is much more robust in terms of bearing and gear box, if you want to get a tool that will last basically forever for most homeowners.
That's what I would recommend anyways, the extra weight and slightly larger size hasn't been a problem, and its been abuse proof so far.

 

[UncleDave]

I think for the average homeowner, Rigid is the way to go, due to the lifetime tool and especially battery warranty. Worth jumping through a couple hoops to get the tools registered for it.
The tools I have are certainly "good enough" in my experience, and while not commercial grade, but I haven't worn one out yet, and my poor 1/2" hammer drill has been through it all in the last 16 years. I've rarely used the hammer function but I think a hammer drill is much more robust in terms of bearing and gear box, if you want to get a tool that will last basically forever for most homeowners.
That's what I would recommend anyways, the extra weight and slightly larger size hasn't been a problem, and its been abuse proof so far.

Ive historically been happy with the rigid products I've bought and used.

Rigids lawn/garden/outdoor tools dont have enough 18x2, or higher voltage tools to be useful to me.

The lifetime warranty seems to only apply to tools bought from Home Depot.

 

[Trav]

My oldest batteries are Makita 3A 18v from 2008, all are still good.

 

[IndyIan]

Ive historically been happy with the rigid products I've bought and used.

Rigids lawn/garden/outdoor tools dont have enough 18x2, or higher voltage tools to be useful to me.

The lifetime warranty seems to only apply to tools bought from Home Depot.

Yep, the lawn equipment works, just not fast, and you need to bring along a couple batteries for a bigger job (we have 6 now), but we have a smaller yard, and the kids can just pick the up the blower or string trimmer(18v is just fine for these IMO) after I mow, and use it, so it fits the bill. My wife wanted a small chainsaw for the odd tree down across a trail, and it's not fast, but certainly cuts wood faster than you can by hand, and it will buck up a surprising number of 16" hardwood chunks on a single 4ah battery if you just let it work at is natural pace.
I have pro version gas equipment, brush saw and chainsaw, for doing farm work fast, which I probably won't wear out in my lifetime anyways.
Getting the good cordless versions of those is expensive right now and the battery warranties are bit short IMO. Enough batteries to replicate 2 tanks of gas for my chainsaw is like $800... And then only warrantied for a few years. I'll estimate that I've put $600 in gas through my saw in 25 years? And that's cutting 2-3 cords of firewood a year.
For some it makes sense, but it doesn't really pencil out for my situation to go cordless in the higher work capacity versions just yet.

 

[UncleDave]

My oldest batteries are Makita 3A 18v from 2008, all are still good.

I've yet to lose an LXT battery. (knocking on wood)
My LXT 18 Volts go back decade and have had real use especially the lawn tools since 2017 that cycle them by the pair fully every week.
I have enough to let them cool down before tossing them back on the charger.

 

[meep]

Yeesh.

What kind of use did these 4-5 batts get?

Glad they fixed the drill but what are you doing that it went twice?

Three of the batteries were the 12V drill, and of course the drill was fixed twice. Most of it is just that it’s been my go-to since… 2010. First repair was electrical - F/R switch I think, 2nd was motor commutator/brushes were throwing sending burning debris out the vents … a lot of use. That said, they truly only replace the minimal needed to send it out - torn up rubber guard goes right back on …

The other 2 were the small capacity 18V batteries that come with their tools. The rotary saw separates the wheat from the chaff when it comes to their batteries. I’ve started moving to the larger batteries and not been pressing them as hard on the warranty service - the company has done me right and I don’t need to bilk them.

 

[UncleDave]

Three of the batteries were the 12V drill, and of course the drill was fixed twice. Most of it is just that it’s been my go-to since… 2010. First repair was electrical - F/R switch I think, 2nd was motor commutator/brushes were throwing sending burning debris out the vents … a lot of use. That said, they truly only replace the minimal needed to send it out - torn up rubber guard goes right back on …

The other 2 were the small capacity 18V batteries that come with their tools. The rotary saw separates the wheat from the chaff when it comes to their batteries. I’ve started moving to the larger batteries and not been pressing them as hard on the warranty service - the company has done me right and I don’t need to bilk them.

Thanks.

Id be happy with "just fixed" as well. Not their prob to restore wear and tear.
Since I work with mom and pops we work out whats fair then they do their part.

Warranty seems fairly straightforward. I pay attention to that.

As a company that repairs the products it makes, we fix things until we run out of parts we always do what we can to keep he customer working (Tv business).
We'll often toss on a freebie connector or some other part if we've got a clients box open on the bench.

 

[meep]

Thanks.

Id be happy with "just fixed" as well. Not their prob to restore wear and tear.
Since I work with mom and pops we work out whats fair then they do their part.

Warranty seems fairly straightforward. I pay attention to that.

As a company that repairs the products it makes, we fix things until we run out of parts we always do what we can to keep he customer working (Tv business).
We'll often toss on a freebie connector or some other part if we've got a clients box open on the bench.

Granted, you do have to follow the rigid registration process to the 100% “T,” but I’ve found them to be honest to their warranty agreement … as long as you performed ALL of the registration steps. They do change their process from time to time … at the moment my local Home Depot does more to help it along than it used to.

 

[Nessism1]

I have one knockoff battery it’s like 1/3 the weight of the legitimate battery of same Ah rating so yeah science

Exactly my experience. The knockoff is "rated" significantly higher, too. That's the tell. When an OEM battery is 2.6 Ah, and the aftermarket is 3.7, and 1/3 the cost, that's all you need to know.

 

[Intelligent Molecule]

Questionable quality and seriously over priced according to people that repair them. If the tools had TTI instead of Milwaukee on them they would not sell anywhere near as well. These have nothing in comparison to real Milwaukee tools that were world class before they bought the name. To each their own but not my money, Makita would be my choice if I wanted them for more than I need them for.
These must be cordless because the apartment I am rehabing only has one circuit for the lights and no working plugs yet, otherwise I have all these tools corded.

Been using cordless tools since the Makita's of the 80's. Been in the Milwaukee 12V system for about 10 years. Awesome tools. They've gotten hard use and have performed at a high level. Have about 15 of them over all. Number one choice of professional mechanics by a wide margin.

 

[Sedin26]

I’d like to slowly start building up my collection. Is the Makita 18v platform a safe way to go? Just diy auto and household stuff.

 

[Pablo]

I’d like to slowly start building up my collection. Is the Makita 18v platform a safe way to go? Just diy auto and household stuff.

Expensive imho

Do you really need 18-20v?

Milwaukee 12V
Or
Dewalt 20V

 

[meep]

My boss is building his 5th (?) house with his own hands. He really likes milwaulkee.

I like 12V tools for their fast ease of use, but if I’m doing more than hanging pictures, 18V is needed for oomph.

Rigid for me has been a decent compromise between affordability and durability. For light use, Ryobi offers an advantage of a huge tool ecosystem, but they have not been as well built in my opinion. I’ve worn out some ryobi stuff, but they have an edge as the “one+” system expands into bathroom cleaning (powered brushes) and yard implements.

Folks like makita, but i was scarred by short battery life back in the 90s for them and dewalt, and subsequently got hooked on Rigid, who warrantees their batteries.

 

[UncleDave]

Expensive imho

Do you really need 18-20v?

Milwaukee 12V
Or
Dewalt 20V

Sort of - its not expensive when you want the platform to double duty into lawn tools and higher draw tools.

The 18x2 stuff lets you platform expand quite a bit.

Its either that or he goes to 40V tools - those are expensive and holding that over your head on a ladder is brutal, 12's arent great in the garage

18V with 18x2 capability hits a sweet spot.

 

[UncleDave]

I’d like to slowly start building up my collection. Is the Makita 18v platform a safe way to go? Just diy auto and household stuff.

18V LXT is a great platform.

It takes you everywhere from the house, to the woodshop to the garage to the yard, lawn and farm.

If you need to step it up buy a few 36 Volt tools, if you need a light weight rig run a small 2AH on something you need to hold outright for a while.

The industry trend is for higher voltages, but I'd feel safe buying into makita 18v.

 

[Sedin26]

18V LXT is a great platform.

It takes you everywhere from the house, to the woodshop to the garage to the yard, lawn and farm.

If you need to step it up buy a few 36 Volt tools, if you need a light weight rig run a small 2AH on something you need to hold outright for a while.

The industry trend is for higher voltages, but I'd feel safe buying into makita 18v.

I'm looking at pricing and the Milwaukee 12v stuff seems to be quite a bit more expensive than Makita 18v (at least at Home Depot in Canada). I'm definitely leaning toward Makita 18V. Milwaukee does seem to have a lot more selection, for instance in varieties of ratchets, but I don't really need that.

 

[Pablo]

18V LXT is a great platform.

It takes you everywhere from the house, to the woodshop to the garage to the yard, lawn and farm.

If you need to step it up buy a few 36 Volt tools, if you need a light weight rig run a small 2AH on something you need to hold outright for a while.

The industry trend is for higher voltages, but id feel safe buying into makita 18v.

I'm looking at pricing and the Milwaukee 12v stuff seems to be quite a bit more expensive than Makita 18v (at least at Home Depot in Canada). I'm definitely leaning toward Makita 18V. Milwaukee does seem to have a lot more selection, for instance in varieties of ratchets, but I don't really need that.

That boggles my mind! Maybe worth a trip up north

 

[Olds394]

last time I tried Ridgid I registered the tools and they said they couldn’t find my purchase. (You typed in the number on the receipt.)
They wanted me to mail the receipt to them, and if I didn’t hear from the within 90 days to contact them.
Returned the box unopened, so HD might be able to resell, and they opened the box in front of me.
Glad the OP is getting his warranty but I just stuck with Ryobi.

 

[wavinwayne]

18V LXT is a great platform.

It takes you everywhere from the house, to the woodshop to the garage to the yard, lawn and farm..

I have the LXT leaf blower, impact driver, and high torque impact wrench. I can't imagine ever needing more power for my homeowner/diy tasks. Very happy with the LXT tools.

 

[D1dad]

My son who’s a contractor has slowly went over to Milwaukee from Dewalt. He does use Metabo/hitachi for his cordless nailers. His roofing nailer is downright impressive and has installed 1000s of square of shingles. Find him on a job site and you’ll find an M12 in his hand, unless more powers needed. We drilled 48 pilot holes in a concrete slab using an m12 hammer drill on 1 5.0 battery. I can’t argue with that.